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Practical wisdom on work, money, health, and relationships
The international bestseller How to Simplify Your Life offers concrete advice on achieving happiness in a time of economic contraction and uncertainty. The book explains, in seven steps, how to get rid of unnecessary stuff and unload the burdens of modern life—and points the way back to what we know is important but have forgotten. By following the path outlined in the book, readers will learn to organize their time (and their desks), change the way they think about money, improve their health and relationships, and find meaning in their lives.
The book shows readers how to:
| Preface | ix | |
| The Way of Simplification | xi | |
| Step 1 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Your Things | 1 |
| Simplifying Idea 1 | Sort Out Your Workplace | 4 |
| Simplifying Idea 2 | Unpile Your Office | 6 |
| Simplifying Idea 3 | Clear Your Environment | 17 |
| Simplifying Idea 4 | Overcome Your Forgetfulness | 38 |
| Step 2 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Your Finances | 43 |
| Simplifying Idea 5 | Get Rid of Money Blockages | 45 |
| Simplifying Idea 6 | Break the Money Spell | 49 |
| Simplifying Idea 7 | Get Rid of Your Debts | 51 |
| Simplifying Idea 8 | Stop Worrying About Security | 58 |
| Simplifying Idea 9 | Work Out Your Own Concept of Wealth | 69 |
| Step 3 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Your Time | 77 |
| Simplifying Idea 10 | Separate Your Actions | 80 |
| Simplifying Idea 11 | Rid Your Life of Perfectionism | 82 |
| Simplifying Idea 12 | Relieve Strain by Firmly Saying "No" | 93 |
| Simplifying Idea 13 | Slow Down Your Life | 98 |
| Simplifying Idea 14 | Escape Now and Then | 125 |
| Step 4 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Your Health | 129 |
| Simplifying Idea 15 | Get Your Body to Produce the Chemicals That Cause Happiness | 132 |
| Simplifying Idea 16 | Unleash Your Enthusiasm | 135 |
| Simplifying Idea 17 | Take the Strain out of Physical Fitness | 138 |
| Simplifying Idea 18 | Purify Your Body | 143 |
| Simplifying Idea 19 | The Best Way to Relax | 150 |
| Step 5 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Your Relationships | 159 |
| Simplifying Idea 20 | Use Networking to End Isolation | 161 |
| Simplifying Idea 21 | Untangle Your Family Ties | 168 |
| Simplifying Idea 22 | Prepare for Your Funeral | 171 |
| Simplifying Idea 23 | Weaken Feelings of Envy | 173 |
| Simplifying Idea 24 | Let Go of Anger | 177 |
| Step 6 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Your Life Partnership | 183 |
| Simplifying Idea 25 | Develop Your Relationship | 185 |
| Simplifying Idea 26 | Take the Drama out of Your Discussions | 190 |
| Simplifying Idea 27 | Balance the Relationship Between Work and Private Life | 195 |
| Simplifying Idea 28 | Unlock Your Sexual Energy | 198 |
| Simplifying Idea 29 | Make Joint Decisions for Your Old Age Now | 201 |
| Step 7 of Your Life Pyramid | Simplify Yourself | 205 |
| Simplifying Idea 30 | Discover Your Goal in Life | 208 |
| Simplifying Idea 31 | Develop Your Strengths | 210 |
| Simplifying Idea 32 | Relieve Your Conscience | 212 |
| Simplifying Idea 33 | Understand Yourself | 215 |
| Our Simplifying To-Do List: Get Out and Go! | 239 | |
| Reaching Your Goal | 241 | |
| Get Out of Your Cocoon | 243 | |
| The Butterfly Phases of Your Life | 243 | |
| Use the Butterfly Principles | 245 | |
| The Five Ways to Develop | 246 | |
| Recommended Reading | 249 | |
| Index | 253 |
Anonymous
Posted September 16, 2004
Do you ever wish that you were born with an owner's manual? Well, Tiki Kustenmacher, simplicity expert, and Dr. Lothar J. Seiwert, professional coach, offer a digestible life guide that reads like an operating primer for the human spirit. Livened up with Kustenmacher's cute illustrations, each chapter tackles a different facet of life, such as managing clutter, taming finances and establishing goals. The practical tips from these bite-size chapters are easy to digest and implement. Their recipe for a simplified life includes valuable suggestions for handling difficult emotions (jealousy) and life events (marriage, death). Although the text is fun to read, the authors skip around and circle back to different subjects in each chapter. Tighter organization would have made the book's counsel easier to track. And, each chapter begins with an unnecessary, somewhat annoying 'dream of simplicity' visualization. Just skip those little appetizers and dive right into the main course. Also check out the excellent reading list at the back of the book. We recommend this manual to pack rats, workaholics and all those who would welcome simplicity as a relief from life's chaos.
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Overview
Practical wisdom on work, money, health, and relationships
The international bestseller How to Simplify Your Life offers concrete advice on achieving happiness in a time of economic contraction and uncertainty. The book explains, in seven steps, how to get rid of unnecessary stuff and unload the burdens of modern life—and points the way back to what we know is important but have forgotten. By following the path outlined in the book, readers will learn to organize their time (and...