Now It's Time to DeTox Our Mind

Over the past  few weeks, I have written about decluttering your home or work environment.  I have taken my own suggestions and spent this past weekend go through a storage area and my office.  I am continuing to clean out my office.  As an interior designer I have a world of paper, catalogs, magazines and fabrics that arrive daily to my office.  It honestly is overwhelming some days.  This influx of information was my inspiration for the blogs.

I truly believe that a person needs down time, which I have talked about,   What about detoxing our minds?  Our brain is always on, filling with new knowledge, giving out information and taking in unimportant noise.  All of these mental distractions leaves you overworked, overloaded, stressed and negative thinking.

So how do we detox our mind and revitalized our mental wellbeing?

I am sure that there are over 100 suggestions for this.  But these are some suggestions that I will be discussing in the next few days:

1. Take time to reflect
2. Tell worry goodbye
3. Get a clear vision of what you want
4. Make a plan
5. Set that plan into motion

Detox, Just for You

We have been working so hard on decluttering our interior spaces and offices.  I think it is time to take a moment for relaxation.  Today let's detox.....

I am at the beach this week, detoxing for sure.  This morning as I ran the sound of the waves broke free the chains of life.  (You can read this in my fit and thin blog..http://bit.ly/akqWf6).  Tonight after you have cleaned up the dishes, kids are in bed and husband/boyfriend is happy in front of his television; head to the bath.  I suggest you light candles, turn on soft music and infused your environment with wonderful scents of relaxation.  As you run a wonderful warm bath, add lavendar scented bubble bath or bath salts to the water.  If you like to drink wine, pour yourself a glass in the most beautiful glass you own.  Even if it is that special occasion crystal, pull it out.  You are your company tonight.  Turn the lights off.  Let the scents and the music fill your soul with peace and quiet.  And as you soak in the tub, let your imagination take you to another life or place.  Escape.......

Decluttering Your Living Space

Good morning.  It is a beautiful sunfilled day here in Atlanta. I hope that you are moving through your piles of stuff and clearing out.  As you keep going, you will find how much lighter you feel when you walk into the room.  I know that when I came from completing (along with my team) a 100,000 sq. ft. furniture showroom each market, I would walk into my small decluttered home and I instantly felt comfort.

In my earlier blogs, I have talked about decluttering your closets and starting with small areas of space.  I believe by now you are getting the hang of it.  So let's look at ways to organize what you still want to keep.

Do you have a good bit of  framed family photos that are sitting on furniture?  Or lying in a drawer or book somewhere?  Do you want to display them but do not want one more thing to dust?  I would suggest that you pick your favorites first.  A great way to display them is on the wall.  If they are family photos I usually prefer to hang them down the hall or in a home office.  I would choose at least 3 different frame styles to use.  First arrange them on the floor in front of the wall area you want to use.  Try placing them 2-3" apart and grouping them together.

With the remaining photos, scan them into a computer and save them on a disk.  Or you can take them to a shop that will do this for you.  I suggest organizing them by family members, events or dates. Label the disk and purchase a disk storage for them.  I would place them in a fireproof safe in the attic or basement.

I hope that these suggestions are helpful to you.  Less clutter will free you.

Til tomorrow.....

Cleaning, Cleansing, Detoxing

Yesterday I began ways to start cleaning and organizing.  Today I would like to focus on the throwing away of unneeded items.  I used to be a pack rat.  Moving two states twice, both my home and office), truly helping to look at things different.

As we discussed yesterday, take one area and concentrate on cleaning and throwing out.  I know this is hard.  But ask yourself these questions:

1.  When was the last time I used it?
2.  If it is a magazine (I get alot) it is there an article or photo that I like?
3.  If it is clothes, when was the last time you wore it?
4. Still on clothes, are you keeping it because how much you paid?
5. Still on clothes, are you keeping it because you are really going to lose that 5 lbs?
6. Accessories, do you really like it or are you keeping it because a friend/family gave it to you?

This is just a start.  I think of how much I do not like to dust.  The more items, the more dusting.

One of my readers emailed me directly yesterday and asked me about her home which she described as a small space.  The photos I had sent yesterday were of larger spaces to inspire to.  I moved from a larger home to a 900 square foot home in an historical area of Atlanta. There were no real closets and only one bathroom.  So I really had to go through my clothes and items I collected.  I was fortunate to have an attic I could stand in (I am 5'4").  I bought a wood rod and hooks that clasp on the beams to create clothing storage.  I put the clothes in closet bags and hung them on the rod.  I purchased plastic containers and stored seasonal items and ones that I do not use often in them.  Do not use cardboard boxes as this will attract roaches.

In my only linen closet, I went to a local discount store (grocery stores run specials on storage bins sometimes) and purchased clear plastic storage bins.  I placed all my first aid together, nail polish and removers togther, candles, etc.  I labeled the boxes so that I could easily pull out the container  as I needed them.  I stacked these on top of each other on the top shelf since I do not use these daily.

I suggest checking out websites such as IKEA andThe Container Store.  These have containers, I will write a blog on decorating and storage tips after this sessions of organizing.

Thank you for your comments and questions.  I truly welcome comments and emails.  Have a great and happy Fourth of July.   Thank all our past and present service men who give us the freedom we enjoy.