When your home is cluttered, unfinished or simply not set up to be efficient, it can lead to stress - and it makes struggles with anxiety and depression even more profound. To the brain, clutter represents unfinished business and this lack of completeness can be highly stressful. This is especially true when people are already shouldering significant external concerns.

And that has serious consequences over time.

It can result in responses such as insomnia, reduced ability to focus, self-neglect, tensions with others in the household, irritability and more. It can even lead to poor physical health over time.

But here’s the good news: you have control over your home environment.

Even if you have a home that’s got enough clutter to fill five storage units, you can make significant, positive changes quite quickly when you make decluttering and cleaning a priority daily habit.

I believe that decluttering shouldn’t be done in one huge weekend of work - when that happens most people tag out before the job is finished because it’s too overwhelming and exhausting. Decluttering is also not a one-and-done job: it’s a lifestyle choice that requires a shift in your daily way of life at home.

If you want to live a decluttered and simpler and more efficient life, your environment has to change - and that means incorporating decluttering and cleaning into a short, 15-minute daily habit - one that you actually come to enjoy!!

The 15-minute declutter dash

Doing daily small bits of decluttering in 15-minute “dashes” is a fantastic way to make progress in decluttering your home - without the overwhelming task looming large in front of you. It doesn’t take up too much time and energy, so you won’t fizzle out. It really is the easy way to decluttering and simplify your home.

And this tiny-step method adds up to results much more quickly than you might think, and when it builds into a daily habit, it begins to energize you instead of deplete you! It helps you build a healthy habit that gives you momentum because you feel good about accomplishing something and you see tangible results. It’s really quite liberating!

To begin the 15-minute dash when you have a big decluttering job ahead of you:

• pick one drawer or countertop or category of item (ex. purses) and do what you can for just 15 minutes.

• set a timer and only do as much as you can for 15 mintues (or less). You might be tempted to do more, but unless its just a few more minutes to finish up an area, try to resist that urge. You’ll feel great today, but then you’ll become tired (physically or mentally) and won’t want to go back to decluttering again tomorrow or the next day.

• set a time to do 15-minutes each and every day. Start with key areas of your home that will make a big difference to your daily lifestyle - for example, kitchen counters, bathroom drawers, the entryway and the bedroom.

• then slowly move on to other areas of your home, one drawer or shelf or surface area at a time.

The daily 15-minute dash is about tackling essential key areas of the house where you’ll get a lot of payback, and then making it into a habit so that when your whole home is decluttered, you continue to “dash” every day as part of your routine at home.

Make it part of your nightime routine to dash around putting things back in their homes, or doing the dishes, or sweeping the floors. 15 minutes is all it will take to maintain a calm and organized and clean home - when you do it daily!

I hope this helps you see decluttering and tidying your home (and therefore your health and wellbeing) as a priority that pays off in many ways. If you’d like help to get started, join my free 5-Day Declutter Dash for complete instructions for your first five decutter dashes.

Good luck!

Join the FREE 5-Day Declutter Dash for 5 days of instructions and motivation emailed right to your inbox. You’ll do 15-minute dashes of decluttering every day in key areas of your home that will make a big difference in your daily lifestyle.

Sign up to begin today!

Perfection is nearly impossible to reach. The ideal is wonderful to strive for and be inspired by, but it’s a dangerous trap to only be satisfied if things are perfect.

Because they never are.

Striving for perfection can more often than not leave us feeling like we've never succeeded - and that’s deflating and super depressing! What's even more depressing is that we've missed the beauty of imperfection along the way.  

I love Pinterest -all those perfect spaces and beautiful DIYs. They’re definitely inspiring. But I'm drawn most to those that are imperfect and interesting. After all, people aren't perfect, so why would we try to make the homes we live in perfect? They should be a reflection of ourselves, with all of our beautiful and alluring imperfections. 

Take, for example, this mirror that my brother made for me years ago. It's one of my most treasured things, because it's perfectly imperfect, and it was made with love. The barn boards are weathered, and there are flaws and cracks which make it even better. Isn’t it much more interesting than a store-bought perfect mirror? 

Another example: I love using reclaimed or natural items as everyday utility pieces in my home. A worn, antique tin holds tea, a slab of maple becomes a cutting board, a piece of driftwood becomes a shelf. These things are far from perfect but they add interest and meaning.

The same goes for cleaning and organizing your home. I’m big on creating simplicity at home so that it’s easy to keep things tidy and in their place. It just makes life easier and less frustrating. But, that doesn’t mean that your home has to be perfectly clean every day. That’s not reality, especially if your whole family is living with you. A home should be lived in, and that gets messy. Set up organizational systems ahead of time, minimize the number of things in your home so it cuts down on cleaning time, and don’t sweat the rest of it. (Check out my LIVE SIMPLE course for all my organization, cleaning and simplifying tips)

Look, real life can be messy, hurried and stressful. So I'm of the opinion that aiming for a home that's simple, relaxing, calm and meaningful is the primary goal - not expensively designed spaces that are decorated to perfection. 

Here are six easy ways you can create your own imperfectly beautiful home:

1. Use interesting salvage or natural pieces found outdoors or at flea markets or antique markets as art. They’re interesting and beautifully imperfect. 

2. DIY your own art, or have your kids do it. You don't need to have expensive artwork in your home if you can't afford it or aren't drawn to it. Frame some DIY art (find inexpensive frames at yard sales and paint them out the same colour) for a personal and meaningful display. 

3. Find old pieces of furniture online or at yard sales or markets and leave them unfinished. Sometimes the old chipped paint or patina is uniquely beautiful. 

4. Keep old flooring instead of purchasing new. If you can, sand and re-stain wood flooring. Or paint the boards in white paint for a Nordic or country feel. 

5. Find old mirrors at yard sales and paint the frames - or frame them yourself with barn boards or wood trim purchased at your local hardware store. It's so much more interesting than a typical big-box modern mirror. 

6. Don't sweat your paint colour. Choose an off-white for your walls (cool for areas with lots of natural light and warm for those with low light) and don't stare at it for hours trying to decide if it's right. Once you get some things on the walls and your furniture and accessories in place, 9 times out of 10 it will work (see my post with a simple guide to white paint). 

Life takes balance, and so does building a home that lets you thrive. Trying to create the picture-perfect home is not sustainable - to our wallets, the planet or our mental health. Let's give up this idea of having perfectly styled homes and embrace beautiful imperfection and the unique and interesting life that comes with them. A home that's unique and meaningful will be one you're happy in for the long haul.

Want a weekly email with ideas on creating a simple, meaningful and beautiful home on a dime? Join my email list.

It’s so understandable and so normal in a year like we’ve had. Huge changes in daily routines, uncertainty about the future and feeling like you have little or no control over anything - all of it can easily push you to the edge.

Overwhelm can cause you to feel bogged down, depleted or frazzled. It can feel like you can’t catch your breath, or like you’re in a ditch and somehow can’t claw your way back out. You might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. And your mind is all over the place - distracted and foggy.

First, please know that it’s ok to be in this season. You are not alone. The sheer volume of thoughts, feelings, tasks, and stimuli in our environment right now is shifting our brains and nervous systems into a continual reactive, stressed state.

So it’s not you. You’re not doing anything wrong.

But there are a few things you can do right to proactively start to ratchet down the overwhelm and make your way out of the ditch. Fortunately, our brains are remarkably resilient and malleable, so put into practice some new routines and put systems in place to make them easy.

7 SPECIFIC FIRST STEPS TO SIMPLIFY IN ORDER TO REDUCE OVERWHELM

1. Declutter.

   This might be a big one for you. If it is, divide this job up into tiny steps. I like the 15-minute dash method. But make sure to make time to declutter - it’s an essential step toward more calm. Clutter, even if you don’t feel like it’s a problem for you, creeps into your subconscious mind and affects your brain and mood. You have a harder time settling and focusing on things. So make sure to do this first. Start with my free 5-Day Declutter Dash!

2. Create a cleaning plan.

   Once the clutter is out of the way, cleaning becomes easier. And you can make it easier still by having a plan. First, get doubles of your basic cleaning supplies like cotton cloths and an all-purpose spray cleaner and have them in your main traffic areas like under the kitchen sink and bathroom sinks. That way, you can whip them out quickly to do a cleaning dash just in those spaces when you have a few minutes. Then, set up a plan that works for you for cleaning efficiently. Maybe you like to do just one small thing at a time each day. So you could schedule in 10 minutes each night to do one task, like just a bathroom or just the kitchen sink or just the living room floors. Or, if you prefer to do it all at once, set the same time every week and spend the hour or two knocking it all out with the music blasting and calories burning (that’s what I like to do!). Whatever plan is best for you, set it and get in the habit of sticking to it. It’ll become easier this way over time.

3. Create a calm corner.

You should carve out a corner of your home where you can spend a little quiet alone time each and every day. Whether that’s in the morning to meditate before anyone is awake, or later in the day to spend time reading at the window, make sure to put yourself first, even for a few minutes. It’s essential to quiet your system down, breathe deeply and recharge your mind and body. A dedicated ‘calm corner’ space will help make it more enticing. Check out this post on how to set one up in your home and sources for making it cozy.

4. Declutter your mind.

While sitting in your calm corner, try doing a brain purge. This decluttering of your mind will make space for more calm in your everyday life. Doing this regularly will help you sleep better and feel more centered - and less overwhelmed. We get so much information thrown at us every day - it’s really essential to declutter your mind from time to time (or every day in an evening routine). Check out the specifics on how to declutter your mind here.

5. Declutter your digital life.

We spend a lot of time looking at our screens. It can easily suck us in and create stress, lethargy and anxiety. But our devices CAN help with focus and productivity if we put them to work FOR us, instead of having them waste our time. Do a declutter of your phone and computer and other digital devices so you can find things quickly and aren’t distracted by apps and notifications. Spend time on an efficient filing system, and ween yourself off of toxic time on social media, email or news apps. Join my 7-Day Digital Detox to follow the plan to accomplish all of this!

6. Overhaul your bedroom for better sleep.

Getting the details right for a calm and sleep-optimal room should be at the top of your list if you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. Without deep sleep, our minds and bodies can’t refresh and heal. So calm your bedroom with these specific action steps.

7. Practice daily gratitude.

Gratitude is truly the cornerstone of a happy and fulfilling life. It creates space for compassion and love, stops stress and anxiety in its tracks and improves overall wellbeing. It shouldn't take an extraordinary sunset or a traumatic event or witnessing someone else’s pain to jolt us into being grateful. If we practice gratitude on a daily basis the world will open up for us. Ideas on how to do that:

• write tiny notes of praise or kindness for others to find

• write three things you're grateful for each day in a journal

• tell someone each day that you appreciate them or something they've done

• create a gratefulness jar for your whole family to fill with little notes on something they're grateful for that day (pull them out and read them at the end of each month)

• create a vision board of things you're grateful for now, not just things you dream to have in the future

• hang favourite quotes or mantras around where you can see them and be reminded to give thanks

• share an appreciation daily with someone else: "I love how quiet it is after it snows, don't you?"

• express appreciation in the tone of your voice when talking to others

• send a note to someone you haven't seen in a while to tell them why you appreciate them

• be mindful throughout the day of your surroundings and silently express gratitude

• learn one new thing each day so you can be grateful for it

• establish a morning or evening silent daily gratitude ritual

• give thanks in prayer

• smile more often

I really hope these small steps will help you begin the path toward managing your overwhelm and finding more calm and focus. Good luck!

Entryways to our homes create one of two immediate impressions or feelings: welcoming & peaceful OR cluttered & chaotic.

For those dealing with the cluttered and chaotic end, one of the biggest problems often standing in the way is a small entryway with little room to organize and store stuff.

It's quite common to have a doorway leading right into a living room or dining space with very little room for entryway essentials.  Everyone ends up tripping over shoes and jackets and getting irritated every time they enter their tiny cluttered space!

That's not the way our homes should greet us!

So here are the absolute essentials that will get you out of crazytown and into happyland - whether you have a tiny non-entryway or a cavernous mudroom. 

1. A place to put a bowl to corral keys, change, and sunglasses.

Keeping your phone, keys, change, lip balm, sunglasses and anything else you might need to find quickly on your way out is key to an organized entry. Having a dedicated place for all of these things instead of having them fall onto the floor will keep you from losing them and your mind. But don't just throw them on top of a shelf willy-nilly. Keep a pretty bowl or small basket or tray to keep them neatly corralled. This can sit on a console table or small chest if you have room for one in your entry, or just on a bench if not. 

2. A small stool, chair or bench.

You'll be thankful to have a place to perch when you're trying to get on those high heels or lace-up boots. If you have a tiny space for an entry, just use a little stump stool. If you have more room, add a bench. You may even want to take the doors of your entry closet and create a bench there!

3. Hooks.

Hooks are a lifesaver for a quick place to hang up bags, coats, scarves and dog leashes. Make sure to have plenty, low and high. 

4. Large baskets, bins or crates.

Baskets and bins provide tidy places to store scarves, mittens, flip flops, etc. where you can easily find them but can't see them out in the open. They're a must. I use a big vintage tin bucket on the floor for shoes and smaller crates up high for mittens, scarves, hats, and the like.

5. A mirror.

A mirror not only opens up the space visually but also saves time by being able to do the once-over when you're heading out the door, without having to go back into a room after you've put your shoes on. I adore this one I've used in my entry that was made by my brother from reclaimed barn boards. 

Optional:

I like to have a natural fibre rug like jute at my entrance as well, since it hides dirt well and defines the area nicely, especially if the entry blends into open living space. However, it wouldn't be an essential if you like bare tile in the entryway for ease of cleaning.

GET INSPIRED WITH BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL ENTRYWAYS

Now...get inspired by these beautifully organized entryways and then get going on your own entryway refresh! (Click photos for source links)

Want to go beyond just simplifying your entryway?

Subscribe to my email list for a weekly tip + my quickstart guide to a calm home.

Seriously, choosing a white paint colour can be paralyzing, right? Why are there so many shades? Can anyone really tell the difference? And why do the thousands of recommendations from designers and bloggers online only seems to confuse you only more?

My clients know I’m the “paint-it-white gal” so they’re always asking which white to choose. I tell them: keep it simple.

Look, I'm all about simplifying. Everything. That includes my home, my calendar and paint colour. Even my espresso order (it’s a soy latte BTW).

Yes, I'm a decorator and I have those huge decks of colour chips. But I go to only a few tried and true whites every time I choose one for myself or a client. And the results are amazing every time. 

Because let's get real.

Most folks like you and me are not going to be able to tell the difference between white, extra white or pure white on your walls in most situations.

Stop overthinking it.

Use the guidelines and my favourite white colour choices below, keep it simple and be done with it.

That said...

I do understand that painting is time-consuming and you want to get it right the first time around. If you really don't feel comfortable choosing a colour on your own, hire a designer who can give you a personalized recommendation based on your space and the light it gets.

5 GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT WHITE PAINT FOR YOUR WALLS:

1. Figure out your natural light.

If you have a darker space with low natural light, cool and crisp white walls can look dingy and shadowy. Choose a warm white instead - it will look like a crisp white on your walls even though it looks creamy on the chip. If you have really low light, you may even want to choose a slightly warm grey or greige instead of white - they’ll make the space feel fresh, not dingy (see this post on the best greys). 

If you have a room with lots of natural light, opt for a cooler or true neutral white that will absorb some of the sunlight. If you use a warm white in a space that gets strong southern sunlight coming in, it can end up feeling over-the-top-white or even yellowy.

My go-to white paint colours:

• SW Extra White for a more modern look that’s good in medium natural light

• SW Pure White for a softer, gentler feel that’s good in bright natural light or lower natural light

2. Keep trim simple. 

If you’re painting your trim at the same time as your walls and you’re going with a white, then do the trim and walls in the same colour. Yep, so Pure White or Extra White are good choices. Use semi-gloss on the trim and eggshell or satin on the walls. That will create the bit of depth you need to keep it looking sterile.

If you are going for a slightly more colourful wall, then go with untinted white paint. Yep that's right - you don't need to fuss over what white to paint your trim 99% of the time - untinted will be a nice crisp white that pops against the wall colour.

3. Vary your whites. 

If you're worried that painting your whole home white might feel too boring or institutional, vary the whites slightly by choosing two or three different whites. For example, use a soft white (SW Pure White) in the main living areas and a warm sandy white in bedrooms.

4.  Vary your finishes.

Use a flat finish on the ceiling, eggshell or satin finish on the walls and semi-gloss on the trim and doors (and floors if you paint them) to provide contrast and architectural interest in the room. 

5. Test it in your space. 

Finally, the best way to know if your paint colour will work is to bring home samples and paint big swatches on your walls, then observe them at different times of day. The colours will show differently depending on where you live, the light and what’s outside of your windows (eg. green trees). Research like this blog can help, but testing the paint colours truly is the best way to know if you’ll love the white you choose.

Now…stop stressing, simplify your painting, and just begin!

Painting your walls white doesn’t have to make you crazy or too afraid to even begin. Just go ahead and take the leap - you’ll love the results.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Check out the gorgeous inspiration images below so you can visualize how great white would look in your home.

Join my email list for a weekly simple home tip + get my free guide to choosing colour for a calm, beautiful home.

Often though, we look for complex solutions instead of just simplifying what we already have.

I’ve found that by detoxing the chaos going on right now - the clutter choking your creativity, the complicated management systems you never mastered, the guilt from never getting your post-it notes finished or emails answered - you have a clean slate and clear focus that allows you to bring back in ONLY the simplest and most essential tools and processes that will help you be your most focused and productive.

Don’t get me wrong - there are apps and software programs and great little hacks that certainly help with time management and efficiencies. But sometimes, you can’t even see what you need until you’ve cleared the slate.

5 STEPS TO DETOX AND BUILD SIMPLER BUT MORE EFFECTIVE PROCESSES AT WORK:

1. Start with a digital detox.

You can’t simplify your processes without clearing your mind and your digital devices first. Do this incrementally in small steps without going crazy with my 7-Day Digital Detox plan.

2. Use the 1-Day Post-It Method.

Remove the gazillion post-it notes from your computer monitor and around your office. They’re nothing but visual clutter that subtly takes up space in your brain and make you feel guilty for things you’ve not gotten to yet. Instead, put all your reminders, cheat notes and to-do list items in a physical book or a digital notetaking app. Keep them all in one place, and use your post-it notes for daily tasks only. In the morning, write down the 2 or 3 things you really need to get done that day and stick them on your monitor. Then make sure to spend essential time to get them done and take them down and throw them away at the end of the day. It’ll feel energizing to start fresh again tomorrow.

3. Get to Inbox Zero.

I know it may seem like a frivolous goal. But it’s absolutely doable and it’ll change your life.

• First, set up folders within your inbox for people you want to keep emails from and/or projects or categories of emails.

• Then start decluttering your inbox through bulk delete and file actions. Use the search box to filter all emails from certain people you want to keep and drag them to their folder. Bulk delete emails from others or from anything older than a year or two.

• Set up rules to automatically filter new emails into the correct folders - for example, anything with “unsubscribe” in the email could go directly to a “newsletter” folder or “store” folder.

• Finally, take the time to unsubscribe from any of the junk emails and subscriptions you no longer want.

• What will be left in your inbox are only the important new emails you need to deal with, and you should make it a goal to deal with those within the week, so you can get to Inbox Zero again by the end of each week.

4. Automate and use templates.

Save time and brainpower by automating every repetitive task you can.

• Create auto-reply emails for those that you get often that require the same answer.

• Batch and auto-schedule your social media.

• Automate your weekly or daily team or customer emails.

• Automate scheduling by setting up a Calendly or Acuity or another appointment scheduling app. The next time a client wants to book a meeting you can simply send them to your link and they can choose what works with your calendar. All the logistics will be automated from there.

• Create a cheat sheet for coding, branding and messaging you use over and over so it becomes as simple as ‘copy and paste’.

• Document processes step by step so that you never have to remember in your head - you only need to follow along each time you work through something.

5. Consider not adding some things back in at all.

Once you’ve detoxed and decluttered your processes, calendar, documents, emails and your digital desktop and home screens, consider carefully what you bring back in.

• You may want to forgo all social media apps (or those you’re addicted to) on your phone. Instead, just check Insta or Twitter once on your computer and that’s it.

• Although some apps and management software can be lifesaving, others might just be adding layers of complication when not necessary. Be picky about what you use. Perhaps a simple spreadsheet or notebook will do.

• What about not bringing back administrative tasks at all? You might want to think about hiring a virtual assistant for just a few hours a week to handle those kinds of tasks for you, freeing up time to focus on the truly important work that will get you ahead.

I hope the detox and these steps might work to lessen your stress and increase your productivity!

There are lots of helpful recommendations out there on how to get more sleep, such as practicing meditation, doing breathwork, drinking chamomile tea, cutting out screens in the evening, and taking a bath before bed. Yet, the most obvious thing- our environment - is sometimes overlooked.

Setting up your bedroom for optimal relaxation, a feeling of safety and security, and serenity is key if you're having trouble getting to - or staying - asleep!

Below I’ve laid out 10 things you shouldn’t have in your bedroom, and how to design it so it’s more soothing can calming.

10 MISTAKES IN YOUR BEDROOM DESIGN THAT MAY COST YOU SLEEP:

1. Having a TV/computer/phone/work in the bedroom. 

This is a biggie, and yet many bedrooms still have TV's in them. A bedroom is for sleeping and romance. Anything else interferes both physically and mentally. If you read books on a tablet, do so outside the bedroom, and shut it down at least an hour before sleep. Keep your charger somewhere else in the house, and keep your phone on it. If you must have your phone in your room as an alarm or to use a sleep app, make sure to set it on sleep mode so you won't be disturbed through the night except for an emergency. And face it down so it doesn't light up the room when a message pops up. 

2. Letting light in. 

Darkness is vital for regulating circadian rhythm and sleep patterns, and the presence of even a small amount of blue light in the bedroom can reduce melatonin levels and disrupt sleep. Don't keep an alarm clock that shines bright - choose one where you can turn the light setting off, or keep it outside of the room. Put tape over small lights such as on the smoke detector. And make sure your blinds or drapes are room-darkening and don't let streetlight or moonlight shine in through any cracks. If you have a child that wants a nightlight but has trouble sleeping, try getting them to move it farther and farther away until it's out of the room. 

3. Letting noise disrupt you.

It's not so much sound itself that prevents sleep, it's the inconsistency of sound or silence that can be disruptive. And so if you have trouble staying asleep you need to work at keeping noise at a constant level. Keep your door closed or sleep with earplugs if you've got a snoring mate. If you can't do that, or if there is noise beyond your control outside, use a sleep app or machine to play soothing nature sounds at a constant level all night. Try the Sleep Genius App or the Calm Meditation app with just the sound of nature on play.

4. Not bothering to make your bed comfy and welcoming. 

A good bed, or at the very least good linens, blankets, and pillows are a must for good sleep. Invest in a really good mattress if you can. Even better, make it organic for better air quality and health. And take the time to find a pillow that's just right for you - choose one from natural fibres such as wool, down, 100% organic cotton or buckwheat. Same goes for sheets and blankets - cotton, linen, hemp and bamboo are healthy and comfy choices. Then make your bed daily - check out this post on how to do that simply but beautifully. Make your bed comforting, a place that beckons and feels good on your skin and welcoming to your eyes, and you'll end up having the problem of not wanting to get up instead of not going to sleep. 

5. Not using weighted blankets.

A study published in Occupational Therapy (2008) showed that weighted blankets helped with anxiety and sleep, and another in Australasian Psychiatry (2012) confirmed it. According to Temple Grandin, Ph.D., deep pressure touch stimulation is a type of therapy that almost anyone can benefit from. Similar to getting a massage, the pressure exerted over the body from a heavy blanket or pile of blankets has physical and psychological advantages. It seems to positively affect the nervous system, almost like you are getting a big hug. A feeling of safety kicks in and lets your body relax. While you could purchase a special weighted blanket, it would be easy to mimic the effect by simply piling on a number of heavy quilts and blankets. 

6. Not setting the temperature low enough.

Especially when you've got that pile of blankets on you, setting the temperature in your room lower is a must. Research has shown that the optimal temperature for sleeping is 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15-20 degrees Celcius. When you sleep your body temperature goes down and then starts to warm up towards the end of your sleep as a signal to wake up. So if you sleep in a cooler room you'll be less likely to wake up during the night. However, sleeping at a temperature that is too low isn’t great for you either. If your room is too cold or you don’t have enough blankets, your body might try to lock in heat by shivering and narrowing the blood vessels in your skin. Not great either. 

Everyone's sleeping temperature is different, so you'll need to find exactly what's right for you. Wear socks if your feet get cold. Sleep with blankets on your side only if your mate gets too hot. Open a window if possible. Use a fan or air conditioner when needed. And don't use memory foam, as it traps in heat. 

7. Not cleaning the air.

Air quality directly affects sleep. The Harvard School of Public Health found that poor indoor air quality increased the risk of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. And the air in our homes is up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.

So open up your bedroom windows - and keep them open at night if it’s safe/optimal to do so. Get a Himalayan Salt Lamp and turn it on through the evening to clean the air before you sleep. Make sure your sheets are cleaned often. And put plants in your room - they purify the air while you sleep, and have a calming effect by connecting us to the natural world. The best plants for the bedroom? Lavender, jasmine, aloe vera, spider plant, and peace lily. 

8. Not using scent.

Lavender is known to decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure, therefore inducing a more relaxed state. Jasmine, vanilla, and sandalwood are also good for relaxation and sleep. Use one of these scents in a diffuser in the room (one without light) or make sachets scented with these essential oils and have them around the room. Natural soy or beeswax candles scented with these essential oils also work well,  but be careful to put them out before getting sleepy. 

9. Not designing an oasis. 

Your bedroom is your sanctuary - it should make you feel relaxed and peaceful the moment you step in it. Taking care of your sleep environment and putting thought into its look and feel is important and could help you welcome more restful nights.

• Start by de-cluttering and removing anything that doesn't belong or that causes stress (ie. piles of work or school papers!)  

• Arrange your furniture in a way that feels natural and visually pleasing to you, not how a Pinterest board says it should look. If you don't feel right with your bed in a certain spot, change it. Feng shui says not to position your bed in front of a window, or facing a large mirror, as both can be disrupting.

• Choose a wall color that elicits calm - like a soothing off-white, blue or green.

• Put artwork on the wall that soothes you.

• Make sure that you have curtains on your windows, even if you live in the woods, since your room should feel like a cave - cool, dark, quiet, and safe. Having a curtain over a window feels more secure and could reduce feelings of anxiety.

• Finally, find a bedside table that can hold the things that will help you relax, such as a lamp, journal, and pen so you can jot down everything on your mind that you are worried about and not let it keep you up at night.

10. Not putting yourself first.

Sleep is essential to our health and to functioning all day doing the many things on our list, including taking care of others. So when it comes to getting your rest, you must put yourself first. If the dog or cat sleeps on your bed and wakes you up constantly, put them out. Just do it. Kids, ditto. Same for your mate if you can't find a way to deal with snoring or tossing and turning. Put your own health first so that you can do better by your loved ones during waking hours. 

More than just knowing the importance of sleep, we have to create a good sleep environment and optimize the factors that lead to good sleep. Take the time to assess and refresh your bedroom for better sleep. And have sweet dreams. 

Want to simplify the rest of your home for more calm and peace?

It’s important to figure out if that’s what you’re doing - either at work or in life in general. Either way, it’s important to slow down so that your health doesn’t make you slow down. Going at an unrelenting and unsustainable pace week after week is impossible to keep up without burning out. Plus, you miss out on the good things in life - which are the little, simple moments.

10 ways to simplify a busy schedule and busy life

1. Set boundaries.

It’s important to set your own boundaries, make them known and stick to them. There’s a saying” If you want to get something done, ask a busy person.” If you’re the person everyone comes to with their problems and to-do lists, chances are you’re the busy person that has no boundaries. Take a good look at your commitments and what you do for yourself vs. what you do that others could do for themselves. Evaluate when you do things as well - just because it’s urgent for someone else doesn’t mean it’s urgent for you.

• set boundaries on when you respond to work emails (ex. no responding on evenings and weekends)

• set boundaries on your calendar (ex. no meetings in the early mornings or evenings if you need to be with kids, or no meetings during a lunch hour that is needed for you to get out for a walk and de-stress)

• set boundaries on your family commitments (ex. a sibling can pick up some of the responsibility with parents)

• learn to lovingly say no (people will respect you for it)

2. Re-evaluate your values and their measurements.

Do you value your worth based on how busy your calendar is? How much money you make? How many awards you win? Or is it by how much time you spend with people you love? Your level of happiness/contentment? How you’ve been able to make the world a tiny bit better? Get out a journal, re-establish your own unique values and then figure out how you will measure if you’re living up to those values - or not.

3. Choose the essentials.

Essentialists get in a habit of continually evaluating what they spend their time on. Anything that isn’t essential for living the life they want or meeting goals they’ve set, gets pushed away. When you focus on the essential things that move the needle in the right direction, they get done more quickly and you are less stressed doing them. Focus on doing the right things and schedule them into your calendar before anything else.

4. Don’t multitask.

If you want to simplify anything, focus on one thing at a time. That may mean that you only concentrate on something for a short spurt - even 15 minutes. But you’ll get a heck of a lot more done in that 15 minutes when you’re fully focused on it. Plus, it allows your mind to begin compartmentalizing things and not draining energy trying to keep it all in your head at once all through the day.

5. Give only 90%.

If you’re someone who always goes above and beyond, evaluate where it’s gotten you. There may be a few essential areas where it’s paid off. But the others? Probably not. Will anyone notice if you give just 90% instead of 110%? Try it.

6. Stop spending time on mundane tasks.

Many meetings can be emails. Many emails are not needed. Learn to get things done without the administrative red tape that can often be eliminated. That said, sometimes quick huddle meetings with your team once a week might be the way to avoid a ton of back-and-forth emails all week. Strategize to figure out what can be cut and what will increase efficiency.

7. Limit your consumption.

Our lives - and our planet - could be so much more sustainable if we just cut back on everything we consume. The culture of over-consumption has become rampant and we often don’t even realize in our day-to-day lives that we’re playing into it. When we cut back, it simplifies everything and we start to feel lighter.

• Cut back on social media and non-stop news consumption (use my 7-Day Digital Detox plan!)

• Cut back on shopping and spending

• Cut back on food and alcohol consumption

• Cut back on the consumption of negative things (violence on TV, negative people, disturbing books, gossip)

• Even cut back on travel (sometimes all you need is free time close to home, not time waiting in airports, driving on freeways and standing in lines)

8. Limit decision-making.

We make a gazillion little decisions every day and it takes up way too much of our energy and brainpower. So put in place systems and habits so that allow you to go on autopilot without having to make many of the more mundane daily decisions.

• Set a 1 or 2-week meal plan and stick to it (no meal decisions to make ever again, same grocery lists over and over)

• Simplify your wardrobe so you have just 5-7 outfits that look great on you (no morning wardrobe decisions to make)

• Set a time in your calendar that’s the same every single day for when you’ll exercise (no more back on forth on when/if you’ll work out today)

• Set a morning and bedtime routine and alarm that’s the same every day (no decisions first thing in the morning or last thing at night)

• Set your billpaying on auto-pay or schedule in your calendar an hour at the end of each month where you sit down and pay them (no more trying to remember to do it)

9. Declutter.

Busy days and weeks are much easier when you aren’t annoyed by clutter. Clutter at home and at work gets in the way of efficiency, diverts your attention and makes you feel guilty. Having a tidy, clutter-free and organized home and workspace will help you feel calmer and give you back time (even if it’s just 15 minutes) to relax instead of cleaning or searching for something. My 5-Day Declutter Dash will help you get started!

10. Enjoy yourself.

Even when life is busy beyond your control, you can still enjoy it. Embrace this time in your life and find the good things within it. Practice gratitude every single day by noticing the good things around you. And remind yourself that it’s only for now, and things will calm down at some point. Enjoy what you have today.

Want help simplifying your systems and habits so you’re less busy? Take one of my online courses for guided-step-by-step instructions on becoming an essentialist.

WORK SIMPLE helps you simplify your digital and work processes, declutter your workspace and become more productive in less time.

7-DAY DIGITAL DETOX walks you through tiny steps to declutter all of your digital devices and slowly detox from spending so much time online.

So here's the question. What exactly are resolutions, goals, intentions and plans? And the real question...how can we stick with them and achieve them?

To start this new year, I thought it may be helpful to share my own attempt to make sense of these concepts and apply "essentialist" thinking around them.

Goals

Goals help us articulate what we want - forcing us to get specific about dreams and vague ideas by writing down what we actually want to achieve. This gives us a sense of purpose and points to a destination we want to get to. I believe it’s very important to have goals (big and small) to work toward as a guiding beacon in a busy world and life.

But it's important to really dive deep to understand the underlying motivation for your goals. That's important so that you can continually come back to it when your resolve inevitably starts to fade. Here's the trick: keep asking "why" until you come to something meaningful.

Example: My goal is to have a clutter-free home.

1. Why do I want a clutter-free home?
   Because I feel stressed and anxious in my home now.
   

2. Why do I feel stressed and anxious?
   Because I feel like I’m cleaning and tidying all the time or I feel guilty when I don’t.
   

3. Why does cleaning make me stressed?
   Because I’d rather be spending the time on things I want to do.
   

4. What do I want to do?
   Spend more time with my friends, take up a hobby, learn something new.

So you can see that the decluttering goal is a short-term solution to the problem of not living the way I want to. My true desire is to live to my values and be more intentional and productive, and that will only happen by prioritizing my time and energy and attention. So my goal will actually become to spend time intentionally doing what I want and the plan to help get there is to declutter my home, freeing up time do things other than clean. This helps keep the larger motivation in mind when I set to work on the decluttering process.

Action step 1: Set your goals for the coming year

• Write in your journal what your goals for the year will be. Ask ‘why’ lots of times until you get to your true motivation.

• Write out these goals so that they’re a constant reminder for you, and so you become crystal clear on what you’re working toward.

But be careful.

Goal setting is important in motivating and directing you, but it can take you out of the moment and create an emphasis on what you don't have. You must be aware that you are setting a goal because you know you will achieve it and will enjoy working toward it. Don't set a goal and focus on the fact that you don't have it yet. Don't turn upstream and struggle against the lack of having your goal at this time. Instead, turn downstream into the achieving of the goal; move toward it and enjoy aligning your energy with the abundance of having it. The good feelings and high energy that comes with working toward your goal will help you gain momentum and achieve it faster.

When you enjoy the effort you're putting out, you'll be less likely to fall into this thought trap: failing = being a failure. Because that's absolutely not true. It's the positive energy spent that makes you successful. Failing only means that you've eliminated one possible route. The energy you've been putting out by being focused on your goal will continue to multiply and you'll gain more and more momentum, and more and more success, no matter which way get there.

Intentions

As discussed above, goals are important, but they’re also future-focused, and the more time we spend fixating on the end result, the more distracted we are from the journey. The real key to purpose and intention in life (and therefore simplicity and peace) is in the journey.

That’s where intentions come in. Intentions are focused on present actions. I think they're more like resolutions - the purpose is to be, to act, rather than to arrive. They're in the present and will help you take action in daily life on the things that will get you toward your goals.

An intention is a commitment. It’s much like a resolution, in that you’re resolving to feel and act in a certain way to get the outcome you’ve decided you want.

Intentions bring meaning into our lives now. They're powerful tools that we can use to direct our focus and raise our emotional energy, which in turn raises our physical energy.

Action Step 2: Write down weekly intentions.

You’ve decided on and written down your goals for the year and month. Now, write out your intentions for the coming week. These should be things that will work on in the moment, in the now, the actions you will take on a daily basis that are aligned with your goals.

Examples:

1. If your goal is to start your own business, you could set an intention of researching more about it every day for the coming week. It might only be 15 minutes a day, but your intention will be to move the needle by learning more and getting closer to your goal each day. This will help you become passionate about the process and build momentum and clarity on the steps you need to continue with as you build your business.

2. If your goal is to get healthier, your daily intention could be to get outdoors to walk or run and feel the movement and the air on your face and let it increase your energy. Doing this helps you build the habit of movement and will help you feel healthier and fitter right now.

Plans

I firmly believe that focusing on the essentials, as Greg McKeown tells us in his brilliant book Essentialism, is key to living a meaningful life and meeting your goals. Essentialism is something we can incorporate into our whole lives - at home, at work, and in our own personal time planner. Once you’ve set goals and intentions, you’ll need to plan your time and your actions so that your daily and weekly schedule aligns with them. Essentializing your calendar will help you get and stay on track to a highly productive yet less busy life.

A plan is defining your process as you work toward your goal.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” A simple, efficient and essentialist plan can help us have more deliberate days and navigate through busyness and uncertainty.

For example:

1. To find more peace and calm (goal), I will sit still and breathe deeply (intention), for five minutes every day at 8am for the next month (plan).

2. To get the promotion I want (goal), I will learn more and build my network by having a coffee meeting with one colleague in my industry each week (plan).

3. To be healthier (goal), I will begin a couch-5k running program today and follow the program for 6 weeks (plan).

Again, just be careful…planning can be its own form of procrastination. We can spend all day planning without actually doing anything, because it feels productive. This is how we end up being super busy without getting any closer to our goals. To avoid this, plans must be specific, simple and clearly align with goals and intentions.

One of the best parts about becoming an Essentialist is that you take the time to figure out what activities you've been "busy" with that don't align with your vision and goals. Those things - things that seem urgent but are not truly important in your overall life - are the ones that are not essential activities for living the life you want. Drop them, for they will not bring you the happiness you desire.

The point of scheduling and planning isn't to be rigid or perfect. And the point of essentializing isn't to accomplish less or be less ambitious. They're tools to make your unique life more effective and enjoyable, and allow you better flow and focus so that you can achieve your goals and feel at peace.

Action Step 3: Fill in a weekly planner and time block your calendar

Get in the habit of spending 10 minutes on the same day and time every week to fill in a weekly planner with your essential activities for the coming week. I like to just use my journal and bullet point my coming week. (It’s the same journal I’ve written my goals in for the year, so I’m always reminded and stay on track).

You should also use an online or a physical calendar/daytimer that you can block hour by hour to make the most of your time. Keep it with you throughout the week. I simply use Google Calendar - it works well for collaborating on meetings with others, and it's always with me on my phone and laptop. Your calendar is an important tool for blocking detailed time for the essentials you planned - right down to walking breaks, meditation time, specific client meetings, conference calls, and laundry. If it's not scheduled, it's way easier to blow off or forget those commitments.

Tips:

• Make sure that you plan first and foremost for health essentials, including adequate sleep, exercise, meals and quiet time in order to maintain the wellness and energy you need to thrive.

• Block out full days or half days for essential tasks - things that are essential to growth but that often get pushed out by urgent but less important activities like email or unproductive meetings.

• You'll need to take a serious look at your schedule and find the things that are sucking your time but not contributing to accomplishing your goals (or your family goals). These things may seem urgent (to you? to others? to what society says is normal?), but they are not essentials. If you find your week is too full to spend time on essentials, you know you need to cut back on the things that aren't.

Take action in 2023

With all these pieces in place, all there is left to do is take the first step. With each step, we begin to live a life of intention and purpose. And each step gives us a new experience that builds into our goals and plans as we go. It's a cycle that can be very gratifying if we let it be. It may not be exactly easy, but it's simple. And can bring peace and contentment in life.

Good luck!

So, how about just keeping the good parts and taming down the rest?

It can be pretty liberating to simplify your decorating by scaling back on the sheer amount of decor you bring out (and certainly the amount of new decor you buy). Look, no one is in a contest to see whose place looks like it could be on a magazine cover! The whole point of decorating is simply to create that spark of magic that puts you and everyone else into a calm and grateful and joyous mood. A thousand twinkle lights and 200 red balls in vases aren’t necessary to achieve that!

You also don’t need to purchase expensive man-made ornaments and bows and wreaths and garlands. Store-bought trendy seasonal items can get pricey and it’s all too easy to accumulate a lot of things that take up storage space most of the year! January. Making your own - espeically with natural items - is a fun way to have something fresh every year. Bringing sweet-smelling greenery and wood and cones indoors is such an organic and tactile way to elicit that magic you’re going for. And cozying up with a blanket and your favourite holiday movie while doing a little DIY’ing is a great way to slow things down and enjoy the moment.

So head to the nearest forest trail (not on private property!) with clippers, or scout your local nursery and farmers’ markets. Look for fir and pine and other green boughs as well as pretty sticks and small birch branches that have come down from previous storms. Stock up as well on oranges, cranberries, lemons, limes, apples, herbs and cinnamon sticks. Oh, and popcorn of course!

Ideas for simplifying your decorations this holiday season

I love that. And I also love simplicity. So I always try to create a little bit of an elevated experience to anything as long as I can do it simply and easily.

With evergreen wreaths, it’s a piece of cake. There are so many ways to add a few little touches to a store or market-bought evergreen holiday wreath and elevate the look. Use natural items like pine cones, sticks, feathers, holly, magnolia or other greens and secure them to the base of the wreath with wire. Or use bows, bells or rope to add interest. It takes just a few minutes to create a look and experience at your door that screams simple yet festive!

Here are some ideas.

Could we go back to those carefree Christmas days?

I want to enjoy time without so many presents and trips to stores and buying way too much. I want fewer commitments and more time in jeans and a comfy sweater hanging out with friends and family and pets curled up in my lap. I want to play outdoors in the snow and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

When did the spirit of the holidays go from celebrating together with people you love to buying and entertaining and having perfect decorations and doing a million things at once?

The season has in many ways become a very commercial endeavour. We seem to buy trinkets and decorations and clothing and the latest technology and way too much food just because it feels like it's expected (or because there’s some sale that makes us feel like we’re crazy not to buy). It takes an enormous toll on our wallets, our sanity and on the planet. 

What’s the alternative to a stressful, expensive, environmentally-destructive holiday season? 

A simple one where you buy a whole lot less but actually give a lot more. 

Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and other holidays that happen around the winter solstice offer us an opportunity. Just as the post-solstice days give us a little more light each 24-hour period, so too can we give each other a little more time and love each day.

We can give the gift of conversation, of laughter, of listening, of singing and dancing, of eating together, of being healthy together and of relaxing together. The gifts we give can be thoughtful, needed and helpful, not plastic, impractical and cluttering-creating. The holidays needn't be a consumerist or stressful event.

Ideas for a simple, anti-consumerist, anti-stress, more sustainable holiday:

1. Decorate naturally.

Use greenery and branches and acorns and pinecones and berries all found in the natural world around us. Plan an outing to a friend's woodlot to gather them together or walk with family to the local farmer's market to get them.  

2. Decorate intentionally. 

Put your efforts not into purchased decor but instead into setting up your home to accommodate your vision of what the holidays mean to you. That may mean pulling out board games and decks of cards, adding cozy blankets and pillows to your living room, having some holiday-scented natural candles ready, queuing up your favourite festive songs, or rearranging your furniture so that the TV isn't front and centre.

3. Send e-cards.

Instead of buying and sending a gazillion impersonal cards by mail (unless that’s something that slows you down and gives you joy), send a simple e-card or even a really thoughtful email that tells the person how much they mean to you. You can write and send all your cards over a single coffee with Paperless Post e-cards. Or give back by sending e-cards through Greet for Good, a site that allows you to choose the charity of your choice to donate to through your purchase.

4. Say no. 

Don't go to every holiday party you're invited to if you don’t want to. Forget hosting your own big do (if that's not your essential holiday activity) in favour of spending even more meaningful time with your friends throughout the coming cold months by getting out for coffee dates, walks or card nights - it will most likely be even more appreciated. 

5. Give a repurposed gift.

Instead of adding to the nearly-new items bursting off the thrift store shelves, rescue one by redirecting it to a loved one. Purchasing secondhand items prevents more of earth's resources from being transformed into stuff and reduces the volume of items entering the waste stream.

6. Give experiences.

Instead of giving stuff that clutters up our homes, give something that will add to the enjoyment of life. Movie tickets, bowling passes, spa treatments, yoga classes, park passes, rock-climbing adventures, museum tickets, ski-lift tickets, a sporting event or concert...experiences will be remembered long after the excitement of 'stuff' has worn away. 

7. Give consumables.

The gift of homemade cookies, muffins, soup, frozen casseroles, hot chocolate or an assorted tea pack will undoubtedly be appreciated and enjoyed, with no waste and no clutter left over. 

8. Give learning. 

The gift that will keep giving for a lifetime is that of knowledge. Give online learning classes from Skillshare or Udemy, or gift a class from your local college or university. Or how about an art class? A cooking class? Or a guided meditation app like Headspace? Books, of course are also fantastic gifts. You may have guessed that I highly recommend Essentialism for everyone on your list.  

9. Give your time.

Giving your time is so much better and more valuable than anything else you could give. Spend a day with someone helping around the house or baking together. Plan a meal together at their favourite restaurant. Wash their car for them. Babysit so someone can go on a date night. Help them paint their house in the Spring. You get the picture. 

10. Buy local and handmade. 

If you do purchase any gifts or decorations, opt for locally made items that reduce shipping and support makers, artisans and small merchants. You might also consider purchasing gifts online (or at local craft shows) that support women and makers in third-world countries who are helping build their communities through their businesses. Check out my Best of Etsy boards for handmade, feel-good gift ideas. 

11. Ban waste.

Commercial wrapping paper is non-recyclable and burning it emits toxins into the environment. So save our landfills by opting for natural and recyclable wrapping options. Use recycled paper bags, brown or white kraft paper, scraps of fabric, newsprint, old maps, or even a tea towel. Forget the tape and plastic bows and tie up a pretty knot with jute rope or baker's twine. These ideas for natural, sustainable gift wrapping are pretty cool. 

I hope this inspires you to simplify a little this holiday season, and save money at a time when consumerism is costing us more than ever. Your family will thank you, and so with our planet.

Grab my free guide to an essentialist home for more tips on simplifying your environment!

I'm big on organizing. The gene was passed down from my Mom, so I can't help it. A Sunday of organizing my kitchen cupboards while dancing around to pop tunes is my secret source of fun.

Go ahead and mock, I don't mind. 

But even if you hate organizing, taking a little bit of time to organize your kitchen - the most used and essential area of your home - will help make your daily life go a heck of a lot smoother.

I have to confess, I kinda hate cooking. I just don’t enjoy it or have a lot of patience for it. So the easier I can make any culinary experience the better.  That’s why I set up and organize my kitchen for the ultimate in ease and convenience.

Below are the ways I've done that, in case you’d like to give your kitchen set up an overhaul and make your life simpler as well.

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR KITCHEN SO COOKING (AND DAILY LIFE) IS EASIER

1. Group cooking oils near the stove.

Gather all cooking oils, vinegar, salt, pepper, and any other spices you use in dishes cooked on the stove. I use turmeric a lot on veggies, so I include that here. Find a platter, tray, or cutting board and place it on the counter on one side of your stove, and group the oils and spices you gathered on it. They'll still look neat and tidy on your counter because they're grouped together, and they'll be handy right where you need them. 

2. Group your go-to cooking utensils.

Gather all wooden spoons, spatulas, ladles, whisks, etc. that you need for cooking and put them into a crock, vase, vintage measuring cup or some other kind of utensil holder and put this either with the oils and spices if you have room or on the other side of the stove. 

3. Organize your spices.

Gather all your cooking and baking spices. If they're in varying containers of different sizes and shapes, consider switching them to ones that are all the same - both so they’re easier to store and easier for you to find what you need. You can buy these at the dollar store or online, or just use small mason jars like I did. Label them clearly (I used chalk paint and chalk on the lids) and find a spot where they can be stored all together. I've kept them in a tray on the counter, in a homemade spice cabinet, and inside a cabinet close to where I cook and bake on the countertop, so they're easy to grab (in my various past homes).

4. Gather cutting boards and display them.

Keep functional cutting boards together and near to where you will use them. You can stack and lean them against a backsplash, hang them above the stove, or keep them together in a cabinet beside the oven or wherever you’ll be cutting on them. 

5. Invest in good knives and keep them all together.

You don’t know how much you need good sharp knives until you use one. Invest in good ones, and keep them handy to where you use them - and separate from your other utensils (even if that's only in their own compartment inside the same drawer). Use a knife block on your counter if you like that, or a magnetic board on the backsplash to hold your knives is also a nice option. 

I hope this inspires you to take a little time this week to organize your spices and cooking gear for a smarter kitchen and a simpler life at home.

Want more ideas for a functional, simple home?

Join my email list for a weekly tip + my quickstart guide.

So many people struggle in this area - it is DEFINITELY possible to be a paper hoarder even if you don’t hoard other things!

Here’s the thing. It’s getting easier and easier in our digital age to cut way back on the paper you bring into your home on a daily or weekly basis. So once you get things under control once, there are simple strategies you can use to KEEP it from coming back.

Here’s how to get your paper under control in a tiny-step, non-overwhelming way…and then how to keep it from coming back again.

How to declutter piles of paper: the ‘Big Box’ and ‘Little Box’ Method

1. Find a big box or bin or even a laundry basket that you can carry with you around the house and your home office space. Mark it 'PAPERS TO SORT'. If you already decluttered your office, this is the box you put your papers in for later. 

2. Then find a smaller box as well. Mark this one 'RECEIPTS and WARRANTIES'. if you have any receipts or warranty booklets in the big box from your prior declutter, move them here. 

3. Start with your home office or space you use for work or things like paying the bills. Here’s the key to this - you must DASH through it, picking up all loose papers lying around that area. You’re just quickly dashing around with the boxes, throwing the papers in. Don’t get sucked into looking at all the papers and getting distracted. Look for things like bills, mail, school sheets, post-it notes, receipts, warranty booklets, magazines, flyers, work stuff....anything. Put them into your boxes (receipts and warranties in the small one and all other papers in the bigger one).

3. Move to the next room in your house and repeat. NOTE: only do this in your own personal spaces or the common spaces in your home - don't try to do this for kids or a spouse in their private rooms. This challenge is for you, and if they want to join you in doing this on their own for their spaces, you can invite them to.

4. Continue through one room at a time until you've finished throughout the whole house. It seems like a big job, but remember you're just dashing through this and grabbing the papers. You're not stopping to examine each paper - just grab them, put them in the box and move on.

5. Now you're at the point of starting to go through your papers to sort and purge them. This is the part that I highly suggest you break up into smaller bits - tiny steps one night or day at a time so that it's not so overwhelming but you still get it done. Make it more fun by simultaneously watching one of your favourite TV shows or movies (something you don't need to pay close attention to but that's entertaining). Or listen to music or a podcast or audiobook. Get your favourite drink, get comfy and start going through your boxes, one box at a time, one piece of paper at a time. Do just 30 minutes a night so it's not such a huge, awful chore. It might take a while. That's ok! Keep working at it consistently and it will be done soon. In fact, I challenge you to set a date when you want to be done by, write it down in your calendar and work toward hitting that goal. 

6. As you go through your papers, you'll want to file away any that need to be kept, and shred or burn or recycle any that don't (tear off any address and personal details on anything before recycling). My philosophy on filing is to keep it simple and convenient. First, look at how many years back you need to keep financials and tax papers in your country. I keep tax files going back 7 years. And I keep any credit card, mortgage/rent, insurance papers as long as I have that card/home/car/etc. Other things like bills, invoices, reminders, etc. I don't keep because they can all be found online.

7. Then, figure out the best filing system for you. If having a big filing cabinet with file folders makes it easiest for you, then do that. If you don't have too much to file, maybe a smaller accordion-style folder works (that's what I use). Or maybe you have room in a dresser that's not being used and you simply want to have boxes in each drawer for each category of paper. If you want to you can get fancy with a label maker, or simply write out your labels with a marker. Some people like scanning in all receipts and warranties instead of keeping paper copies. I don't do that because it's too much effort for my lazy self. Do what's best for you. Do what's most convenient throughout the year as long as it's calm, organized and clutter-free. 

How to get control of paper for good

Once you’ve decluttered your paper, you’ll want to stop it from piling up all over again! With a few strategies and systems, this can be much easier to do.

1. Stop/lessen the inflow of paper.

• If you don't look at the flyers and coupons that come in your weekly mail, print "NO FLYERS PLEASE" on a piece of paper and tape it to your mailbox or slot (it usually works!).

• Unsubscribe from junk mail from Canada Post or register with the Direct Mail Association to have them take you off the direct mail list. These won't necessarily reach all junk/direct mail senders but it will reduce them!

• Contact online all of your banking institutions and utilities from which you receive paper bills and statements and ask to switch to digital. Set up online accounts for your banking and billing - you can create reminders on your calendar that pop up monthly if you're worried that you'll miss paying your bills. Better yet, set up automatic payments for your bills and don't worry about it at all!

• Take the time to call the companies you receive catalogs from and get off their mailing list. You don't need that clutter and you most likely don't need the clutter you buy within them!

• Phone or write to charities that you receive appeals from and ask them to take you off their list. Use the return envelope card they send you. Even if you support some of them, ask them to stop communicating with you by mail (ask for email only or just one reminder mail/year).

• If you have room, keep a small recycling bin right at your entryway (maybe make it a pretty basket instead of an ugly blue recycling bin). Toss any junk mail that you get in there before it even makes its way into the house.

• Keep one drawer or basket for any receipts you need to keep - and make sure all receipts ONLY go here.

2. Schedule a 30-minute paper session once/month.

• Schedule 30 minutes in your calendar near the end of each month. Make it the same time each month so it becomes routine and never ignored (or do 10 minutes weekly if you prefer).

• Use this time to do any online banking and bill paying.

• Process the receipts from your receipt basket. Scan or take photos of them to get them online (the Wave app is great) then shred them. Or put them all into a baggie or designated box labelled with the year and file it away until next month (and tax time at year-end).

• Respond to any charitable appeals, notes to friends or anything else you need to attend to in writing.

• Take any reminder notices and make any appointments needed or replies necessary. Mark down upcoming appointments or to-dos on your calendar or command centre.

• Think of this time as a productive feel-good way to end your month so you'll enjoy it instead of dread it!

Phew! It makes such a difference not to drown in paper on a constant basis at home. I’d say putting this decluttering process and the systems in place are essential to a simpler and calmer life at home. You can do it!

Like, a lot. 

I used to be an addict of luxurious and expensive face creams, shampoos, oils, lotions and basically anything that smelled nice and promised youthful beauty. I thought little about the consequences this had on the environment, my health, and my wallet. Sure I recycled all of those plastic bottles, but what about what was running down the drain and into our watersheds? Yes that eye cream promised to reverse my laugh lines, but at what cost to the rest of my cells that were being exposed to harmful, often even carcinogenic, chemicals?

I decided I was ready to make the switch to natural, eco-friendly and health-friendly products. I had done it already with cleaning solutions and I'm always careful about not bringing VOCs and other toxins into the air in my home, so this was the natural next step.

What I found was that simple and natural products work as well or even better than the expensive brands I had been using, plus they cost way less and make life so much easier because I don't have a ton of different plastic tubes and jars cluttering up my bathroom.

The products I have now come in beautiful glass bottles that I can order again online at the click of a button. The soaps are handmade from local artisans and smell and look amazing displayed in a glass jar on my counter. I don't have to constantly rinse and recycle tons of plastic, and my bedside table looks a whole lot better with a simple white jar of lavender hand cream than an ugly branded bottle I try to hide.

I also don't spend as much time morning and night with my beauty routine. Best of all, I don't have to worry about the toxic chemicals I'm putting into my bloodstream or our waterways. 

I urge you to take stock of your beauty routine and products. Do you have a ton of half-empty or seldom-used bottles cluttering up your vanity cabinets? Does your shower look like a drug-store shelf? Think about how even the sight of all of these "things" affects you every morning when you see them. Then think about how much plastic (and I'm talking about the product packaging and your credit card) is used for all of your stuff. Is it worth it?

HOW TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO ORGANIC BEAUTY AND BODY CARE PRODUCTS

Clean out the things you don't use, gradually, but with intention.

As you finish up the rest of the products you currently have on the go, begin looking for natural and sustainable products you like.

• Look for organic products, locally-made if possible, in glass or cardboard packaging when possible.

• Check out your local farmers market for soap makers and buy a few to always have on hand to both smell and look pretty in your bathroom (I use hand-made soap every day for washing hands, for in the shower and even as a shaving cream - I found I just don't need anything else!).  

• Look for shampoos and hand creams and liquid soaps that are refillable at naturals stores in your community.

• Simplify your routine down to a few products that are essentials. 

Here are my favourites:

• Total facial care (cleanser, moisture oil and eye oil):  Skin Essence Organics (Canadian!)

• Hand and body cream: Shea & Cocoa Butter Lavender cream from NEOB Lavender

• Bar soap: Crate 61 Organics

• Makeup - tinted moisturizer, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara from DeVita

• Shampoo and Conditioner: bars from Upfront Cosmetics

• Deodorant: Fat and the Moon deodorant cream or Crystal Deodorant.

• Toothpaste, Mouthwash: Tom's of Maine - available at national food and drug stores

• Liquid Hand Soap: Nature Clean or other organic options available at food and drug stores

Other brands I haven’t yet tried but that have great reviews:

• Glow'rious Routine is a Canadian BIPOC-owned green beauty brand for ethical skincare.

• Satya Organic is a Canadian Indigenous-owned company that makes all of its products with five natural ingredients including Organic Calendula Petals, Organic Cold Pressed Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Cold Pressed Jojoba, Organic Colloidal Oatmeal.

Are you ready to try to make the switch? Remember to just switch up slowly and go for simplicity - you’ll love it. I promise.

But this paragraph from one of my favourite books - Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - reminds me to enjoy the hunt but keep the things I actually collect to a minimum, so they’re special.

“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few. One moon shell is more impressive than three...For it is only framed in space that beauty blooms. Only in space are events and objects and people unique and significant - and therefore beautiful.”

So, how to display meaningful objects in your home in a streamlined way while maintaining space so they feel significant and beautiful?

Group them.

Waaay back when I was a youngster working in retail, a supervisor once told me that grouping a whole lot of one product all together on an end-aisle display was eye-catching and sold more. That stuck with me. And it applies at home as well.

The whole point of collections and mementos is to have them catch your eye so you can appreciate them. They should feel special and significant. They’re the things you want to stand out in your home above all the laundry and dirty dishes and socks on the floor (am I the only one who takes socks off and leaves them everywhere around the house?).

So I have two main “rules” when decorating so that the meaningful stuff like photos, collections, art and memorabilia stand out:

1. Start with a neutral backdrop - check out this post.

2. Group your stuff.

Let’s concentrate here on displaying collections by grouping them.

Shelving displays

Try to bring all of one kind of collection or items - for example, vases, books, dishes, pitchers, antiques - all together and display them on one shelving unit. See how in the photos below like things are with like? They all have either the same shape or same colour family. Even practical dish sets don’t look cluttery stacked on open shelving because they’re all in one colour. The eye is drawn to something large - and when you display a bunch of similar little things together to make one large display, it will show better.

Wall displays

The same tip goes for displaying artwork, family photos or collectibles on the wall. Group them together to make a display that’s way more impactful and also way less cluttery than having them spread out all over your home. Designer tip - this also allows you to save some white space in your home.

Surface displays

When you’re displaying collections of items on a surface like a coffee table, dresser or counter, try to corral them together. I love using trays, baskets and glass jars for this purpose. It makes such an interesting presentation and keeps them from getting scattered around and messy-looking.

Floor Displays

Even things like plants and large baskets or bins look amazing when they’re grouped together in one spot in the room! Bonus - it’s way easier to sweep the floors when you have more open space because things are spread around.

Action steps:

1. Re-evaluate your collections and decide what you really love and want to keep, and what you really don’t care too much about any longer and could donate. Remember that you don’t need to collect and keep ALL the shells, just a few will do, with space around them to make them special.

2. Bring every item in one collection out and put it on your table. Are they all similar in size, shape or colour? If there is an odd one out, consider giving it away so that the rest of your collection will look better.

3. Find a spot in your home to group them together and play around with the display until you’re happy with it. Remember to have “white space” around them.

4. Stand back and admire your work, and invite friends over to enjoy it too! I bet your displays will catch your eye every day and make you smile.

Want more tips on decorating simply so that your home feels calm and beautiful?

Subscribe for a weekly email + my guide to essentialism at home.

But are you being effective and truly productive with your time?

Or, like most of us, have you let so many seemingly urgent but ultimately unimportant distractions into your everyday life that you can't focus on the important things? 

We're all in that same boat if we're not careful. Email, texts, meetings, requests from others, a leaky pipe, Insta scrolling - however well-intentioned, we often let the priorities of others and the whims of society dictate our time and desires. And suddenly we've taken on five new projects without finishing the first three. 

When we say yes to everything and let non-essential distractions dictate our time we work in a perpetual state of shifting tasks and refocusing attention. This not only wastes valuable time, it means we're not doing our best work. And it creates fatigue and stress.

I'm not saying you need to say no to every new project. Just make sure you take on the essentials first, finish them, and then move on to the others.

To help get those projects finished, I wanted to share with you findings from my research on focus and flow and productivity in business and work, I believe there are five simple productivity techniques that can be applied to all parts of your life - including finishing projects at home. 

5 PRODUCTIVITY TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU FINISH YOUR PROJECTS

1. Essentialize

First, become an Essentialist and set your priorities. Organize your to-do list into essentials and non-essentials, and get rid of those that really aren't important or that don't align with your values and goals. Then separate what's left - your essentials - into large tasks and small. This will include your work stuff, family stuff, home stuff and personal stuff.

Note: I want to point out here that personal stuff absolutely needs to be on your essentials list. If you don't take time for self-care, play, and quiet time, you'll burn out quickly, your health will fail you and you'll never finish all those projects on your mind.

2. Batch 

To make the most of your time, you'll need to first consciously be aware of how you're spending it. Do a quick time-tracking assessment over a day or two to figure out exactly how you spend each hour and each minute. I bet there are chunks of time you can regain by not having to search for your keys and wallet every morning or not checking your email or Twitter every 15 minutes. You'll also want to determine when you are at your best. Research says that we are most focused and productive within the first three hours after waking. But everyone is different, so determine when your best time of day is and make sure you use those hours to batch together and work on the most important things on your list. 

Batching is grouping similar tasks using similar resources so that you can streamline their completion. It will allow you to minimize distractions and maximize concentration, creativity, and focus. You'll want to batch and work on the essentials that are similar - like client calls, spreadsheets, cooking healthy meals for the week, or writing. That means you're not hopping into these tasks whenever you have a few minutes; you're planning out designated chunks of time for them during the day or the week and giving them your full attention, making significant progress or even finishing them, and then leaving them until the next batch of time designated for them in your calendar. 

3. Sprint

There are some big projects that will take a lot of time, both at work and at home. That living room you've been redecorating for the past six months that's only halfway done? Yep, that's one of them. I suggest that you get these projects completed in sprints. If it's important (and I would argue that it is since living in half-completion adds stress and chaos that affects your whole life) then drop pretty much everything else to dedicate your day to this one thing, and make a sprint to the finish line. 

If it's a project at home, dedicate one whole weekend to completing it. Figure out other ways to get your kids to their hockey and dance commitments - perhaps other parents can pitch in this weekend while you do the same for them the next. Plan ahead and pick up all the materials you need so you're prepared and don't have to stop to go get something halfway through. And then spend all weekend just knocking it out and getting it done. 

If it's a big work project, clear your calendar for two weeks, set goals for completion, and work only on that. I know that may seem impossible, and yes, you'll have to designate 30 mins or an hour at the beginning and end of each day for daily tasks like answering emails and meetings that can't be missed. But if you plan ahead by blocking out all non-essential meetings and preparing your team and clients for these two weeks of concentrated effort, you'll be able to get a huge amount accomplished and see real results. Two weeks is a reasonable amount of time to exert high effort and concentrate on only one thing. Then take a break - you'll need to mentally shift back to daily things or another task in order to recharge and see clearly again. 

4. Achieve 1% Marginal Gains

Sprinting is not going to get every task on your list done. I know it's not realistic to sprint every week or weekend. Real life continues, and it may be overwhelming to even think about sprinting to the finish on some really big projects. That's ok, that's where achieving 1% marginal gains comes in.  

Try breaking really big tasks down into small chunks and work to get just 1% done every day. You're not going to go from couch potato to running a marathon by training for two weeks. But if you do 1% more on your training program each day, you'll be able to simply begin and then continue to make gains that will compound until you reach your goal. Same goes for implementing a new system at work, writing that book, or for decluttering and organizing your kitchen. Do one tiny thing - for example, select just one underused kitchen appliance or dish each day and put it into the donation bin. Committing to a baby step gets the momentum going and gives you confidence in your ability to complete the project. 

Finding the time to achieve marginal gains by taking small steps each day toward a goal or project means going back to your time mapping exercise and identifying little bits of wasted time you could be using to improve by 1%. Instead of surfing through your Facebook feed while waiting for an appointment, do some research for your book. Instead of listening to the same news for the third time on your drive home from work, listen to an audiobook instead and make gains on your reading list. 

5. Partner Up

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help! I don't know if it's our perfectionist tendencies that make us want to do everything ourselves, or modesty about not wanting to bother others, but we need to get over it and double up on resources to get things done. Call a friend to help, get your kids and spouse involved, ask a co-worker to take on some of the tasks, or even hire a professional simply for structure, ideas, and accountability. A partner can make all the difference in going from halfway to done. 

So what project do you need to sprint on? What's your top essential task to get done this week or this month? Spend a little time this weekend essentializing and planning your projects and your time. 

It really can feel sometimes like the holidays heap on the stress instead of melt it away, right?

Well, there's a simple way to stop that in its tracks so you can actually relax and enjoy this season. 

It's to SET YOUR INTENTIONS. 

Ask yourself these questions to get really clear about what you want out of this season:

• How do you want YOUR holiday season to feel?

• How do you want your family's holidays to feel?

• What is the season all about for you?

Being intentional and deciding what you want the season to feel like is the real trick to simplifying and ridding yourself of dread and anxiety. You need to get to the bottom of WHY you want to do all the many things that come with the holidays. Then, you can look at all the gifts, baking, cleaning, trimming, travelling, entertaining, etc, etc, etc, on your list - and be able to make much easier decisions about if they’re really needed and at what level.

Setting intentions and determining the real goal for your holidays simplifies everything instantly and allows you to be much more relaxed and present and joyful - while still creating a magical season.

So figure out your intentions right now, and make every decision you come to from that place.

Here are a few ideas to help you be more intentional during the season, and simplify your to-do list.

1. Decorate intentionally.

Put your efforts not into purchased decor but instead into setting up your home to accommodate your vision of what the holidays mean to you. That may mean pulling out board games and decks of cards, adding cozy blankets and pillows and sparkling lights to your living room, having holiday-scented candles ready, queuing up your favourite festive songs, or rearranging your furniture so that the TV isn't front and centre - or maybe so it IS front and centre to watch holiday movies together with friends and family!

2. Say no.

You don’t have to go to every holiday party you're invited to. And you don’t have to host your own big shin-dig if that doesn’t line up with your intentions. Or, if hanging out with friends and family is your main intention, put your efforts into doing that but not having to have the decorating perfect or the cleaning spotless. Say no to the things that won’t really make much difference in the way you want the season to feel.

Say yes.

Make sure to include the activities in your holidays that align with your intentions, and don’t feel guilty giving them your full time and attention! This might mean saying yes to store-bought goodies instead of homemade if you’d rather be hanging out with a loved one instead of slaving in the kitchen. It might mean saying yes to new activities even if it means breaking “traditions” - but think through those traditions to see if they really fit your life where it is right now anyway.

Enjoy the season my friends!

What we don’t need is pressure to decorate an Insta-worthy home, get expensive gifts for everyone we know or host huge “perfect” gatherings.

What I think we need is a cozy, fun, healing and comforting holiday season. To me, that means simple, natural and spent with people I love.

Here are some ideas on how to create that kind of holiday and be able to relax and fully enjoy it - while also recharging and appreciate the beauty of downtime with friends, loved ones and nature.

1. Add seasonal function

Put your effort into decorating your home for cozy nights playing family games or hosting a few of the people you love the most - instead of with the goal of impressing neighbors with the most lights and glittery decor.

• Pull out board games and decks of cards and put them in a beautiful antique crate or natural basket where they’re easy to grab and add meaningful decoration

• Add cozy blankets, faux furs and plush pillows to your living areas and lounge chairs - think plaids, whites and chunky knits for a wintery welcoming touch. 

• Have some holiday-scented soy or beeswax candles ready or add holiday-scented essential oils to a humidifier.

• Rearrange your furniture and clear your surfaces so you’re set for conversation and games and eating together instead of TV watching.

2. Bring nature indoors. 

Go for a hike in a local woodlot or visit a farmers market and pick up some mini fir or spruce trees for pots (pick them where they need to be thinned out anyway) and fir or pine boughs for swags on doors, on your mantel and in vases. They'll smell wonderful and add a simple festive touch. Try to get the real thing instead of buying plastic from a store - it’s more sustainable for the planet!

Simply add a little bit of ribbon or twine to make them more festive, or add some red berries to the mix if you want a pop of colour. This post gives you 10 natural DIY holiday decorating ideas. 

3. Give fewer but more meaningful gifts. 

Order (or make!) handmade, vintage and ethically-sourced gifts instead of spending valuable time running around the mall only to find expensive gifts that are quickly forgotten.  I've curated my favourite gift and entertaining/decorating items on Etsy to make it easy for you - check it out! Gifts that are made with love, whether by you (cookies anyone?) or local makers and shops are much more meaningful and have a lasting impact.

4. Send e-cards. 

If you love writing and sending paper cards, go for it - it’s a beautiful way to connect with friends. But if that task feels too overwhelming for you - ditch the pressure! Instead, mail all your cards over a single coffee with Paperless Post e-cards. Import your address book, choose a card and bulk mail to everyone you choose. There are many free options or inexpensive paid versions as well.  

5. Wrap simply and sustainably. 

Ditch the commercial wrap and go for natural and recyclable gift wrapping. It simplifies the season because all you need for supplies is a big roll of brown kraft paper and some string! Plus, it’ll make you feel good about giving to the planet as well as the people on your list.

Check out this post for simple DIY wrapping ideas. 


So, are you ready to swap a stressful season for a slower, more joyful one? Me too. Cheers! 

Busy seems to have a positive connotation associated with being important, having purpose and/or doing well. If we're not busy, it seems perhaps that we're not productive. We keep busy at work and at home, we keep our kids busy and even our vacations are busy. Perhaps we're "accomplishing" a lot, but at what cost? 

Over time, living a fast, busy life can cost us dearly.

The biological costs include cardiovascular and other diseases and even accelerated ageing. The psychological costs are equally serious and include anxiety, depression and addictions.

But perhaps the biggest cost is the opportunity cost.

When we are too busy to live a mindful life and notice what's going on around us, we miss out on paths we could have taken, relationships that may have enriched us, and growth openings that may have changed the course of our lives. 

Is being busy all bad?

I don't think so, after all, this is real life and we all have responsibilities and ambitions. We just need to remember that we can accomplish more by intentionally spending time accomplishing the right things. When we slow down enough to consciously acknowledge our values and goals, and then spend our time on the essential things that will accomplish them, we'll be more balanced and feel less "busy".

So the solution to taming the chronic busyness that IS bad for us is simply to slow down and connect with our lives. It's to choose NOT to be busy, but instead, to be intentional.

It's to find a good balance.

Finding balance means connecting with who we are, what we value, and what we want to accomplish in life. It means determining what is essential for living the life we want, and realizing that other things, though perhaps seemingly urgent at the moment, are not essential. 

Easier said than done, especially if you're in a busy season right now. But building good habits and taking care of yourself will give you the focus and balance you need to thrive. 

STRATEGIES TO FIND BALANCE INSTEAD OF BUSY-NESS

1. Figure out what you want.

• Determine your personal (and family) values and write them down.

• Then write down what success looks like for you. 

• Next write down your personal goals for the year and month.

• Set aside time at the beginning of each week to remind yourself of the values and goals you've written down, and decide what essentials need to be accomplished this week to make progress on them. Have a weekly planner or journal handy to make notes.

• Then open your calendar - either paper or digital - and schedule them in. 

2. Evaluate your commitments. 

Examine why you're so busy by looking at all the other things on your calendar and to-do list that didn’t make your essential list above. Do these activities that are filling your schedule align with your values and goals? 

Kids activities, networking, volunteering, weekend road trips...those are all really good things. However, if your packed schedule is leaving you feeling run down or if you're sacrificing the essential things, then they’re not so good. Find ways to say "no" to the things that are not serving you or others well. Realize that every time you say "yes" to one thing, you are saying "no" to something else.

3. Listen to how you feel day to day.

That will require some habitual quiet time to just breathe and listen to your body and your intuition. Take 5 minutes each day, preferably at the same time each day so it becomes a habit, just to enjoy quiet time with yourself. Pray if that's your thing and ask for guidance, then listen for the answer. Meditate, feel your breath, and listen to what comes. Stop thinking about what you "should" be doing and daydream about what you would like to do. Then start skewing your calendar more and more toward that.

Pro tip: set up a “calm corner” in your home where you can have some quiet time each day for being still. Check out ideas here.

4. Be mindful throughout the day.

• Mindfully listen when talking to others, instead of thinking about if you agree or disagree or what you want to say next.

• Fully experience your meals and notice the scent and taste without distraction.

• Notice the sky and ground and the sounds around you as you come and go.

• Pay attention to strangers as you commute to work or stand in line.

• Take breaks from work to go for a short walk outdoors, mindfully noticing what's around you and breathing the fresh air.

• Never multi-task; instead be fully present and focus on each task at hand, one at a time. Even the busy ones.

5. Learn to work smarter by streamlining.

Figure out your most productive time of the day and block it in your calendar for essential work. For many, that's the morning, so make sure to protect them and not let other things - like responding to email messages - creep in. Use technology to your advantage to gain back time spent on project management, social media, and financial tasks. Things like social media scheduling apps, setting up automatic bill payments, and automating invoicing and response emails can be very efficient and allow you to conserve your time and brainpower. 

6. Declutter and simplify your home so you can establish healthy habits more easily.

When you get rid of clutter and make your spaces very functional and soothing, it's easier to build and maintain healthy habits that will help you fight busyness and find balance. Things like:

• Eating well (here's how to simplify your kitchen for cooking and baking)

• Sleeping well (here how to make your bedroom a sleep oasis).

7. Make time to read.

I know this is hard when you're busy or distracted, but I really find reading to be so essential in lifting us from our own self-involvement to get perspective and space. Start by going to bed 10 minutes earlier to read before lights out. Begin with one of my all-time favourites books: Essentialism, by Greg McKeown. 

8. Take a digital detox vacation at home. 

Vacations are important, but not always the ones where you're spending time and money travelling and rushing from place to place to cram in as much as possible, or driving hours to a destination to give the kids an "experience" only to have them in the back seat on their phones the whole time.

Simply unplug at home. Schedule a long weekend or even a full week with no phones or computers allowed. Just play - you remember - like we did when we were kids! Get outside. Sit in the sun. Read books. Have a picnic. Go for a hike. Clean the yard as a family. Go to the local beach or park. Have a movie and popcorn night. 

I promise that downtime at home - but away from work and email and daily responsibilities - will make you more productive throughout the year. 

Join my FREE  7-DAY DIGITAL DETOX for a guided plan to declutter your devices and detox from your online addictions!