I’m always looking for ways to simplify my life. Usually I look for ways to do it, but it doesn’t go beyond that. I find ideas to implement, then I toss them aside. God’s been working on that with me. He’s been showing me lately I have to create more margin in my life to make room for His work. Parts of it have been easy; other parts not so much.
photo credit: byronnewmedia (creative commons)
Using my “no muscle” as Henry Cloud and John Townsend refer to it, isn’t always easy. Deep down I’m a people pleaser. I enjoy serving others and making them happy. But that can wear me out and keep me from pursuing the calling God has put on my life.
I don’t want to be busy, I want to be productive. The more simple my life is, the more productive I can be.
I recently finished reading Simple Living – 30 days to less stuff and more life
, and it’s prompted me to stop waiting. In the book, author Lorilee Lippincott gives you 30 challenges, broken up daily, that if done correctly, will simplify your life. She covers everything from cleaning off your counters to tidying up your junk drawers. It’s a pretty challenging book.Everything we do isn’t always popular, but sometimes necessary. Go ahead and tweet that.
With all that said, one of the ways I’ll be simplifying my life is taking my Facebook profile back to the basics. As of today I have over 1400 friends. Really? I don’t talk to half of them. I haven’t seen many of them in over 10 years. I want to interact with my friends, not my “friends”. God is trying to make more room in my life and that includes cutting out the time I spend scrolling through my news feed, getting updated on the lives of people I barely know.
I still want to stay in touch with people, and I plan to do that through my Facebook fan page. I’ll still post quotes, blog posts, share others’ information, and more. I also understand this will offend people. But I’m being led to simplify my life, and that’s what I’m choosing to do.
I’d love your input. Do you think I’m taking simplifying too far or have you done something similar? Leave a comment below…
I totally agree with taking measures to simplify your life, and if part of that is addressing how you use Facebook, then I’m all for it. I’m in the process of restructuring how I spend my time — I have way too much unproductive time, and part of what I’m doing is limiting my time on Facebook in order to become more productive. Keep up the great work, Sundi Jo. I think you’ll be inspiring far more people than offending people. Besides, no matter what we do somebody is going to be offended, so you might as well be doing something with purpose!
Best wishes as you continue on this journey!
Thanks Clara. P.S. – I’m keeping you around. You’re too awesome to delete. 🙂
You have to do what God is calling you to do. If you feel this is His leading, then you’ve got to do it.
I simplified my facebook friends about a year ago. I am down to family (mine and hubby’s), close church friends, and a few longstanding family friends, who are close enough to be considered family. I have trouble with one family member “stalking” me, so I am considering letting my account go, as I haven’t been able discipline myself to stop commenting on other people’s posts, which that person then piggy-backs, thanks to facebook’s lack of privacy control…I love that in order to block someone from seeing everything you do, you have to ask that person to block you from their view (and trust they will do it) or completely unfriend them…either way, not an ideal solution.
Can you tell your family member to stop “stalking” you?
Just made the same decision, among others, and it was the best thing I could’ve done =) Go for it!
Thanks for the confirmation Lore.
I drastically cut my friends list about a month ago. Best thing I ever did. A week before I started unfriending, I posted that I was planning to do that and if I unfriended someone who really wanted to stay in touch for them to re-friend me. To date, I’ve only had one person ask to be friends again!
Maybe I should try that before I start “cutting” them out. I’ve unfriended 151 so far. Watch out, I’m on a roll!
I’ve seriously considered doing the same, but haven’t yet. It must feel good to take back part of your life again!
It is feeling good Donya, thanks.
I think it’s totally your call, and you should do what you feel called to do.
Thanks Jim. For $29.95 I’ll keep ya around. 🙂 J/K
Ouch! 🙂 Haha
You have my full support as always!
Thanks Melinda, I appreciate that.
I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but whatever it is it’s definitely working. I feel challenged and motivated by your posts lately. Thank you!
Thanks so much. God’s opening up doors and I’m trying to be obedient. 🙂