Good morning and welcome to April on the Inside! I’m stoked for this month’s topic because we are purging the bad to allow room for the AMAZING.
Answer these questions:
Is your house a disaster?
Are you embarrassed when people come over or do you run around like a crazed person when you think someone is “on their way.”
In your office or at your desk – do you spend time each day “looking for something”?
Are you stressed as soon as you wake up?
Are your mornings spent running around like a wild woman/man – figuring out what to wear, what to pack the kids for lunch – or yourself, do you grab unhealthy options for food because you just aren’t organized and prepared?
Do you have a pile of unopened mail?
Do you often miss appointments because you “forget”?
If you answered yes to one or more of these – you need me this month.
Each week we are going to tackle a different form of detoxification in our lives – you can check out the Itinerary HERE. It’s my version of minimalism – removing the STUFF that prevents us from enjoying and embracing the processes, the people and the experiences of our lives.
This week we are diving into LIVING better by removing clutter from our living and working spaces. I don’t expect you to accomplish this in a week – although depending on your level of dishevel it surely can happen! I’ve created a little cheat sheet for you – HERE. I talked about how I got to this space of minimalism in my life during a Facebook Live – you can grab the replay in the Facebook Group HERE.
Here are the rules of engagement – because ya gotta have some rules!
- Go into it with an open and growth mindset. You aren’t losing or giving up anything – in fact you will be gaining so much by removing things and even people that don’t serve you. The idea is to create a zen environment where you can unleash your creativity, and create a space that allows your mind to just be and rest. Clutter doesn’t allow that.
- Consider buying Marie Kondo’s book – the Lifechanging Art of Tidying up Grab your copy HERE (affiliate Link). Her process may seem a bit odd – but again, have an open mind and go with the flow! I can say I didn’t follow her direction completely but I adopted the theories.
- Eat the elephant in bites. As per my little cheat sheet – I want you to begin in one space, preferably one where you spend a lot of time. I don’t want you to think of your entire house or life at once! It’s too overwhelming. Or if you do the Marie Kondo method – she will have you start with clothes or books – in the entire house. Whatever works for you.
- Commit to the process – remember, nothing will change unless you change. AND it’s all about consistent effort! So you can shovel out your office, clean your desk but if next week you shovel all the crap back – that’s not going to make you feel good about yourself and it defeats the purpose.
- Donate what you say you are going to donate – and toss out what you say you are going to toss out. Do it that day – and don’t look back.
- Remember – things are just objects. 9% can be replaced. If they don’t bring you deep joy or aren’t needed for everyday survival – let it go.
- If you don’t currently have some form of calendar/planner – be it paper or digital – buy one. Each and every single task and appointment now go in here.
It won’t be easy in the beginning.
I’ve been here. All of that stuff above I was guilty of – every single one. I was unhealthy and unhappy. When I removed the “stuff” it allowed me to focus my energies on the important things.
It was overwhelming in the beginning to fix it all – and I wish I had someone like the new me kicking me in the ass and helping! Once I saw the fruits of my labor and how I FELT without all the stuff – it was like a re-birth of sorts.
I have less options for clothes – so less time thinking about what to wear.
I have less things to upkeep, take care of and pick up/put away.
I have everything in a planner – so I don’t miss appointments and I always know what’s on the agenda.
Hell – I sold 95% of my things and my house and live in an RV right now! I did the ultimate Marie Kondo!
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Cindy
PS – part of our monthly detoxing involves working on our inner selves – and treating our bodies well! I’m doing another 30 Days of Cindy – started it yesterday! I have a private group going on outside of the Thursday Club if you are interested, let me know and you can join the party!