I really believe in the power of our homes. Our environment has a huge effect on our happiness and the happiness of our families (even if they don’t consciously realise it!) and the science backs it up. Home is where we are spending more time than ever before, thanks to COVID. So when that space is cluttered, messy, and joyless, it’s not surprising that it affects our mood and brings us down. Clutter has a really dampening effect on our energy levels and the way our homes feel.

Often mainstream advice about decluttering and home styling is a little bit overwhelming for those of us who are juggling work, childcare, health conditions, and overwhelm. My approach to decluttering and home styling can be summed up as:

• You deserve to live in a home that feels safe, and calm

• Which has minimal clutter

• That feels like a true reflection of your personality and passions.

• You deserve to have a joyful home

And you can get there without totally exhausting yourself if you

• Start small and keep going

• Make sure there is a place for everything

• Create islands of calm amongst the chaos.

Slow and Steady wins the (decluttering) race

I don’t teach the Kon Marie style of decluttering in one fell swoop. I love her and have learned so much from her teachings, but I have found after working with clients, running my free challenge, and teaching my e-course, that for many folks, a more realistic approach is the slow and steady one. So, rather than waiting for the perfect time to declutter when you have weeks off work, loads of childcare, and loads of energy, (hint- that isn’t coming any time soon for most of us) just start now with something small. Then keep going. That’s it. Incorporate it into your day and break down enormous foreboding tasks (like a huge cupboard) into smaller ones- like one box or one shelf in said cupboard. You will find that taking this action has a magic effect and will lead to more decluttering. It might not be as quick as some folk, but it will be just as effective.

Islands of Calm

What is an island of calm?! I talk about this throughout #TheFreshNestChallenge and its a concept that has resonated with lots of folks, so I wanted to elaborate on it. My approach to decluttering isn’t about living in perfect mess-free homes all of the time. Mess is a fact of life; otherwise known as “using our stuff”. If you’re juggling work, childcare, and homeschool, it is inevitable that your home gets messy- I get it- that’s me. But when you live with less clutter and have a place for everything, it’s so much quicker to tidy up. This is also where islands of calm come in. You deserve to live in a home that makes you feel joyful. If you can create small areas of calm and beauty around your home, they act as islands amidst the inevitable mess and chaos. An island of calm might be comprised of one shelf of loveliness in the bathroom that contains your favorite bath oil, a collection of soaps, a scented candle. It might be a sideboard that has a collection of something displayed on it- a collection that makes you smile. It might be your bedside table that always has some fresh flowers on it. A part of the kitchen that has a piece of art and an essential oil burner, like mine. That way, even when things do start to feel overwhelming, you have islands of calm around your home, amidst the mess.

I demonstrate all of this and more in the below video which is all about kitchen decluttering.

So! How does my slow and steady method sound to you? Would you rather just do it in one enormous swoop? I’ve done both!

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