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As host of the Let’s Slow Down Podcast, I get the privilege to interview interesting, intelligent people from around the globe who are incorporating intentional living into their lives. It is such an honor to speak with and learn from the individuals who come on the show, and I’ve had so much fun connecting with them all! A few recent takeaways I’ve had from guests in the past few weeks are: (I will work backwards, as my most recent guest is fresher in my mind!)
Be a Human BEing, not a Human DOing
Dr. Nissa Keyashian put this into perspective in our conversation about stillness and mindfulness. We talked about how many of us measure our self-worth by our accomplishments, and how that can be toxic and unsustainable - a true recipe for burnout! She suggests turning to a meditation practice to find stillness of mind, and noted that meditation can look many different ways. Among the most popular two types of meditation are seated and moving - so for those of you who “just can’t sit still” you can still find a meditation that works for you!
Sometimes we need to jump two feet into life!
I learned so much from go-getter guest, Jeanne Collins. Jeanne has reinvented herself personally and professionally to meet herself where she is today, rather than keep herself stuck in her former-self of yesterday. Jeanne has such energy and enthusiasm for creating a life she loves - one that is completely unique to her - and that sentiment shined through very brightly in our conversation. As an interior designer, Jeanne shared ways to curate a supportive home and stressed the importance of having a “do not disturb” spot. As someone with children in the home, I LOVED this suggestion. A “do not disturb” space in the home doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to be a spot where one can go to sit and be quiet and still. Most importantly, the rest of the family needs to understand and honor the fact that when someone is sitting in their “do not disturb spot,” they are not to be bothered.
Leverage your mornings to live with intention.
Although this insight came indirectly from a guest - Hal Elrod, author of The Miracle Morning series - I want to mention it just the same. Occasionally, I will give a podcast “book report” and share the overall theme of a book and how it’s impacted my life. Hal’s books about how to create a miracle morning in your day have been a game changer for me and thousands of others. I’d like to highlight the six principles he suggests including in your morning routine: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading and scribing (journaling - he needed an “s!”) These don’t need to take long if you are short on time. Even a few minutes can make a positive impact on your day. I highly recommend trying it!
There is an emotional side to clutter.
If there is a particular place that is difficult to declutter for you, there may very well be an emotional reason that is holding you back. Guest Angela Agranoff stressed the importance of finding your “why” when decluttering so that you can clear up both your outer and inner worlds. If you understand the reason behind why your clutter has accumulated or why it’s hard to clean up, you will be able to create decluttering and organizing systems that stick and change your mindset to prevent clutter from returning.
Audit your wardrobe each season.
Professional declutterer, Caroline Thor, highlighted the importance of keeping your closet decluttered and using the change in seasons as a perfect reminder to go through your clothes to determine what you’ll keep and what can be donated or discarded. If you store your out-of-season clothes out of the way, take the time to sort through them and pair down anything you no longer wear or that doesn’t fit anymore. There is no sense in storing them all season if you aren’t planning to wear them again!
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