3 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Tidy Up and Organize

I get asked a lot of the same questions when people find out I’m a professional home organizer.

Some of the more common questions I get are:

“How do I teach my kids to tidy up?”

“How do I manage toy clutter?”

While I could go on and on about ways to declutter toys, I’ll instead focus this post on ways to teach your kids to organize and tidy up around the house. These are things I do with my own kids and what I share with clients.

First - show them.

You can’t expect your little ones to instinctively know how or when to organize their toys. Be sure to show them by doing and be consistent. Consistency helps create lifelong healthy habits.

Remember that by showing your child where their items go - you are literally teaching them. Designate certain containers for their personal items. Show them where their clothing should live. Show them where the cars and the blocks and the bikes go when they’re done with playtime.

Second - patiently remind them.

Just because you told them and showed them where their things go, doesn’t mean your child will magically be amazing at tidying up. Kids have distractions and their own agendas and their own free will! It takes constant, patient reminders and for many parents this can mean reward systems or other systems to help kids make and keep good habits. Organization and tidying up are no different. Be patient and you’ll be amazed at the results over time.

Third - be clear.

Be sure you have designated zones for your child’s items. If you say, put your clothes over there - what does “over there” actually mean? Instead, put your dirty clothes in the hamper in the corner. Or please put your cars in the car bin in the closet. I don’t know about you but I appreciate when adults give me clear direction - same is helpful for little ones when it comes to home organization and tidying up.

What tips or suggestions have you used with your own kids? Do you use any of these tips already? Let me know in the comments!

Design Series Feature: Sarah Gibson from Room for Tuesday

So much of how a home feels is directly correlated to how it is designed and styled.

Because as it turns out, good design matters.

Like a lot.

I have always had an appreciation for beautiful interior design and as a home organizer I’m a firm believer that thoughtful interiors matter. Interior design sets a tone and a mood for the day-to-day of all those who are surrounded by it. It’s powerful and beautiful.

This month I am so excited to get to share my interview with Sarah Gibson - the creative director, designer and founder behind Room for Tuesday and owner of the shop, Tuesday Made.

When I first saw Sarah’s work, I had to stop and stare. Her eye for detail and her thoughtful approach to the various elements that make a house a home are just a few of the things that have made her projects so memorable for me.

What I love about Sarah’s approach to designing and styling is that her designs are timeless and oh so sophisticated. It’s the kind of sophistication that makes you want to sit in one of her spaces and soak in all the details that she has so intentionally placed.

Photo credit: Sarah Gibson from Room for Tuesday

Q: You're no stranger to home renovations - how do you approach your new projects? Do you set mood boards? Or do you follow your innate interior design mind and go for it?

A: While I no longer design for clients, I treat our projects at home much like I would a client project. I love planning, getting organized, and completing the entire design before demolition even begins. That includes floor planning, elevations, moodboards, selecting finishes, gathering samples, and ordering the bulk of the items that will exist in a space. I like having a set plan! The design and styling portions of the process are always my favorite- so the beginning and the end. It's fun to watch something you envisioned in your mind come to fruition and become reality.

Q: How would you describe your style and do you think it has evolved over time?

A: I believe our personal aesthetic and style is ever-changing and evolving as we grow. I'd like to think it's shaped by our experiences and as we age, we become more capable of determining what feels and looks like us. My personal style has definitely changed over the years. I started my blog at such a young age - it has really proved to be great documentation of my growth and evolution, in regards to aesthetics. I also believe the style or architecture of your home comes into play when it comes to design... I always take that into consideration, because not only do I want my home to reflect my personal aesthetic, but I also want it to feel cohesive to the architecture of the house itself. It's so tricky to nail down a specific style because I enjoy curating and blending multiple aesthetics and design styles. I love classic and traditional design, as well as curating vintage and more eclectic or modern pieces. It's always a mixed bag in my house, but I always try to keep timeless design in mind... if I bring something into my home, I want to make sure I'll still love it in a year, five years or even ten years.

Photo credit: Sarah Gibson from Room for Tuesday

Q: How do you feel about the relationship between home organization and home design?

A: I think organization and home design is very correlated. I always consider function and organization when designing rooms or renovations. It's especially important in small or high-functioning spaces! When designing our kitchen, I thought about how each cabinet would be used, what the interior of that cabinet would look like, how it would be organized, and designed accordingly. Having a clean and organized home is important to me - it enhances my happiness and productivity, so it's something I always consider when designing a space. I try to use every square foot in a smart and thoughtful way.

Q: What do you love about Salt Lake? Any favorite places that inspire you?

A: I'm a Salt Lake City transplant (I've lived here 6 years now), and the beautiful mountains are what brought my husband, Emmett, and myself to Utah. We love adventure and the outdoors, and this is the perfect place for that. On weekends, you can find us skiing, camping, paddling, on a trail, etc. The mountains are always a creative and inspiring escape for me. We feel very lucky to live close to so many beautiful spots, trailheads, and incredible (and varied) landscapes.

Photo credit: Sarah Gibson from Room for Tuesday

Q: What is your advice to someone looking to update their existing home? Where should they start?

A: I always start with a list... I jot down wants, needs, the budget, and try to figure out how to accomplish those things. It's always easiest to set parameters first (the budget, the amount of space you have to work with, etc), then think creatively about how to achieve a beautiful and functional space, when it comes to design. Whether that path includes getting quotes and hiring contractors or taking the DIY route, it's always best to have a solid plan before the project even begins. That's especially important now that lead-times have been extended thanks to supply chain issues and backorders!

If you’ve ever needed major interior design inspiration then be sure to check out Room for Tuesday and Sarah’s shop, Tuesday Made.

Thanks again Sarah for all of your tips and insight into how you make a house a home. So looking forward to your upcoming projects!

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Are you looking for a little (or a lot) of help with your own home organization? Click here and schedule a complimentary 15-minute consult and chat with me about your home organization goals or follow me on Instagram here for daily organization and minimalist-living tips.

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RELATED POST: Design Series Feature: Elyse Garlock Home

Join My Simple Home Decluttering + Organizing Challenge

The older I get the more I realize that if I have someone cheering me on I’m way more likely to finish whatever project I’m working on (aka bake the cookies, get on the exercise bike or clean out my closet). Just a little support in the form of a text message or call where I can share my to-do list or goals are enough to motivate me to finish what I started.

This method of getting things accomplished also applies to the projects in our homes. Yes, even the decluttering and organizing ones! I organize homes for a living and I still love sending those before-and-afters to my sister because there is just something about good ‘ole fashioned support from someone who knows you well.

So, while I don’t know all of you, I do want to help support you in your decluttering journey! A journey that I hope you find fulfilling and enjoyable.

Today starts the January Simple Home Challenge and all month long, I’ll be sharing tips to help you simplify and organize various areas in your home. You can join the challenge on Instagram by following me here.

Share your wins, ask questions and get your organizing BFF to join with you!

3 Questions to Help You Create an Intentional Home in the New Year

When I help clients create intentional, organized homes I like to ask a few questions. Those questions serve as a simple guide to help them more objectively look at what their current home is really like and show them where they can make improvements.

In this blog post I’d like to help you get more intentional about your own home right now.

Just imagine me meeting with you 1:1, trying to get the scoop on how you really feel about the state of your home as it is right now.

The Questions

1. What is your experience like when you walk through your front door? Or your garage door? Wherever you enter really. Does it feel calm and inviting or is it like you’ve entered a war zone filled with flying toys and stuff in all the places. Now think about what that experience is like for visitors. Imagine what the sights and smells are like. Does your home feel like it has organization and order? Maybe a little organization in a few places but not throughout?

2. Can you edit down the amount of things in your home? Start small first with one space. Try tackling one closet, one room, a pantry, etc. As you declutter, you will be motivated to do so much more!

3. What can you do to get your home to where you want it to be from a design/decor perspective? If it’s already there, what else can you do to alter the mood and overall feeling that you have when you’re in your home and when others are in it?

It could be that you need to focus on just decluttering (aka ridding your house of too much stuff or items that you don’t need or love).

It could also be that you don’t have too much stuff you just lack an organized system.

Remember that an intentional home is thought through, not cluttered and always purposeful. You just have to find out what that means for you because every home is different.

Good luck editing this year! Let me know what you find most satisfying to purge in the comments.

Are you looking for a little (or a lot) of help with your own home organization? Click here and schedule a complimentary 15-minute consult and chat with Britnee about your home organization goals.

Design Series Feature: SPACES Collective

If I’ve learned anything from my own home renovation (and by working in the homes of others) it’s that good design is timeless. And beautiful styling literally changes everything about a space.

A little more than one year ago while perusing Instagram, I found SPACES Collective, a boutique property styling agency based in Toronto. I remember landing on their feed and instantly swooning over their modern and minimalist approach to style. Every project they shared (and continue to share) was something I wanted to save, Pin and send to my husband to help spark ideas for our own house.

This month, I am so excited to get to share my interview with Natalie Balen-Cinelli + Julia Salerno - the two women behind SPACES Collective.

I have loved getting to know them this past year as I’ve asked them questions about everything from where to find the best faux plants (which they helped me find and I love) to their overall approach to styling modern properties.

So without further adieu, please enjoy this month’s Design Series Feature with Natalie and Julia of SPACES Collective.

Photo credit: SPACES Collective

Q: How do you approach a new space? Where does the styling begin for you?

A: It really depends on the type of project. We stage both occupied and vacant spaces which offer different levels of flexibility in our styling. Often, when working with a client's existing furniture, we try to neutralize the space as much as possible. We bring in new rugs, lamps, greenery, pillows and decor that help finish off a space and that make a big impact. For a condo or model suite, we often start with a floor plan followed by a site visit to ensure the pieces we select are the right size and fit. There is never a one-size-fits all approach as every space is different, but typically with staging, our priority is to ensure the spaces we style always showcase the property to its highest potential. To do this, we like to view the space as a potential buyer would: what are the key features of the home, how will the new buyers' use the space and what is the best layout for each room? The last piece of that puzzle is to identify with the realtor who our key demographic is. For example, if a condo is located in the financial district of a downtown core, it would be completely amiss to stage a bedroom as a nursery. The design of the space must speak to all potential buyers in order to cast the widest net possible and appeal to the most amount of people. First impressions are key in this business as well as sight lines and how the space will appear in photos and all factor in to how we style a space for sale.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to give their existing living room a refresh?

A: The most impactful way to refresh a space is to change out accessories. Rugs make a big difference in a space and can really set the tone. We always recommend purchasing neutral foundation pieces so that if you want to introduce colour to a space, you're not breaking the bank to replace them if you get tired of it. Swapping out a rug, for example, can really transform a space. We love to use ones with lots of texture and ones that are made from natural fibers. Art is another way to make an impactful refresh to a space. And when it comes to accessorizing, we like to layer in different size objects, candles, books and plants.

Photo credit: SPACES Collective

Q: Do you have any styling advice for newbies who are planning to DIY their space and don't have a styling eye? Specifically, anything they should avoid?

A: The best advice is that there are no rules -- you don't need to match your pillows to your curtains and your rug -- so find pieces you love and build on those. Neutrals are always in style and give you the opportunity to introduce colour selectively. Gone are the days of "themed" spaces. Just because you love turquoise, doesnt' mean it should appear on an accent chair, on pillows and in your art. If you want to use your favourite colour in your space, consider finding a great abstract piece with the colour dotted in so that it's not the main focal. Keep all other items in the space neutral and layer in natural elements like wool throws, woven rugs, black and white cozy pillows and wood decor pieces.

Q: What are your thoughts on home organization? Do you find it helps a home sell when it's decluttered and styled?

A: Absolutely! You can't have one without the other. Decluttering and organizing are the first steps when preparing your home for sale. You can style a house beautifully all you want, but if it's not decluttered you don't get that "ahhhhh" feeling when you walk in. A clean and well organized home lets potential buyers know that it has been well-kept and maintained. And well-organized closets can give the illusion of more space. We always recommend reducing closet capacity by at least 45% by removing non-seasonal items and keeping only what's absolutely neccessary for the duration of the sale. Potential buyers want to know your home's closets have enough room in them to store their things, so they'll always take a peek inside.

Photo credit: SPACES Collective

Q: What is your advice to someone thinking about hiring a staging service prior to moving?

A: There's no such thing as too early! You can get a head start with a consult, where a stager will give you tips on what and how to declutter, what items needs to move out to storage or be donated, what paint colours to use and offer advice on small-scale or light renos and repairs that will be most impactful when selling (bathrooms and kitchens are biggies). We also like to recommend replacing out-dated light fixtures. Most of our client's would attest that the majority of work begins before the staging install. Depending on how much work needs to be done to your home, plan for at least 4-6 weeks in advance.

Q: I know that you're based in Toronto but do you ever do any virtual interior styling work? Anything outside of Canada?

A: We haven't! We've had such a crazy year and a half that we've had no time for any design or virtual work.

Be sure and check out the SPACES Collective feed if you haven’t already given them a follow. Their eye for balance and beauty is spot on and their attention to detail is no doubt how they are helping homes in the Toronto area sell fast.

Thanks again Natalie and Julia for all of your tips and insight into what you both do so well. Can’t wait to see more from your upcoming projects!

RELATED POST: Design Series Feature: Room For Tuesday

A simple organization recipe to keep your kid's toys from multiplying

I’m a mom and so when I say I understand the toy multiplying effect, I mean I understand the toy multiplying effect.

And if you’re like many other parents out there, then you try your best to contain them all but some of the containers and bins just don’t match up to the high hopes you had for them when you were at Target or on Amazon and initially purchased them. And that’s the hardest part of it all, isn’t it? You bought the bins. You thought it was a good system (and it probably was pretty good) but the toys continue to multiply.

So what do you do? (Bookmark this one for later!)

First:

Pull out all of the toys. Yep, it might be a lot. Take a look at each and every toy (with your kids if they’re at the age where they care and can weigh in on what stays and goes). Make piles for the broken, the unloved and loved. Don’t forget to turn some music on (make this as pleasant of an experience as possible and it’s always fun for the kids to hear their favorite tunes, too). Set the tone that organizing can be fun!

Second:

Begin sorting into the piles. Talk through which toys are most loved and which ones aren’t. Those toys that don’t get use but that are still in good condition are the perfect candidates to re-home (aka donate to a friend or second-hand shop or other donation center). Recycle or toss anything broken.

Third:

Of the toys that are left, determine what containers are best for storing them. Got tiny LEGOs? Consider bins with lids so those tiny pieces don’t go flying across the room if the bin gets spilled. Got dolls and stuffed animals? Consider larger rope baskets or fabric bins so little ones can take them out and put them back.

At the end, it’s about creating an efficient system - one that works for your family and it’s about repetition. When kids see where their toys go and they can expect those zones, then it becomes easier to put the toys away. And as for you - enjoy your hard work. As you all practice putting things away in their respective bins you’ll start making helpful habits that will last a lifetime!

Love the whole less is more idea? Join my free email newsletter for home organizing tips and advice, plus minimalist and simple living inspiration.

Top 3 Ways to Create Healthy Digital Habits & Be More Mindful In a Tech-Obsessed World

We all get that our phones keep us organized. And really that’s an understatement because they are *the* gateway to our appointments and reminders and photos and just about everything else.

It’s these same phones that allow us to keep in touch with those we love and block those we don’t. I mean, I don’t love robocalls. I block those all darn day.

It is, without a doubt, the one handheld machine that helps you seamlessly run your life. 

On the flip side, our phones beep and ding and are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to distraction. If not the biggest.

You know how it goes. You wake up in the morning and without thinking twice, you check your social feeds. Why? You take a break in the elevator to check the weather or see what emails have trickled in that needed a response five minutes ago. What if we didn’t have computers in our hands…? Those emails would have to wait until we got back to our desks!

When the day is done and you're winding down for bed, you may have found yourself brushing your pearly whites just before one last glance at the little device that syncs you with your outside world. 

Our phones and tablets literally manage our days. Unfortunately, they’re robbing us of our attention, attention spans and time for more important things like all the non-tech, personal stuff we could be accomplishing when we’re not using them.

I like mine just as much as the next person. But it might be time we rethink our behaviors and usage.

According to research conducted by Nielsen:

“US Adults spend nearly half a day interacting with media.”

Yep, you read that right - you and I are spending nearly half of our days interacting with media in some form.

Sometimes I sit back and think, how did we let these seemingly good devices creep into our worlds so much?

It’s a slippery and even sticky slope.

Fortunately we are all becoming a lot more aware of just how sticky media is and it’s allowing us to make room for change. 👍

So, there’s no need for guilt or worry or stress. Just know that there is a better, healthier way to find balance and if you’re committed like I was, you’ll get your time back.

SO… HOW EXACTLY DO WE CREATE HEALTHY DIGITAL HABITS AND BECOME MORE MINDFUL SO WE FEEL LESS OVERWHELMED AND MORE IN CONTROL OF OUR DAY-TO-DAY? 

Ima ‘bout to tell you.

Ready?

Here it is.

1. Measure your time.

In order to see any improvement and to define what success means for you, first you have to measure your current usage. This won’t involve any hard math. Just make sure you use an app like Moment (iOS), AppDetox (Android) or the latest iOS 12 Screen Time monitoring features to do the tracking for you. 

How exactly do you monitor? 

Track your usage for approximately one week and see what your average daily time is. More importantly, what apps or services are you using the most? Once you know your average time you can determine what your personal goal is for each day and once you know which apps or tools are consuming most of your time, you can limit them, too.

For example, you may find that your usage is slightly higher than you expected but most of the time is attributed to playing music during your commute or when your winding down for the night. Obviously, music can be totally relaxing and freeing! So make your own thoughtful conclusions about where it is that you can trim when it comes to screen time.

Alternatively, if majority of your screen time is devoted to a certain game or social media app, consider deleting the app (easier said than done but I promise you it’s doable) from your phone while you work to restore your own personal device balance.

2. Create balance with new healthier routines.

In order to make a change, you have to adjust some routines. For example, where do the phones in your household “sleep” at night? Are they on everyone all the time? Do they join you for dinner? Consider creating a central charging station (ours is in our kitchen). The charging station isn't just for charging either - it's a place where your phone should live when you're not using it.

Additionally, make dinner time device-free and have everyone in your household put their phones in the central charging station each night so as to limit the bright light and distraction that devices often bring into bedrooms or places of respite. Yes, this means you’ll need to invest in an alarm clock or dust off your old one and plug it in like we all did 15 years ago.

And if you’re still on the fence as to whether it really matters. Sleep.org shared the following insight:

“Smartphones—like laptops, tablets, and televisions—emit something called blue light, which is a type of light that the brain interprets as daylight. The blue light actually suppresses melatonin (a hormone that affects circadian rhythm and should increase when you are preparing for bedtime). The result: Your brain feels stimulated. This is fine if you’re looking at your smartphone’s screen at noon, but if you’re looking at the screen at midnight, your brain is going to get confused and think that the sun is out—making it even tougher to fall asleep.”

3. Give and receive digital respect.

The only way you can show those around you that you are providing your undivided attention is if your devices are out of sight. Make sure you are keeping them away when it comes to dinner time, walks and one-on-ones.

You may think that you can handle it but remember, our devices have trained many of us to keep them near and check them often.

According to Common Sense Media:

“Features such as app notifications, autoplay -- even "likes" and messages that self-destruct -- are scientifically proven to compel us to watch/check in/respond right now or feel that we’re missing something really important.”

Remember what I said about sticky? The FOMO effect plays into this stickiness as well.

And I can assure you, FOMO is real. So real in fact that Oxford Dictionaries defines it as:

“Anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.”

Often I find that our devices follow us into places where they just don't need to be.

Limit how often and when you're using them and others will feel your added attention and focus. Plus, you will, too. It’s really about respect for others and yourself.

In order to restore balance to your life and feel like you're back in control of your day-to-day, the key is to monitor and limit screen time.

Interested in the whole less is more idea? Click here and schedule a complimentary 15-minute consult and chat with me about your home organization goals or follow me on Instagram here for daily organization and minimalist-living tips.

RELATED POST: 4 Ways to Be More Present in a Tech-Driven World

3 Things Your Future Self Would Want You To Simplify This Year

We're almost to the end of January and while you may have set some of your best resolutions about 30 days ago, you may feel that they're no longer top of mind.

Not because you don't want to keep them there, mostly just because life happens and even this far into January stuff starts to bombard our day-to-day. While a new year brings so much goodness along with it, pesky things like push notifications, unfinished tasks, house clutter, over-use of social media, and struggling to get your time back can distract you from achieving goals and increase feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. (And I don't know about you but I refuse to feel defeated 1/12th of the way into the year!)

To clarify, the things outlined in this post are not meant to replace any resolutions. They're more like the quiet background music that plays during your morning commute - they're included in this post to help you pace yourself. They can help you keep a steady drumbeat of sanity and serenity while you think about things like family, career, self-improvement and those 2018 resolutions.

So here's a list of three things your future self would want you to simplify this year.

Queue the drumroll.

1. Simplify Your Approach to Simplifying

Don't get bombarded by all the things you think you need to declutter or organize this year. Start small first. Work on one area that you feel you could benefit the most from and think about streamlining it. If you see that you can tackle one small thing, you'll notice that you can tackle more and eventually more. I know too many people who have started in on a major 8-hour decluttering project just to find that 4-hours in they aren't done. And they're burned out. And just like that, "simplifying" leaves a rather sour taste in their mouth. 

Take little steps toward simplifying. It's not going to happen overnight and that's ok! Take baby steps and you'll feel a lot less like this:

Simple and intentional living blogger, Jennifer of Simply + Fiercely shared with me her view on simplifying things both physical and non-physical.

"I use the same decluttering system for everything, from my closet to my to-do list," she said. "Once you know your values and personal vision, you can ask yourself if the task/item/etc. is taking you further or closer to the life you want most. And of course, if it’s not, it’s time to let go!" 

She went on to say:

"Decluttering is really just learning a new way of decision making—but admittedly, it can take some time to learn. Personally, I found it easier to start with decluttering my physical stuff and as I got better at it, I naturally started to apply these skills to my schedule, relationships, and more."

If simplifying seems hard for you - know that you're not alone. It just takes a little guidance and some practice. If you'd like to meet other simple-seekers, come on over to my new Facebook group. The more the merrier!

2. Decrease Time Spent on Your Phone

YouTuber JP Sears shared a rather hilarious clip about being addicted to our phones. The "How To Be More Addicted to Your Phone" video is not only spot on, it illustrates how addicted we really are.

As JP (and research reports) point out, millennials check their phones nearly 150 times per day.

That's right. 150 TIMES PER DAY.

If you're a parent, then this topic may hit close to home.

I have a smartphone and I am also a mom. I use it to talk to my friends and family and in many ways it's been a wonderful tool to keep my out-of-state family close and in touch with my little guy.

On the flip side, I get slightly terrified when I consider how often I check my phone or how often it interrupts my day. At 15 months old, my son doesn't understand what those things mean. What he does understand is the attention I do or don't give to him. 

In a TIME Health article from last year, the topic of cell-phone distracted parenting was studied and researched:

"Few things require more hands-on attention than a young child. And there’s little that’s more distracting than the constant bleeping of our cells phones. When these two things compete for our attention, the results can be sobering."

The article went on to say that research shows children need reliable, quality attention from their parent. Specifically, the kind of attention that is free from endless distractions because distractions can impact our little ones on an emotional level.

It was at that point in the article that my ears really perked up. Yikes. I don't want to ruin my kid! Especially not because I'm interested in being the first to respond to a text-message ding or meaningless social-feed update.

The study was eye opening and it has got me looking for ways to improve my own attention and focus.

If you're not a parent, I think it's safe to say that adults can very quickly get a sense for where our attention is or isn't if it's that obvious to a child.

So... let's all do our loved ones and friends a solid and vow to look up more!

3. Quiet the Noise

According to Reset.me:

"Few people would argue that modern life provides a nearly overwhelming amount of sensory bombardment in the form of noise, crowds, traffic, clutter, and the demands of ever-present electronic devices."

Is the TV always on? Try keeping it off for longer. Are you addicted to binge-watching your favorite shows (as so many of us are)? Challenge yourself to do new things during your downtime. Experiment with limiting your Netflix intake. I can tell you from personal experience that it is doable and it feels good to get personal time back.

Do you play a variety of uplifting music or dull replays of songs you've heard a million times that lack any significant mood-boosting ability?

When all is said and done, are the sounds in your life (that you can control) encouraging and uplifting? Calming or enlivening? Educational or melodic? Or is it all just noise.

TV and music aren't the only sources of noise. What's more of a challenge is noise pollution that's much harder to control and that surrounds so many of us who live in big cities.

According to an article in Harpers Bazaar, noise pollution is proven to be harmful to our health:

"A constant gush of stress hormones actually restructures the brain, contributing to tumor development, heart disease, respiratory disorders, and more. And of course, our hormonal endocrine systems haven’t had time to learn that car stereos aren’t out to get us..."

The article goes on to share that noise pollution can be worse for women, too:

"Women are more field-dependent, meaning they take in the whole picture, while men are more focused on what they’re doing, so they don’t notice what’s in the periphery...”

Noise does have an impact on us - even if we don't realize it. It's helpful to consider where and when we can lower the volume. The article shared ideas related to noise fasts (apparently it's a thing), choosing quieter appliances and using things like earplugs and white noise machines to muffle the sound.

Now, you might be thinking something like, "ok great. You've shared some interesting stats that have me thinking about these three things but where do I go from here? Where is the glimmer of hope? 

Jennifer of Simply + Fiercely shared the following sage advice for those starting in on their simplifying journey and I couldn't agree more:

"... start with self-reflection. What are your core values? What matters most to you? What are your priorities, hopes and dreams? Don’t assume you know the answers; instead, really invest time into exploring these questions. Then once you’re done, use your answers as a benchmark to help you evaluate what does (or doesn’t) belong in your life. And remember—the more you know what you want out of life, the easier it is to see what doesn’t belong."

Remember, your version of simple may not be my version of simple and that's the kind of thing that makes the world go round! 

Look for what matters most to YOU and go from there.

In the meantime, I encourage you to try pacing yourself when it comes to simplifying, try spending a little less time with the smartphone and try muffling the unnecessary noise this year.

I'll be working on these things, too. Please keep me posted on your progress and thoughts in the comments section!

Interested in the whole less is more idea? Subscribe to my free email list below and you'll be sent monthly tips and insights related to all things simple living including invites to future webinars.