Decluttering While You Prepare For The Holidays
I’m all about helping you (and myself) simplify the holidays. It’s a time that can often make you feel overrun by things to do and overrun by STUFF! It’s a time of giving and often receiving items that you don’t necessarily need or want. You need to have a plan for your home as you move into the holiday season to get control of what’s coming in, as well as what’s staying. Here’s 3 tips to help you declutter while you prepare for the holidays with ease.
1. Declutter as you decorate.
Of course, if decorating for the holidays is not your jam, you can feel free to skip this section. No sweat!
As you start pulling things out to shift your home to feel ready for the holiday season, I want you to take an objective look at each item you pull out.
Here’s some questions to ask yourself about each item:
Is the item in good shape?
Do I still like the item, is it still my taste?
Do I feel excited to pull this item out + see it in my home for potentially months on end?
Will this add more joy + not stress to my home while it’s out?
Is it worth the space it takes up to both store before the holidays + the space it takes up in my home while it is out during the holidays?
Do I still have the space to store this item when it’s not in use?
Now with these in mind, edit as you decorate for the holidays. Donate items locally in good shape that someone could joyfully use in their own home. You can also offer them to friends and family or put a free bin down at your curb (not on a trash day)! Also, aim to not bring in anything new to your holiday decor unless it is a 1 to 1 swap.
2. Declutter your outerwear.
Think jackets, coats, sweaters, gloves, scarves, boots and cold weather accessories. Most of us deal with some sort of seasonal weather change. Even if it’s not a big change (like my sister who lives in Miami), this is still a good time to check in on light jackets, raincoats, rain boots, etc.
What to ask yourself about your outerwear:
Does it fit properly?
Am I comfortable in it?
Do I look forward to wearing it?
How practical is it to wear + do I actually wear it?
Does the piece pair well with the season of life I’m in?
Does it need to be set aside for repair or alterations?
For items that are in good shape that you’d like to part with, consider local groups who have people in need of these essentials/basics for the temperature changes. I drive by a church close to my home that puts out a coat rack during the colder months where you can drop off a coat or pick one up if you’re in need. I LOVE this idea. ‘Coats for Kids’ might be in your area (another great one). You can find more donation resources and ideas here:
3. Declutter the extras.
I know this sounds vague but I’m going to get this clarified and dialed in for you quickly. I am talking about all the things making your home and life feel heavy, especially around the holidays. They need to go.
Here’s some examples things you can remove now:
Outgrown toys, books + clothing.
Extra decor around your home that you no longer enjoy (look room by room - think art, pillows, blankets, knick knacks, items given to you don’t use or like)
Items covering your fridge (edit to as minimal items as possible).
Things that you’re holding onto that have a negative memory or association with them.
Countertop clutter (items that need to be relocated, tossed, recycled, or simply put away).
Emails cluttering up your inbox (take a few minutes to unsubscribe from marketing emails from people/places/business you no longer want to hear from).
Aside from these tangible and digital areas to declutter in your home, it’s important to address old ideas, thought patterns or traditions that don’t suit your current season of life (this is a mental decluttering strategy - remove thinking causing stress/overwhelm unnecessarily, create helpful/healthy routines that will bring joy and value to your home, life and the people around you). I really like the approach on this post on decluttering your mind and keeping it that way by Simple Home | Simple Life blog.
Decluttering before and during the holidays will help everyone in the home clarify what’s most important, gain clarity on what all is actually in the home, and have clear direction on any needs/wants to communicate with others around you who want to gift something to you. Be sure to ask and listen to others on their needs as well so you aren’t adding clutter to someone else’s holiday. I hope you’ll find these decluttering tips helpful as you prepare for the holidays and move into this new season.
If you’d like MORE HELP decluttering and resetting your home, here’s a few great places to start.
No B.S. Guide To Decluttering Parents + Kids Guide To Decluttering
Free Declutter Guide Learn the basics of Decluttering Organizing Basics
3 Things You're Doing That Sabotage Your Decluttering Efforts (+ what to do instead)
I have a lot of repeat conversations with family, friends and new clients about how they put effort into decluttering in their home, only to see clutter come back with vengeance. I’m here to help you take back control of the decluttering in your home so your effort isn’t wasted.
Kitchen counters can harbor a lot of stress when they’re covered in “stuff”, from drying dishes, to appliances, to randomness that needs to get put away. Aim to have out as little as on those kitchen counters as much as possible.
1. Inconsistent home reset routines.
I'm talking about a nightly clean up + reset in the main spaces of the home, hanging up clothing in your room at the end of the bed, clearing off kitchen counters, etc. Doing these daily, quick tidying moments make decluttering so much easier when you go to do it because everything isn't screaming for your attention that simply needs to be put away.
Bonus Take-Action Tip:
Write down one thing you can do to create more order in your home tonight before you go to bed. Just pick one. Start consistently doing it this week and pay close attention to how it positively sets you up for the next day. Example: Put all the dishes away on the counters before bed so you wake up to an uncluttered kitchen and not an immediate to do list.
2. Not having a decluttering mindset everyday.
Tap the brakes, I am not asking you to declutter everyday, not at all. I am asking you to see your home through a lens of decluttering as much as possible. When you see something in your kitchen you never use + it's jamming up your drawer, remove it. When your kiddo comes to you with clothing that doesn't fit anymore, remove it. Better yet, set up a small zone somewhere in your home for donation to go the second you notice they need to go. Decluttering (most of the time) is not this big massive effort. It can + should be chipped away at in little bits!
Bonus Take-Action Tip:
Do a quick check in at the end of the week…did you observe anything this week that you no longer need, was grown out of or is beyond repair? Go ahead and remove those items (toss, recycle, donate). To help you remember, set a reoccurring appointment on your phone once a week that says ‘declutter?’ as a reminder and take action as needed.
If kids are in your home, anytime is a good time to declutter. From books they no longer read or have outgrown, to clothing that no longer fits. Things are constantly changing, growing and evolving with them and it’s the perfect reminder to maintain a declutter mindset with everything in our home.
3. Waiting until you have the perfect time to declutter.
NEWS FLASH MY LOVE, IT AIN'T COMING!! The perfect time will never show up so please stop waiting! So to recap…start anywhere, at anytime! Small, consistent bits of progress will serve you well + win every time over obsessing about the right time to spend hours decluttering, burning yourself out + making you miserable! Be proud of where you're at + keep going!
Bonus Take-Action Tip:
One way to easily integrate decluttering in your full schedule is to get it down on paper. In whatever time amount you’re comfortable with, jot down your plan. Example: I plan to declutter for 15 minute bursts at least 3 times this week. The more specific, the more likely it is to happen. Pick one zone or move to different areas. Progress is progress, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
“Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo
Want more decluttering tools and tips? Here’s more you can find in the shop.
Clothing Closet Declutter Guide Entire Home Declutter Kit
Declutter Guide for Kids All Access Declutter Bundle
Let me know how I can support you in your home.
Drop your comments below. Thanks for being here!
Dynamic Women In Their Home - Nazly
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Nazly D. She’s one of my favorite humans I’ve connected deeper with in this space through home. I met Nazly through her husband that I knew from Texas A&M Architecture School and then went on to work with him professionally at an architecture firm in Plano for many years. She’s currently in higher education research (in short) with an extensive background in psychology and developmental psychology (she has a PhD to be exact!) She’s a mom of a toddler and knows the world well of working hard and playing hard with her family. I love chatting with about anything home, design, organizing and decluttering. You can often find us sending photos of areas we are working on in our home or new vessels for our plant babies to live in! She’s such a honest and beautiful human (also a rock star volleyball player!!) and I’m so thrilled to share more about her with you here.
Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Nazly about all things home and life.
Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:
The last 5 years have been a whirlwind with many ups and downs. We moved from Dallas to Houston in 2016 and I started a new career in higher education research. Over the years I continued to grow in my field and currently serve as the Executive Director of Data Analytics and Institutional Research at a University in Houston. At the end of 2019, I became a new mom and right as I was coming back from maternity leave, the pandemic began a few weeks later. My husband and I were fortunate to be able to keep our jobs and spend more time with our baby. Then in July of 2020, I lost my two longest-time friends, who I grew up with like sisters, to a violent incident. My whole world came crashing down and I began a long journey of coping with the grief and trauma in the middle of a global pandemic. I felt this desperate need to control my environment as a way to cope, and thankfully came across my husband's former colleague and friend, Kristin! Being part of her Declutter Your Home Masterclass gave me the tools I needed to change my mindset around my relationship with stuff and things and allowed me to gain control of my space and create a more peaceful home. This has single-handedly been the most transformative aspect of my grieving journey over the last several years.
What's your day to day like right now?
During the week, my day to day consists of waking up, spending some quality time with my toddler while getting ready for work and prepping for preschool/grandma & grandpa's house, commuting to work, lots of meetings that could be emails, and driving home in time for dinner and toddler bedtime. After she goes to bed, my husband and I spend the evenings together, usually watching something hilarious and having dinner. Then it's bedtime for us, rinse, and repeat the next day! Weekends are much more casual, typically spent running errands and grabbing snacks while out and about. Our daughter loves Trader Joes, since they have an entire wall dedicated to puppy and cat photos, which we have affectionately termed "the puppy wall" (we aren't cat people).
How long have you been in your current home?
We've been in our current home since the summer of 2018.
What do you love most about your current home?
We love that our home has intentional spaces, every room has a purpose. We love our patio/backyard probably most of all. The sellers were the only owners of the home before us and spent a great deal of effort and care into the home. They created a beautiful garden with fountains and beautiful pathways. It’s our happy place.
What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?
If I could change something right now, it would be the kitchen finishes, including the countertops/backsplash and maybe the cabinet color and floors. They look nice currently and are very functional, but I wish they were lighter, brighter, and a bit more modern.
In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?
Yes! Oh my goodness yes. I started my decluttering/editing journey last Janurary, so it's been a little over a year. In that time I have more or less decluttered nearly every space in our home. I started downstairs in the kitchen and living room since we spend most of our time in these two rooms. I keep tweaking here and there to make improvements as we go, but I’ve got a good foundation.
If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?
Decluttering and editing our spaces has made me realize how much functional space we actually have and has led to greater use of each space. It has also helped create a sense of calm and peace in our home. For example, when we see only essential things out on counters, it clears so much mental space and reduces anxiety.
What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?
I actually really like decluttering, there's something that feels cleansing about it. I have struggled with decluttering the closet though…between pregnancy and grief, my weight has fluctuated in both directions wildly, so it’s a little confusing to figure out what still fits.
Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?
I have two, my living room and our bedroom. I spent a lot of time really thinking through both of those spaces and curating them to align with our goals and aesthetic that brings a sense of calm.
What object in your home means a lot to you?
A watercolor painting my dad did of our daughter for her 1st birthday.
Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...
I think I have actually developed OCD over the years, I legit paused a conversation one time with a colleague to stand on a chair and fix a crooked ceiling tile in a hallway at work...also I played volleyball in college! That's maybe a little less strange and obnoxious haha!
OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!
Light/bright OR dark/moody:
Generally light and bright
Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:
Open concept
Color or neutrals:
Neutrals
Real plants or faux:
Real plants
Listen to music or read:
Music to drive, books before bed
Favorite morning or daily ritual:
Washing my face and doing my skincare routine...feels so luxurious!
Morning person or night person:
errrr....neither! If I had my way I would sleep early and wake up late! But I'm definitely not a morning person.
Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
1000% our couch...comfortable AND beautiful. I am a true believer in Cantoni...worth every penny!
Do you dress like the interiors of your home?
What a fun question! I would say somewhat, as I tend to wear neutral colors as well.
THANK YOU NAZLY for sharing more about your home and life with us! I know you have so much greatness on the horizon for you that I can’t wait to hear all about. Thank you for bringing us along for this life snapshot!
Photo Credit: Nazly D.
More Support for Your Home + Life:
✔ The brand new ORGANIZED HOME MASTERCLASS will be live May 26th! Learn more about how epic this new Masterclass is HERE!
✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE.
✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.
See you in the next interview!
I Took A Month Off Social Media For Business Planning + Here's What I Learned
Social media can be an incredible place for connection and learning, it can also be heavy and toxic. I want to preface this conversation in saying my plan starting out was to take off 1-2 weeks from social media to focus on business planning, and, well…2 weeks turned into a month. It’s been a very interesting month and I wanted to capture for you what I learned so that it might be helpful for you both in business and in life.
Social media can be an incredible place for connection and learning, it can also be heavy and toxic. I want to preface this conversation in saying my plan starting out was to take off 1-2 weeks from social media to focus on business planning, and, well…2 weeks turned into a month. It’s been a very interesting month and I wanted to capture for you what I learned so that it might be helpful for you both in business and in life.
Here’s how it started.
When I started my few weeks of focused business planning, I had a lot of questions for myself and my business. As a solo-entrepreneurs, we can be in a constant state of doing because of all the hats you wear. Tweak your website here, streamline that process there, market all the things here. It’s exhausting without boundaries, and part of your schedule should be intentional time NOT doing things. Strategic time to think, plan, write, draw, let your mind wander around a bit. It is a hard thing for me to do, for someone who loves to be in action and doing all the time. Do you feel this way too?
In an effort to be more intentional about having clear boundaries for myself and my business, there were a few primary themes that surfaced that I hope will be helpful for you too. Alright, let’s dive in!
Questions that surfaced in my 4 weeks away from social media.
When I took a break from content creating and planning for social media, some vital brain space freed up and I started by asking myself a very important question that changed the whole trajectory of my energy for the next several weeks, and for good.
1. How do I want to show up + bring value?
Stick with, this is a big one right out of the gate! I asked myself at the core of everything: How do I want to show up + bring value to my current and future clients? How do I want to impact their lives? This question I knew needed greater clarity because some ideas were crystal clear, others had become a bit fuzzy.
So here’s what surfaced:
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO CREATE THEIR BEST LIFE in the home they’re in, by teaching them how their home environment directly impacts this + how to change it.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION AND MAKE CHANGES to their home environment + improve their quality of life.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO KNOW THEIR POWER in their home, and help them focus on what they can control in practical steps that aim to reduce overwhelm + build confidence.
I WANT TO HELP WOMEN CREATE THEIR HOMES into a place where they feel restored, creative, joyful and productive (and anything else they’re after).
I WANT TO MEET EACH CLIENT WHERE THEY’RE AT and encourage them on their home journey, wherever and however they want to start.
I WANT EACH CLIENT TO FEEL EMPOWERED by the choices they have in their home and confident in their ability to start with small actions.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH EACH CLIENT the most effective tools to help them transform their current home with sustainable, long-lasting results with strategies that fit their current season of life.
I WANT TO CUT THROUGH THE NOISE and teach my clients realistic ways to transform their home that don’t require a ton of time or money, and can be done with their own two hands.
As I got clearer on how exactly I want to serve my clients and how I want to take care of them, I started asking even more questions about where my energy was currently going in my business.
By the way, you can’t do any of this without SLOWING DOWN.
This is one of the first things I discuss in my Declutter Your Home Masterclass, that you must SLOW DOWN to SPEED UP and put new skills into action. You must start by slowing down, take an objective look around to figure out what is actually going in your space. What do you want to happen in here that’s not happening now? What needs to stay, and what needs to go to focus more strategically on your big end goal?
Taking an inventory of where your energy is going in your business (or life) I’ve discovered is incredibly similar to taking an assessment of a room that you want to improve because you know it’s not quite right.
Where your energy goes in your business (or life) in general is exactly the same as assessing what’s working and isn’t working in your spaces throughout your home.
( Thank you God for this revelation during my slow down time!! )
So where exactly was my energy going in my very limited amount of time I am working during the week? To answer these questions, I had to take a break from doing all the things.
Friends, you have to SLOW DOWN + STOP.
Here’s more about what surfaced through this slow down…
2. What do I wish I was doing LESS of in my business?
+ WORRYING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. My remedy: Have clear goals + boundaries for how and when I will show up on social media.
All of this may seem like it’s a no-brainer, but the climate of social media has shifted in big ways that can be draining to you as a human and a business owner. I also acknowledge that it is one valuable way I can connect with each of you.
A few things I do know is that I will NOT show up on social media and contribute to reminding people of current and past trauma. For example, I will not be engaging in highly heated topics that can be triggers for my tribe/clients (I’m not going to list of them all, you already know what these topics look and feel like). One of my favorite Instagram accounts afrominimalist shared this so well the other day; that we need to be highly thoughtful before we re-post information we find that’s simply in another format of info circulating around — and to be incredibly mindful of what we consume while on social media. It effects your whole being. If we have a conversation around home on social media thru Fuzzy Hippo Shop, it will be supportive, encouraging and motivational.
I care about YOU + YOUR HOME. Period.
I’m finally at peace with these boundaries I have set for myself + my business. I also know how I want to show up offline to contribute actively + positively to the world around me, including how I raise/guide my children to do the same.
I hope you too will set whatever boundaries you need to support your physical, mental and emotional health as it relates to social media, and focus even more on how you want to show up to impact the world positively offline. This will look different for each of us.
+ STRESSING ABOUT MARKETING. My remedy: Continue to grow in business and marketing knowledge, while applying this in a more human way to the people I want to serve + support.
Marketing is hard for me. While I love talking about how I can support and help people, I don’t like selling product. But that is essentially what a business is, am I right? Sharing information about something you have created, asking people to learn about it, and then if it is a good fit, asking them to buy it. A business cannot survive without making money.
I have some lofty goals about supporting my family in a greater way financially, as well and setting money aside for my children for their future education/life goals, whatever that may look like. I will have to sell the products I offer and I will have to sell services to my clients. These things I have to accept, and it is not easy for me, as a person who is by nature an introvert but can turn on the extrovert button on occasion.
A helpful mindset shift I’ve had, that may be helpful for you as well if you’re a business owner, is that I am simply going to focus more on SHARING.
I’m going to give myself the space to share more intentionally, be highly transparent with what I offer in my business, and allow myself to feel confident that the clients that need the support I offer will join our tribe in whatever way makes sense for them + they’re comfortable with.
I’m at peace with this mindset shift and I am excited to put it into action!
3. What do I wish I was doing MORE of in my business?
How often do you ask yourself this, in business and in life? This seems to be a highly important question to revisit from time to time, as your values do shift.
Our values can shift in both obvious/large ways + subtle/small ways.
I haven’t noticed any large shifts in the last year (even during a pandemic, which feels shocking) but I have noticed that some things that I enjoy and I miss doing have strongly revealed themselves to me until I couldn’t ignore them anymore…so what do I wish I was doing more of in my business?
+ WRITING. My remedy: Write more!! I’m doing it write now!! Progress!!
I can’t say that I forgot how much I enjoy writing, but more recently its been pouring out of me in a big way. The ideas + topics I’m looking forward to taking a deeper dive into with you feel endlessly exciting!
I cannot dream up a more fulfilling topic to discuss with you than improving your quality of life through your home environment!! Honestly, I can’t.
I’ve always loved writing. I’ve also always disliked reading (however I love reading with my kids). I don’t like being short winded. I like discussing things thoroughly to share deep understanding, insight and provide support/ideas through writing. I hope that a greater focus on blogging will be both therapeutic on my end and offer a lot of value to you, my readers. Make sure you’re on my email list to know when my new posts are live!
+ HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOME. My remedy: More of this! Keep having them!!
I want to demystify and crack open all the old, unrealistic concepts about how our homes work.
I want to talk a lot more about what’s influencing us in society with our homes, ideas that have been passed down about home, and what it actually looks like to “fix” the things we might need to lean into a bit more to make our homes both lovable, livable, and make life easier.
Recently I’ve become very concerned about the idea that some of us think that we will never have enough time or money to make our homes feel like ours + become a place of calm and refuge. I simply cannot accept this. I can’t. I know it is possible regardless of your season of life, where you are financially, and with whatever time you have available. I will keep pressing on to prove this to you + show you how, that I can promise you!
4. What areas of my business do I feel most energized by?
+ INFORMAL EMAILS + DMs FROM YOU ON IG: I love it so so much when you send me a message telling me about something you’re working on + the benefits of your efforts in your home you’re starting to see + feel that I’ve helped guide you to! Incredible!
I mean, what’s better than this? I feel so energized + inspired by you and the changes you make with your own two hands in your home. You don’t have to wait for some else, or wait for the perfect day to show up. You simplify have to start. But the most important thing I’ve heard + feel from these conversations is that your confidence in your ability to act and create change in your home is growing and you feel empowered. That’s massively wonderful. I’m here for all this.
+ SHARING WHAT WORKS IN OUR HOME: Being able to share real life in our home as it applies to decluttering, simplifying your patterns + systems, all coupled with design and how it can all be possible for you.
It massively energizes me and motivates me to share more helpful tips with you to try out as needed in your own home that have already been put through the ringer in our home. Our home is not perfect, and in fact, likely has a lot of the same imperfections that you might currently be stressed out and obsessing over. I want you to know you can make your current home amazing.
5. What do I wish people knew more about me +/or my business?
+ THAT YOU WILL CREATE THE POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR HOME. No more saying you’re not good at it, or it’s not the right time or you’re waiting on something or someone else.
+ BEING GOOD/WELL-SEASONED AT DECLUTTERING, SIMPLIFYING + DESIGN ARE ALL SETS OF SKILLS THAT ANYONE CAN LEARN. Don’t sell yourself short, with the right tools + coaching, you’ll have it down and you’ll have it for life. Stick with me, I’ll show you!
+ THAT DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME WILL LIKELY NOT SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS. But it will solve a lot of them. I’ve narrowed down all home environment/space issues to 3 LAYERS that I believe whole-heartedly that if all are addressed in some capacity, you can “fix” your space, then only lightly manage from there.
You must DECLUTTER (be intentional about what you own and own less), you must SIMPLIFY (streamline and create more efficiency in your daily patterns), and you must intentionally DESIGN to complete the story and curate what you want happening in your space. If one part is left out, you’ll know it and feel it almost immediately.
+ MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND STARTED IN ARCHITECTURE, THEN SHIFTED TO INTERIOR DESIGN. I have a lot of technical knowledge about all things buildings/homes (I’m also a licensed Interior Designer) and take this into consideration with all 3 LAYERS (Declutter, Simplify, Design).
But all that aside, where I’m MOST interested in is digging in deep with you is the environment you’re creating in your home. Understanding HOW to create space that work well, are livable, easy to maintain, and actively contribute to your sense of well-being physically, mentally and emotionally.
6. What am I most excited about that’s coming up next?
+ CLEARER BOUNDARIES FOR MYSELF + MY BUSINESS! Woohoo!!!
+ MORE BLOGGING/WRITING!
+ LOTS OF GREAT TOPICS TO DISCUSS IN OUR EOW (END OF WEEK CHATS) ON INSTAGRAM! Feel free to DM me or send me an email with any ideas for future topics you’d like me to discuss!
+ A FEW NEW PROGRAMS I HOPE TO ROLL OUT SOMETIME SUMMER/EARLY FALL! Here’s a little sneak peek!
SIMPLIFY YOUR HOME GUIDE
REDESIGN + REFRESH ANY SPACE GUIDE
KITCHEN + PANTRY ULTIMATE GUIDE
You can learn more about these + all the other programs/guides/support available for you HERE.
+ VIRTUAL HOME COACHING - 1 ROOM! A holistic approach that includes Decluttering | Simplifying | Design as a complete package to maximize your results, one room at a time.
Coming in the FALL 2021. Email me HERE to get on the waitlist + to learn more!
And that’s a wrap!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, thank you for being here + I hope you grabbed some helpful tips you can put to work for you in your own life/home.
Would you love help slowing down to reflect to SIMPLIFY where your time/energy is going in your life or business right now? Awesome! I’ve got you!
My Business + Life Simplifying Guide is now available for you HERE! Start simplifying your business, life or both right now with this helpful tool that keeps you focused + moving forward with tangible action steps.
5 Simple Things To Reduce Stress + Anxiety Now
Are you feeling it… yep, I’m feeling it too! Did you know the environment we create in our home has a huge impact on how we navigate stress? So let’s talk solutions. If you're feeling anxious, stressed or uneasy, here's 5 simple things you can do right now in your home that will help, with little effort + time.
Are you feeling it… yep, I’m feeling it too! Did you know the environment we create in our home has a huge impact on how we navigate stress? So let’s talk solutions.
If you're feeling anxious, stressed or uneasy, here's 5 simple things you can do right now in your home that will help, with little effort + time.
1. Clear a counter.
Small or large, choose one and make it as minimal as possible. Only leave out what you absolutely need...BLISS! Anytime you can reduce visual fatigue in your home, the better. You simply do this by reducing how much is grabbing for you eyes and attention.
*My kitchen counter seems to have the most impact on my stress level, so I try to keep it in check since it is used often and highly visible to the whole house.
2. Hang up clothes/jackets/piles laying around.
Take 5 minutes to put things away if there’s any piles or items stacked up in a chair, and enjoy seeing your space without the piles.
*Same is true with bags, coats, boots + shoes. Put a few things back in their home and reduce the visual clutter quickly. Phew!
3. Streamline your nightstand.
Keep it as minimal and joyful as possible. Add flowers, a good book or magazine, some cozy socks, maybe a good candle and clear off the rest.
*Mine is very simple right now - I have a lamp, one book/mag, glass of water, and typically that is it! Oh, and my polka sleep socks are in a basket on a shelf under the top of the nightstand…essentials!
4. Make your bed.
Simplify what's on there to the best items that you love. Make it look inviting, fluff the pillows, put your favorite throw blanket at the foot of the bed to grab anytime you need it. Done!
*My favorite, soft, cozy throw blanket sits at the foot of our bed and it is my go-to in the evening. I love knowing it is there, ready and waiting. Also, seeing a made bed throughout the day is such a game changer for how clean your room looks and how good it feels. Try it, trust me.
5. Pour yourself a glass of water.
Temperature of your choice - give it a boost with some fruit slices or mint.
*I love combining citrus fruit slices and strawberries - and sometimes I use frozen mango for the ice - delicious!
I hope these tips help you today + become your go-to when you need a quick reset anytime you're feeling a bit off. Keep it simple + spend only a few minutes.
You have incredible power right in front of you to create good, right in your home. Take care my friends.
PS. If you have more chaos + clutter to tame and you want help making it feel less overwhelming, check out all of my mini courses + guides HERE.
