Note 058
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately, especially about my home and the environment I’m creating for myself.
I’ve been trying to get things more organized, declutter, and be a little more intentional about what I keep around me. And the more I do it, the more I realize how much our surroundings can affect how we feel.
I used to be one of those people who wanted every corner decorated with something. Knickknacks, photographs, candles on the tables, and little decorative pieces everywhere. If there was an empty space, I probably felt the need to put something in it.
But somewhere along the way, my taste started changing.
Now, I’m leaning more toward less is more.
I want to see space. I want my home to feel lighter. I want to walk into a room and feel like I can breathe instead of feeling like there’s something everywhere I look.
And it’s not just my home. I feel the same way about my closet and shoes. I don’t want clothes spilling over hangers or shoes piled up with nowhere to go. I want to be able to see what I have, find what I need, and feel good about the space I’m in.
I’m learning that having more things doesn’t necessarily mean having more peace.
Sometimes, having less gives you room to enjoy what you already have.
A Conversation That Reminded Me How Important Our Environment Is
Recently, I was talking with my boss and asked how his grandson was doing.
His grandson had moved from one side of the country to the other to live with his father. He had stepped into a completely different environment—culturally, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
My boss began telling me about the changes he was seeing.
His grandson’s grade point average had doubled. He was expressing himself more, making friends, participating in activities, and actually getting excited about getting up and doing things.
As my boss was telling me all of this, we both said it at almost the exact same time:
“Environment is important.”
We both recognized that something about this young man’s surroundings had changed, and he was responding to that change in meaningful ways.
My boss went on to share a little about his own childhood and growing up in an environment affected by alcoholism. He talked about not wanting to be home and how that environment affected his mood and motivation.
That conversation stayed with me.
Because it reminded me that our environment isn’t just about how a room looks, what furniture we have, or whether our house is clean.
Our environment is also about how we feel when we’re in it.
It’s about whether we feel supported or constantly on edge. Whether we have room to grow or feel like we’re always trying to survive. Whether our surroundings encourage us, drain us, or leave us feeling stuck.
And sometimes, we don’t fully recognize the effect our environment is having on us until something changes.
Your Environment Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Make a Difference
I want to be clear about something.
A clean house isn’t a cure for sadness, anxiety, depression, or every difficult thing we’re experiencing. And a messy home doesn’t automatically mean someone is struggling emotionally.
Life happens. People have responsibilities, children, jobs, health concerns, and seasons when keeping everything together is difficult.
But I do believe there’s something to be said for looking at the spaces we occupy every day and asking ourselves how they make us feel.
Do I feel comfortable here?
Can I find what I need?
Does this space help me feel settled, or does it add to my frustration?
Am I holding on to things that I no longer use, need, or even like?
Is there something I could change that would make my everyday life a little easier?
Sometimes we can’t immediately change our job, our finances, our relationships, or the circumstances we’re dealing with.
But there may be a small corner of our world where we can begin.
And sometimes, having one place that feels a little more manageable can give us the momentum to work on something else.
Start With Something You Can Control
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, unmotivated, or just not quite like yourself, maybe you don’t need to start with a complete life makeover.
Maybe you can start at home.
Clean out the junk drawer.
Organize your sock drawer.
Go through your closet and let go of the clothes you keep moving from one hanger to another but never wear.
Clear off the kitchen counter.
Clean out the refrigerator.
Organize the pantry.
Donate the things you no longer need.
Move a few pieces of furniture around.
Remove some of the decorations that no longer fit your taste.
Create one little corner where you can sit, think, read, pray, or simply enjoy a quiet moment.
You don’t have to spend money to do this.
You don’t need matching storage containers, a new furniture set, or a perfectly styled home that looks like something out of a magazine.
Use what you have.
Start with what you can manage.
And please don’t turn decluttering into another reason to criticize yourself. You don’t have to finish the whole house in a day. One drawer is a start. One shelf is a start. Fifteen minutes is a start.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to create a space that works better for you.
Sometimes We Need to Make Room—Literally and Figuratively
As I’ve been decluttering, I’ve realized that I don’t want to keep things simply because I have room for them.
I want to be more intentional about what I bring into my home and what I choose to keep.
And I think that lesson can extend beyond our physical surroundings.
Sometimes we need to look at the habits, commitments, distractions, and expectations that are taking up space in our lives, too.
What are we holding on to simply because it’s familiar?
What are we carrying that we no longer need?
What is making our lives heavier than they have to be?
What could we release to make room for something that serves us better?
I’m not saying that organizing a closet will solve every problem. But the process of clearing out what no longer serves you can be a reminder that you have choices.
You can reassess.
You can rearrange.
You can let go.
You can make a different decision.
And you can begin again.
A Note for Today
If life has been feeling a little heavy lately, take a look around you.
Not to judge yourself. Not to compare your home or your life to anyone else’s. And not to add another item to your already-full to-do list.
Just look around and ask yourself:
What’s one thing I could change about my environment that might help me feel a little lighter?
Maybe it’s cleaning your car.
Maybe it’s clearing off your nightstand.
Maybe it’s opening the windows, changing your bedding, or finally organizing that drawer you’ve been avoiding.
Maybe it’s making your bedroom a place where you can actually rest.
Start there.
You may not be able to change everything happening around you, but you can begin to make small changes in the spaces you occupy.
And who knows? That little reset might be the starting point for something bigger.
Your environment is important. Give yourself permission to create one that makes room for the person you’re becoming.
Until the next note,
Your Resident Overthinker 🤎