elimination

[shirt & pants: Forever 21 on sale forever ago, blazer: thrifted, shoes: Target on sale, necklace: c/o CCY Designs]
i thought i’d do a 30x30 under 30 update along with the post. you know, kill two birds with one stone style.

at the beginning of this week i was nervous that i wouldn't have enough to say about simplifying my life.
now, i'm afraid i have too much to say and i'm sad to see that this week is already over!
but don't worry, i'll probably still talk about it some more from time to time.

lately i've realized how much my life is completely filled with distractions.
facebook
twitter
radios
tv
computers
iphone
even blogging.
it's kind of disturbing when i really think about all the different things that take up my time that are really unnecessary.

besides the computer {which is kind of obvious for everyone, really} my phone is maybe-not-quite-so-surprisingly one of my biggest distractions.
i am constantly checking emails and facebook and twitter and instagram and google reader and playing boggle and monopoly...
i mean really, it's ridiculous.

after listing it all out it really does make it sound really crazy that i'm doing all those things on my phone during the day.
it's kind of disgusting actually.
and it really needs to stop. 

i've tried to limit my phone use during the day while i'm home with Elijah. 
::i hardly ever reply to emails on my phone unless it needs an immediate answer. and even then i would rather wait until i get on my computer [during nap times] to be able to respond.
::i've cut down on the number of games i'm addicted to which i'm proud about.
::i have limited my instagramming time down to checking it only every few days and only at night.
::and i have tried to limit the amount of times i check facebook or twitter on my phone because they are such a HUGE time waster. i was actually just thinking the other day the purpose of facebook or twitter. i mean think about it, we sit there and stare at a screen just watching people's statuses update? why? why do we have to know what people are thinking constantly? i mean, i like keeping in touch with my friends but i don't need to spend 2 hours just watching updates change every 3 minutes. not worth it.

there are times where i have thought to myself,
"why are you making time to play boggle before bed when you could be reading your scriptures?"
and it honestly made me ashamed.
ashamed that i am putting menial, non-consequential activities over strengthening my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

so i have decided to turn that around.
when i feel like i want to just sit, relax, and see how many times i can make the computer bankrupt in Monopoly, i have opened up my LDS Gospel Library app instead and started reading. {which is one thing the iphone is good for, reading in bed} 

i'm not trying to say i'm perfect at this cause i'm not.
i know that i struggle with consistently reading my scriptures.
but when i consciously put away these distractions to study things that are virtuous, lovely, and of good report, i have realize how much smoother my life seems to go.

i am much happier.
i have more patience.
i have more energy.
i feel more motivated.
my life is quite honestly more simple and joyful when i put aside meaningless distractions and put my family and the Lord first.

now it’s your turn!
do you have any tips for simplifying your life?
what ways are you prioritizing your life to make you more happy?
link up your posts below!
[can be past or present posts]

and be sure to read the other posts on prioritizing here, here and here.