OLD HABITS DIE HARD!

I know that everyone will relate to this subject! How do you hold onto something , you work so hard to achieve......here is my everyday struggle to embrace my new life since moving to "The little yellow cottage"!
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After discovering the freedom of our new found lifestyle, I could easily fall back into old habits of collecting stuff. All the work and energy it took to get to this point, I wasn't going to let that happen! No way no how!

I was starting to think that that living simply , is all about white walls and clutter-free countertops, but I'm finding that’s not the whole story.......less stuff opens up more space for me to focus, have gratitude, and meaningful work.

"Essential's you must have in your closet"

1. I'm not keeping up with trends. Classic style is so much easier....

When it comes to stuff, I'm aiming to own just enough. Invest in fewer, higher quality pieces, not spending a lot of time and energy shopping for those shoes/tote bags/ baubles everyone else is after, the ones that will be outdated and disposed of before the season is over.

I'm not saying I don’t pay attention to style.........If you even know me slightly , you know how important it is to me to look pulled together ...I'm just tending to invest more in my own personal style, not the style dictated by trends. Instead of trying to fit in, focus on who we are and what’s right for us.

If something needs to be replaced ok, no problem! I can handle that , But I have to remind myself , if something comes into the house, something needs to go! Even maybe two things should go... Donate it, give it to someone, or even sell it....last thing I want to do is throw it away , even though I need to eliminate it from my life doesn't mean I need to be wasteful. Unless it is true trash .

"classic style that go with everything"

2. Don’t succumb to decision fatigue.....

Energy spent on decisions like what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, where to look for my keys that are missing, YET AGAIN, adds up fast. SO EXAUSTING ACTUALLY!!!!!We all have a limited amount of energy each day, and using it on details takes away from our ability to be decisive when it really matters.

When you pare down your wardrobe, your kitchen, your clutter, you cut out unnecessary options. You can save your energy for creative projects, for your relationships, and for productive work. By eliminating the unnecessary, you create more energy for what matters most.

"pearls never go out of style"

3. Don't drown in email and electronics....

Decluttering isn’t just for office supplies. keep your digital lives clutter free too, and that includes unsubscribing from emails that aren’t useful. Just like I keep saying,"live with only the things I love, and make my heart sing”, only invite messages into your inbox if they’re useful or delightful to receive.

4. Don’t worry about what other people think....That is a hard one, especially for me

I have learned not to listen to others when it comes to important decisions. Took me over 40 something years to realize this. Living with less is like swimming upstream, so living simply gets me lots of practice at doing what I think is best , instead of following others opinions.

Most of us have a tendency to be overly influenced by other peoples’ opinions. What will they think about what I wear, where I live, what I do? Our best choices are made when we let go of that inner voice. HELLO! We could all stand to practice that more often.

" A memory that will last forever with the lady's of Charlestown"

5. Don’t spend Saturdays cleaning out the garage.......

When you’re not using all those things you buy, they dont need to be taken care of: stored, cleaned, fixed, organized. Refuse to give up your free time for extra stuff maintenance. Instead of storing everything you’ve ever owned, let go of the things you don’t use anymore. Less time spent cleaning and organizing all that junk you’ve stored means more days spent doing what you love.

6. Tidying up everything else.....

Many love a clean home, but hate to clean. The easiest way to keep things tidy is to get rid of everything that clutters up a space. Clear counters are easier to wipe up. Clear floors are easier to vacuum. Don’t just reorganize; remove. Make sure that everything you do keep has a specific home in your house, so you can put things away when they’re not in use.

7. let the past dictate your future......

The things you’re surrounded by remind you of what you believe is important. If you don’t weed out the belongings you’ve outgrown, it’s like your past is living with you all the time. You don’t need to own everything you’ve ever used. Keep things that support who you are, who you’re becoming, and let go of the rest.

8. Don’t forget what your loved ones look like.....

Whatever your budget, spending less will help it stretch even farther.... leaving you with more time to be with friends and family away from work, and less stress during your downtime so you can actually enjoy the people you’re with.

9. Don’t lose the habit of curiosity.

Creative thinking requires staying curious. Practice curiosity all the time, ask yourselves questions like: Why do I own this? Why did I say yes to that? Is this habit still serving me? What would life be like without this? What’s really important to me? What can I let go of?

The practice of asking questions and seeking your own answers, not just the culturally approved ones, is helpful in all kinds of areas beyond dealing with clutter.

10. Don’t skip out on great memories.

Prioritize your experiences over things. Instead of collecting knick knacks, collect memories. Whether they’re having fun as a family, planning outings with friends, or going on solo, keep an eye out for the next adventure.


You can design a life of less and more......More of what you love, less of what you don’t. I keep telling myself, It’s a process and so worth it...........

"OMG ....OUR MOM's WERE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING " ❤️ your family......with all your heart .......