Maxi from VICI (sad this one already sold out, but they have so many new arrivals for spring!)
Well.. I think it’s safe to say that February takes the cake for one of the most depressing months of the year! Being a midwestern girl, I’m used to the long winters, but these last few months always seem crawl by.
After Fashion Week I decided (or life decided for me) that I needed a little mental break to refocus and declutter. Trying to keep up with work, bills, chores, to-do lists, and other responsibilities can feel pretty exhausting and overwhelming. And when you hit a speed bump going 100 mph, it can completely throw your life off balance.
I always have to remind myself that that’s the key to contentment, balance. But finding the right balance and keeping it up is the hard part. With spring right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get a head start on some much needed ‘spring cleaning’. Here’s how I’m decluttering my head, home, and heart this season:
Clearing my HEAD
- Catch up on adulting by getting a head start on taxes, planning things further in advance instead of waiting until the last minute, and making it a priority to get things done on my to-do list that have been on there for probably 6 months now.
- Other random things: make sleep a priority, be realistic about my daily to-do list, wake up earlier and go to sleep earlier, set realistic goals.
Decluttering at HOME
- I have this thing where I can’t concentrate on ANYTHING or think clearly unless my room is clean, my office is organized, and my suitcase in unpacked. It definitely holds me back a lot of the time, but I’ve found that I’m so much more productive when my space feels organized and it’s not lingering in the back of my mind.
- Clean My Closet – there are few things more gratifying than an organized closet. Things I’m doing this week: get rid of anything you can’t remember the last time you wore it, shoes that are out of style, and old coats/outerwear taking up too much room. Donate or sell things you don’t need!
- Organize my bathroom drawers – I got to the point where every time I attempted to get ready for the day I’d spend SO much time just looking for things in my drawers. Organize them and KEEP them clean.
- Workspace – whether you work from home or you have an office elsewhere, decluttering your workspace is so important. If your job requires any type of creativity, you NEED a clean space that promotes a clear and creative mindset. Plus, it always just helps when you can find things quickly and avoided unnecessary stress.
Refocusing my HEART
- Make prayer a priority every single morning. The best way to start your day is to express your gratitude and ask God to guide you through every step of the day (because you and I both know we aren’t getting through it without Him, talking to YOU my fellow control freaks).
- Church. Every. Sunday. No excuses. (Soul City in Chicago is amazing, just started going!)
- Forgive people. Grudges can take up an unhealthy amount of space in your heart. Please watch this sermon if you’re struggling with this.
- Have someone in your life that holds you accountable for staying on track with keeping your heart and spiritual relationship on the right path.
If you’re reading this and you feel like you’ve been running on empty, use this post as the sign you’ve been needing to refocus and declutter. Give yourself a little pep talk, make a plan of action, and get back on track. Spring is the perfect time to do some cleaning in all areas of your life. Comment below or on this Instagram post with other things you’ve found to be helpful when it comes to decluttering, I’d love to hear from you guys!
PS – how cool is this honeycomb structure in Lincoln Park?? If you live in Chicago you have to take a walk through here – there’s a perfect view of the John Hancock and other skyscrapers downtown through it’s arch! | Pics by my girl Aesthetiica
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Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Have you done a post on must see/eat in Chicago?
https://macaroonsonmain.blogspot.com/
I completely agree about everything regarding clearing your head. I always have 8,000 things going on and I’m always on the go…it can all get overwhelming. Life decided for me that I needed to slow down and needed a break so I had to take a few days to myself to re-energize and ACTUALLY relax…(kinda forgot what that was! LOL). The BIGGEST thing I think is going to church every Sunday. It’s easy to fall out of a routine of going but no matter what I get up and go and I always leave feeling better for it and feel like that sermon is speaking to me and my heart. I’ve been making myself more of a priority; taking the time to just sit in silence, turning my phone off for a few hours so I’m not distracted or focused on work. If I’m not in a good head space I’m no good for anyone or anything else so that’s been my biggest way to declutter my head. Sorry for the long post! Lol
Wonderful post! I feel the same way lately about needing to pause, regroup, and plan. Also to get more sleep – sooo crucial to your body functions and something in trying to achieve as well. #adulting
Olivia – thank you for using your platform for good to spread Jesus and focusing on God!! I need to refocus my heart too. We recently had a little one and it’s definitely an excuse on Sundays because it’s just easier not to go to church… thanks for the reminder!
Love these pretty pictures!
http://stopdropandvogue.com
I can’t even with how amazing these photos are! Lincoln Park was one of my favorite areas when visiting Chicago last summer!
I’ve never been to Chicago! It’s high up on my list of places I want to visit 🙂
Brianna | http://briannamarielifestyle.com/
First, your pictures are absolutely amazing! Second, yes, that honeycomb structure is amazing. Will have to visit the next time I’m in Chicago!
May || https://themoderness.com/
Such a great post! Love your blog!!
Hi there! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My website looks weird when browsing from my iphone.
I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to
fix this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share.
Cheers!
Is it true you steal photos from other websites , blogs and clothing companies and repost them on here as your own “product” or photo including but not limited to posting them on your front page ?! That’s a little fishy ?!
That’s always a red flag to me and I shop online a lot.s
Talking of God on a clothing site sounds like your..running for office tell your Target what you want them to think. Not good For retail however.