Hello Friend

One thing that sets unbusy people apart is that they are crystal clear about their purpose. They’ve taken the time to figure out what really matters to them—what legacy they want to leave, what goals they want to pursue, and how they want to spend their days.

When you know your purpose, you gain clarity. It becomes easier to filter out distractions because you know what to say yes to—and more importantly, what to say NO to.

Take a moment to ask yourself:

• What’s my mission in this season of life?
• What goals truly align with the life I want to create?

When you’re guided by a clear purpose, you’ll find it easier to resist the countless opportunities and demands pulling at you daily. You’ll stay focused on what matters most.

This one’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s empowering. Busyness is a choice. Yes, there are external demands on your time—jobs, parenting, commitments—but ultimately, you decide how to structure your days.

Even when life feels overwhelming, you still have the ability to take control of your schedule. Maybe that means saying no to extra obligations that don’t align with your priorities. Or maybe it means reassessing whether the things keeping you “busy” are really worth the energy you’re giving them.

You are not a victim of busyness. You are in control.

We live in a culture that treats rest like it’s a luxury, when really, it’s a necessity. Rest is not laziness—it’s what allows you to recharge and show up as the best version of yourself for the people and things you care about most.

Think about it: Rest improves our health, strengthens relationships, reduces stress, and even makes us more productive. But if we don’t intentionally make space for it, rest gets crowded out by the busyness of life.

Here’s your reminder to build rest into your routine:

• Take five minutes in the morning to pray, meditate or just breathe deeply before diving into the day.
• Schedule downtime for yourself and your family, whether that’s a Sunday afternoon at home or a full Sabbath day of rest.
• Guard these moments of margin as fiercely as you would any other important commitment.

I am usually in bed by 9 and natural wake up around 5:00, that might change a little on weekends, but I make 8 hours a priority as I know the significance of sleep and the role it plays in all areas of our lives.

Rest is not a reward for finishing your to-do list. It’s the fuel that keeps you moving forward with intention and clarity.

Remember, busyness is not inevitable—it’s a decision you make. And when you choose to prioritize purpose, embrace your power to say no, and make rest a non-negotiable, you can unbusy your life and create space for what truly matters.

So let me ask you: What’s one thing you can let go of this week to create more margin in your life? Put it into practice, and see how it shifts your mindset and your days. I can’t wait to hear!

God Bless!

Monica

Hey Friend

If you want to simplify your life in 2025, you will want to start with these 5 steps.

1. You need to determine what is really important to you. I think this is the best place to start because if you are unable to envision how you TRUELY want to live your life, you will just stay on the chaotic hamster wheel you have been on and won’t ever get off. You need direction to know where you are going.
2. Next, Look at where your time is spent. Compare that to your values and what is important to you. If this is off, you will be stressed out all the time and it will be hard to get to a simple life with such overwhelm. This may be a real eye opening experience for you and this is what you will need to work on. Once your time matches up with your values, you will start to feel the peace in your life.
3. After that, you will ask yourself what do you want for your life? Is it clear? Do you want to continue to live as you do now? Does your life feel full of happiness or do you need to make some changes? Are you working for material items or are you working because you absolutely love what you do? I absolutely love being a nurse, but I enjoy being casual so I can pick up around my family's schedule. My family is a higher priority than work, so living a simple life is putting time with them above time working for someone else. This is another reason I started my own businesses-some of my values are freedom and flexibility and I didn’t get that with a 9-5 job.
4. Next figure out what you need to do to help you move closer to that dream life. Little by little, you can make changes to get to that life you want to live every single day. It does take intention and it can be scary to make changes, but you will be so happy if you are following God’s will and what he wants for you and not your own. Prayer is the ultimate tool in this process.
5. Lastly, you need to know WHY you want to live a simpler life and be more intentional. Is it because you are tired of being stressed out and overwhelmed? Is it because you want peace? Once you know why, you are more likely to make lasting change.

Make sure you go through these questions and I would love to hear where you are planning to make changes!

Make God your first priority & make sure you are taking time to listen!

Website and Waitlist: Claimingsimplicity.com

Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com

Love Ya!

Monica

Hey Friend!

This might be our last episode of 2024, so thank you for joining me! It is all about the simplicity of our homestead, update on simple and intentional living and what I have planned for you in 2025!

I pray your simple journey in life is to put Jesus first, then family and whatever God has for you to keep your priorities in order!

Here are the links to follow for more!!!!! Please follow and subscribe!

Join the free challenge -> https://stan.store/ClaimingSimplicity/

You Tube -> https://www.youtube.com/@claimingsimplicity/

Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/

Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com

Blessing & Merry Christmas!

Monica

Hello Friend

Want an extra income -> https://www.claimingsimplicity.co/

Do you find that every time you go to the grocery store, you spend more than you budget? The food prices continue to rise and I want to give you some simple ideas today to start saving on groceries right now. Depending on where you live in the world, you may be able to start a garden and that is my #1 way to save money on food. You can have healthy food without any pesticides when you grow it yourself and that can sustain you for several months of the year depending on your season and how much you can preserve.

We try to eat seasonally as much as possible to save money on food, but that wasn’t always the case for me when we didn’t source our own chicken, eggs, pork and milk. Another thing that saves our family alot of money is hunting as we usually get several deer and sometimes bear. In the summer and winter we also catch as much fresh water fish as possible too.

Enjoy the episode and let me know your favorite ways to save money on food!

Monica

Email me at monica@claimingsimplicity.com

Hey Friend

Simple Passive Income-> https://www.claimingsimplicity.co/

Take a moment to think about this: What would your life look like if you had complete freedom over your time, resources, and choices? Maybe it’s more time with your family, the ability to give more generously, or the freedom to travel.

In the Bible Proverbs 29:18 says, Where there is no vision, the people perish. It’s so important that we define our vision before anything else, because without it, we’re just going through the motions.

Now that you've got a vision, it’s time to create an income stream that supports that vision. I’ve talked before about the power of passive income, and I’ll say it again—having an income stream that doesn’t trade time for money is a game changer. In fact, I believe we all should have multiple income streams. I will do a podcast all about that soon!

Whether it's an online business, digital marketing, or a system you can work on just 2 hours a day, the point is to build something that gives you both income and freedom. I will link my favorite income stream in the show notes if you want to check it out! No pressure in this business at all, but I’m here if you do have any questions at all!

Matthew 25:14-30—the parable of the talents—teaches us the value of investing our resources wisely. You’ve been given skills, talents, and opportunities to create wealth not just for yourself, but for God’s Kingdom.

Your business, when aligned with God’s purpose, will bless not only your family but others around you. To me, it is such a blessing to be able to help others~especially in the economy we are living in now.

Abundance isn't about more; it’s about better. It’s about focusing on what truly matters. Step three is to simplify your life. Take inventory of how you spend your time, your energy, and your money. What can you cut out that is cluttering your life?

I love how the Bible has so many good verses about how we are to live.

God has given us resources to manage, whether it’s our time, money, or relationships. Step four is about stewardship.

Proverbs 21:5 tells us, The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

This means creating a budget, planning how to grow your resources, and making decisions that are thoughtful and prayerful. When you become a good steward of the resources God has given you, you’ll see those resources multiply, and you’ll be in a better position to bless others.

Finally, step five is where everything comes together—use your abundance to impact others. Abundance isn’t meant to stop with us. God blesses us so that we can bless others.

2 Corinthians 9:8 says, And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Once you’re living in abundance, ask yourself how you can use your resources, time, and energy to serve others. Maybe it's supporting a ministry, mentoring someone, or giving generously to causes that are close to your heart."

Remember, true abundance comes when we align our lives with God’s purpose, and we take intentional steps toward creating freedom, not just for ourselves but for those around us.

Have a blessed friend!

~Monica

Hey Friend!

Simple Passive Income-> https://www.claimingsimplicity.co/

Today, we’re diving into the heart of homestead life with three practical tips to help you simplify your daily routine. Whether you're raising animals, growing your own food, or just trying to balance cooking from scratch, homeschooling and homestead tasks with family life, this episode is for you.

Tip 1: Streamline Chores by Creating a Rotating Schedule

One of the most common challenges on the homestead is managing the never-ending list of daily chores. The key to simplifying your routine is to stop treating everything as a daily emergency. Instead, break your chores down into manageable chunks by creating a rotating schedule.

For example, feed the animals and collect eggs daily, but stagger larger tasks like garden maintenance, deep cleaning animal pens, moving fencing or preserving food. This helps you focus on only what needs to be done each day, rather than trying to do everything at once. It’s also a way to involve the whole family, assigning specific days to different tasks.

Think of it like meal planning—once it’s written out, it’s one less thing to think about."

Tip 2: Invest in Time-Saving Tools

"One of the easiest ways to simplify your homesteading life is by investing in the right tools. Not every task should be manual—there are tools and technologies that can save hours of time and energy. A good drip irrigation system, an automatic chicken door, or even something as simple as a wagon for hauling feed can drastically cut down on time spent doing repetitive tasks. I know one thing that will be priority next year is setting up a no maintenance garden because the no till option did not work out so well for me, but at least I tried!

This may seem like an upfront expense, but remember: time is money, especially when you’re balancing so many responsibilities on the homestead. What tools can you implement today to shave off 10-20 minutes of your daily routine?

Tip 3: Group Similar Tasks Together

Another great way to simplify your homestead routine is by grouping similar tasks together. Instead of running back and forth across your property all day, make the most of your time by batching your activities. If you're headed to the garden to harvest vegetables, bring along any tools you might need for weeding or mulching. When you check on your animals in the morning, bring their feed and fresh water with you.

Grouping tasks can be a huge time saver and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by the number of tasks that come with homesteading. Plus, it helps you stay focused and more efficient in everything you do and I am the queen of streamlining and simplifying. I’m sure my husband will be happy when our set up here is complete…..I’m not sure it ever will be completely, but if something isn’t running smooth or isn’t efficient -especially in the long winters we have here-I change it up to be more simplified. We will be going into winter with at least 12 piglets-unless we deliver anymore from a pig that got in with the boar 1 day, but so far she isn’t looking pregnant. We also have 5 grown pigs, 13 goats, and about 30or so chickens, so it has to be efficient with this amount of animals.

Homesteading doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a few simple strategies, like a rotating schedule, time-saving tools, and grouping tasks, you can lighten your load and enjoy the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to build. Simplifying isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about working smarter, not harder, so you can spend more time doing the things that matter most.

Thank you for joining me today. If you found these tips helpful, be sure to share this episode with a fellow homesteader, and stay tuned for more content on simplifying your life while creating a more sustainable future.

~Monica

Hello Friend

Info to change your financial future -> https://www.claimingsimplicity.co/

I pray this podcast reaches ears all around the world to create a better life for yourself, so I know that you are here for a reason.

Last week, I listened to a friend tell me she couldn’t stay home with her baby because she had to work, so she will have to put this child in daycare even though she would love to be home raising her own kids. I have been there! I remember when I had 3 kids under 3 in daycare and the mom guilt was so real. I cried when my 3 year old son chased me out of the daycare’s driveway one day and that is when I made significant changes in my family’s life.

We simplified and I started working from home so I could bring in an income, but also be with my kids. That was a great option then, but I sure wish I would have known about working an online business way back then because I was still trading time for money then. That was over 25 years ago, so that is why I am a simple living expert~it was years of trials! If I would have stayed in that same accounting job throughout the years, I would have had many regrets and missed out on many memories and milestones. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want regrets as I age. I had to go from what is called normal (working a job full time) into creating a path that some others may have thought was a mistake. Now I am enjoying freedom and time with Grandkids during the week that I wouldn’t have been able to if I was still in that dead end job trading time for money. Life is short~make the best of it!

I wouldn’t change anything in my past as it has made me who I am and we live a pretty extraordinary life, so I have no complaints, but I realized that if you have a mindset to change, you will change your life. If you keep doing what you have been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting. It takes courage and a positive mindset that can take anything negative and turn it into a positive thought.

If you are someone that thinks they can’t do something, you will get that outcome! You get what you think about!

This week, I want you to think of something you don’t think you can do, and think about and start visioning yourself doing that one thing. Put a note in your pocket or something that can remind you to think about that positively throughout the day and continue this every single day until you start making solutions. You can change your life by changing your

thoughts and I am super excited for what is to come for you friend if you put this into practice.

Just something I was thinking about today, so wanted to share it here.

Have a beautiful rest of the week and put this into action!!

~Monica