6 Simple Ways to Bring Appreciation Into Your Home This August

August is my favourite month of the year to stop and take stock. By now we are well and truly halfway through the year, and the silly season is far enough away to not yet worry about. It is an ideal time to purposefully slow down and reflect. Arriving at November, flustered and unaware of where the year went is less than ideal!

Here are six simple ways you can use your home to sprinkle a little appreciation into your August

1. Appreciate what you own

The KonMari Method® tells us to only keep items in our home that spark joy. By spark joy, I mean items that we connect to, we love seeing, enjoy using or trigger a happy memory. This practice should not end once the tidying process is over – appreciating what we own should be done every day. For one day, even just a few hours, purposefully recognise how the items you use every day help make your life that little bit easier.

2. Acknowledge the natural resources around you

Almost everything in our homes has been made using materials from nature. Air, water, soil, wood, metals and oils are all around us. In fact, I bet everything in your home has some kind of natural resource in it. Many of these are precious resources and are overused. Take a moment to acknowledge the time, effort and sacrifices taken to bring these items to you. Understanding the social and environmental impacts of our production cycle is an important step in becoming a conscious consumer.

3. Make home memories

I always say that home is made by the memories we make inside its walls. Hence, it is important to make memories that are not only dishwashing, ironing and sleeping related! Add a little appreciation to your week and make time for memory making. A few of my favourite memory-making activities at home are: taking a long bath, hosting a movie night or simply cuddling with your family and pets.

4. Reconnect with your objects

Take a walk around your home with fresh eyes noticing the memories your objects hold. See your stuff as more than just a thing you use, but what it means and represents. Do you have mementos from a special holiday? Photos from a momentous occasion in your life? Or items from someone you have lost? Our stuff is more just tools, they help us remember happy moments and remind us of what we have achieved.

5. Drop the multitasking

Research tells us that multitasking is not as beneficial as first thought. Doing two things at once is just carrying out two tasks half as well. In fact, multitasking reduces our focus, enjoyment, and can cause stress. Let go of doing two things at once, and focus on the most important task at hand. If you are looking for ways to simplify your to-do list read Tips To Decluttering and Simplifying Your Life.

6. Practice gratitude

Take a few moments to be grateful that you have a safe haven to seek refuge in. It sounds simple, but for a moment consider how your home contributes to your life. What would it be like without it? What do you love about your home? I recommend journaling a list. Loving our homes and being aware of how it helps us live our best lives is a beautiful way to bring appreciation into your day-to-day.

Sally’s appreciation for her winter woollies

Appreciation (August) for my winter woollies. My winter wardrobe hosts some of my favourite pieces. Hats and coats I have collected over the years, often during overseas holidays, so they hold many a fond memory. But as an Aussie, I only get a few months a year enjoy the rugged up look and often forget how many beautiful pieces I own.

So this August rather than digging into the back of my wardrobe and pull out a bundled sweater, I have moved my winter wear to where I can see it. My boots have pride of place; coats have taken over the hanging area; winter knits folded neatly in an accessible draw and hats have moved the entrance. Now my wardrobe feels like fall/winter edition of my life in a magazine!

Before springtime comes and my winter wardrobe is moved back to storage, I plan to use and appreciate the joy (and warmth); I get from of my winter woollies.