Welcome to this week’s issue of Weekly Simplicity Tips.

This week was a hard week for many people everywhere. We spent part of this weekend looking at places we often hike to see how flooding has damaged so many areas. May you feel peace this coming week.

Monday morning we were enjoying the beauty of the butterflies at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI.

Photos by Brea Dargis

1. Watch must less news this week.
2. Where can you turn down the noise in your life?
3. Do at least one things slower than usual. How did it feel?
4. Don’t let ego and public opinion keep you from seeing the truth about what’s really important in your life.
5. Contemplate something in nature.
6. Take two things off tomorrow’s to do list.
7. Plan for Mother’s Day.

Get into financial integrity

Starts May 13

This class will help you:

• get your finances in order
• start saving
• create a plan to get out of debt
• consolidate, automate and simplify your system
• create a simple spending plan

Each class will bring you closer to financial integrity. And you’ll find you are not alone.

Let me help you simplify your money systems: http://www.encouragingcoach.com/programs-moneyclass.html

Holiday time is often stress time. Here is a reminder for some stress relievers:

• Decide what’s really important to you in life and for this holiday season.
• Use a family Google calendar or wall calendar to coordinate things
• Use your watch or cell phone and leave 10 minutes early
• Use your voicemail instead of answering each phone call as it comes in
• Use a bulletin board or erasable whiteboard for a family message center and shopping lists
• Get enough sleep, especially when it seems you have too much to do
• Think first before you do something to decide which is the easiest way
• Don’t buy high maintenance items
• Simplify your eating and cooking habits
• Plan your day the night before and lay out what you will need
• Avoid crowds, shop at odd times
• Say no to things that you don’t have the time or energy for
• Declutter
• Use music to put you in a different mood

What are your favorite stress relievers?