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https://be-alice.blogspot.com/2017/10/day-31-self-care-day-decluttering.html


Hello friends! 

This is it... the final day. Take this time to refresh and unwind with a self-care day. You've all heard this term – it's become a bit of a buzzword lately, just like "clean eating", "detox" and "me time". 

However, just like clean eating and detoxifying, taking care of yourself and looking after your needs is a crucial part of a happy and balanced life. To conclude our 31 Day Decluttering Challenge I want us to take this time to create a little reset routine that we can come back to when ever we feel overwhelmed, disconnected or cluttered. Are you ready? :)


The Goal

  • winding down
  • refocussing
  • reducing stress & anxiety
  • being more productive & creative
  • promoting inner calm
  • improved physical & mental health
  • increased positive thinking 
  • increased self-esteem
  • increased self-awareness & self-love
  • overall improved quality of life

Guiding Questions

What can I do to make myself feel good today?
Is binge-watching movies my idea of "self care"?
If so, am I confusing self-indulgence with self-care?
Is there anything I've been putting off for a while?
Do I feel sluggish?
Which activity inspires me?
Which aspect on my happiness list can I nurture today?
Do I need something energizing, or something relaxing today?
Does self care seem like another chore on my to-do list?


Working Steps

1. Take care of yourself

What does your self care day look like? Maybe you want to consult your happiness list for some inspiration. Or maybe you already what you're craving! If not, don't stress yourself. Do something that comes naturally to you and that doesn't feel like an added stress factor.

Here are some suggestions:

make your bed
read a good book
soak your feet 
do a sugar or salt scrub
take a walk
go braless for the day
listen to music – just close your eyes and listen 
listen to an inspiring podcast
drink a relaxing tea
make art – draw, paint, scribble with crayons, splash some watercolours, write
meditate for 5 minutes
take a nap
write yourself a love letter – e.g. 20 things you like about yourself
spend some time in the sun 
smile
wear you PJs all day – or as soon as you come home
wrap yourself up in a cosy fleece blanket and sip a cup of hot chocolate
light a candle
take a long, relaxing bath
do body brushing
enjoy a massage or facial
watch the sunrise or sunset
journal
give yourself a manicure
make your favourite meal 
eat mindfully
write down 10 things you feel grateful for
buy yourself some flowers
try a new workout you've never done before
make 2 of 3 meals meatless
wear your favourite scent or accessory
go cloud-watching
go outside, lie on your back and let Mother Earth carry your weight
create a vision board for yourself
call someone you love 
go out dancing
kick-start your day with some positive affirmations
breathe, deeply and slowly
say no to extra obligations or chores
hydrate – have you had enough water today?
unplug for an hour or two 
put on some fairy lights in your bedroom
go to bed early
...


What ever makes you feel most alive and inspired! This day is for YOU.


2. Celebrate

You did it! We did it! The challenge is over. CONGRATULATIONS! Now is the time to throw confetti and savour your success. You're 31 steps closer to achieving a cleaner, tidier home and a more productive and creative life! :)

Let me know if you did (at least part of) the challenge with me, and what you think of it! 


PS. Don't forget to empty your four outboxes! Sell, donate, recycle, toss. So hand in what you decided to donate, recycle or repair what needs to be, take photos of what you want to sell (or organize a garage sale), and discard the rest accordingly.
 


TREAT YO'SELF WELL!



Back to the overview!


♥

Maisy

/2017/10/day-30-sentimental-items-decluttering.html

Hello friends! 

Today we are looking at the last physical decluttering session. Are you ready? It's time to identify and cull our sentimental items that we've accumulated overtime.

These are the trickiest of all since they are charged with emotions and memories, but after a month of decluttering I think you're ready to tackle this beast :)


The Goal

  • getting rid of old, useless clutter
  • less dust catchers
  • focussing on the present, not the past 
  • valuing your sentimental items
  • finding closure 
  • freeing yourself of the emotional weight
  • reclaiming some space in your house

Guiding Questions

Why am I holding onto this item? 
If I had an image of it, would that be enough?
Does this object spark joy in my heart?  
Am I keeping it because I "should"?
Which memory is connected to this item? 
Does this memory make me happy?
Is this item useful to me?
Can I repurpose it into something useful? 
Could someone else get something out of it?
Does someone else I know need or love it more? 
How is keeping this item helping me now? 
Can I ditch the item without ditching the memory?
Which items can be digitalized?


Working Steps

1. Declutter

Gather all your sentimental items, including:

photos
cards
letters
love letters
meaningful jewellery
journals 
scrapbooks
yearbooks
awards & achievements
old children's books
toys from your childhood
old drawings from kindergarten
movie tickets
old magazines / newspapers
souvenirs
other bits and pieces that are of emotional value to you
...

Take this opportunity to give the empty drawers, boxes and surfaces a good dusting.


2. Go through your guiding questions

Which items do you actually use? Which are connected to a bad memory? Do you really need to keep this break up letter from your first boyfriend? The cinema tickets for the first Harry Potter movies? Those lovingly handmade gifts you don't really love any more but don't have the heart to throw away?


3. Assess and organize

If you want to get rid of an item, but the only reason you are holding on to it is for sentimental reasons – and if it is weighing on you – then perhaps today is the time to let go of it.

Get rid of anything that
  • doesn't make you happy
  • you don't love
  • is not useful
  • is broken
  • can be useful for someone else.

If you're not using or enjoying it, it's just clutter! You can love and remember friends and family (and they'll still love you) without keeping their stuff just because you feel like you "have to". If it's a present, they gave it to you to make you happy, not to weigh you down. So handle it in a way that makes you happy!

If letting go of certain items is still a challenge for you, here are some tips for you:

Make it useful. Instead of waiting for a special occasion to wear your grandma's pearl earrings, just wear them! Otherwise they will sit forever in your drawer, useless and uncherished.

Shoot it. If you want to keep the memory of a certain item, but not the item itself, take a photo of it and save it on your external hard drive or your computer. For instance, if you saved a pair of ballet shoes from your time as a ballet dancer, take a picture of you (or your child) wearing it.

Scan it. Digitalize memorable printed photographs and documents that you don't want to part with yet. That way they won't clutter your basement.

Don't keep it in boxes. Putting away items from your maybe pile for a while is a great way to see if you will miss those items – but not in case of sentimental items. Instead of keeping boxes full of memories stashed in the basement or the attic, reduce them to 3-4 specific items that you display proudly in your home.

Focus on your favourites. Instead of concentrating on what you're going to throw out, focus on what is absolutely dear to your heart. Once you know your favourites, it's easier to let go of the remaining items that didn't make the cut. Keep the best, toss the rest.

Give it a last hurrah – and say farewell. As Marie Kondo suggests: Always show your gratitude to an object before getting rid of it. You can do that by wearing it one more time, posting one last picture of it on Facebook, featuring it on your blog, or simply show it to your partner before parting with it. That way you can honour and find closure with that item and the memory attached to it.

Remember: Our memories are within us, not within our things.


4. Return

Now that you've purged your items, return the keepsakes to their designated home – or find a home for them.

Again, consider putting some of your favourites on display. That way you will be actively reminded of the person or event it reminds you of, instead of the item just lying dormant in a dusty box.

Another option would be to keep a (small!) memory box with all your cherished little items in your bedroom. That way you can easily access them when ever you need a pick me up or want to take a trip down memory lane.

 
5. Donate / Discard

Sell items that in great condition and not too sentimental to give to strangers (furniture, dinnerware, sterling cutlery, lamps, books, plants etc).

Donate items that are intact and still useful for others, and you can't be bothered to sell them, such as furniture, dishes, clothing, jewellery, decorative items, books, cute knick-knacks etc.

Give away any memorable items that are too personal to be donates, but make for lovely gifts to friends or family members, such as photos, artwork, handed down jewellery, wedding dresses, baby clothes etc.

Return any items or gifts to the original owner or giver if you feel like they would be devastated if you got rid of it. That way you will make the person happy who still values the item.

Repurpose or repair anything that is too old or broken to give away but too meaningful to toss. For example, turn baby clothes into patch-work quilts or little toys, display beautiful postcards or your partner's little love note in picture frames, create a window cover using old picture slides, repurpose a beautiful old picture frames as a serving tray, turn your father's old piano into a flower bed...

Toss any items that are broken, useless, or of no value to others (old ticket stubs, letters, yearbooks, your wedding day menu etc). Remember to recycle where you can!


6. Celebrate

Wow. We've mastered the last declutter assignment! Make sure to drop by tomorrow for our very last session, it's going to be fun – we are going to treat and recharge ourselves after the long and exhausting month of decluttering and letting go :)


My little memory box :)



Back to the overview!


♥

Maisy

https://be-alice.blogspot.com/2017/10/day-29-digital-detox-decluttering-challenge.html


Hello friends! 

We're into the final stretch. It's our last week and I've got something special for you today. This assignment is going to be especially hard for people born after the 80s, me included. Today we do a digital detox and stay off-line for a day. Can you believe that the average user checks their smartphone 150 times a day? And that adults spend an average of almost 9 hours a day on screens?! That's insane! 

When I think of how many hours I've spend over the past years scrolling through social media sites, googling random things to keep me occupied, or watching youtube videos... it's scary! We are so used to constantly be "on call" and "up to date" that we forget how relaxing and freeing it feels to spend some time without the addictive commitment to our digital devices. Let's do this!


The Goal

  • being more productive
  • being more present & mindful
  • living in the moment
  • better sleep
  • better ability to concentrate
  • lower stress levels 
  • thinking more clearly
  • feeling re-energized 
  • producing instead of consuming
  • reconnecting with what "really" matters

Guiding Questions

Does the thought of doing this digital detox make me feel uncomfortable? 
Why?
How do I want to spend my lifetime?
Does my phone / computer feel like a stress factor?
Does the scrolling and surfing make me happy, or does it make me tired?
Is my first thought of the day connected to my mobile phone?
Am I obsessed with my phone or certain apps?
Do I spend more hours in the day on digital media than "real life"?
Do I feel like I just need a break?


Working Steps

1. Log out and unplug

After reading this blog post, turn off any electronic devices, including computers, laptops, tablets, phones, and games consoles, and place them somewhere they won't tempt you – out of sight, out of mind! 

In fact, switch off your wifi router as well. You won't be needing it today.

To make things easier, eat your meals in a different room from all digital devices today, set up a charging station for your smartphone outside of your bedroom (to prevent any social media scrolling at bedtime), and spend some time outside, away from any temptation – leave your phone at home. 

Let people know beforehand if you think it might let anyone down! Or activate your out-of-office on your emails to let people know you won't be responding.


2. Go through your guiding questions

What is your first impulse? To grab your phone? What can you do instead? What brings you joy?


3. Do what makes you happy

Now that you don't have to busy yourself with any electronic device, take this time to be productive, or do something inspiring! 

  • Read a book (some easy-reading thriller or lifestyle book will do)
  • Draw
  • Decorate your house in a fall theme
  • Exercise
  • Go for a walk outside
  • Make a scrapbook
  • Declutter your cellar or the space under your bed (😉)
  • Visit a cosy café and enjoy a hot beverage
  • Call a friend
  • Take photos on a camera instead of your smartphone (or don't take any photos at all and enjoy with your eyes)
  • Go out in the evening and be social
  • Bake a bread
  • Deep clean your house
  • Sit outside with a cocktail and watch the sunset
  • Or do an activity you've never done before
  • ... 

You will be surprised how much more you get done without the distraction of your phone or your laptop! 

If you need some more inspiration, here is a list of 25 electronic free activities you could do today :)


4. Celebrate

This might have been the hardest assignment of the challenge yet! Well done, my friend. I'm proud of you. Unless you cheated – in which case you should really, really do this exercise next weekend instead! No excuses.

If you like, turn each Sunday into a digital detox day, or spend future holidays disconnected from digital devices. The least you can do is turn off your phone alarm for tomorrow, and use a good old alarm clock to wake up in the morning! (Try to resist the urge to look at your phone first thing in the morning :)

Now go take a break!
 


Back to the overview!


♥

Maisy
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