Sometimes the smallest, simplest decisions make the biggest difference in your sanity!
What are Simple Decisions?
Simple Decisions are the go-to routines, habits, and repeatable choices that reduce the number of things you have to think about every day. They help you declutter your brain, create consistency, and ease decision fatigue, especially when life feels chaotic.
What Are Simple Decisions?
Simple Decisions are intentional choices you make once and stick with for as long as they serve you. They’re often small, repeatable actions or go-to routines that help you avoid having to re-decide the same things day after day.
You might decide to wear the same outfit every Monday, always park on the left side of the grocery store, or give the same birthday gift to every kid this year. These aren’t rigid rules. They’re flexible, stress-reducing habits that make your life easier.
Why Simple Decisions Matter
We make thousands of tiny decisions every day. What to eat, what to wear, what to clean first, whether to go or stay. Add that to the mental load of caregiving, parenting, and keeping a household running, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel exhausted.
Simple Decisions lighten that load. They reduce decision fatigue, free up mental energy, and help create a sense of calm and consistency in your day. They’re not about being perfect, they’re about making room for peace.
Examples of Simple Decisions You Can Test Out Today
Here are 50 examples of Simple Decisions you can try in your home and daily routine. These are not fancy systems or strict schedules—they’re simply choices you make once to bring a little more ease into your everyday life.
Some of them might feel so small you wonder if they’ll even make a difference—but trust me, they add up. Just like clutter builds one item at a time, peace builds one small decision at a time, too.
You don’t have to do them all. In fact, please don’t try to! Just pick one or two that speak to you and test them this week. Notice how it feels. If it helps, keep it. If not, toss it. These types of decisions are unique to you. Progress over perfection, always!
🧺 Household
- Run the dishwasher every night, even if it’s not full.
- Fold laundry straight from the dryer to avoid overflowing baskets.
- Use a sticky note on your washer with your go-to settings, so anyone in the house can help without asking.
- Create an entryway solution for shoes (it could be a basket, a boot tray, a shelf, etc.) Limit how many shoes one person can have by the door.
- Wipe bathroom counters every morning after brushing teeth. (I love the Method wipes, as I feel OK with my kids using them.)
- Keep routine cleaning supplies in each bathroom to save time (like cleaning wipes or microfiber cloths).
- Vacuum every Friday morning—before the weekend hits.
- Use the same brand of toilet paper and stockpile when on sale.
- Keep trash bags at the bottom of the bin for easy swapping.
- Put a small laundry basket in every bedroom.
🍽️ Meals & Kitchen
- Taco Tuesday—or another themed dinner night.
- Same breakfast Monday–Friday to simplify mornings.
- Use paper plates on Fridays to give yourself a break.
- Keep one “emergency meal” always stocked (pasta, frozen pizza, etc.).
- Grocery shop the same day each week.
- Meal plan on Sundays (or pick a set day that works for you).
- Always make double and freeze half when cooking soups or casseroles.
- Store all takeout menus in one drawer or binder.
- Keep kitchen counters clear—less mess, less stress.
- Assign kids a weekly kitchen job (Monday = dishwasher, etc.).
🧠 Mental Load & Planning
- Always park on the left (or right) side of the grocery store.
- Set your purse, keys, and phone in the same spot every time.
- Set the coffee maker or fill your tea kettle the night before.
- Pick one day for errands to avoid multiple trips.
- Keep a running shopping list on the fridge or in your phone.
- Keep gift cards and stamps in a labeled envelope or address book.
- Set up auto-pay for regular bills.
- Sort the mail every day as it comes in.
- Keep a stash of thank-you cards in your desk.
- Plan outfits the night before (or every Sunday for the week).
👚 Clothing & Personal Care
- Create a “weekly uniform” (like jeans and a cardigan on Thursdays).
- Only buy one brand of socks and underwear to avoid sorting.
- Lay out clothes for the next day every night.
- Keep a spare deodorant in the car or purse.
- Always wear the same pair of shoes for errands.
- Hang your church outfit back up Sunday night to rewear on Monday.
- Choose simple hairstyles for busy days (e.g., braid Tuesdays).
- Buy multiples of the same comfy T-shirt you love.
- Declutter makeup to a small daily-use bag.
- Use one tote bag for returns and keep it by the door.
🎁 Gifting & Social Life
- Use one go-to gift for kid birthday parties all year.
- Buy teacher gifts in bulk at the start of each semester.
- Use the same card for all occasions, and write your own note inside.
- Set reminders for birthdays on your phone, and have them repeat yearly.
- Keep a small gift closet or drawer with generic gift options.
- Always say no to invites on your “rest day”. (Have a rest day!)
- Pick one go-to potluck dish and stick with it.
- Use a go-to babysitter (or have a backup list).
- Send thank-you notes the first Sunday of the month.
- Host the same easy gathering each season (like chili night in fall).
Choose Easier, Choose Simple Decisions
Remember: You don’t need to follow all 50. Just pick a few that feel doable and helpful.
Simple Decisions are about lightening your mental load and making your days run smoother, without perfection or pressure. They’re small steps, but they add up to real peace over time. Think of them like mental decluttering. The more little things you take off your plate, the more energy you have for what truly matters: your family, your health, your joy.
Try one this week. Pay attention to how it feels. If it makes your life a little easier, a little calmer, a little more predictable in the best way, then that’s a win.
Simple Decisions: The Secret to a Calmer, More Organized Day