Cleaning & Organizing 9 Simple Ways to Have a More Balanced Life For starters, you'll want to rethink your to-do list. By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Published on July 14, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Many of us get caught up in the stress of everyday life. Between working late, family obligations, and mile-long to-do lists, many of us don't leave ourselves any time for doing the things we want to do leaving us drained and over-extended. That's why we asked life coach Madison Hedlund for her tips to achieving a simpler, cleaner, more balanced life one day at a time. Hedlund recommends sprinkling these tips into your life rather than diving right in since big, radical change rarely lasts. 1. Disconnect each day Whether you do this by watching one less TV show or define a time you stop checking e-mail each night, it's important to have time where you aren't connected. 2. Eat mindfully Figure out what makes your body feel good. Be aware of what you consume and why you consume it. Are you eating because you're hungry or because you're bored? 3. De-clutter For Hedlund this meant getting rid of physical clutter, which in turn allowed her to feel less cluttered emotionally. "If your house is a wreck or your inbox, to me that could be a good indicator that your life may not be together," she says. 4. Keep valuable relationships Evaluate situations to see if they're in line with who you are or who you want to be, if not, shift your way out of the relationship. 5. Define your non-negotiables Examples: getting 9 hours of sleep a night, being active for at least 1 hour a day or eating a healthy lunch each day. "You want to be at your thriving level versus just surviving," she says. @tbhstudying via Instagram 6. Be in tune with yourself Choose 3 things and try to get to them every day. "It can be overwhelming when you have 5 hours of to-do's. Instead, make your list: meditate for 10 minutes or read a book for 15 minutes. Starting somewhere is key," she says. 7. Start a journal This is a good way to check in with yourself. Hedlund recommends being radically honest, "You need to have that place where you're not afraid people are going to read it. We all have negative emotions that we need to release." TRY IT: 12 Bullet Journal Ideas That'll Inspire You To Start One Today Bryan Gardner 8. Be in financial control Overcome fears around money and don't avoid it. Whether it's paying off your credit card each month or setting a budget for yourself, you need to know where you stand. 9. Don't overextend yourself Only say yes to things that are emphatically, "Yes!" According to our life coach, "Saying 'yes' to things half-heartedly can lead to resentment and disappointment because you're going to drop the ball or participate in something you don't want to." TRY IT: 12 DIY Ideas to Help You Stay Organized Looking for more ideas? Watch how to make a sticky-note calendar that will help you stay organized: Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit