Five Ways I've Simplified My Life

to give me more time to do the things I care about

I feel as if we’re entering a renaissance of simplicity.

There’s a cry for quiet. A search for beacons of calm. The “hustle” days are fading.

Here are the days of repose.

Of rest.

Of relish.

In 2023, I quit my job and decided to actively recover from my burnout, changing my email signature to read:

I had meant for it to be only temporary. Almost two years later, my signature remains unchanged. I’m travelling and writing, but still in search of rest. Whether we ever arrive at a destination of pure rest remains to be unseen. There are, however, tools I’ve collected and securely zipped up in my suitcase that have helped me simplify the journey.

I hope they might help you too.

On a housesit in the Cotswolds

I N F O R M A T I O N

I deleted Instagram and TikTok last year, and haven’t looked back. I’ve reclaimed hours of my day. I start most mornings with a book — because I still have the insatiable urge to reach out and do something with my left hand, while my right hand cradles my morning tea.

I’ve also cut back on news consumption. We are not meant to know everything. Do not guilt yourself for not wanting to know it all. There are ways to stay informed without debilitating your mental health, you just need to find the right balance for you.

U N I F O R M

Since entering my thirties, I’ve been grappling with my style identity. It’s evolved from my twenties. Add to that full-time travel and a single suitcase, and for a while, I found myself in a style rut living in Lululemons and trainers.

Recently, I created a uniform: tailored trousers and a T-shirt, or jeans and a statement jumper. I’ll wear the same outfit twice without care. It saves me time and has bestowed a more defined sense of purpose to my mornings.

Allison Bornstein's three-word method is helpful here: Choose three adjectives — one practical, one aspirational, one emotional — that capture how you want to show up in the world and translate it through your clothes. It’s proof that a capsule wardrobe can still be full of personality.

Leek and potato soup is a staple of any Brit’s winter diet

F O O D

This shift was inspired by my boyfriend, who would happily eat chicken and rice every day of his life. I, on the other hand, see food as divine worship. I go to sleep thinking about what I’ll eat the next day.

Cooking brings me joy. Hours spent labouring over slow-cooked meals, bread, or puddings while music blares in the background is my idea of a great time. But simplifying my weekday meals — rotating the same dishes Monday through Friday and saving the weekends for experimentation — has made life easier and saved money.

Yes these are my boards, no they are not my abs… yet

N O T I O N

Now, A Life Well Loved is a place that celebrates a more analogue lifestyle, but learning how to utilise Notion properly has changed my life.

I’m a list girl. My lists used to appear everywhere — iPhone notes, the backs of Lidl receipts, or, more uselessly, the permeable walls of my brain. Consolidating my plans into one place has given me a better overview of my goals and tasks. I save my boards as widgets on my laptop and phone for easy access but, most importantly, accountability.

C O M M U N I C A T I O N

Since hitting the road, I no longer feel the need to be “in the know” about everyone and everything. I don’t need to be in WhatsApp group chats that ping every hour of the day. I don’t need to check in with every acquaintance I’ve ever made.

Instead, I’ve taken to calling people more. I know, right? Old school. I even wrote about it last year for Business Insider. Calling negates the anxiety of dealing with a mountain of unread messages, but more importantly, it allows me to feel so much closer to my friends and family.

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Have you made an effort to simplify your life lately? What practices have helped you?

If you’re new here…

Hello! I’m Hannah, a writer currently housesitting around the UK with my partner while working on my debut book. After a decade of burnout in luxury marketing in London, I’ve spent the past year travelling and exploring ways to slow down my life and savour time — while making every day as romantic as possible.

My mission is to inspire you to embrace a gentler life, one fueled by purpose, passion, and self-care. I’d be delighted if you came along for the ride.