I yawned when I wrote this blog title. It’s been a busy, challenging, eventful but also tiring year. I didn’t even know about Covid-19 when I started day 1 of this challenge. I had no idea that I’d be staying in with the rest of the family from mid-March and also working from home. I’m lucky that we had the space to put desks for us but we did have to move things around a few times.

My plan was to declutter every day for a year, with the purpose of creating space in my house, my garden and my mind. There was no plan of getting trees chopped down, ceilings skimmed and plastered, spotlights installed, decorating done, or renovating the spare room bathroom. It all just happened as the year went on. So, I suppose you could say that I achieved much more than I set out to do by taking the focus off decluttering.

But… do I feel like I met my challenge or am I more overwhelmed than when I started? I’ll write my full thoughts down on New Year’s Eve. What I do know is that I’m unlikely to get everything decluttered in the next 10 days but I’m aware that it’s not a race. I’ve done plenty to be proud of myself for including donating around 40 bags of stuff to charity.

I think that the following quote sums things up nicely…

Clearing is a journey to be lived not a task to be completed by a certain deadline. Go as slow as you need to but keep moving. When you are rushed, vital connections are lost. Stop and feel.

Stephanie Bennett Vodt, Your Spacious Self

I’ve lost count how many times I have listened to Your Spacious Self by Stephanie Bennett Vodt. Every time I listen to it, I learn something new about myself. I think that it’s because I’m changing as time goes on and the words I’m hearing mean different things to me each time. Things are starting to click into place. For example, I would never have thought that resting was the best thing to do when it’s the last thing I want to do. I’ve learnt that the more overwhelmed I feel, the more important it is for me to take time out.

What have I cleared today?

Not much. I’ve had a really busy day at work so I just managed to do the basics around the house and tick off other important tasks that were a priority today, including collecting the recycling and taking the bins out. I really could have done with clearing all the stuff that I dumped on the breakfast bar yesterday when I cleared the dining room table. I have a few hours off in the morning so I’ll tackle it then.

Hope you’ve all had a good Monday.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra