Ever heard the statement less is more? Is that a reality in your life or is that an area you are struggling with? Below are 11 different areas you can look at in your life to start to reduce as you focus on building a better life.

應該都聽過“少而精”這種說法吧?這是你的生活現實，還是某個你正在努力達成的方面呢?你可以對照自己的生活看看以下11個方面，然后開始精簡，努力創造更美好的生活。

Your Stuff

你的物品

I call it stuff vs possessions. Stuff is what adds clutter in your life. It could be shoes, curios from the cute store in your town or excess appliances you need to throw out but never do. What is it that is overtaking your house that if you moved away you wouldn’t need it at all? Plan a Sunday afternoon throw out session. If throwing out doesn’t sit right then give it away to goodwill.

我說的是“物品”，而非“財產”，物品使生活雜亂。這既可以是鞋子、從城里精品店買的小擺設，也可能是你應該扔掉但從未舍得的多余電器。是什么霸占了你的屋子，并且如果扔掉也并不可惜?騰出一個周日下午，處理掉這些物品吧。如果扔掉有些可惜，那就好心捐出去。

Your Acquaintances

你認識的人

How many people are you interacting with throughout the week that don’t leave you feeling good about yourself? Who inspires you? Spend time with those people. Too often we keep people in our lives that we are no longer a fit for. Having too many old acquaintances adds to the excess in your life. If the relationship isn’t a win-win for you both then take a step back and focus on those that do.

你每周要接觸多少給你帶來消極情緒的人?想想誰又能給你鼓勵?請多跟這樣的人相處吧。我們常常把那些不太合拍的人留在身邊太久。老熟人太多，生活也越有負擔。如果對雙方而言都不是雙贏關系，那么請退出一步，把精力放在能夠帶來雙贏關系的人身上吧。

Your Goals

你的目標

Motivated to write out your list of goal for the next month or 3 months? That is awesome. Just a few works of caution. Don’t write down too many. Often people write down over ten goals. The brain can only remember so much and the reality is you won’t get to them all. I suggest you look at your goals with the mindset of single digits. No more than ten, but ideally less than five. Keep the list focused and realistic.

你斗志昂揚，要列出下個月甚至后3個月的目標清單?這確實很不錯，但還是要提醒你幾句。目標不要列太多。一般人們會定下10個以上的目標。大腦只能記住這么多目標，但現實是你不可能實現所有目標。建議你還是將目標控制在個位數以內，不要超過10個，最好少于5個。讓目標專一并且容易實現。

Your Commitments

你的承諾

A new favorite buzz saying in the self-help world is “No is the new Yes”. Take a moment to think about that saying. If you started saying no more how would your week and life look? Would you have more time to commit to the important goals and people in your life? Start to practice saying No when a request comes your way that you don’t want to do. If that feels too harsh try responding with these words “Let me get back to you”. Go away and come back with a no when you are in stronger mindset to say that.

最近在自助方面有個很受歡迎的說法叫“否定即另一種形式的肯定”。用心思考一下這句話吧。如果你大部分時候都在說不，生活會變得怎樣?你是不是會有更多時間用來努力實現重要目標，或和重要的人相處呢?遇到你不想做的要求時，請試著說不吧。如果太難開口，那就回答說“我等等再答復”，等你打定了主意，回頭再表示拒絕。

Your Multitasking

同時處理多項任務

I am giving you permission to stop multitasking. We used to be told that multitasking was a good practice. We look so busy and aren’t we getting a lot done? In fact, no. Multitasking isn’t possible with the way our brain is wired. We need to focus on one key thing and keep our attention on that item until it is complete.

我允許你不再同時處理多項任務。以前人們常說，多任務化是個好習慣。我們看上去忙忙碌碌，但任務是否都能完成呢?其實并非如此。當大腦迷糊亂套時，多任務化根本行不通。我們需要專注在一件重要任務上，一心一意直到任務完成。

Your Newsfeed

你的信息源

I consider all the information from the Internet that is being feed into our smartphone, laptop and brain as “the newsfeed.” It doesn’t add to having more knowledge, it adds to information overload. Build time in your day or week when you are completely offline. I recommend turning your wireless off or setting your smart phone to airplane mode.

我把所有發送到手機、筆記本電腦和大腦的網絡信息歸類為“信息源”。信息源并不能增長我們的知識，卻只會使我們信息過量。如果你能做到完全下線，每天或每周會多出不少時間。我建議你斷開無線網絡，或者把手機調到飛行模式。

Your Cards

你的積分卡

Open up your wallet and take a look inside. What is in it? For most of us it is more than one store, charge or loyalty card. Too many cards add to extra spending, bills and lack of clarity of where our money goes. Look at what cards you truly need and use. Get rid of the rest (scissors work!).

打開錢包看看里面都有些什么吧。很多人錢包里不只有一家商店積分卡。太多積分卡會刺激額外消費，造成更多賬單，也會使我們稀里糊涂不知道錢都花哪去了。找出自己確實需要使用的卡，然后處理掉其他的(剪刀可以派上用場!)。