​It’s a space you (presumably) use every day, so it makes sense to get it organized and let it work for you.

As with ANY organizing project, start by removing things that don’t belong in the room.

Next, empty every shelf, drawer, and cabinet.

Take stock of what you have by going through each item one by one. Toss anything that is expired, empty, doesn’t work, or you don’t use.

When replacing items you use, consider what you use the MOST, and give it prime real estate - the eye level shelf, the top drawer, the closest cabinet.

Group like with like: make-up and beauty items, appliances, first aid, excess tissue and tp, etc. Use baskets and drawer separators where you can. Find a place for everything you want to keep, and put everything in its place. Consider moving full toiletries in good shape to a guest bath or donating to a women’s shelter.

Clean all surfaces. Once everything is sorted and put away, wipe down any and all counters, sinks, mirrors, toilets and floors; empty and wipe down the trashcan.

Establish a day for weekly or monthly maintenance, depending on your schedule and needs.

Here’s another space that likely gets used on a daily basis (or maybe even hourly, if your home is like our home).

The longer it’s been since you’ve cleaned and organized the fridge, the longer it might take to get it back into tip top shape. (On the flip side, the more often you do it, the easier it becomes!)

First step, as always, is to take it all out. Remove every single item from the shelves, drawers, and doors and take inventory.

Release anything expired, empty, you don’t like or don’t use; consolidate where applicable.

Clean all inside surfaces, remove and rinse/wipe drawers, wipe down doors and handles.

Only replace items you will use, and be mindful of where you put what. We keep our veggies on the eye-level shelf for easy access and easy inventory - seeing them every time I open the fridge acts as a trigger for me to assess if I can add them in to whatever it is I’m about to make vs. “out of sight, out of mind.”
​

​I love, love, love organizing closets! I’m a strong believer that your closet should be a place that inspires and comforts you.

As such, everything in your closet should fit you comfortably, be aligned with your personal style, be in a clean, wearable condition, serve a specific function or speak to a specific type of occasion, and/or be appropriate for the season/s in which you currently live.

Does yours pass the test? If not, carve out some time to get it in order - the cusp of a new season is actually perfect timing!

To start, empty the entire closet out (just like we did with our bathrooms and our refrigerators). We do this because it’s much easier to be discerning about what goes into an empty space than about what should come out of a disheveled one.

Clean all the surfaces - vacuum, dust, spray and wipe. You won’t see this space empty again any time soon, so take advantage.

Go through each item one by one. Ask yourself: Does it fit? Do I love it? How often do I reach for it? Do I like the way I look and feel in it? Would I buy it again?

Decide if you’ll discard, donate, or repair items with stains, missing buttons, ripped hems, small holes, or other signs of wear and tear. (Don’t forget to also look at your shoes, coats, scarves, hats, purses, socks, etc.!)

Hang up as much as possible; group like with like. When you opt for hanging over folding, your cloths will have less wrinkles and it’ll be easier to see your options.

Categorize by type: tops (long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless), dresses, skirts, blazers, cardigans, pants, workout clothes, pajamas, etc.

Pro Tip: Color-coding each category can save you time in the long run (plus, color-coded anything is always more aesthetically pleasing!).

Mend, donate, or sell gently used items within 7-10 days. Any longer and you’ll suffer an unintended consequence of having to navigate a new pile of clutter in your home.

Final step: bask in the fresh energy and gorgeous state of your newly organized closet!

​What’s something you want to do more of that would make your life healthier and happier?

It might be something you already do but want to increase its duration and/or frequency, or something you don’t do yet but are now ready to begin.

A key component to setting yourself up for success is knowing WHERE you’ll execute your chosen activity.

Whether you want to…

💛meditate/journal
💛lift weights
💛knit/sew/quilt
💛food prep
💛work from home
💛paint/sketch/draw
💛practice yoga
💛grow your own food
💛read/write books
💛get better sleep

…then you need to make room for it to happen!

Designated space doesn’t have to be elaborate or expansive. You don’t need to have completed different rooms set up for meditating, exercising, and crafting - you just need to have spaces that cater to the activities you want to incorporate into your life.

Today, pick an activity you want to increase that supports your health and/or happiness, then designate the place in your home to set up specifically for it.

Outer order invites inner calm - we are happier and more productive in tidier spaces.

Plus, it’s much easier to KEEP an area tidy than it is to MAKE an area tidy.

PLUS, knowing there is a finite time you are going to dedicate to the task each day helps alleviate potential feelings of overwhelm.

Studies show a cluttered home can be a stressful home, and while there are different schools of thought regarding HOW to best declutter (touch everything! touch nothing! do it all at once! break it into bite-sized chunks!) the bottom line stays the same - a tidier home makes you happier.

Your Action Step here is to set a timer for 10 minutes each evening before (or as part of) your bedtime routine, with the goal being to knock out as many “it takes less than a minute” tidying tasks as you can before the countdown ends. When the timer stops, so do you.  ​

​I say it every month in my love letters - you are an investment worth making.

I believe in the power of self-care to serve as a foundational piece of our overall health and wellness, and I can testify to the way that habits like the ones we’ve covered this month can sustain you even during your darkest hour.

I do Self-Care September for a few reasons. One, I want you to have both the opportunity and the tools to boost your self-care game and strengthen some of the foundational pieces that lend themselves to a successfully healthy life.

I also want to spread the word that taking soulful, loving care of ourselves is accessible, affordable, and so, so, SO important.

Today, make it a point to acknowledge that you know you are an investment worth making. It doesn’t have to be extravagant - just choose at least one way you will invest your time, money, and/or energy towards prioritizing your own well-being.

Maybe you… sign up for that fitness program you’ve been eyeing, commit to the Thought Leader training you’ve been so curious about, book a weekend getaway, buy the new bedsheets, take yourself out to a fancy lunch, order more bath bombs or skin care products or books.

Hire a coach. Find a therapist. Call to make an appointment for your next haircut, facial, or massage.

Take the plunge. Pull the trigger. Treat yourself. Heck, *spoil* yourself.

Life is so short and you are so worthy.

“We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience” -John Dewey    

Reflection is a skill worth honing, as it helps you learn from your mistakes, generate new ideas, gain fresh perspective, and understand yourself better.

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” -Peter Drucker

Today, take a moment to consider the way you show up for yourself. Ask yourself:

1. What’s going well right now?
2. What’s something I’ve learned about myself recently?
3. Where do my actions need realignment towards my intention?
4. What’s an insight or appreciation from the past month I’d like to fold into my “new normal”?

​This is actually one of the mottos of my marriage - my husband and I always expect the Best Possible Outcome, and we always look for ways to Let it be Easy, whatever “it” may be.

Today, and every day going forward for the rest of the month, stop overcomplicating what doesn’t need to be complicated.

Stop struggling unnecessarily. Stop relentlessly pushing back against what IS.

It’s exhausting and depleting, and it doesn’t need to be happening.

Just let go. Change the pattern.

Keep it simple. Keep it easy.

Reclaim your energy for things that light you up, that bring value and joy and serenity to your life.

Letting it be easy isn’t about ignoring hardship or dodging reality, it’s about releasing resistance and choosing peace.

How can you choose peace today?

Where can you just let it be easy?

​Planning your menus helps you create balanced meals and make healthier choices, and saves you time and money at the grocery store.

(It also dismisses the tedious repetition of the “What do you want to have for dinner tonight?” conversation.)

On top of all that, planning also reduces food waste.

At our house, we plan dinners anywhere from a week to a month ahead, with a few openings to account for last minute plans or changes in our schedule - rigidity doesn’t belong in an eating plan, IMHO.

I always start with proteins and go from there. And because I grocery shop on Monday mornings, part of my Sunday routine is cross-checking our menu plan against our grocery list.

Today, take a few moments to do Future You a solid favor and think about what your dinners will look like this week, then bask in all the extra time you get by not having to think about it over and over and over again.

​If you still make trips to the grocery store yourself these days (raises hand), use these guidelines to set yourself up for health/budget success. If you get your groceries delivered (such a smart way to save time, especially if you work full time and/or have kiddos to raise!), most of them are still applicable when making your choices.

S: Stay primarily around the perimeter of the store, where fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish are usually located; be super selective with the center aisles you visit; this is where packaged, over-processed foods lurk.

H: Handle marketing ploys by steering clear of foods with cartoons on the label that are targeted to children. (Pro Tip: If you don't want your kids eating over-processed foods, don't bring them in the house.)

O: Opt out of foods that contain more than five ingredients, artificial ingredients, or ingredients you can't pronounce.

P: Plan ahead and take a list - know what you are actually NEED for the week rather than relying on what looks good to you in the moment.

L: Labels are important! They give you valuable information you can use to determine what kinds of packaged food you will allow into your body.

O: Opt for real food whenever possible, with as little processing and as few additives as possible. If you want more salt or sugar, add it yourself.

V: Voice your desires to management…sometimes all a grocery store needs to start carrying a product is the indication that their customers are looking for it!

E: Educate yourself on food safety; google for fast refreshers:
-Dirty Dozen (buy these organic if/when you can)
-Clean 15 (least amount of pesticides found)

💦Now that we’re mindfully breathing, let’s make sure we’re drinking enough WATER. It’s another easy, basic way to take care of yourself.

💦Water helps your body flush out toxins, regulates your body temperature, and allows for greater nutrition absorption.

💦Staying hydrated is also key for optimal brain function, smooth digestion, and peak physical performance when bending, twisting, and stretching your body.

💦Additionally, drinking enough water on a daily basis positively influences your blood circulation, energy levels, and skin health.

💦Water is life. Literally. It’s similar to breathing that way - without it, you could not survive.

💦Today, and every day moving forward this month, your goal is to drink your body weight in ounces. You can drink it hot, room temp, or ice cold. You can flavor it with citrus fruit, berries, or herbs. You can use an alarm or app to help you remember.

💦No matter how you decide to approach it, let’s get after that hydration.
​

​We know that energy flows where attention goes, like attracts like, and what you think about, you bring about.

We talk about it all the time around here: focusing on what you are grateful for, even in the toughest of times (ESPECIALLY in the toughest of times), has the ability to mitigate stress. You cannot feel gratitude and anxiety at the same time.

Not only that, but scientific studies have found that a gratitude practice is associated with:

💕greater happiness
💕more optimism and positive emotions
💕new and lasting relationships
💕better health
💕more progress towards personal goals
💕fewer aches and pains
💕more alertness and determination
💕increased generosity and empathy
💕better sleep
and
💕improved self-esteem

Gratitude builds your capacity to flip your focus from WHAT IF into WHAT IS. This is not about spiritual bypassing or ignoring the reality of what may be happening in the world around you, it’s about strengthening your resiliency and ability to face the challenges head on. This is just good sense.

Today, and every day moving forward this month, GET GRATEFUL.

Write down at least 3 things that activate your sense of gratitude. It can a person, a circumstance, a place, a thing, an event; it can be pertinent to each particular day or generalized about your whole wide life experience, but try not to repeat throughout the month.

Remember, there is always, always, ALWAYS something to be grateful for.

​Move it or lose it, my friends. Move it or lose it.

Fact: your body is beautiful just the way it is.

Fact: a body in motion is a happier, healthier body.

No matter where you’re currently at, the idea here is to look for additional ways to keep your muscles working through each day, which adds up to a more active lifestyle, which then translates to greater mobility as you age.

This can translate in ANY number of ways, including but not limited to:
* Taking the stairs.
* Parking in the far corner of the lot.
* Squatting while folding laundry.
* Meeting a pal for a walk and talk instead of drinks at the bar.
* Calf raises while washing dishes.
* An after-dinner stroll around the neighborhood.
* Dance, Dance, Revolution instead of Mario Kart.
* Walking across the house to speak to someone instead of hollering.
* #yogaeverydamnday
* Going up in weight on your lifting days.
* Stretching before bed.

If you have mobility issues, address them. Look into physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture.

(Remember, you are an investment worth making.)

Think of movement as a celebration of what your body can do, not a punishment for something you ate, or a pursuit of taking up less space in the world.

Today, and every day for the rest of this month, look for ways to move.

​One of the best ways to stay healthy and well is to not let problematic germs into your system in the first place, and washing your hands is one of your strongest lines of defense. (Not touching your face is another!)

I’m sure you are already doing this, but today’s a great day to check in with your hand washing technique and frequency. Double check that multiple times per day, you are using soap and clean running water to clean all the surfaces of your hand, fingers, and fingernails for at least 20 seconds. Be mindful that you’re washing every time you enter your home, before every meal, after every sneeze, and immediately following each trip to the rest room.

Follow up each hand-washing session with a generous dollop of hand lotion if you start to experience dry skin, but don’t let dry skin stop the regularity of hand-washing - a little dry skin is much easier to manage than falling ill over and over again.

​“You, yourself, more than anyone, deserve your love and affection.” -Buddha

Today’s tip is about bringing a concentrated focus to your physical self through the lens of care and gratitude. Self-care doesn’t ONLY mean caring for the aesthetics of your body, but that IS part of it.

Head-to-Toe TLC might (or might not!) look like:

* dry brushing your skin before a shower
* applying a deep-conditioning masque to your hair
* exfoliating your skin
* soak in an Epsom salt bath
* trimming and/or filing your nails
* slathering moisturizer on all your bits and bobs
* washing, toning, serum-ing, moisturizing, spf-ing your face
* applying a face mask
* pluck stray hairs
* clean everyday jewelry
* brush and floss teeth
* clean your ears
* foam roll your muscles
* self-massage

One size does not fit all when it comes to what our bodies need, and an important part of the self-care revolution is learning how to fine tune your listening skills when it comes to communicating with your body.

It will *always* let you know what it needs.

When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you do good.

What a month! 

As Self-Care September draws to a close, my sincere hope is you feel equipped to move forward through the rest of this year (and beyond) with ideas of practices you can turn into habits that help you feel cared for on a daily basis.

You deserve that - to be diligently and consistently cared for by your very own self in simple, loving ways.

And you deserve to rest. In fact, resting is a fundamental cornerstone of being healthy in body, mind and spirit, and something I encourage you to do more often. 

Starting today. Today, our final self-care suggestion is to rest and reflect on all the possible tiny adjustments you could make to enhance your overall quality of life.