FINDING SPACE WITHIN & WITHOUT

That verse was written 2,000 years ago….  yet it still resonates today. How amazing is that?!? It’s also amazing how many interpretations and meanings can be taken from that one verse. One of the ways I see it is that space needs to be at the center of our life in order for us to have room to open our thoughts and discover our true purpose. Yet to have this empty space we need external support. The key seems to be finding the balance with our surroundings so that it allows space for us to grow. I love this, because our surroundings, whether a home or office, shape our behavior, attitude, health, emotions, and mental acuity.

I think we all desire that balance; yet our busyness distracts us and achieving that balance seems impossible. I know, because I’ve been there and I’ve also seen others with the same dilemma. Why it is easier for our homes to become overloaded with stuff that gets randomly scattered about than it is for it to stay neat? Well, let’s blame the “second law of thermodynamics,” which basically states that it’s the natural tendency of things to move toward disorder and the disorder increases if energy is not used to establish order and balance. There it is…   our mothers were right, we have to be responsible and pick up after ourselves or we’ll be buried live. That’s a bit humbling, but a “thank you” goes out to all Moms.

Finding the balance is truly worth the effort and is correlated to finding the tipping point – at what point do the distractions overpower our harmony? Homes are meant to be lived in, so things (as well as people and pets) are going to come and go. Things will float around from room to room as well. This is all part of what keeps our homes and offices alive and energized. This is life and it’s natural. There are not magazine-perfect homes. Even during a magazine’s photo-shoot, the only perfect place is what is in front of the camera. The tipping point is when the things around us overload our senses and become visual and mental distractions, good old messy clutter. It’s at this point that we feel there is no longer room to breathe, no order, no fresh air for fresh thoughts, no place for the eyes to relax the mind. As the chaos mounts, our bodies try to get our attention with various signs, such as feeling tired, brain-fog, not finishing what was started, mindless eating, overeating, becoming agitated, becoming irritable, withdrawn, feeling drained, even depressed and more. Our home should calm our chaos, not cause it. When we live in chaos our Cortisol elevates, which compounds our stress level. According to “Psychology Today” women are typically more impacted by the stress of clutter than men. This is because women “see” the chaos sooner and then start internalizing how to fix the situation.

In order to find harmony within, there has to be harmony without. Here are 3 tips to help ignite the momentum of finding space. Doing something every day can significantly ease your internal stress which boosts your energy to keep taking steps forward to reclaim your space, inch-by-inch.

1. Be gentle with yourself but be determined. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for some semblance of balance while understanding nothing is ever perfect. If there are children or pets around, there will be toys and paraphernalia around. Make simple rules and then enforce them! (This is where determination needs to be strong.) Here’s a great rule to start with: “As soon as an item is no longer being used, put it away.” For those with toys, have lovely baskets purposefully and tastefully placed in your family room to make this easy. If the child is old enough to get a toy out of the basket, the child can put it back in the basket. This may be trickier for pets, so if your pet is not cooperating, make picking up the pet toys a game; who doesn’t love a challenge of basket toss?  Homes are meant to be lived in and filled with joy. Have fun!

Credit: danielle-moss.com

Putting things away immediately after use, literally takes seconds and the rewards are enormous, and everyone can do it. This creates “team effort” energy which builds an appreciation found in sweat equity. For instance, no matter who is cooking, as soon as the prep bowl is empty, place it in the dishwasher; as soon as a spice is added, return it to its home, after all its already in your hand; after the meal is eaten, each person puts their dishes in the dishwasher. It doesn’t matter what it is, when the task is done, return things to their home.

This rule is easier said than done but stick with it; it’ll get easier over time and will soon become second nature. It’s such a quick way to prevent essential items from becoming chaotic clutter.

2. “Less is More” This is my mantra and I gift it to you. Memorize and repeat this phrase as space opens because as you create space you will also be creating new mindsets and new habits. Most Americans have more things than they need. Many of those things are never used (or rarely used) which leads to the question, why are they in the house?

I’m wondering if you are still trying to envision getting all the toys in your house in baskets in the family room. Does that seem impossible? If so, then team up with your children and have fun deciding which toys are the favorites and which ones can be passed to someone else. One of the easiest ways to find more space is to literally own less. The less we own the more appreciation we have for the things we already own.

It’s not just about elimination, it’s about not bringing things home in the first place, in other words, think twice before you buy; ask yourself what will be eliminated if that new item comes home with you. And that question leads to the next simple rule: “If something comes in, something goes out.” For faster results, change that rule to: “If one thing comes in, two things go out.” This rule is actually rather fun! For instance, make a tradition that 2 weeks before a person’s birthday, they go through their things and eliminate everything they no longer use or like. This opens space for the new gifts they are about to receive. This can be become a pre-Christmas tradition as well. It’s so fun to donate or give away things to family or friends. If they can’t be given away, then recycle what you can and discard the remaining items with a blessing of appreciation for the service they gave you. But the real tip here is to not bring things home in the first place! That simplifies everything.

 “Less is more” frees our minds and our inner spaces. The less we own the easier it is to find balance, harmony, clarity, energy, and space to breathe and rejuvenate. The less we own also means the less we have to clean, to step over, to repair, to store, to organize, to manage; in other words, having less creates more freedom, more money, and more time. It not only restores our balance but it restores balance to our environment and planet.

3. “A place for everything and everything in its place.” I love this quote by Benjamin Franklin and it makes our next simple rule. Everything within our home should have a home. If it doesn’t, it needs to leave or a place needs to be created for it to call home. But don’t forget about “less is more” while creating homes for displaced items. Eliminating and organizing are two practices that should be exercised daily so that our homes don’t fall into disorder and bury us live. Keeping this in mind when finding homes for homeless things means DO NOT run to The Container Store to buy a carload of tubs, baskets, and organizing knickknacks without shopping in your own home first and repurposing items you already have. For instance an old 5 gallon crock could become home for throw blankets in the family room; or a never used spaghetti jar could become home for drinking straws; or an old carpenter’s tool caddy could take on new life in the laundry room holding laundry supplies.

Here’s another simple idea that quickly gives BIG results…   in the entry, create a place for keys to be easily tossed when you first walk in, this could be a charming bowl, box, or tray, etc. Don’t just throw them about somewhere or hang them on the wall; try to keep the visual clutter hidden. Maybe there’s a drawer they could land in. This also applies to coats, shoes, purses, backpacks and etc, assign places in the entry closet for each item or for each family member to easily drop their gear, and then close the closet door, hiding the visual clutter yet keeping things easy to see and reach. Easy to drop, easy to grab is the key for this rule to succeed. And the additional perk to this is an open, clutter-free entry which makes coming home a delight! I guarantee you’ll smile.

Being creative can give new life to old clutter… and it doesn’t cost much, if anything. But it’s not all about creativity, be logical and strategic as you bring order and beauty to your life. Don’t save things with the idea that you will refurnish it or repair it someday; if you do not have time to repurpose something immediately then dismiss the idea. Repurposing things adds another task to an overloaded calendar which adds more stress. Be gentle on yourself, be realistic. Remember it’s about bringing balance, calm, and beauty to your overworked eyes and minds.

As space opens, stay determined to keep the momentum going. Make realistic yet easy goals. These are not only gratifying, they add up to big results! Do something every day; do a lot or do a little, it doesn’t matter as long as you do something. Then celebrate as each goal is met. Include the family, set family goals and celebrations. Keeping them in on the action from start to finish, helps keep everyone mentally and emotionally charged, including you.

Over the years of helping others find space, I’ve observed that most Americans could eliminate 33% of their possessions and not even notice. I’ve also noticed that the second law of thermodynamics doesn’t discriminate between high incomes or low incomes, or having a large property or a small apartment. It’s just a natural tendency for humans to fill every inch of their available space and sometimes that overflows, resulting in a storage unit. There is definitely a tipping point of a treasure being a blessing or a curse….

What it comes down to is that the space within and around our home affects us. How that space is defined is where the magic happens. There needs to be some external support such as four walls to create a space (a home) that can embrace us, protect us, and comfort us. But the open space within those walls is what we need to function, to breathe, to think, to focus, and to grow. After all, it is the open space on the desk that makes it useful, not the piles of paper.

Since our surroundings influence us, then how our possessions are arranged is vital to our existence and wellbeing. Bringing unity, rhythm, harmony, and open space into our rooms is where holistic design shines and where my passion soars! Start shifting your space with these 3 tips and when it’s time move to the next level, let’s come together to create a place you’ll love to come home to, love to live in, and love to share with friends and family! Click here to schedule an introductory call with me so we can talk about your specific aspirations and dreams.