Life only feels complicated when we're pulled in too many directions at once.
We chase happiness, health, purpose—and wind up overwhelmed. I know that feeling way too well. Before I got serious about turning my life around, I felt like I was constantly behind. Too many bad habits chaining me down: binge eating, endless screen time, excuses for days. Everything looked like a mess, because it was.
But the truth is, life gets a lot simpler when you learn a few basic rules and stick to them.
These are the 7 rules that helped me find peace, clarity, and purpose. I still come back to them every day. I hope they help you too.
1. Do the Hard Thing First
Most days, we wake up and avoid the hard stuff. We tell ourselves we’ll do it later—but later usually never comes.
Whether it’s a workout, prayer, chores, or a tough phone call, knocking out the hardest task first removes the mental cloud over the rest of your day.
I used to start my mornings scrolling on my phone, eating junk, procrastinating. I flipped that by starting the day with prayer, journaling, and a workout. Hard at first—but life-changing. The momentum carried into everything else.
Try this: pick the one thing you’ve been avoiding. Do it before anything else tomorrow morning. That single win can shift your entire day.
2. Keep a Short List
Don’t overwhelm yourself with 20 tasks. You’ll give up before you begin.
I live by a short list now. At most—3 big things in a day. That’s the limit.
This rule came out of years of failure trying to hustle harder. I thought nonstop grinding would fix my problems, but it just kept me exhausted and unmotivated.
Now, I focus on what matters most. If I only complete 2 quality hours of deep work, hit the gym, and connect with God, that’s a solid day.
Keep it simple. Less is more when you do it well.
3. Practice Daily Gratitude
Gratitude changed everything for me. Not all at once—but gradually, I stopped focusing on what I didn’t have and started appreciating what I did.
During the hardest parts of my weight loss journey, when I was tempted to quit, I forced myself to find three things to be thankful for. Even simple stuff like clean water, a good walk, or one more day to try.
That mindset helped me stay balanced and positive. Gratitude brings perspective. It makes life feel full—even when it’s hard.
Start today. Write down three things you’re grateful for before bed. Do it again tomorrow. Watch what happens.
4. Cut What Drains You
You can’t live a simple life while carrying around what’s weighing you down.
That could mean junk food, draining relationships, toxic social media, or bad habits you keep excusing.
I had to cut gaming, mindless scrolling, junk food binges, and late-night YouTube spirals. Not because I hated fun, but because those things stole my time, energy, and peace. They kept me in a loop I couldn’t escape from until I faced the truth—they weren’t helping me become who I wanted to be.
If something makes you feel worse after doing it, let it go.
Try this: pick one thing this week that’s been draining you. Eliminate it or reduce it. Give yourself the gift of clarity.
5. Nourish Your Body with Real Food
This one sounds basic, but it’s huge. What you put in your body affects your energy, your mood, and your mindset.
I lost over 110 pounds—but not from starving or extreme diets. I stopped inhaling fast food and soda, and I learned to enjoy simple, real food. Eggs, vegetables, fruit, meat, rice—basic stuff that made me feel human again.
Food was a comfort for a long time—but it was false comfort. Real comfort came from feeling strong, clean, and clear again.
Keep it simple. Eat food that grew from the ground or used to roam it. Drink water. Don’t overcomplicate it.
6. Leave Space to Hear from God
Noise can become your whole life if you let it. Podcasts, news, texts, work, distractions 24/7.
But silence—real silence—is where you can actually hear what matters.
During my journey, I started leaving intentional time for stillness. Some of that time is spent praying, reading Scripture, or sitting quietly.
That silence reveals what’s hiding in your heart. It can be uncomfortable, but it’s honest. And the honesty brings healing.
Whether you’re religious or not, make time to unplug. Just sit. Breathe. Listen.
God speaks into silence. Give Him the space to speak to you.
7. Celebrate Small Wins
We think change has to be dramatic—but real growth is slow and steady.
I didn’t lose 110 pounds in one season. Or break 15-year bad habits overnight. I saw progress when I started celebrating small wins. Drinking water instead of soda. Saying no to that second plate. Getting 30 minutes of work done when I didn’t want to sit down at all.
Each win builds confidence. Don’t wait for a finish line. Celebrate the little steps along the way.
Here’s something you can try: tonight, write down one thing you did well today. Just one. Tomorrow, do it again. Those tiny wins build massive momentum.
Keep it Simple, Friend
Life doesn’t have to be noisy and overwhelming.
These 7 rules helped me strip away what didn’t matter so I could focus on what does. They gave me peace. Purpose. Joy. And a lot of hard, honest days in between.
You don’t have to follow them all at once. Just start with one. Keep it going. Then add another.
Which rule speaks to you the most right now?
Pick it. Practice it. And just by doing that, you’re already living a simpler, stronger life.
You’ve got this.
– Stephen Montagne
Founder of GoodExistence.com
