MINIMALIST TOOL KIT: Take the Declutter Dare

Do you have a lot of pent up energy since you're spending so much time at home with so few places to go?  Why not take the Declutter Dare?

Get the whole family involved and follow this link for instructions that will help you to declutter 100 items in just one hour.  YES YOU CAN!

Why not leave a comment below if you take this challenge?  Were you successful?  Was it worthwhile?  How do you feel now?



P.S.  If you enjoyed this challenge, you might like my book Uncluttered.  It's a comprehensive handbook for a simpler life; a creative, encouraging, multi-faceted guide to help you remove the stuff that's bogging you down so you can gain focus and peace.



Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash

The Rewards of Quarantine

As our homes become sanctuaries from the Covid-19 pandemic, they are once again restored to the center of our lives.

I'm feeling cabin fever as much as the next person, but I've also been realizing how much of my life has migrated away from home in the last few years.  During this time

• we are not traveling outside our home states or countries, unless by unavoidable necessity.
• we are not commuting to an office, if it's at all possible to work from home.
• we are not eating out in restaurants (although we may be ordering meals online, we're consuming them in our own dining rooms).
• we are not seeking recreation away from home, since outside options for shopping, socializing, and other diversions have shrunk to nearly zero.

The World Health Organization has advised people to manage their mental well-being as much as their physical health.  For those who have self-isolated, the WHO suggests eating healthily, keeping regular sleep routines, and reviving hobbies.

But is this advice enough for people hunkered down at home with feelings of fear, loneliness, and sadness?

Precious Time

We all know that time is precious because it's finite. 

But most of us have an uneasy relationship with time.  We feel like it's rushing past us, like we don't have enough of it.  We constantly complain that we're too busy, and we feel stressed about time.

Cope With Loneliness and Stress (Part 2)

Perhaps you're feeling melancholy and isolated at home during the current unprecedented situation.  Your anxiety levels may be up as you worry about world medical events, the economic fallout of Covid-19, or even shortages of fresh food and toilet paper.

We do need to remember that for the vast majority of people who get sick, hospitalization won't be necessary.  They can self-quarantine as if they have a bad cold, and they're going to be okay.

Cope With Loneliness and Stress (Part 1)

Are you feeling isolated and lonely at home during this Covid-19 pandemic?  Are you struggling with worry and sadness?

Many of us occasionally fall into periods of melancholy.  For some, it may be winter weather that brings it on (for me, it's the relentless heat and glare of summer).  When ordinary habits and routines are disrupted, it's easy to feel a sense of futility.  That can make you (or your children) less productive, less cooperative, more grumpy, and more prone to unhealthy snacking, impulse buying, and the influence of advertising.

In the White Space

As most of us shelter in place and practice social distancing, one of our most stunning lifestyle changes is a calendar full of white space.

Like many of you, almost all of my away-from-home activities have been suspended or canceled altogether.  Unlike a typical break or vacation, I can't just meet a friend for coffee, go out to see a movie or a play with my husband, or take my grandson to the California State Railroad Museum, one of his favorite places.  I'm sure many of you will miss visiting the gym, the library, your church, or your favorite restaurant.

Uncluttered

Great news!  My latest book, UNCLUTTERED: Make Space and Time for the Life of Your Dreams, is now available for pre-order in the Kindle edition on Amazon.  I will also be publishing a beautiful paperback edition, available April 4th.



Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash