Joy At Work

Back in March, Marie Kondo released her latest book Joy At Work in collaboration with Scott Sonenshein. Our blog What you need to know about Marie Kondo’s new book was one of our most loved blogs of the year, at a time when many of us were scrambling to set up our home offices and make the most of the space we had to stay productive.

Isolation

Then came the lockdowns. I still remember watching the stories coming out of Italy, horrified that people couldn’t leave their towns. Little did I know that fast forward a few months and Melbourne would be undergoing one of the longest lockdowns globally. I tried to help in the best way I knew how, by sharing my love of home. Within the first three hours of it being up, over 500 of you had read our piece 7 Ways You Can Embrace Your Home Sanctuary & Find Peace In Isolation. I still believe that in some small way, connecting through embracing our home sanctuaries helped us feel less isolated.

Decluttering during a pandemic

From March to October, with millions of us in Victoria largely confined to our homes, and thousands of us working, living and learning under one roof, decluttering became a key focus for many. To support you as you strove to make the most of your home during such a challenging time, we published Things to Declutter During a Pandemic and what turned to be our most read blog of 2020, Five Things You Should Declutter From Your Wardrobe.

Mental health and clutter

Understandably in 2020, another key focus was on maintaining good mental health during an extraordinary time. In a quest for answers I researched studies on mental health and clutter, discovering that living in a cluttered environment is not only scientifically proven to induce stress, it also lowers our productivity. The negative side effects of living in a cluttered home were so clear that I shared my findings by speaking at a number of events focused on corporate employee health, as well as tips on how to make positive steps to create mindful, healthy homes.

Sustainability

Towards the end of the year, as the shock of lockdown subsided and we moved towards a ‘new normal’, sustainable living returned to front of mind, and thousands of you read our blog Six ways to make your home more sustainable and How to become a conscious consumer.

2020 was undeniably hard in so many different ways, and we have no idea what 2021 will bring, but through our love of mindful homes, our community has been strengthened, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU for your support in 2020, the year in which our homes truly became our refuge and our sanctuary.

What do you want to see more of in 2021?

Click the share button below and let us know on your prefered social media channel or via Instagram.

1. We can leave the car behind

Or in other words, we are within walking distance of everything we love. Melbourne’s famous Gertrude Street is just a two minute walk away, offering all the breakfast hangouts, designer stores, organic food stores and all the wine bars I could ever need.

2. It has an ‘entrance cupboard’

Those of you who live in apartments will understand this one; put simply, entrance hall cupboards are hard to come by. The joy of being able to walk straight in, hang up my coat, slip off my shoes and return them to their rightful home before taking more than a few steps is a luxury. Call me a crazy tidy lady, but I love it!

3. I can do balcony compost

I know! Perhaps not quite what you were imagining as one of the top nine things I might love about my home. Composting, however, is one of the best things you can do for the environment, and when I saw the size of the balcony I jumped for joy and bought a Bokashi compost bin secondhand from Gumtree. I love knowing that even in a small space I can take steps to reduce our waste. It makes me very happy.

Even in a small space I can reduce our waste

4. It’s great for morning meditation

I’m not always a great sleeper. I sometimes wake early, and toss and turn thinking about a million trivial things until my alarm goes off and I roll groggily out of bed. Well actually that was me – until three years ago when I made a pact with myself that if I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep I would get up and meditate. My home has the perfect morning meditation light – I can slip upstairs, light some incense, snuggle into a cushion, tune in and wake up slowly with the day. Very early morning meditation always feels like a little secret and it is my favourite way to rise.

5. It is Home Sanctuary HQ

We moved in right when the business was taking off and I needed a dedicated ‘head office’. Ideally away from the rest of the home, but not too distant, because you know, I love my home. My desk is set up in a sun-filled corner of the upper level, decorated with only a few motivational books (The Minimalist Home, Spark Joy and Project 333), a simple laptop stand, hand cream and a watercolour I bought in Yosemite – it’s my work anchor, and I love it.

Yosemite watercolour

6. It has a bathtub

There is nothing better than a bubble bath, a glass of wine and a good book to relax and wash off the day. I haven’t lived in a home with a bathtub for ten years, apart from a sharehouse in London and you couldn’t have paid me to bathe in that thing! This bath, on the other hand, while not straight out of Vogue Living, is just what we need. I just light a candle and pop on some music and I am content for hours.

7. It has space for my plants

Give me an extra square metre and I will grow another plant, and with two floors and an open balcony, my plant babies are loving life. Right now, my snow peas are starting to flower and I am so proud of them. Caring for plants helps me ground and connect, and it’s an important part of my morning ritual.

My plant babies are loving life

8. We can hear rain on the roof

Everyone loves the sound of rain on the roof, but for a gal who has lived in small city apartments for years, it’s a true luxury. We even have a skylight upstairs that enhances the sound beautifully.

9. We have friendly neighbours

Now more than ever, neighbours are so important, and we are lucky to live next door to a great couple. We water each other’s plants, and share lovely chats from our respective balconies, including a couple of socially distant balcony drinks last month during lockdown.

So there you have it – those are the things I love best about my home. If you have never written down or even shared out loud why you love your home, I highly recommend doing so. 

And if you’re struggling to put into words what you love about your home, you might benefit from some guidance about how to make the most of your space as part of your very own Konmari consultation. We use a mindful approach to help you connect with yourself and your home environment. Both in-home and virtual consults are available and can be tailored to your unique needs, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to book or to ask any questions you have.

Meet Sally or learn how to find peace in isolation, 7 Way You Can Embrace Your Home Sanctuary through lockdown.

1. Cosmetics and Skincare

If there’s one thing a lot of us are doing in lockdown, it’s self-care. But before you place that next skincare order, spend some time reviewing what you already have. 

Gather all of your cosmetics together and declutter them by category. Throw out anything that’s expired, that you don’t enjoy using, or that isn’t right for your skin. You’ll probably be surprised by how much obvious clutter you’ve collected – think hotel soaps, blunt razors, and mouldy toiletry bags you haven’t used for years.

TIP: If you haven’t used much of a product but find it doesn’t suit your skin or you’re not really a bath salts person, think about putting it aside to pass along to a friend who might have a different skin type. Otherwise, visit Terracycle to see if you can recycle your empties.

Self care doesn’t mean abundance

2. Digital

If you’re spending more time on your devices at the moment, you’re not alone. So why not put all that screen time to good use by doing a digital declutter? For a start, we all have way too many photos on our phone. Start by deleting the ones you know you don’t need – the out-of-focus, the unflattering, unhappy memories, and all those old screenshots you’ve been hoarding. 

Next, declutter your inbox. Delete anything you don’t need to keep, and unsubscribe from mail-outs you don’t read. Organise your folders, deleting any that are redundant, and start filing all of your other emails into the relevant folders. The only emails that should remain in your inbox are those waiting to be actioned – your inbox should function like an in-tray or ‘pending’ folder.

Rediscover joy in cooking

3. The pantry

Unsurprisingly, the pantry may have been a site of some anxiety for many of us in the past month or two. If you stocked up on items prior to lockdown you may have lost track of what you have, so an inventory is in order. 

Most importantly, rediscover joy in cooking. It’s a great way to relax, to nourish yourself and your family, and keep your immunity levels high. It also lends structure to the day which is helpful when you may not be leaving the house much, and when the lines between work, home, and school might be blurred. Cooking is also a great way to keep kids occupied, and you’ll be teaching them a vital skill.

4. Your “To Do” List

In this blog post, I recommended decluttering excess tasks to free up your time and mental capacity. Conveniently, perhaps lockdown has made you realise that there are some things in your normal life that you don’t actually miss all that much. 

Some might be obvious, like commuting, but others might be more surprising.

This is a unique (and likely once in a lifetime) opportunity to go back to basics and clarify for yourself what you value, what your ‘true north’ is. Go for a long, contemplative walk, write lists of what you’re missing and not missing, and maybe even do some journaling.

However you do it, try to capture your reflections in writing, so that in the future when things are back to normal and you find yourself going off course and doing things you don’t really like or need to, you can return to your personal values.

Capture your reflections in writing

5. Sentimental items

These items are often the hardest to declutter. If you’re feeling up to it, use the time you have and go for it. As with anything else, if you don’t wish to use or look at these items normally, you may never want to and it might be best to let them go.

But if you’re not entirely sure, try using Courtney Carver’s ‘defer’ option. Rather than discarding more emotionally-charged items straight away, try boxing them up and tucking them away. Set a reminder on your phone to revisit these items in six months, and if you haven’t missed them then you know you are ready to discard. After all, with op shops closed you may have difficulty disposing of them at the moment.

All in all, now is a great time to declutter manageable categories that you’ve been putting off. Remember, as with any decluttering, the focus shouldn’t be on just throwing things away, but should be on recognising what you love and value, and keeping it in your life.

Meet Sally or learn how to find peace in isolation, 7 Way You Can Embrace Your Home Sanctuary through lockdown.

1. Practice gratitude

Put simply, not everyone has somewhere safe to be right now. If you’re reading this, chances are you live in a wealthy country and have somewhere safe to go. So, instead of just being irritated by being stuck inside, try and embrace it. Chances are, staying in your home is your best mode of self-protection at the moment, so take a few minutes each day to be grateful that you have a safe haven to seek refuge in.

2. Avoid the news

I’m someone who usually stays up to date with what is happening in the world but I’ve made a conscious choice not to read the news at the moment. While there is nothing at all wrong with staying informed, the sheer volume of news available is overwhelming, and for me at least, can have a negative impact on my mental health and daily mindset. If you’re feeling the same, you can stay up to date with key developments by going directly to government websites where you’ll get the facts you need without all the spin and padding added by the mainstream news outlets.

Go green in your home sanctuary

3. Help others

One of the best ways I have found to counter feelings of anxiety is to find a way to help someone else. Do you have a skill you could offer up for free to someone who has lost their income? Could you call and chat to someone who you think may be feeling lonely, or offer to pick up some supplies for a neighbour? Your small act of kindness will likely be a real bright spot in someone else’s day, and not only that, it will take your mind off your own worries and give you a sense of purpose in a situation where we’re all at risk of feeling helpless.

4. Declutter

 I admit, this isn’t a surprising one coming from me. When you’re stuck at home though, what better opportunity could you ask for? You may not be in the headspace for a full declutter, but you can still tackle small tasks, like turning out that miscellaneous kitchen drawer, or targeting one category such as photos, sentimental items, cosmetics, or your digital devices. Check out some of my tips for decluttering and simplifying your life here.

5. Make do and mend

Remember all those DIY jobs you never get around to because you’re usually too busy? Well, now might be a good time to turn your attention to them. Whether it’s sewing on a shirt button, making a birthday card, bleaching your whites, or fixing the tap in the bathroom, small achievable tasks are a great way to fill in a weekend spent at home.

6. Go Green

There’s nothing quite like gardening to make you feel more calm and grounded. While we’re not all lucky enough to have an actual garden (myself included), most of us at least have a balcony or windowsill where we can grow some herbs or a few plants. If you can get hold of some seeds or seedlings, planting some vegetables might be worthwhile. As we’re now discovering, many of us live our lives as if the only place we can get food is from stores, but it’s time to break that mindset. 

7. Start that thing you have been meaning to start

Whether it’s a book you’ve been meaning to read, a hobby you’re interested in, a boring administrative task you’ve been putting off, or even a small business idea that needs some research, having an unexpected stint at home might be just the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to finally get around to it. Personally, I am using my free time to kick-start my new podcast. This is something I have been meaning to start for a long time, and there is no better time than the present. Watch this space!

Remember, your home is your sanctuary. Even if it may not seem ‘perfect’, it is perfect for you right now. It is your safe haven and you are doing your bit by just staying at home. If you start with an open mindset each day and embrace this unexpected stint of isolation, you never know, you may look back on this time with fond memories. 

Check out Tips to Decluttering and Simplifying your Life & learn how to Sell Secondhand Clothes

Yet how you react in these situations will be improved. With less stuff absorbing your energy supply, you should (and will) have more resilience to deal with the inevitable ups and downs of life.

There is no secret formular

So how do we convert this mirage into a reality? There is no secret formula, as one of my yoga teachers would say “you just have to do the work”.

Here are my tried and testest ways to simplify (and declutter) your life.

To begin understanding what you love, and what makes you you, write a list. No need to mull over it, there are no Nobel prizes to be won here, merely jot down the first things that come to mind. The clearer you can be on what you love, the easier it will be to get rid of those nasty “energy-sucking” activities.

Start saying no

Saying no is easier said than done, but without those two little words (“no thanks”), your path to a simpler way of living will be a long one.

If saying no doesn’t come naturally, refer back to your “what I love” list and start saying no to any activities, emotions and objects that don’t support the life you are trying to create.

Less digital

Blue light, short-sightedness, elevated mental stimulus, feelings of inadequacy and subliminal advertising – all outputs from too much digital. While Netflix, social media and handheld tablets have their place, too much time with these things is proven to make us feel tired, burnt out and overdone.

Ways to reduce digital:

There is no secret formular to simplified living, we just have to do the work.

Where To Sell

Online

Online stores like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are the sale path of least resistance. Everyone is allowed to sell online and your audience is far-reaching. Just make sure you have quality photos and lots of detail

Consignment Stores

Consignment stores like SWOP Clothing Exchange, the Recycle Boutique and The Closet are following the lead of America’s Buffalo Exchange, making the resale of unique and quality items easy.

Take your clothes to these locations, and they will purchase from you (if saleable) for a % of what they can sell it for; or sell on your behalf.

Host A Stall

Hosting a stall at a pre-loved fashion market is not only a great way to sell clothes, it’s a really fun day out. For a fee, businesses like Round She Goes and Hunter Markets will set you up with a beautiful space and round-up hungry shoppers…all you need to do is turn up and start selling. Last month I held a stall at Hunter Markets and I had an absolute ball. I met lots of lovely like-minded sustainable fashion folks.

Garage Sale Trail

Every October, 40,000 Australia’s sell their pre-loved belongings via the Garage Sale Trail, and clothes sell really well. Some communities host collective sale locations in Town Halls or Community Centres, others set up on the nature strip. This amazing initiative is a fun hassle-free way to give your clothes a second life and meet your neighbours!

Visit GarageSale and find out what’s happening in your community.

Garage Sale Trail, the easist way to host a sale

How To Sell Secondhand Clothes

Garage Sale Trail, putting secondhand first

Don’t Forget Your Street Smarts

Prepare for your sale and learn How To Declutter Your Wardrobe

At 19, 11 months into shared living, I knew it wasn’t for me. I hated not knowing who would be at home when I arrived. Would I be alone or was I stepping into a midday drinking session with my roomies “closest mates”? So I moved out, into a 3m x 5m cube of an apartment smack bang in the middle of Melbourne. It was so small in fact that I had to climb a ladder up to my bed where I couldn’t sit up straight without hitting my head on the roof, BUT I loved it. It didn’t matter that it was smaller than a David Jones fitting room and DEFINITELY did not have enough room to swing a cat, because it was mine, and only I had the key.

After uni I had lived abroad, bunked in ski resorts and lodged in London to save cash, all the while with one thought in mind…save enough money and you will never have to live like this again. When I landed back in Australia and had saved all could, I took my piggy box to the bank and bought my own place, yep you guessed it, a ONE BEDROOM just for me. This time I not only had the key, but I also held the title.

Have you ever set up our own home from scratch? Filling it with everything that makes you smile? Shopping for furniture and whitegoods with only yourself to please? I tell ya, it is wonderful. Empowering is not quite the right word, because sometimes you crave a second opinion, but my 25-year-old self was in her element.

Three simple tips to make your house a home.

My 25 year old self creating a home for one

Why I have never looked back on living alone;

-Movie nights in, always get to watch my first pick

-Racing out to drinks leaving a trail of clothes on the floor and make-up in the bathroom, with NO-ONE to apologise to

-Home decorating whenever I feel, and never having to compromise on style or taste

-Sleeping on all sides of the bed, left, right and middle

-Uninterrupted PJs days and spontaneous crying attacks with no one but Jack and Rose to question why I am watching Titanic reruns midweek

And now, it’s all about to change. Just like the girls on Suddenly Single found themselves alone in New York City; I find myself Suddenly Not-Single.

All the things I have collected over the years will slowly be replaced with “our things”, mementos we find, the artwork we collect and photos on the fridge that we took.

As of next week, I will be sharing everything; my kitchen, my living room and my bedroom. All the things I have collected over the years will slowly be replaced with “our things”, mementos we find, the artwork we collect and photos on the fridge that we took. And you know what, I am so ready for it. Single living may be empowering but it can also be really lonely.  Never again will it get to Sunday night and I realise the only person I have spoken to for the weekend was the guy in the cafe. No more meals for one. No more cold nights in bed alone. Now there will be someone to eat dinner with me, make me a cup of tea or take the washing in. I now get to create a new home sanctuary with the man I love. Single life will be replaced, with a new shared life, and it just might even be better.

Meet Sally or learn how to find peace in isolation, 7 Way You Can Embrace Your Home Sanctuary through lockdown.

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?

1. Set Your Intention

Before you start you need to know where you are going. Ask yourself how you want your home to feel & function? Think beyond having an organised house, why do you want an organised home? Do you want to save time moving things from place to place? Do you want more weekend time? What’s your Home Sanctuary? Make a mantra and come back to it as you clean.

2. Declutter

This is a big one, break down the decluttering into manageable chunks. Declutter by category not room. If you have already completed your declutter-marathon treat this step as a top-up. Run through your home category by category to make sure everything you own still brings you joy.

If you are planning on a whole home declutter using the KonMari Method, make sure you read our blog What is the KonMari Method & How To Use It before you start.

For a big spring clean, take time to set your intention

3. Everything has a place

Give everything a home. If you or someone in your family has taken up a new hobby and there are more things in the house, make space for them. This could require some reshuffling, and reusing the decluttered spaces.

If you have a seasonal wardrobe make sure you watch my video on how to make a wardrobe changeover.

4. Recycle & Sell

If you can sell it, repurpose or recycle go the extra mile, it will dramatically reduce your landfill contribution. If you are going to be selling something, whether it’s on eBay or Facebook Market or at a garage sale, make sure you have an if-it-doesn’t-sell backup plan. You defiantly don’t want to have a garage sale, not sell anything and keep it all. If it ends up in a landfill make peace with it, you went the extra mile, not everyone does that.

5. Move Forward Mindfully

Once the clear-out is complete, future purchases should be made with purpose and be loved. The silly season is coming, don’t undo your good work.

What to learn more?

Visit our interview with Broadsheet, on How To Spring Clean Your House.

For decluttering tips, visit our blog on Tips For Downsizing.