I sometimes look at my cats and think how strange it is that we have animals running around our homes. So why do we?
Because they give back to us in ways nothing else can. Animals are innocent and free of judgement. Not to mention they are often comforting to touch!
Animals are used in therapy for good reason. They have energy that allows us to be free. Whether it’s equine therapy (yes, there is therapy with horses) or simply spending time snuggling or playing with a house pet. Let your furry friends heal you.
A Rule to Declutter By
Free Up Some Space to Motivate Self-Care
How Clutter Impacts You
1. Clutter bombards your minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing your senses to work overtime.
2. Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what you need to be focusing on.
3. Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.
4. Clutter constantly signals to your brain that your work is never done.
5. Clutter makes you anxious because you’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile.
6. Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized”) and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or work spaces.
7. Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow you to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.
8. Clutter frustrates you by preventing you from locating what you need quickly (e.g. files and paperwork lost in the “pile” or keys swallowed up by the clutter).
Allow Yourself to Breathe
It isn’t easy to admit and accept our feelings at all. So, it is very important to remember to breathe. Most of the times we function by mindlessly taking shallow breaths. But our systems are meant to be so much more.
Hence, take some time and take a deep breath. Be aware of what emotions are going on inside you.
So go ahead, take that deep breath in and release it out. Repeat and see how it becomes a tad bit easier to deal with all that clutter in your mind.
Hacks for Moving
Use Styrofoam Plates Between Glass Plates: When you’re packing your glass plates, use Styrofoam plates between each one to keep them from breaking
Pack Jewelry in an Egg Carton: Pack up all your jewelry in an egg carton to keep it organized
Pack Spices in Your Slow Cooker: Use the room in your slow cooker (as well as pots and pans) wisely.
Fill Nail Holes with Soap: If you’re not good with Spackle, you can use soap on your nail holes to fill them!
Pack a Clear Tub with Essentials: Pack the things you’ll need right away like shampoo, body wash, etc., so you’ll be able to see what’s in it and it will stand out from the other boxes.
Indulge Yourself
We’re taught that indulging ourselves is greedy or leads to excess and is a sin. Then we spend our lives trying to hold ourselves to some standard that doesn’t allow much fun, or going to the extreme opposite and possibly hurting ourselves.
Instead, let yourself have that piece of chocolate cake now and then. A couple of times a year buy yourself something you’ve been eying but thought you should spend the money on. Take a day off, and turn your phone notifications off. Have a spa day!
Deprivation only leads to resentment and longing. Try moderation instead.