Natalie: Are you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted? It's time to practice the art of simplicity and put yourself first. Tune in for advice on how to prioritize your own wellbeing and find balance as a busy woman.

Natalie: Hi everyone. It's Natalie. I've started something in 2023 on the podcast, and I haven't talked too much about it. I've just been doing it. Maybe you've noticed, but if not, here it is. I've been giving themes to each month to help me focus and to realign my life with what matters. So maybe you already know, I interview guests three times a month, and on the first episode of the month, I talk about these themes and I give practical advice on these themes To recap and if you haven't listened to these podcasts earlier this year, you might wanna go back and take a listen. I'll link them in the show notes.

January was about self-care. February Love, but maybe not in the way you would expect March. Finding a life balance, April prioritization and how to get your priorities straight. And then May was all about organization. This month, my theme is simplicity As a busy mom and professional, you know, life, it can be overwhelming. It can be messy, and it's easy to get caught in a cycle of burnout. When the demands of work, family, daily chores, they all pile up.

Simplifying is actually a habit that helps us find peace again. I've often felt like the more I do, the more I accomplish, the more I have, the better things might be, but. Maybe you know this too. It's simply not true.

We need to practice the art of simplicity in our lives and focus on saying no to the things that don't bring us joy or are not good for our lives. It's okay to reduce your commitments, take breaks throughout the day. Permit yourself to just relax and put your wellbeing first. That's not being selfish. Sometimes the simplest thing. Is

to just take a step back to assess what's really important. Let me give you an example. Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with your busy schedule ready to crack, about to explode, or maybe you already have exploded or ready to just give in to throw in the towel and then something beautiful happens.

It might be something really simple like a smile on your baby's face, an accomplishment. A moment that you just weren't expecting. It was a moment of joy in the chaos. And sometimes those little whispers are reminders to slow down, to find simplicity. Sometimes we pay attention to them, sometimes we blow 'em off.

I wanna encourage you to start watching for them to pay attention to those small joys We all need moments like this and moments where we can be mindful, enjoy being present, and content with our lives. I love this quote. Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication. You know who said that? Leonardo da Vinci.

The quote speaks to the power of simplicity. The more we can strip away from our lives, the easier that it will be to focus on what really matters.

As busy women remember that you just don't have to do everything. And you don't have to do it all at once. By focusing on one task or area of life at a time, we can create more balance in our lives and find more peace amidst the chaos. Simplifying our lives as much as possible helps us to become more productive and live with intentionality.

You know the truth is you can still be successful, productive, and accomplish great things while taking care of your mental health. You might have heard the phrase less is more. Well, it certainly applies here the more we simplify our lives by saying yes. Only when necessary, the easier it will be to manage all of the demands without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

So let's talk strategy now, shall we? I don't like to give a lot of advice without ways to implement all of these things. And remember taking the time to slow down and prioritize yourself. It's gonna benefit you in both the short term and most definitely in the long term. So first of all, consider seeking professional help.

Maybe a trained counselor, a. Therapist, a life coach, maybe just a friend who can help you be accountable and provide personalized advice and tips on how to gain that structure and that balance, and to keep you in check. This person can also offer insight into areas that might not really have occurred to you yet, like time management or creative ways to make your daily routine more efficient.

Next, make a daily to-do list might seem simple, but do you really do it and do you stick to it? Sometimes just listing the things that you need to accomplish can calm you down and get all of that out of your head. After you make that list, prioritize the most important tasks first. Maybe circle 'em, maybe highlight them, and then next, delegate, whatever it is that you can.

And it might be something like outsourcing your grocery, shopping, your cleaning. This might seem expensive, but the time that you're gonna save in joining like a grocery delivery service or hiring a housekeeper or asking friends and family to help you out will be so valuable. Also take breaks throughout the day.

Go for a quick walk, grab a coffee with a friend. Take just 10 minutes to disconnect from your technology. I know that this is hard, especially when we have our lives on our phones, but this one simple habit will make a difference of all of the things I've mentioned. This one will probably make the biggest difference.

Next, give yourself permission to say no when needed. This is especially important for busy women and professionals, and then a few other things. Set boundaries for yourself to protect your mental health and time. This one, it's hard as well. All of these are, but when you nicely tell someone that you're not available, and By the way, you don't owe them an explanation as to why you're not available. You actually free yourself up for a more simple life, and you don't need to feel guilty about that.

Also prioritize spending quality time with family and friends who bring you joy. this alone will give you a sense of peace. A word I often think of when it comes to simplicity is rest. Matthew 1128 says, come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. This verse, it really speaks to the importance of resting, of simplifying our lives.

We can come to God with our worries and he will provide us with peace. Taking that time and taking the time for self-care is essential for busy women to maintain sanity. In the midst of all of the chaos called life resting allows us. To recharge so that we can better be equipped to take on these big challenges.

I like to think of simplicity as creating time and space for myself to recharge, refresh, relax. I hope that all of this is helpful to you, and before I say goodbye today, I want you to remember there is beauty in simplicity. By taking intentional steps to simplify your life as a busy woman, you can create more balance. So start with the small changes like delegating tasks or creating routines. Even just the little adjustments can make.

A huge difference. And remember also to stop. Enjoy those little simple moments. Maybe the smile on your child's face, the accomplishment of just doing your laundry. I did that this morning. And the when you get, when you follow your list and you set priorities, they are worth celebrating. Have a great week.

I'll talk to you again soon.