The post How to Create An Intention Table in Your Home appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

My son’s first-grade teacher used to promote the idea of a “happy mistake.” That is how I feel about almost breaking our bed frame. If we hadn’t taken apart the bed, I would not have discovered that I was sleeping over a pile of dust. It was incredibly satisfying to clean the bed frame and floor and launder the box spring cover. I truly felt a shift of energy in the bedroom. And I started sleeping better! I have also been doing some intense inner work during these few months and I felt an old pattern release. Not only did my bedroom gleam, but I felt lighter and brighter. This is what I love about spring cleaning and decluttering, as we clear and clean we unblock stuck energy in our homes and also in our lives.

The health of your bedroom is so important to our well-being because it is where our body, mind, spirit rests and replenishes. Also, how we feel and what we think about before we go to sleep and when we first wake up has a tremendous impact on our lives. We want to go to sleep and wake up aligned and inspired and free from unnecessary things weighing on our mind (consciously or subconsciously.)

Five Reasons to Avoid Under the Bed Storage:

1)Difficult to clean: it is hard enough to clean under a bed without having to move items in and out.

2) Health: Items under the bed attract dust. Also, trying to access heavy items from under a bed can strain our backs.

3) Improved sleep: Clutter under a bed will stagnant energy and can interfere with sleep.

4) Improved mood: We feel more at peace knowing the space under the bed is clear.

5) Support your ideal life: Items under the bed, particularly items that are not in alignment with our goals and dreams, can weigh us down, anchor old patterns and beliefs, and keep us tied to the past. On a subconscious level the adage “out of sight, out of mind doesn’t apply!” Every item has its own unique vibration that is affecting the energy in your home and life. Items from a past relationship, sentimental items that don’t bring you joy, items that are not in alignment with sleep or your ideal vision for your future will all get in the way of you creating the life you want to live.

Here are some tips if you must store items under a bed:
– Only store items under a bed that are loved and useful. Also, store items that are an energetic match for sleep and your ideal life. Examples would be extra bed linens or off-season clothes.

– Store items in containers that are made of healthy materials (so you won’t have chemicals off-gassing into your bedroom), sealed (so the items stay dust-free), easy to clean, and easy to retrieve (you may consider wheels).

The post Why You Should Avoid Storing Things Under Your Bed appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

Photos: Having thousands of photos stored on your phone or cloud storage can be daunting when we want to find a particular photo or make an album. And often we find ourselves spending money to upgrade our storage when we don’t need or want all the photos we have stored!

• Schedule 15 minutes a day to declutter your photo library.
• Start by deleting any screenshots you no longer need, then move on to photos you took to remind yourself of something… like a picture of where your car is parked or a flyer you no longer need.
• As you scroll through your photos also delete any that are blurry, too dark, or grainy.
• Another easy place to start is deleting photos that have no people in them. Unless you’re a particularly skilled photographer, often when we revisit scenic photos we find they don’t truly capture the memory (i.e. that picture of the huge red moon often looks more like a spec in a dark sky). Save the beautiful pics but let go of the rest.
• Next, move on to multiples! We often take two or three pictures a time and they are rarely that different. Choose your favorite and delete the others. Deleting multiples is a great place to start with your videos as well… often we shoot a few “takes” when we only need one.
• Finally, when reviewing photos from an event or vacation, put your editor hat on and curate. Choose pictures that tell a story and capture the feelings you experienced. You don’t need pictures of each and every activity or tourist attraction.

Throughout the photo decluttering process, keep in mind that all of our special memories live inside of us. Even if you don’t have a photo to mark each occasion, you still have the memories. If you don’t remember something, you can trust that you are not meant to. The most important time in our life is right now—the present moment.

Email: A great place to start is by preventing new email clutter from accumulating. We have found that so much clutter results from indecision. But clutter can be prevented when we make a choice about what to do with something in the moment we encounter it! For example, make decisions as you respond… i.e. once you have replied to an email from a co-worker or friend decide if you need to keep the email or delete it. If you receive an invitation to an event, make a decision about whether you will attend or not, reply, and then decide if you need to keep the invitation until the event is over or if you can put it in your calendar. When you receive a promotion, decide if you want to continue hearing from this company and if you don’t then don’t just delete it, unsubscribe! Doing your best to make decisions in the moment, will keep email from piling up.

Of course, even when deleting regularly, email will occasionally get the better of us so you will want to schedule some time once a week to do a sweep.

• Delete events and promotions that have passed and email chains that are no longer relevant.
• When it comes to regular newsletters and promotions, many email providers offer the ability to “sweep” your email box using certain filters. This is handy when you receive notifications and advertisements regularly from the same company or person. You can even set up rules that after a certain amount of days those emails are automatically deleted.
• If you are overwhelmed by the number of emails, you can move the old ones into a folder and label the folder “emails to be decluttered and then take 15 minutes per day to work on those emails. This way, the emails are still searchable, but you can benefit from them not interfering with your day-to-day mental clarity.

Digital Files: Just like with physical clutter, we want to get rid of what we no longer need or want before we try to start organizing! Otherwise, we spend a lot of time and energy organizing clutter. And clutter by its nature can’t be organized!

• If the idea of clearing your files is overwhelming, start small or choose an “easy win.” I.e. if going through your tax documents makes you cringe, start with the files that are on your desktop. Most likely, these are more recent projects and you can make quick decisions about whether you need to keep them or not. A clear desktop leads to a clear mind.
• Once you get to those folders you’re avoiding, ask yourself why? We have found that when we’re avoiding a task it is often because we’re unsure of the next step. Or the next step feels complicated. For example, if your folder of tax documents is the one you avoid, perhaps it’s because you are uncertain about what you need to keep. In this case, your first step might be to visit the IRS website to find out which documents you need to keep.
• After you have finished decluttering, then you can go back and organize your folders. Remember to keep your system simple and easy. If the system is too complex, it will not be easy to “file” your documents and you will create clutter again in no time. The key to getting in the habit of putting things away (both physical and digital items) is to make it very easy to do.

The post Clearing Your Digital Clutter appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

1. With gratitude and intention, let go of anything that is not loved or useful: now is the time to surround yourself only with the things you love! There is a lot to deal with out in the world, so it is important that you choose to feel good inside your own home. When you choose to live with things that bring you joy, you carry this energy with you, attracting more of the same in your life. Set the bar high and only keep the things that support and reflect your highest vision for yourself and your life in the New Year.

Give away, recycle, or sell anything that is not loved or useful. Express thanks for how these things served you in the past, or for showing you what is no longer working for you in your life. Then give these things away with the intention that they will find a new home and serve someone else. Create space for the things you desire!

This is a great time to declutter holiday decorations! If certain holiday items didn’t make it out of the box this year, then there is a good chance they are not cherished and you can let them go. Before putting holiday items back in storage boxes make sure they are clean and in good repair.

2. Physically clean your home: there is nothing like a good deep clean to uplift the energy in your home! Make sure you clean from the inside out by incorporating cleaning into your decluttering. When you empty the closet, drawer, or shelf to determine what is loved or useful – clean the area before you put the items back.

3. Clear the energy and allow in sunshine and fresh air: Get in the habit first thing in the morning of opening up blinds, drawing back curtains, and allowing in fresh air for at least ten minutes a day. Sunshine and fresh air clear stagnant energy (and improve the indoor air quality.) If you want to go further you can try a space clearing ritual. This is especially helpful if you have already cleared and cleaned your home and something still doesn’t feel quite right. Trust your intuition and try a space clearing.

4. Make a change and rearrange: It can be challenging to create change in our lives when our homes stay the same. For better or worse, our homes anchor beliefs and patterns of behavior. When we make changes to our homes we release old habits and beliefs and pave the way for new ideas and actions. Try rearranging photos or books, the furniture, or place artwork in a different location. Making any kind of change in your home will signal to the universe that you are ready for something new in your life.

5. Appreciate and celebrate: embrace the practice of appreciating your home. Focus your attention on the things you love and use, as well as places of beauty in your home. Make sure you have one focal point of inspiration or beauty in every room in your home. This could be as simple as fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table or a more involved, curated bookshelf or arrangement of loved objects. Take time throughout your day to “take in” the beautiful places you have created. Think about all the ways your home supports you and all the things you love about your home.

Finally, celebrate! Use and enjoy the things you have chosen to keep. Light a fire in the fireplace or light candles. Put fresh flowers on the table. Use your favorite dishes and cloth napkins. Wear your favorite clothes. Live fully in the present!

We wish you great joy, prosperity, health, and peace in your home and life!

Happy New Year!

Laura and Alison

The post Align the energy in your home with the energy of the New Year! appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

During this time I moved to different homes in different cities. Teacups are fragile and require a lot of packing material. I could have bought my teacups collection three times over for the cost of what it took to move them. And while at one time they made me really happy, the truth was I just wasn’t that into them anymore.

Letting go of collections—even when they no longer bring you joy—can be challenging. When you declutter a collection you confront the reality of how much time, energy, money, and space you invested in these items and this truth makes it challenging to let go. Sometimes we hold onto collections just to prove to ourselves that the investment was worth it! Or we think the collection defines who we are (I am the girl who likes to have tea parties!). Or we start judging ourselves for the “wasted” time and money.

The truth is, like all of our life experiences, a collection is a part of bringing you to this moment in time— and for that, it should be honored and appreciated—but this does not mean you need to keep it.

Here is how to handle decluttering collections:

1. Determine if the collection is loved. Stand in front of your collection, hold the objects in your hands, and see how your body responds. Do you feel uplifted? Do you take a deep breath? Does it make you smile? Do you notice any thoughts or feelings? If you don’t immediately feel expansive, uplifted, and have positive thoughts and feelings, chances are the collection is not loved anymore and you can let it go. We want to keep in mind that these things in our life are here to serve us. When they are no longer loved or useful you—and the objects—are better served when you let them go. By letting go we make space for new things to come into life—the things that reflect who we are now, support our current goals, and match our current desires. We are always changing (which is a good thing!) so the objects we loved ten years ago, ten months ago, or even ten days ago may not be the things we love now.
2. Observe any judgments: If you find yourself judging yourself, simply observe the judgment by making a simple statement, such as, “oh there I am judging.” Then forgive yourself for judging yourself and move on. We can only do our best at each moment in time. There truly are no mistakes—everything is serving us for our greatest good.
3. Trust that who you are is independent of the objects. I can still be that girl who loved to entertain her friends with tea parties without the teacups! Ask yourself what the object meant to you and how it made you feel—you will see that these qualities reside inside of you and you no longer need the object to remind you of these qualities.
4. Keep an item. If you are having a difficult time letting go, you may choose to keep one or two items from the collection or take a photograph of the collection. Often having a photograph or an item makes it easier to let go.
5. What if I love everything? Clients often insist that they love all of their collections. This may be true, but also consider the time and space that your collections require. If you have the time and space, perhaps it is worth it, but often these collections take up room for other activities and objects that are more meaningful for us now. If you do choose to live with a collection, you can save space and cut down on visual clutter by grouping your items—into a tall vase, on a tray, on a designated shelf, etc. One table designated for photographs or one wall for a gallery makes for a more calm and peaceful environment than having collections scattered throughout the house. But if you’re not displaying these items (i.e. they’re sitting in a box in the garage or basement) ask yourself how important the collection really is to you? If it were truly important enough to be a priority in your life, then either all or part of it would most likely be displayed. If they’re hidden away, then you’re perhaps more ready than you realized to let go of the collection.

It is important that our homes reflect who we are in each new moment in time. Surrounding ourselves with things that no longer reflect who we are keeps us stuck in the past.  Instead, open yourself up to new joy and possibilities living in the present. Trust that new hobbies, interests, and things you love now will find their way to you when you make space.

The post Tips for Decluttering Collections appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

One of the questions we are asked most often is, “what do I do if my spouse/partner/roommate has lots of clutter?”

And we get it. It can be frustrating to live with someone else’s clutter, especially if you are committed to living clutter-free.

Clutter can be a source of conflict in any relationship. Think of how many arguments center around our stuff… should we buy it? Who gets to use it and when? Who is going to take care of it, clean it, put it away, etc…

One of the benefits of clearing our clutter is to bring more joy and love into your home and life. When we choose to surround ourselves with only the things we love and use, we have more time, energy, and presence of mind to enjoy the people and things we love. The question is, how do we get to this place if your partner isn’t on board?

Here are 5 ways to handle living with someone else’s clutter:

1. Inspire by example: Take care of your own clutter first! You may think you are clutter-free but it is easy to have blind spots. Maybe your clutter is emotional clutter or digital clutter? Make sure you have taken 100% responsibility for your clutter before focusing on your partner’s. When your partner sees you experience the benefits of a clutter-free life, he or she may want the same.

2. Divide up spaces: As much as possible claim space as your own. Have your own closet–or side of the closet–your own bedside table, desk, etc. When areas that are essential to your day-to-day productivity and well-being are clutter-free, you will find that you can live clutter-free and organized with or without your partner buy-in.

3. Offer support: Your partner may not have had the experience or enjoyed the benefits of living clutter-free. Or they may want to live clutter-free but simply not know how to begin. We do not suggest that you coach your partner, as taking on that role is often not beneficial for your relationship. Also, decluttering–choosing what to keep and what to let go of–is personal. Only each person knows what is loved and useful for him or herself. Instead, give your partner a book on decluttering, shown them a video, send them to a blog, or even hire a professional.

4. Come to an agreement about common spaces: You will need to reach a compromise when it comes to common space. You may need to let things be a little messier than you would like and your partner may need to pare down, store a few things, and/or pick-up more than they would like. It can be helpful for both of you to make a list of what you desire from your home or a certain room. How do you want the space to function and serve you? How do you want to feel in the space?

When you discuss how the room will be used and what you want it to be like, you might find you are more aligned than you thought in terms of outcomes. And when you are aligned with a shared vision or value, chances are the process of getting to your goal will unfold in an easier and more magical way than you might expect.

5. Appreciate: Appreciation is the path to loving your home and partner more! When you find yourself wanting to criticize or nag, instead choose to appreciate something about your partner or your home. When you walk into a room, instead of focusing on the clutter, or what you don’t want, turn your attention to something you love in the room.

Make sure you have one object, work of art, clutter-free area, book, fresh flowers–something that you love that inspires you and lifts you up in every room. It takes discipline but by consistently turning your attention to what you do want–such as what you appreciate in the space or about your partner–will transform your relationship with your home and partner!

If you want to hear more about how to tackle your partner’s clutter, check out the below clip from our free webinar. As always, we were asked about partner’s clutter! You can see our responses below… To watch the whole webinar register HERE.

The post Five Tips for Managing Your Partner’s Clutter appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

The post Simple Ways To Uplift the Energy in Your Home appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

The post Tips for Organizing Children’s Toys appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

The post How to Clear the Energy in Your Home appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.

During this uncertain time when the world feels out of control and chaotic, it is even more important to create peace and order at home. We can find this peace through the process of decluttering.

Our homes are the center of our universe, now more than ever.

In addition to the many ways our homes already serve us, our homes now function as schools, workplaces, and cafeterias. We need to make space to support these activities so we can feel supported and empowered by our environments to move through our days with ease and grace.

We also need to declutter for our peace of mind. The physical clutter in our homes is emotional clutter. Clutter causes stress and feelings of overwhelm and is often a source of conflict between loved ones. Clutter also ties up our time and energy. We end up talking about, arguing about, and managing all of our stuff, instead of having the time and energy to focus on the things that truly matter: our loved ones, our self-care, time in nature, time to pursue our passions and time to just be.  Keep reading…

The post How to Create Peace at Home by Clearing Clutter appeared first on Inspired Everyday Living.