KonMari Your Calendar?

After reading Christina Wallace’s article about sparking joy in your calendar, I started to wonder if this would be of interest to my clients. Managing all the stuff in our homes is one challenge, but I think managing our day-to-day, hour-by-hour schedules' is another. 

I’ve spent time researching the best time management method for me and speaking with countless college students about time management. I’m all for applying the KonMari method to your calendar. Here’s how I would approach it.

1. Tidy by Category

Take out of piece of paper and think about the way you spend your time. (Look at your calendar from last week, if tat helps.) In my case it’s work commitments, teaching yoga, family/friends, wellness/exercise, errands, life maintenance (laundry, paying bills, etc).

2. What Sparks joy?

Of the things you do with your time, what sparks the most joy? Perhaps close your eyes and remember an event from last week. How do you feel? If you feel light and happy and  notice that your smiling, this event sparked joy. Make note of that on your list with a star, happy face, or sticker. 

The things that don’t spark joy need further reflection. 

• What is leading you to spend your time on this? 
• Is this truly what your heart wants to do? “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams…” (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist)
• How can you bring a sense of joy and lightness to these events/activities? 

For additional thought pondering questions, I suggest you check out The Alchemist or Peace is Every Step by Thich That Hanh. 

Take a moment to honestly sit with these thoughts and what you’ve written. I’ll be back with Part 2 next week. 

Gratitude

A fellow yogi mentioned to me today how helpful it has been to express gratitude for items before donating/discarding it. I find that the process of thanking the objects that have come into our lives and homes, is transformative. It has allowed me to let go of guilt and sadness. I take a moment to recognize how that object has impacted my life and what I've learned because it. Sometimes, the lesson is as simple as a reminder to try shoes on before buying them. At other times, the lesson is that I need to have more meaningful conversations with my love ones. The quote below from Pema Chodron illustrates this perfectly.  

Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know. ~Pema Chodron

Article in the Reading Eagle!

Today's Reading Eagle included an article about Joy & Space! It was fun to be interviewed for the article and to have a photographer in the house taking pictures. There are some additional pictures via the online article. I'm so excited for this opportunity for potential clients to learn more about this process. Please don't hesitate to call me to schedule a phone or in-person consultation about the process. 

July Is Great!

I've taken the month off from my full-time job so I can focus on growing this business, my yoga practice, teaching yoga, and sparking even more joy in my life. I love reading more about the benefits of decluttering and tiny home living. My local paper had a recent article about the benefits of tiny homes. 

In addition, next up on reading list is Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors. This book is product of nine years of research from UCLA social scientists. Apparently, there is a link between elevated stress hormones and the number of household objects. In my experience, my stress level decreased after I completed the tidying marathon. I was finally ready to take a yoga teacher training class and to start this business. I'm still amazed at how the simple act of clearing a space has allowed me to do all these things. 

To celebrate this great month, I'm offering 20% of lessons until July 31st. Each four-hour lesson typically costs $100, so they will be discounted to $80 per lesson! Contact me at ybeam@aol.com or use the start tidying form.  

Now I'm a Yoga Teacher!

I recently completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program! Although I had been practicing yoga for years and had several friends who were also yoga teachers, I hesitated to go through the training process. I had a long list of reasons, most of them weren't that important. However, after completing the tidying marathon I felt ready to bring new things into my life. I'll be teaching a community class this Wednesdays at 7:30 and teaching at a local college on Monday nights during the summer. It's amazing what follows after you clear some space in your home and life. 

April 15th - Creating a Work Uniform?

I after reading a March 30th article in the Washingtonian, I thought for a few minutes about creating a work work uniform. The woman featured in the article had been wearing the same pant, shirt, and blazer combo for over a year. I love the outfit and it looks so simple. But I would miss my purple dress with the pockets, the coral geometric print dress, and all my flowing skirts. These articles of clothing bring me joy. They are so much fun to wear. While I love the idea of simplicity as I'm preparing for my day, I realized that my outfits liven me up for my day at work. I'm sticking with all the colors and variety in my closet.

March 25, 2017 - Returning Empty Handed from King of Prussia

I visited King of Prussia (KOP) for a half day convention/meeting. I took the reusable bag below just in case I decided to make a purchase. There were so many opportunities to shop. The convention had it's own shopping area full of branded items. People walked past me with bags and there was a short line for the ATM. I looked at a few things but didn't see anything that was for me. I left the convention area with out purchasing anything. I decided to head into the mall and see if anything in one of my favorite department stores sparked joy. I walked through but I didn't see anything, not even in the shoe section. (Which is typically my weakness.) It takes something truly special to spark joy for me. I returned home empty handed but full of joy.