So this weekend we had a few surprise visitors drop in for just a moment but it was long enough for me to look around and see all the nick knacks, art work, mail, completely random stuff hiding around the house. We had all of our laundry done and folded but it was hanging out in the laundry baskets like a barrel of pickles waiting to be shipped off to the Americas…In a sarcastic kind of way (remember I have two little girls…) I started to sing to myself the little mermaid “Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat…wouldn’t you say my collection’s complete…” but unlike the little mermaid I don’t want more, I want less. Our house is clean and pretty organized but just these few things were growing on me. I could feel my shoulders tense, my face grimace and my heart pound with anxiety. Our house is such a nice house with lots of storage and for some reason things weren’t put away and the random papers were taking over like the plague. Okay, so I might be exaggerating a little but that was how my perception saw it and thus it became my reality. My eyes were seeing this image I included in the post…our perceptions are our realities but do not have to be real!
The following morning Adam and I had the morning to ourselves to relax and just enjoy each other’s company. I was doing pretty good the first hour or so. But then I could feel the laundry, stacks of paperwork and thingamabobs calling my name. Adam literally watched my posture and facial expressions tighten the longer we sat together. I am known for not sitting still very well and always on the go but this felt a little different. I was feeling the need to simplify. Being the busy folk we are we wrapped up our relaxed morning and got back to business running out the door to meetings and other pertinent errands. In the back of my head I kept thinking about the house and why it was bothering me so much this time.
Finally, after a simple lunch I sat at the computer and started looking into Life Coaching. Every website I came across had a quiz to take to see just how “successful” you were with living this so-called life to its fullest. Each quiz had similar questions relating to attitude, work, hygiene and of course…your home. Yep, there it was, several times these quizzes had the same questions: “Do you have several unwanted or unnecessary parcels in your house? Do you have mail and random papers lying around? Do you tolerate things in your home?”
In awe, I answered to myself..”YES! Ack! I have to do something about this right now!”
Granted, these questions are a little unfair for busy families but it did open my eyes to the few things that I could do to make my home feel better! After the girls went down for bed I spent a total of 45 minutes completing these tasks and already feel amazing and our house looks great again!
1) I put away all of our laundry and organized our closet.
2) I put things where they belonged if they had a place to go which surprisingly 98% of them all had a place they belonged, especially the little random whatsits that were hanging out on our kitchen counter.
3) Organized and filtered the papers around the house. We had coupons, mail, flyers, art work and receipts gathered around the kitchen and our office. I ended up recycling about 2/3 of the items hanging around our counter space, filed the bills and saved the artwork and pictures that mattered most and then parted ways with the random coloring that didn’t show any significant milestones
4) I took out the trash and recycling.
These four simple steps were scary easy, fast and so rejuvenating. I am in love how much counter space we have in the kitchen. My anxiety and tension are at ease and I feel 100% better! I put the power of intention to work and got busy. We live busy lives but we have to take time to take care of ourselves and our home. Our environment will either allow us to thrive our pull us down into the deep. I think about that phrase “Your energy goes where you awareness is.” If your home is cluttered your energy is going to be zapped by the untidiness of the mess and a lack of motivation falls into effect. There is also something to be said for holding on to things that we no longer need “just in case”. Holding on to these unwanted items keep us intact with the past and do not allow us to move on and make room for the new! My next mission will be clearing out the closets and cabinets of things we no longer wear, use or are outdated. Eek! It feels good already just thinking about it! Now, it’s your turn! What are you going to simplify?
Happy simplifying your whatever it is you choose to simplify!! You’ll thank yourself for it immediately! You’re a rock star!
