Let’s be honest...it’s pretty hard to remain calm all the time. I’ve always admired people who respond so calmly when things seem chaotic. One thing that’s been helpful for me to feel more calm is starting with my external space to bring inner calm. When the world is spinning and we feel the urge to control things, one thing we can control is how we feel in our space. This often starts with decluttering and organizing but at a time when some are finding it even harder to get things done, here are some quick tips to start. Try experimenting with one or several and see what works best for you to bring in the calm:
ROOM BY ROOM TIPS
Kitchen - Meal plan, make grocery lists and stick to them, take inventory and practice first in, first out to reduce food waste. At the end of the night, clear and wipe down counters and wash and put dishes away.
Bedroom - Each morning make the bed to start your day off. Even if this room doubles as a different space - keep this room calm and cozy to create an end of day sanctuary.
Bathroom - As much as possible, keep counters clear from excessive products. After using what you already have, try switching to products the whole family can use in order to reduce the number of items to store.
Home office - Whether this is an actual room, your dining table or a makeshift workspace - be sure to clear paper clutter and clean up your workspace at the end of each day. Try working by a window if possible too.
Living room/dining room - Since these are often multi-use rooms, create designated zones for lounging, playing, reading, working, exercising and put things away after use. Opt for furniture with good storage, use baskets, bins or mobile storage such as a cart to clear and reset the space.
Entryway - Have a place for outerwear, bags, shoes, incoming paper/mail. Make a plan to go through the paper daily if possible or weekly.
OTHER TIPS
Visualize - Think of a space that feels calm when you wake up to it and walk into it. How would that make you feel? Keep this vision and feeling in mind when you’re not feeling motivated.
+/- Digital - Unsubscribe to catalogs and opt for digital whenever available. Clear your email inbox using Unroll.me and try to keep away from time-stealing, distracting apps and excessive news consumption.
Other - These tips can be applied to any space at any time:
Relax - Use a candle or diffuser to work and relax by and play some good music.
Get creative - If you feel the need to mix things up and get excited about a space, get creative and reuse furniture and/or decor from one space to another.
Maintenance - Tidy up at the end of the day, put things back in their place and come up with a maintenance plan and systems for everyone in your home to follow.
Keep it simple - If you’re feeling overwhelmed keep goals small and do away with perfection. Carve out pockets of time to declutter and organize (15, 20, 30 mins.) - this can make a huge difference over time.
Ok I will admit that was a lot but let me remind you to start small. If you're ready to take the next step towards a decluttered, organized space and calm that’s easy to maintain, contact me here. *This post was a guest post I wrote for The Bold Collaborative.
Comments