Waiting for “spring cleaning” never seems to work for me. Once the holidays are over I start to feel that decluttering itch. Decluttering your home can be a daunting task, especially if your significant other isn’t as enthusiastic about it as you are. It’s important to remember that decluttering is not just about getting rid of things – it’s about creating a more organized and functional space that you can enjoy. Here are some tips for decluttering when your SO isn’t into it:

Start small and focus on one area at a time.

Don’t try to tackle your entire house in one day – it will be overwhelming and may discourage you from continuing. Start with a small space, like a closet or a drawer, and work your way up to larger areas. This is also a great way to show your SO that this is something important to you. 

Involve your significant other in the process.

Even if they aren’t as excited about decluttering as you are, try to involve them in the process. Ask for their input on what to keep and what to get rid of, and explain the benefits of decluttering to them. It’s important to meet them where they are though. A lot of people keep things from a scarcity mindset. They may not need it now, but what if they need it in the future. It’s vital to be open-minded and understand where your SO is coming from.

Set aside dedicated decluttering time.

Schedule specific times each week or month to work on decluttering, and stick to them. This will help you stay focused and make progress, even if your SO isn’t always available to help. Be open to trying different methods based on what appeals to your SO. Maybe you turn all the hangers around to see which clothes you wear or put everything you want to get rid of in a box and write a date to get rid of it. When that date comes, if neither one of you can remember what’s inside, it’s easier to get rid of.

Don’t get rid of things without their consent.

It’s important to respect your SO’s belongings, even if you don’t think they are necessary. If there are items you want to get rid of, talk to your significant other about it first and come to an agreement on what to do with them. What works best for me and Alex is to have clear spaces that are “our own.” We respect each other’s space and don’t project our personal desires onto them.

Use storage solutions to keep things organized.

If your SO has items they want to keep but don’t have a designated space for, consider using storage solutions like bins, baskets, and shelves to keep things organized and out of sight. This one is probably the biggest one for me and Alex. We have agreed on a number of “question free” bins that each of us gets. You can put anything you want to save in them, no questions asked.

So if you’re feeling the decluttering bug like I am, but your SO isn’t too keen on it, try these tips. They may never be 100% on board for a variety of reasons, but it’s important to communicate why it matters to you and find a common ground where both of you can be content. Happy decluttering!

Whether or not you make resolutions or are more of a new year to-do list person like myself, consider adding learning ASL to your list. American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich and expressive language that is used by millions of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States and around the world. Taking an ASL class can be a rewarding and enriching experience for anyone, regardless of their hearing ability. Here are five reasons why you should consider taking an ASL class:

ASL is a beautiful and unique language.

With its own grammar and syntax, as well as its own cultural norms and values, ASL is a language like no other. Learning it can open up a new world of communication and understanding. I greatly enjoyed reading and learning about the deaf community and their unique culture.

ASL can improve your communication skills.

Sign language requires you to use your body, face, and hands to convey meaning, which can improve your overall communication skills. It can also help you develop nonverbal communication skills, such as body language and facial expressions, which are important in any form of communication.

ASL can improve your cognitive abilities.

Learning a new language has been shown to improve cognitive abilities such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving. It can also delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline. Which I’m all about. Keeping up with all these changes in technology is hard enough as it is.

ASL can open up new career opportunities.

In the United States, there is a high demand for qualified ASL interpreters, particularly in the fields of healthcare, education, and social services. Taking an ASL class can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career as an interpreter or in a related field. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to interpret plays or concerts. Now I know it’s a lot of hard work but something I’m honestly still quite interested in pursuing.

ASL can help you connect with others.

By learning ASL, you can connect with the deaf and hard of hearing community and better understand their experiences. You can also use your new language skills to communicate with friends and family members who use ASL, or to make new connections with people who are interested in the language. Alex and I ran into our completely deaf ASL teacher a few months after our class. We were able to communicate with her and her friend and even helped transport a desk to their apartment. We would have never been able to help them if we hadn’t taken the class.

Overall, there are many compelling reasons to take an ASL class. Whether you’re interested in the language itself, the cognitive benefits, or the potential career opportunities, learning ASL can be a rewarding and enriching experience. Plus it’s fun to sign to Alex across a crowded room and know exactly what each other is saying.

With the holidays literally just around the corner, it can be a challenge to find the perfect gift for the minimalist in your life. After all, minimalists value simplicity and prioritize experiences over material possessions. So, what do you get for the person who seems to have everything they need and nothing they don’t?

First, consider the minimalist’s interests and passions. Is your friend a fitness enthusiast, a bookworm, or a foodie? A gift that aligns with their interests will be more meaningful and appreciated than a generic item that takes up space. For example, a new workout book or class pass for the fitness enthusiast, a limited edition book for the bookworm, or a gourmet food item for the foodie.

Another option is to give the gift of an experience, such as a concert or theater tickets, a culinary class, or a trip. These types of gifts provide lasting memories and require no physical space.

If you do want to give a physical gift, consider something that is high-quality and will last for a long time. Minimalists appreciate durability and longevity in their possessions. A nice piece of kitchen equipment, a quality piece of clothing, or a well-made piece of furniture are all good options.

You could also give them a calendar filled with coffee dates, lunches, and things to look forward to with you and their other friends. Setting up events and gatherings is a heartfelt way to see them more regularly next year.

Be sure to consider the minimalist’s lifestyle and values. Is your friend trying to live a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly life? If so, you could give a gift that aligns with these values, such as a reusable water bottle or a compost bin.

The best gifts for the minimalist in your life are those that align with their interests, provide a memorable experience, are high-quality and long-lasting, and align with their lifestyle and values. It’s the thought that counts, so put some thought into your gift and it is sure to be appreciated.

As I was trying to come up with some catchy title for this post, I realized it had been six months since I first started doing morning pages. SIX MONTHS. Am I at that age now that time flies by remarkably fast? Don’t tell me if I am. I don’t want to know. Let’s step away from the cliffside of an existential crisis and get back to the task at hand. My experience with Morning Pages.

What the heck are morning pages?

Morning pages are from The Artist’s Way and I’m not going to lie to you, I read about the daily pages and was like, “Yep. I’ve read enough.” I haven’t finished the book and I really don’t even know what the ultimate long term goal of morning pages is, but I was all in. Six months ago I was in a place where I didn’t know just how badly I need to write every single day.

So the gist of morning pages is this. Write three pages, longhand, in the morning before you get into the nitty gritty of your day. They can be about anything, they can be about nothing. Just fill those three pages with whatever handwriting the gods have given you.

What I’m doing differently…

So for the first two months I was fanatical about writing these pages first thing. I would wake up an hour earlier than usual every single morning to get them done. Sometimes they would go quickly and other times I would struggle. Now, after six months and four filled notebooks, I’m not so rigid with myself. My goal is to still write three pages each day, but I’m much more flexible on the timeline. I’m giving myself a bit of grace, and I find the results of my writing to be much more fulfilling.

I find that I am not rushing to get them done before a meeting or getting ready for the day. I’m letting my mind have the time to wander and settle on different thoughts I may not have gotten to first thing in the morning. I’m also a very slow to wake type of person. I don’t think I’m fully all there until at least an hour or two after waking up and starting my day. Plus I tend to go on quite regular Starbucks runs and if I’m being a stickler for the rules, I wouldn’t be able to do that before I started writing if I followed the pure morning pages method.

Will I keep doing them?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is I find a huge sense of accomplishment after I finish the third page and close the notebook. I weirdly enjoy looking at the four completely full notebooks on my shelf knowing I scribbled my thoughts in them to their fill. I have days where I feel like I’m making huge breakthroughs and understanding my thoughts and emotions. I communicate said thoughts better with my partner. Since I write every day I don’t feel pressured to always have to write about the big stuff, but can romanticize the small stuff too.

Should you do them, too?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is I find it to be a cheaper form of therapy. One that I can do on my couch in my sleep shirt where I can really just spend time with myself. I’m not a religious person, but I feel like its akin to sitting down with a bible to spend time with God if that’s what you believe. It’s meditative, head-clearing, and a sense of accomplishment at the start of every day.

With the holidays keeping me completely swamped, I made only a few purchases in November and December. I’ve worked hard over the years to curb my shopping addiction and would consider myself a pretty minimalist purchaser. I’d love to know what you bought in November/December while the holidays were in full swing.

1. Knix Underwear

I originally bought this brand of underwear to wear during my periods, but now I prefer to wear period underwear all month long. They’re comfortable, I never have to worry about spotting, and have limited edition patterns come out fairly often. For my periods I’ll use a heavier option from Knix, but the light ones are perfect for every day. I wanted to cycle out the remaining random pairs of tired underwear, so I bought a few more to round out my collection.

2. Target Pants

A TikTok about capsule wardrobes lead me to purchase these patterned pants. She said getting different styles of pants helps to add more variety to a simple wardrobe. I only really have a couple of pairs of jeans which make a lot of my outfits look the same. So I wanted to mix things up. They’re super comfortable, easy to dress up and down, and are under $30.

3. Spreader Knives

For decades we’ve used basic butter knives to decorate our favorite cut-out cookies. They constantly fall out of the frosting bowls, make messes everywhere, and are generally hard to use. It dawned on me this year after three different cookie decorating sessions to pick up a set of these spreader knives instead. They stayed in the frosting bowls perfectly and made decorating the cookies so much easier. Just took me 25 years to figure it out.

4. WontonInAMillion Stickers

Now I had some of these Wonton in a Million stickers on my Christmas wishlist, but Alex pointed out to me how unlikely it would be that anyone get these for me. So I treated myself to a few sheets. This is my go-to shop for character stickers and I love supporting Cynthia, the owner, and the amazing company she’s built.

5. Kavu Backpack 

Now technically this Kavu backpack was a gift from Alex’s parents, but I picked it out and wanted to share it with you guys. His parents gave us free reign to pick whatever we wanted while we were visiting them in Virginia and I quickly scooped this little cutie up. It’s so handy, surprisingly large, and makes me feel like I could go on a ten mile hike or something.

6. Sign Language Book

Alex and I signed up for a Sign Language class in the new year and this Sign Language Book is the required reading. We’ve talked about wanting to do a class like this for ages and one day I just searched for one near by and signed us up. It’s crazy how easy it sometimes is to do the things you always talk about doing.

7. Sponge Holder 

I’ve had one of those suction sponge holders on my kitchen sink for ages and it always came off. I finally got fed up with it and bought this sponge holder that adheres to the side of the sink. Simple, stays put, and doesn’t take up too much sink space. Problem solved.

8. The Artist’s Way Book

Ironically enough I started the practice of morning pages before ever getting my hands on this book. I first rented it from the library, but it’s the type of book that I need to digest over a longer period of time. I usually never buy books, but this one felt like a good exception to make. I plan on talking about my experience more in a later blog post, so stay tuned.

I weirdly love doing posts like these. I collect links and images as I purchase things throughout the month and it really helps to make me stop and think about what I’m buying. So thanks for holding me accountable!