outer order, inner calm (& what i learned!)
H E L L O N O V E M B E R
I always love the start to a new month (especially one that is so close to Christmas!) and already feel like I accomplished lots with our extra hour we gained today. Although trying to keep a one year old occupied and able to stay up until his new bedtime which is really his old one…is TOUGH!
I was in the mood to read a quick + easy non-fiction book, and I picked up Outer Order, Inner Calm last year from the Penguin Book Sale (approx 5 days before I had Otis!)
I read the Happiness Project years ago and have always been a big fan of Gretchen Rubin. I really enjoy her podcast Happier, and actually used to listen to it at work while I crushed emails.
In this book, she touched on a lot of really great, simple habits to bring into your life to help find your out order inner calm vibe ~ and I wanted to share with you some of my favourites (a lot of things you may already do!) I am personally the type of person who can’t truly be happy if I feel like I have lots to do, our house is messy, I can’t find anything, etc, so some of these are so helpful if you are too!
“If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it; have nothing in your houses that you do not know the be useful, or believe to be beautiful” - William Morris
When clearing clutter, remember 3 big questions:
Do I need it?
Do I love it?
Do I use it?
^ For any possession that passes the test, ask one additional question;
”Where does it belong?” (every item should have a specific home”
Don’t aim for minimalism
Outer order isn’t a matter of having less or having more; it’s a matter of wanting what we have
Make a mock move
+ clean + organizer your home like you’re about to do a big move!
+ when in doubt, throw it out (or recycle it/give it away!)
“Set all things in their own peculiar place, and know that order is the greatest grace” - John Dryden
It’s okay to get rid of possessions that once gave you great pleasure (but don’t anymore)
Follow the one-minute rule
If there is something you can do in just a minute, always do it! (bring something upstairs, load a cup in the dishwasher, wipe the counter down, etc”Don’t put things down, put things away
Use it up / wear it out / make it work / or do without
Fix your desk to focus your mind
WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY MATTERS MORE THAN WHAT WE DO ONCE IN A WHILE
“The things that we love tell us what we are” - Thomas Merton
Schedule time for a power hour
+ essentially one hour where you focus on crushing it and completing a specific set of tasks! I make Pete do these with me all the time, haha!MAKE YOUR BED
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude (I love this one!)
“If seomone asked me what my idea of luxury is, I think my answer would be flowers in the house all year round” - May Sarton
Everything looks better on a tray (oh my gosh, I could not agree with this more! LOVE trays!)
Create outer order on your phone (wow, I need to do this bad!)
Enjoy what’s special about your space