1. Give yourself the gift of time

Don’t get me wrong, I love getting things done and creating self-imposed deadlines to maximise productivity, but there is a time and a place.

– Finishing a book to ensure you can have a good discussion at Book Club? A suitable ‘must get done’ activity.
– Buying your in-laws a gift for their 60th wedding anniversary on the weekend? It’s reasonable to give yourself a deadline.
– Alphabetically organising your children’s books by Friday when there’s no real need? Not such a worthwhile deadline.

After all, it has been a big year, and we’ve all missed out on a lot. Give yourself time and just do what makes you happy. Leave out anything that is not truly urgent this holiday so you can buy back some time in your days. Those non-urgent tasks can wait.

2. Unplug

Make technology work for you, not the other way around. I read this in a minimalist blog once and it has stuck with me ever since. Technology is wonderful, and it has been a saviour this year, but it can also be a burden. Constant pings and vibrations notifying you of this and that likely impacts your ability to switch on your parasympathetic nervous system – rest and digest – i.e. the opposite of the stress response – fight or flight.

If you can take a social media break, delete a few apps, silence notifications or – better still – put the phone in a drawer, do it. Don’t be a slave to your devices this holiday season – make technology work for you.

Observe your surroundings as you move through your holiday activities

3. Be okay with doing nothing

For many of us, doing nothing is a foreign concept, and can even sometimes provoke a feeling of guilt. If you are a serial ‘get things done’ person, or worse, someone who is always telling yourself to do more and still not getting things done, try saying no and giving yourself permission to do nothing. You never know, you might just find doing nothing gives your batteries the reboot they need to hit the ground running in 2021.

4. Be present

Two little words that sound oh so simple – be present. We all know, however, that being present is easier said than done. It takes meditators years to master the mind and silence the thinking brain. Yet you do not need to be a meditation master to reap the rewards of mindfulness these holidays.

Simply remind yourself to engage properly in conversation, actively listen to your family, observe your surroundings and notice the sensations on your skin as you move through your holiday activities.

If mindfulness is something you are trying to cultivate, read our blog 5 Ways You Can Bring Mindfulness Into Your Home.

5. Prioritise rest.

When was the last time you scheduled a nap into your day, that wasn’t for your three year old? Rather than prioritising activities and tasks, can you prioritise rest instead? Schedule a sleep-in, take an afternoon to read or nap in your sleep-sanctuary, maybe even cancel dinner plans to go to bed early. Rest is vital for a healthy body and mind.

So there you have it! Hopefully even just reading this made you feel a little bit more relaxed. Whether you’ve still got a few more work days left in the year, or you’ve already set your Out of Office and are slipping into holiday mode, keep these tips front of mind and do yourself a favour – put that to-do list away in a drawer until you’ve properly re-charged your batteries. 

For more relaxing holiday ideas visit our blog, Three Quick Tips For Stress-Free Holiday Planning with BONUS TRAVEL CHECKLIST.

After a few hours of sulking, however, I pulled myself together and shifted my focus to what an Easter staycation might look like. Unfortunately, I usually think of a staycation as a holiday in my own city, complete with visits to galleries, outdoor exploring, and long lunches with friends.

Clearly, this staycation was going to look a little different.

To prepare, I wrote down everything that makes the Easter holidays so important to me, and then brainstormed how I could recreate these things, all without stepping outside my front door.  

Here’s what I came up with…

1. Family connection.

I am lucky enough to be close with my family, and love the connection family holidays bring. The break in routine allows us to come together and really see each without a schedule. We always take long hikes in the bush, and Mum and I drink coffee in our pyjamas and chat for hours. Throw in a few celebratory meals with hours spent relaxing around the table, and you’ve got a perfect family Easter.

Staycation solution 

Thankfully we live in 2020, where technology means you don’t actually have to miss seeing your family, even when you’re several hours apart. This year, we all scheduled in time to come together and really ‘see’ each other. Mum even took us for a virtual tour of the garden to see the turning autumn colours. And while virtual connection can never be quite as good as the real thing, setting aside phones, agendas and to-do lists in order to just spend time together no matter the medium, still felt lovely.

2. Closing the books.

I love that feeling you get when you travel away from your everyday life in the city, and work or study just fall further away with each passing kilometre. Not only was this option off the table this Easter, but with my office and my home being one and the same, the temptation to work during supposed relaxation time was high.

Staycation solution

I chose to dedicate at least two days of the break to complete relaxation, meaning no email, work or computer, and made sure I chose two days in a row so I could really switch off. And surprisingly – I did! I slept sounder and longer than usual, and even got that afternoon snoozy feeling I only get when I’m feeling balanced.

3. Breaking routine.

For me, holidays are an opportunity to break away from routine. In normal life, even my weekends have a schedule of errands and duties that have to be completed, so it’s even more important that I feel like I can throw routine out the window and just let time drift by, if only occasionally. 

 Staycation solution

I simply gave myself permission to be on holiday at home, with no plans and no to-do list. If I couldn’t be bothered to stack the dishwasher, I just left it for later. Mundane tasks like ironing that I would usually do over the weekend at home, went out the window too. If I felt like wine at lunchtime, I had it, and I’m not usually a daytime movie person, but on Easter Sunday we actually put on an old movie at 2pm, and I loved it.

These aren’t things I want to do all the time, but a few days of just drifting felt luxurious, regardless of the setting.

4. Making new memories.

When I think of holidays, what comes to mind is new places, new experiences, and making new memories. I feel this especially when I go away with my partner – the change of scenery always rekindles our sense of adventure and allows us to spend time just being and enjoying each other’s company. I feel like I fall more in love with him each time we go away.

Staycation solution

While opportunities for exploration and adventure were limited this Easter, we made the most of what we had. One night we ordered in from a nice restaurant, dressed up, opened some good wine, and lit some candles. Another day we went for a long walk in a neighbouring suburb that neither of us had been to before. While it was only 10 minutes from our apartment, the unexplored streets inspired a sense of adventure in us that meant we were able to make brand new memories close to home.

(Remember the blog, I love living alone, am I ready to give it up and move in with my boyfriend?, turns out I can share a home and make new memories).

So what did I learn from all this?

I learned that a home can shift to be what we need in any given moment. What might usually be a pit stop for some people, a place where they sleep and refuel before launching back out into the world, may now have become a place of solace, and of socialising.

This weekend my home, which is usually a busy and productive home/office combo, became a cosy weekend escape from away from ‘normal’ life. 

I also learned that in a way, it’s all in the mind. The only thing we can control is our own behaviour, and how we respond to a situation. By simply shifting my focus from what I didn’t have to what I did, and thinking carefully about how I wanted to feel, I was able to use my imagination and recreate that relaxing holiday feeling at home.

#StayAtHome

April 2020 brings Marie Kondo’s new book, read our blog, Tidy desk, tidy mind: What you need to know about Marie Kondo’s new book

1. Make It About You

Personal goal setting must light something inside of you. Goals are the flames or embers that fuel your desires and dreams. It is vital that goals come from your idea of success, not anyone else’s.

Kayla Itsines’ daily workout definitely sounds like a great idea, but if you don’t have a burning ember inside you craving a six-pack and exceptional hamstrings… then reach for something more you. Such as increased exercise and weekly workouts.

2. Play Big

My grandmother used to always say, I wish I became a teacher; I wish I learnt to play the piano. For a woman who was raised in the depression, these are reasonable comments. But now we are living in the land of plenty. There is no better time to dream.

Even if close family and friends would laugh at the thought of your trying to achieve such a wild goal, write it down. In fact, sometimes goals you are afraid to share are most successful.

When Eleanor Roosevelt said “do something every day that scares you” she was right. Dare to dream, there will be no “I wish I hads” at your 90th!

“Do something every day that scares you”

3. Create A Why

Humans are more driven when we know why we are working for an outcome.  Simon Sinich, motivational speaker and author of five books, says ‘people don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it‘. And the same goes for our personal drivers, its not what you do, its why you do it.

In goal setting, there is a much higher chance of success when we can see the output connecting to the bigger picture, our values and internal drivers. 

Hence the importance of adding a why. 

For example, your goal might be to pay off your car. Which is a reasonable goal in itself, but to truly motivate you to increase the repayments and forgo other purchases such as holidays, winery weekends and nights out add a “so that”. 

Examples of goals with a why.

Goal: To Pay Off My Car

My 2020 goal is to pay off my car, so that….I no longer waste $1,000 on interest. 

My 2020 goal is to pay off my car so that….. I use the $1,000 saved on interest to help my little sister complete her TAFE course. 

My 2020 goal is to pay off my car so that…..I can give the $1,000 saved to subsidise my little sister’s education and support her to become financially independent.

POWERFUL  stuff huh!

Goal: To Organise My House

Let’s make one for your home sanctuary. First, get clear on why you are decluttering, visit KonMari Method 101 & read Get Clear at What is the KonMari Method for ideas, and then add your why.

My 2020 personal goal is to organise my home

My 2020 personal goal is to organise my home….so that we are not surrounded by mess and I feel more relaxed and calm.

My 2020 personal goal is to organise my home…so that we can are not surrounded by mess, reducing my anxiety and making me happier and more present with my family.

My 2020 personal goal is to organise my home…so that I reduce my anxiety and be a more present partner, parent and friend for those I love.

4. Make it measurable

Make sure your goals are measurable and achievable. Measurable meaning you have clearly defined what success looks like, ideally with a value such as time, financial incentive, self-satisfaction or some other success measure.

For example, say our goal is to buy a house

Make it achievable & break it down into bite-sized pieces. Such as;

• Investigate how much cash I would need for a deposit 
• Review my spending

Now make it measurable;

• Investigate how much cash I would need for a deposit by April
• Review my spending, and increase my savings to match deposit

I suggest checking in on your goals every few months to make sure you are on track.

5. Turn it into a reality

Okay, so I told you to “dare to dream”, now is time to convert it from a dream to a reality. Success coach Jen Sincero says to “trust Universal Intelligence over your fears, have faith that what you desire already exists, and leap like the mighty badass that you are”. 

Positive thoughts will bring positive action, and negative thoughts will bring negative actions. Universal Intelligence, Laws of Attraction, whatever you want to call you, keep your words, thoughts and actions in check.

You want to be an author – Envisage yourself at your book launch

You want to find a partner – Talk positively about the process

You want to lose 10kg – Close your eyes and sense how great your body will feel at your ideal weight

My business grew from focused goals with a passion to helps families lead fulfilling lives & support environment through less

There you have it, you are set for your most successful new year yet. And don’t forget, there is no time like the present.

Why stop there?! Check out Tips to Decluttering and Simplifying your Life & learn how to Sell Secondhand Clothes

2. Organise

Before you jet off, there will be multiple To Dos, from arranging pet-sitting, to booking tours, hire cars or hotels.

I recommend doing all of the above as soon as possible once you have booked your travel. If you can’t get onto it straight away, write a list and get them done as soon you can. Not only will you feel more prepared (and therefore more relaxed!) but you’ll likely save a bit of cash on tours and accommodation by booking early.

If you are looking for the best time to sit and complete the list, I recommend a Friday night. Time management expert Laura Vanderkam tells us that Fridays are the best day of the week for planning.

3. Pack

Most people hate doing it, but it must inevitably get done. With the right tools in place, however, packing can be quick, easy, and yes, even fun!

Click HERE to download your free travel checklist. 

Watch how Sallly packs for a weekender

our expert packing tips…..

Want to learn how to fold clothes for suitcase like Marie Kondo? We got you covered….watch these

How To Fold T-shirts

How To Fold Undies

I hope these three tips make it a little easier for you to start planning your dream holiday, whether that’s hiking through the bush, taking a guided tour of Tuscany, or simply soaking up rays cocktail in hand.

And remember a holiday is defined as “an extended period of leisure and recreation”, so let’s keep it that way. For more ideas, check out Tips to Get Your Home Organised For The Holidays.

For stay-cation holiday tips, check out The Art of Hygge: From The World’s Happiest People

The TripIt app is available for iOS (including Apple Watch) and Android (including Android Wear). TripIt is also accessible from any device with a web browser.

The perfect sustainable and nutritious Christmas gift.

Healthy Christmas Muesli Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame work well)
• 1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
• ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp good quality salt (ie Himalayan salt)
• 2 cup rolled oats (ideally organic as they are extra soft and creamy)
• ½ cup coconut flakes
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup goji berries

Method

1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees
2. Mix well your seeds, nuts, cinnamon, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and salt in a bowl so that all ingredients are coated evenly and well.
3. Spread the mixture evenly onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and put in the oven. Take a look after around 15 minutes, giving it a little shake, pop it back in the oven and keep an eye on it. When it is golden brown, crunchy and yummy, take it out and let it cool.
4. When the mix has cooled, add your rolled oats, coconut flakes, chia seeds, cranberries and goji berries. Mix it up in a bowl and divide into your jars or bags.

By Johanna Clark

The finishing touch!!

Once cool, pour muesli into sterilised glass jars and decorate with a festive ribbon or fabric topper. (Jars, ribbon and toppers are also a great way to  repurposed decluttered fabric & jars)⁠

If saying no to gifts, or reducing the excess “stuff” is on your mind this year check out our latest blog “How to Politely Say No To Christmas Gifts”.

I am no expert in turning down a christmas gift, I still receive the occasional holiday present and feel pressured to buy gifts for friends and family but I am getting better at speaking my truth.

Here are a few ideas I have used and will keep on using to reduce my consumption over the holidays.

1. Be honest about not wanting gifts.

“Oh we don’t need anything for Christmas” can easily come off as a nicety that is meant to be ignored. If you really would prefer no gifts try explaining your feelings. Something along the lines of;

 “We have made a conscious effort to keep our home decluttered and calm this year, hence there is no need to buy us physical gifts. It would mean a lot to me if we could skip the presents this year.” 

2. Back it up with logical reasoning.

During your honest conversation, written or verbal, try to share some logical reasons why no gifts is your true preference this year, i.e.:

I (we) have worked hard to reduce the clutter in our home to make it simpler to live in so I want to keep it that way

We want to help our kids learn the true meaning of Christmas and family time by taking the focus off the presents

I have a sustainable footprint goal and less gifts will really help me reach it

I don’t want to feel the pressure to reciprocate

3. Offer alternatives for gift-givers.

Telling a gift-giver not to hand over a present during the holidays might be the wrong thing to do, especially if it is their way of expressing love.

A great way to help gift-givers feel as though they can still show their love and appreciation is to offer an alternative. Suggest locking in a lunch or evening togther, a homemade meal or a restaurant booking; giving the opportunity to create memory-gifts.

Suggest an evening together.

If they still want something to wrap, suggest a homemade gift, edible or otherwise. Ask for a card, a handwritten letter of a memory or sentiment. You could even request a photo that can be added to a fridge for young children to remember and learn family members through faces not gifts.

Suggest a homemade gift, edible or otherwise.

5. Have the conversation early.

Many people like to get their Christmas shopping “out of the way”. Many gift-givers will have started thinking of present ideas already. To avoid the awkward “I’ve already got you something” response it is important to have the conversation with those people early.

And if none of that works at least you have given it your best shot and maybe next year they will be more responsive.

Learn how to make your office Secret Santa Sustainable this year.

For decluttering tips, visit our blog on Get Your Home Organised For The Holidays.

1. Curb Your Clutter

See your home as a guest, take a walk through the front door and look around your space with fresh eyes. You should be proud of everything you see in the living and entertaining areas and want to show it off. If you spot an item that doesn’t spark joy, question if you should keep it. See the“How To Curb Living Room Clutter Diagram”.

2. Create A Welcoming Sanctuary

Now that you have cleared the clutter and put haphazard items away, let’s go back to the entrance. Is there a place to drop a bag, or take off shoes? If you are pushed for space, try setting up a “drop off” zone on high traffic days to keep the entertaining area clear and clutter-free.

Diagram by Sally Flower from Home Sanctuary

3. Prepare Your Kitchen

Let’s be honest, the kitchen and dining areas go into overdrive during the festive season. Make it easy for yourself by keeping your kitchen and entertaining benchtops clear. You will need this space for appetisers and drinks. Use the same “curb the clutter” premise and keep benches clear of anything except for your favourite spark joy items.

Now is also a great time to do any deep cleaning before the holidays start. Give the oven, cupboards and mixmaster a once over.

4. Make Space and Reduce Waste

We tend to indulge a little over the holiday period, and rightly so. Our pantries become full with special occasion and celebration foods we don’t normally cook, eat or buy at any other time of year. Hence, tis’ the time to maximise your fridge and pantry space. In preparation, take a look in your pantry, are there items you can “use up” now? Check your dry foods for ingredients you can use in this year’s festive bake-up. Items like glacé fruit, flours and cooking brandy don’t really go off so don’t be scared to use them up rather than throwing them out. The less food waste the better!

5. Get Out Those “Special Use” Pieces

As a tidy consultant I have come across many special use items; candles, table cloths, serving wear, glassware, coasters, napkins, serving spoons, tea towels, hand towels, soap, guest towels, placemats, wine buckets, bottle stoppers and even pet outfits (just to name a few). 

Now is the time to find them. So often while pulling out items from the back of a clients wardrobe mid-declutter I come across one of these, “oh I was looking for that” responses…sound familiar?

Locate your speciality items now, and store in a place you will remember and access easily as you set up your home for the holidays. And if you don’t want to use it, ask yourself why you have it. Can’t be bothered finding it…then you definitely don’t need it.

5. Tidy Up The Bathroom

With more people coming and going over the holidays, the bathroom becomes a high traffic area. Cleanliness is vital, and let’s be honest a bathroom says a lot about someone. There is a reason restaurants invest in spa-like restrooms. Take the time now to declutter the sink area, placing as much as you can in drawers and cupboards. Clear benchtops = easy to clean.

5. Minimalistic Can Be Chic

How many times have you had to move a table centrepiece to make room for food? Fewer decorations is often best. When entertaining focus on the food, the drink and the quality of conversation, less on the nic nacs. Guests remember good food, company and music more than anything else. There is a lot to be said for a fresh table of flowers; sustainable and chic.

6. Enjoy The Finishing Touches

Why dress up your sanctuary only for others? You deserve finishing touches too. Is there anything you can add now to enjoy for yourself? A vase of flowers in the bathroom perhaps? Or bring out the crystal glasses a few weeks early.

Beautiful objects are made to be enjoyed.

Why stop there?! Check out Tips to Decluttering and Simplifying your Life & learn how to Sell Secondhand Clothes

1. Fewer gifts can actually equal more

Think quality gifts rather than cheap stocking fillers. Consider pooling funds with others to buy a bigger item you just know someone will love. Avoid plastic toys if you can – there are some gorgeous alternatives that little people will love (and they’ll probably last longer).

2. Don’t give presents!

Yep, we said it! Shock horror, but it really can be done. If you’d prefer a gentler version of this, take inspiration from our recent post on Sustainable Secret Santa and do Thriftmas, with the rule that all gifts are to be second-hand, repurposed, or handmade.

3. Don’t wrap

Or, if you don’t quite want to give your gifts completely naked, use brown paper, recycled paper or reused paper from last year. Don’t forget to keep any wrapping paper your receive to reuse next year, and that goes for cards too – these can be cut in half and used for gift tags.

4. Get into the kitchen

There are so many lovely possibilities for edible gifts, whether it’s cookies, jam, rocky road (we love Easy Homemade Christmas Muesli which is a breeze to make) or something as simple as homemade vanilla sugar. Short on time? Support small businesses by sourcing some locally made treats.

5. Reduce your food waste

Australians throw away a whopping  4,000,000 tons of food each year. You wouldn’t want to contribute to this at any time of the year, so why do so at Christmas? Plan your festive catering carefully, and eat mindfully, cooking only for the number of people you know you have to dine. Still ended up making too much? Luckily, Christmas leftovers are the best kind of leftovers.

Want more holiday ideas?

Learn how to  Get Your Home Organised For The Holidays. Or check out out interview with Broadsheet on How To Spring Clean Your House.

By repurposing things you don’t need but which still hold value, you’re not only reducing the waste which you’d otherwise have generated from buying something new, but you’re also decluttering your home in the process.

A few more ideas include houseplants, homemade cookies, or if you’re feeling creative, something knitted, folded, sewn, or painted might be the perfect thing for that friend who appreciates beautiful handmade treasures.

Learn why we are called Home Sanctuary and read, Why Home Sanctuary, what’s in a name?