Embracing Simplicity
Jewels Tauzin, Advanced Clinical Fellow
When we turn on our phones, we are inundated with information about what we need and don’t have. Knowing when we have enough– enough clothes, enough success, enough on our calendars, etc. can be a deeply centering and wholesome place. A common theme that comes up with a lot of my clients is feeling overwhelmed by the sheer influx of possibilities and options that we have in 2024, especially living in New York. And ironically, when we feel overwhelmed, our instinctual reaction is often to do things that numb us and leave us feeling more overwhelmed– like looking at our phones, online shopping, or watching a mindless tv show.
When we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed by the influx of options available to us, a question that I often present to my clients and to myself is– what would bring me peace in this moment? What would help me sleep better? This can help us differentiate because immediate numbing (shopping, being on our phone) and what would actually help us live a more peaceful, functional life. When we’re feeling overwhelmed with options, here are 3 tactics that help to center us into what we actually want for ourselves and can help simplify our thought processes.
Making a list of priorities and doing the hardest thing first. Oftentimes, the items on our to-do lists aren’t as scary as we make them out to be. Something as simple as writing down 3 non-negotiables for your day and doing the hardest thing first can feel really liberating.
Finding a Rhythm. What works for someone else isn’t always what works for us– letting ourselves find our flow is incredibly empowering. Whether this means doing your hardest work in the mornings or zoning in during the afternoons, checking in with yourself on what actually works for you (not what you think should work) can be helpful.
Putting down the phone. Our phones are the easiest place to turn when we’re feeling overwhelmed by the many things on our to-do lists because it’s an easy dopamine hit– instead of doing something actually productive, we can quickly respond to someone or like a post. To cultivate more simplicity and presence in my life, something I have recently loved doing is going on a short neighborhood walk and leaving my phone at home. This is especially nice to do with a friend or partner, and even the small act of experiencing a short activity without a second player (the phone) can open doors to simplicity and presence.