15 Things to Quit to Simplify Your Life
A complicated life isn’t always the result of external circumstances—it often stems from what we allow into our minds, schedules, and environments. Many of us unconsciously create unnecessary stress by holding onto things that no longer serve us, from bad habits to outdated beliefs. Instead of constantly searching for ways to be more productive or efficient, a better approach might be to remove the things that create unnecessary complexity in the first place.
Simplifying your life doesn’t mean stripping it of excitement, ambition, or meaningful relationships (or being boring). It means eliminating the distractions, toxic patterns, and mental clutter that prevent you from focusing on what truly matters. Often, the biggest breakthroughs come not from adding more to your life but from letting go of what is weighing you down.
Below are 15 things to quit today that will instantly simplify your life. Each one is an opportunity to clear out mental and emotional baggage, free up your time, and create a more intentional way of living.
Many of these suggestions are concepts that I’ve written more extensively about. Scroll to the end to see a bunch of related blog posts for more in-depth discussions on certain topics!
1. Quit Overcommitting
Many people overcommit because they fear disappointing others or believe that saying "yes" to every opportunity is the path to success. They are often "people-pleasers” and have trouble putting their own needs first. This tendency to create an overloaded schedule often leads to exhaustion, resentment, and decreased productivity. Every obligation you take on comes at a cost—whether it’s your time, energy, or peace of mind.
By quitting overcommitment, you make space for what truly matters. You can focus on meaningful work, personal growth, and relationships that enrich your life rather than stretching yourself thin.
How to Take Action:
Set Clear Priorities – Identify your top priorities and align commitments with them. If an opportunity doesn’t support these, decline it.
Use the "Hell Yes or No" Rule – If you’re not genuinely excited about something, say "no."
Create a Decision Buffer – Instead of agreeing immediately, say, "Let me think about it and get back to you." This allows you to assess whether it aligns with your values.
Key Takeaway: Saying "no" to the unnecessary gives you more time, energy, and focus for what truly matters.
2. Quit Negative Self-Talk
Have you ever noticed how you speak to yourself with that running inner monologue? When you stop to observe the chatter, you might notice (like I did) the voice is one of your parents—often the most critical one. I once saw a quote that said “Watch how you speak to your children, it becomes their inner voice." - Peggy O'Mara, and did that ever hit me hard.
“Watch how you speak to your children, it becomes their inner voice.”
Negative self-talk creates doubt, anxiety, and a fear of failure. When you constantly criticize yourself, it reinforces limiting beliefs that make life feel more difficult than it actually is.
Noticing in the moment when your mental chatter is negative, and eventually learning to replace negative thoughts with constructive ones helps you approach challenges with confidence and clarity. Instead of tearing yourself down, you start problem-solving, adapting, and growing.
How to Take Action:
Identify Your Inner Critic – Pay attention to self-defeating thoughts and write them down. Seeing them on paper can help you recognize patterns.
Challenge the Thought – Ask, "Is this objectively true?" Often, negative thoughts are exaggerated or based on fear rather than facts.
Reframe with Positive Affirmations – Replace "I always mess things up" with "I’m learning and improving every day."
Key Takeaway: A kinder, more supportive inner dialogue makes life easier and more enjoyable.
3. Quit Holding Onto Toxic Relationships
Toxic relationships drain your energy, create unnecessary stress, and complicate your emotional well-being. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or coworker, maintaining a connection with someone who constantly brings negativity into your life isn’t an obligation—it’s a choice.
Only you can decide when a relationship is toxic to you, but learning how to stand up for yourself and create distance is a big level up in self-care.
Letting go of toxic relationships doesn’t mean holding grudges; it means prioritizing your mental health. Surrounding yourself with people who uplift and support you makes life simpler and more fulfilling.
How to Take Action:
Evaluate Relationships Honestly – Notice how you feel after interacting with someone. If you consistently feel drained, anxious, or undervalued, the relationship may be toxic.
Set Boundaries – Limit interactions with people who bring negativity into your life. If you must engage, keep conversations brief and emotionally neutral.
Let Go Without Guilt – It’s okay to walk away from relationships that no longer serve you. Prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.
Key Takeaway: You can’t control others, but you can control who you allow into your life. Choose relationships that bring positivity, not stress.
4. Quit the Need for Perfection
Perfectionism can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. The belief that everything must be flawless before it’s "good enough" leads to self-doubt, and unnecessary stress. In reality, perfection is an illusion—there will always be room for improvement.
For me, perfectionism is also my main method of procrastination. The longer I put off a project being “done” or “ready”, then longer I put off judgement or failure.
By shifting your focus from perfection to progress, you make life easier. You start taking action instead of overanalyzing, and you find joy in learning and growing rather than fearing failure.
How to Take Action:
Adopt the 80/20 Rule – Recognize that 80% of the benefits often come from 20% of the effort. Stop obsessing over minor details.
Set Realistic Standards – Aim for "great," not "perfect." Excellence is achievable, but perfection is not.
Celebrate Small Wins – Instead of waiting for a perfect outcome, acknowledge every step forward.
Key Takeaway: Letting go of perfection allows you to make progress faster, with less stress and more joy.
5. Quit Clutter (Physical & Digital)
Clutter isn’t just about having too many things—it’s mental as well. A cluttered space creates decision fatigue, increases stress, and makes even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Whether it’s an overflowing inbox, piles of paper, or a messy home, clutter consumes time and energy. It can be a huge contributor to the mental load too.
Digital clutter can be just as damaging. Hundreds of unread emails, too many apps, and endless files make it harder to focus. Clearing both physical and digital spaces helps free up mental energy and allows for a more peaceful, streamlined life.
How to Take Action:
Use the “One In, One Out” Rule – Every time you bring something new into your home, donate or discard one item. This is especially useful for kid toys and clothes!
Declutter in 10-Minute Sessions – Instead of waiting for a big cleaning day, tackle small areas in short bursts.
Unsubscribe & Organize Digitally – Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails, delete unused apps, and organize digital files into clearly labeled folders.
Key Takeaway: A clutter-free environment leads to a clearer mind and a simpler, more productive life.
6. Quit Comparing Yourself to Others
Comparison is the fastest way to drain your happiness. Whether it’s through social media, work, or personal achievements, constantly measuring yourself against others leads to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
I highly recommend unfollowing others in your industry on social media. The comparisonitis and seeing similar ideas to your own leads to negative feelings and irritation. It also closes off your own creativity.
Instead of comparing, focus on your own progress. Everyone’s journey is unique, and external appearances rarely reflect the full story. The more you focus on your growth, the less power comparison has over you.
How to Take Action:
Limit Social Media Exposure – Unfollow accounts that trigger comparison and set time limits for scrolling.
Track Your Own Progress – Keep a journal to celebrate your small wins rather than looking at others’ milestones.
Practice Gratitude – List three things daily that you appreciate about yourself and your life.
Key Takeaway: The only person you should compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday.
7. Quit Mindless Social Media Scrolling
Social media is designed to be addictive. Hours can slip away without you realizing it, and excessive scrolling often leads to anxiety, distraction, and lost productivity.
When used intentionally, social media can be a great tool. But when it becomes a habit of mindless consumption, it wastes time and prevents you from being present in your real life.
I personally limit my social media apps to 30 mins per today (not each platform, but in total), and use my social media accounts for business on desktop whenever possible. This goes a long way to creating structure and purpose around the use of social media.
How to Take Action:
Set App Limits – Use built-in phone features to limit daily social media use.
Create No-Phone Zones – Keep your phone out of the bedroom or off-limits during meals.
Be Intentional – Only log in when you have a purpose, such as posting or engaging meaningfully, rather than endless scrolling.
Key Takeaway: Less screen time means more time for meaningful connections, creativity, and real-life experiences.
8. Quit Procrastination
Like we touched on in #4, procrastination adds unnecessary stress to your life. Avoiding tasks doesn’t make them go away—it makes them more overwhelming. The longer you put something off, the heavier it feels.
Most procrastination is rooted in either fear of failure or a lack of clarity. By breaking tasks into smaller steps, you reduce the mental resistance that keeps you from starting.
How to Take Action:
Use the Two-Minute Rule – If something takes less than two minutes, do it immediately.
Break Tasks into Micro-Steps – Instead of saying, "Write the report," say, "Write the introduction." Small wins build momentum.
Eliminate Distractions – Set a timer, turn off notifications, and focus on one task at a time.
Key Takeaway: Starting is the hardest part—once you take action, momentum will help the task become easier.
9. Quit Multi-Tasking
Many people believe multi-tasking makes them more efficient, but in reality, it leads to mistakes, lower productivity, and mental fatigue. The brain isn’t designed to focus on multiple complex tasks at once, and constantly switching between them slows you down rather than speeding you up.
When you multi-task, your attention is divided, making it harder to retain information and complete tasks effectively. This not only increases stress but also reduces the quality of your work, forcing you to redo or fix mistakes later.
A more effective approach is theme days, where you dedicate specific days to specific types of tasks. Instead of constantly shifting between unrelated projects, you batch similar tasks together so your brain can stay in the same mode of thinking.
For example, you might set aside Mondays for planning and strategy, Tuesdays for deep creative work, and Wednesdays for meetings. This reduces mental fatigue, improves focus, and makes it easier to get into a state of flow.
By structuring your time with intention, you eliminate the inefficiencies of multi-tasking and context-switching, and simplify your schedule.
How to Take Action:
Prioritize Tasks – Write a to-do list in order of importance and tackle them one by one.
Implement Theme Days – Assign specific days for focused work, such as admin tasks on Mondays, content creation on Tuesdays, and meetings on Wednesdays.
Silence Notifications – Eliminate background distractions so you can concentrate fully.
Key Takeaway: When you focus on one thing at a time and organize your tasks by theme, you improve efficiency, reduce overwhelm and context-switching, and create a more structured, stress-free life.
10. Quit Overconsuming Information Without Taking Action
Reading books, listening to podcasts, and signing up for online courses can be valuable, but consuming information without applying it leads to stagnation. Many people fall into the trap of constantly learning but never implementing what they’ve learned. This creates a false sense of productivity while keeping them stuck in the same place.
Overconsumption often stems from fear—the fear of not knowing enough, not being ready, or making mistakes. But the truth is, action leads to clarity and progress, while excessive learning without execution leads to overwhelm and inaction.
How to Take Action:
Follow the "Learn, Apply, Repeat" Rule – After learning something new, apply it before consuming more content. This ensures you integrate knowledge instead of just collecting it.
Limit Information Intake – Instead of reading five books on the same topic, choose one and implement its lessons before moving to the next.
Create an Action Plan – Every time you consume valuable information, write down three steps you can take immediately to apply what you’ve learned.
Key Takeaway: Knowledge is only valuable when it’s put into action. Stop consuming passively—start executing and creating real change in your life.
11. Quit Worrying About Others’ Opinions
Living according to others’ expectations complicates life unnecessarily. Many people make choices based on fear of judgment, constantly seeking approval from friends, family, or society. The problem is, no matter what you do, someone will always have an opinion. Trying to please everyone is exhausting and unrealistic, and it often leads to a life that doesn’t feel truly your own. The more you rely on external validation, the harder it becomes to trust yourself and make independent decisions that align with your values.
People’s opinions are often shaped by their own fears, biases, and limitations, not by your true potential. What someone thinks about your career choice, lifestyle, or personal decisions says more about their perspective than about what’s right for you. Instead of worrying about their approval, focus on what makes you feel fulfilled. When you stop giving weight to outside judgment, you gain the freedom to build a life based on your own vision, not someone else’s expectations.
How to Take Action:
Identify Your Triggers – Notice when you feel pressure to please others and ask if their opinion truly matters.
Trust Your Own Judgment – Make decisions based on what feels right for you, not what others think you should do.
Let Go of Perfection – Understand that no matter what you do, someone will always have an opinion. Live for yourself, not for their approval.
Key Takeaway: When you stop seeking external validation, life becomes much simpler and more fulfilling.
12. Quit Unhealthy Habits
Unhealthy habits don’t always seem harmful at first, but over time, they accumulate and make life more difficult. Poor sleep, a lack of exercise, unhealthy eating, and excessive screen time may feel manageable in the moment, but they drain your energy, decrease focus, and lead to long-term health issues.
Emotional habits, such as chronic stress, negative thinking, or avoiding difficult conversations, can also create unnecessary complications. The more these habits take root, the harder they become to break, trapping you in cycles that prevent you from living fully and intentionally.
The key to quitting unhealthy habits isn’t willpower alone—it’s self-awareness and replacement. Instead of focusing on what you need to stop doing, shift your focus to what you can start doing instead. Small, consistent improvements are more sustainable than drastic changes.
By replacing unhealthy behaviors with positive routines, such as mindful eating, regular movement, and intentional rest, you set yourself up for long-term success. Improving even one habit can create a ripple effect that simplifies other areas of life and boosts overall well-being.
How to Take Action:
Identify One Habit to Change – Instead of overhauling everything, focus on improving just one unhealthy habit at a time.
Create a Replacement Habit – Swap out bad habits with healthier alternatives.
Track Your Progress – Use a journal or app to stay accountable.
Key Takeaway: Small, consistent improvements in your daily habits simplify life and improve overall well-being.
13. Quit Buying Things You Don’t Need
Excessive spending doesn’t just impact your finances—it clutters your space, increases stress, and complicates your life. Many people buy things for emotional reasons, whether it’s boredom, social pressure, or seeking a temporary mood boost. However, accumulating unnecessary items leads to more maintenance, organization, and decision fatigue.
This is especially true in the era of “same day shipping” and ordering anything with 1-click ease. We have eliminated the resistence of having to get in the car and go to the store, which can help us pause and determine if we actually need the thing.
Mindful spending helps you simplify your life by focusing on quality over quantity. When you stop buying things impulsively, you save money, create more space, and reduce the mental burden of managing excess possessions.
How to Take Action:
Follow the 30-Day Rule – If you want to buy something that isn’t essential, wait 30 days before purchasing. Most of the time, the urge will pass. Regardless of whether something is essential, make yourself wait overnight before ordering online.
Declutter Before Buying – Make it a rule to donate or discard an item before bringing something new into your home.
Create a Budget & Stick to It – Track your expenses and set spending limits to prevent impulse purchases.
Key Takeaway: Owning less means less to clean, organize, and worry about—leading to a simpler, more intentional life.
14. Quit Holding Onto the Past
Dwelling on the past keeps you stuck. Whether it’s regrets, resentment, or nostalgia for what was, holding onto past experiences prevents you from fully embracing the present. The more time and energy you spend replaying old mistakes or missed opportunities, the less you have for what’s happening right now.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting—it means accepting what happened, learning from it, and moving forward. The past can’t be changed, but your present and future are still within your control.
Many people hold onto the past because they believe it defines them. Or they want to re-litigate a past scenario or issue to convince themselves they did the right thing.
However, your past is only a collection of experiences—it is not your identity. Growth comes from recognizing that you are not the same person you were a year ago, five years ago, or even yesterday. When you stop carrying old baggage, you free yourself to create new experiences that align with who you are today, not who you used to be.
How to Take Action:
Forgive Yourself & Others – Holding onto resentment only hurts you. Let go of grudges and release the emotional weight.
Practice Mindfulness – When you catch yourself thinking about the past, bring your focus back to the present moment.
Rewrite the Narrative – Instead of viewing past mistakes as failures, see them as valuable lessons that shaped your growth.
Key Takeaway: The past is a lesson, not a life sentence. Letting go creates freedom and clarity for the future.
15. Quit Ignoring Your Own Needs
Many people (especially busy, type-A moms) prioritize work, family, and responsibilities over their well-being. While it’s important to care for others, neglecting your own needs leads to burnout, resentment, and a diminished quality of life.
When you constantly put yourself last, you end up feeling depleted, making it harder to show up fully for the people and commitments that matter most. The truth is, taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. When you feel rested, fulfilled, and emotionally balanced, you’re able to give more to others without feeling drained.
Self-care isn’t just about occasional spa days or taking breaks—it’s about setting a foundation for long-term well-being. It means listening to your body, acknowledging your emotions, and making intentional choices that support your mental, emotional, and physical health.
This could be as simple as creating a morning routine that energizes you, setting boundaries with demanding people, or making time for hobbies that bring you joy. When you stop ignoring your own needs, you regain control over your life and create a sustainable rhythm that allows you to thrive.
How to Take Action:
Schedule Self-Care Like an Appointment – Block out time for activities that recharge you, whether it’s reading, exercising, or simply resting.
Set Boundaries – Learn to say no to commitments that drain you and protect your personal time.
Listen to Your Body & Mind – Pay attention to signs of stress or exhaustion and take action before burnout sets in.
Key Takeaway: Prioritizing your well-being allows you to show up fully in all areas of life, making everything else simpler and more fulfilling.
Conclusion
A simpler life isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what truly matters. By quitting toxic habits, unnecessary obligations, and self-imposed pressures, you create space for clarity, fulfillment, and balance. When you remove what no longer serves you, life becomes easier not because circumstances change, but because your mindset and choices do.
Start small. Pick one thing from this list and commit to letting it go. Over time, as you remove more complexity from your life, you’ll notice an incredible shift in your energy, focus, and peace of mind. The best part? The freedom that comes with simplicity isn’t just about having less stress—it’s about having more room for the things that bring you joy.
Related Posts:
Time Management for People-Pleasers: Reclaim Your Boundaries
7 Secrets to Stop Multitasking
Time Blocking Not Working For You? Try This Easy Productivity Tip Instead
How to Quit Instagram and Market Your Business Without It
Social Media Minimalism: A Simple Strategy for Busy Moms in Business
Digital Spring Cleaning - How To Clear The Clutter Like A CEO
10 Empowering Habits to Cultivate Mindfulness In Your Busy Day
10 Essential Tips for Whole Life Balance (Not Work-Life Balance)
