Calm Space, Calm Mind

My work requires me to do a fair amount of reading at home, and the distractions in my apartment seem to multiply when I sit down to focus. For this reason, I try to keep my space reasonably tidy. Also, I enjoy impromptu gatherings. I hate the idea of missing out on socializing with friends because I am too embarrassed for them to see my living space.

My quest for a tidy, zen-like space on a budget is a work in progress. These are the tips I have found most helpful thus far:

1.       Owning less stuff.

o   After purging things that were neither beautiful nor useful, I needed to look at the quantity of the beautiful and/or useful things I had kept. I could only wear so many shirts. My socks overflowed their dedicated drawer. I did not need separate sets of dishes and cutlery for company versus everyday use.

2.       If you’re going to keep it when maybe you shouldn’t, at least put it away.

o   I own a surplus of both cookbooks and spices. It’s almost embarrassing. Almost. My cookbooks live stacked two layers deep in a bookcase. The spices are in little labeled containers inside one of the cupboards. Having these things neatly stored allows me indulge in a little surplus without compromising valuable living space.

3.       Never underestimate the power of baskets, boxes, and labels.

o   Gathering little items into a box or basket can really tidy up an area. I use baskets to gather up things that are otherwise a pain to store (e.g belts, scarves, hats/mitts). Matching boxes/baskets can make you look organized even when a peek inside the baskets will show you’re really not. This is why a number of my baskets are stored above eye level.

4.       Painting the walls is an easy way to change the mood of a space.

o   I really like neutral tones. The people who rented my apartment before me preferred bright pink and yellow on the walls. To each their own. Figure out what works for you.

5.       Plants bring a lot of life to a room.

o   Bonus: they help purify the air, especially certain varieties like spider plants.
o   Double bonus: you can choose edible varieties. Fresh basil in January is wonderful.

Single Girl Snippet: When You are the Only Little Fat Man Around

After living out of a suitcase and boxes for a week, I was VERY happy to see the IKEA delivery guy at my door with the do-it-yourself assembly kits for my furniture. I opened the first box, laid out the pieces, and pulled out the instruction booklet. The second pictorial diagram illustrated the following:

Clearly, the single little fat man that was me with a hammer was supposed to call on a very happy-looking little fat man with a pencil to help me out. In this new solo season of my life, I am the only little fat man around. So, I grabbed my hammer, stuck the pencil behind my own ear, and tackled the furniture. What I lacked in second-little-fat-man-ness, I made up for in sheer determination. It took some artful gymnastics, but finally the shelf came together. I survived.

Thought Bite

Planning Space

While hunting for my current apartment, I dreamed I would be able to have a guest room, a yoga/meditation area, a painting area, a piano area, and a king-sized bed. Given my budget, these were pretty lofty ideas. I ended up renting a bright, open concept pseudo-two-bedroom apartment in a charming old building. I felt I was a bit at a loss as to how to make the most of my space. I wanted to create an open, welcoming environment that was also very practical.

I happened to stumble across a list of popular interior design web tools, and decided to try one of the free options (Floor Planner Basic). This is what I came up with:

I wasn’t very good at getting the walls to line up in 90^o angles. However, the program was still able to take my amateur sketch and turn it into this:

The king-sized bed didn't fit. Multi-purpose space would have to be the name of the game. There was no room to have dedicated areas for each of my hobbies. The exercise helped me visualize the reality of my space versus the spacious dream I had in my head. I am really glad I did this exercise before ordering furniture.

The Great Purge

A recent move forced me to acknowledge just how much stuff I actually own. I finally realized that for every one of my possessions, there was an associated cost. The cost was not just the money I paid for the item. It was also the space I was giving up to store it, and the time required to clean or maintain it. I needed to pare down. As someone who is quite frugal by nature, getting rid of things that are ‘perfectly good’ is difficult. However, moving to a small apartment in a new city was just the impetus I needed. The purging began. My new golden rule became: If it is neither useful nor beautiful, it’s gone.

Target areas of The Great Purge:

1)      Wardrobe
a.       Forgotten items
b.      Ugly items
c.       Ill-fitting items
d.      Too much of the same thing items
         i.      New strategy: Make an itemized list of the clothing in my wardrobe (ie. 8 button-up shirts, ect.) and set upper limits as to what is reasonable. Beyond that limit, an old item has to be removed before a new item can be added.

2)      Fridge/Freezer
a.       Unlabeled, clearly old frozen leftovers
b.      Anything freezer burnt
             i.      New strategy: label things as they go into the freezer. Keep a running list on the freezer door to reduce waste.

3)      Collectibles
a.       Sentimental value collections
             i.      New strategy: keep my favourite to represent the collection, get rid of the rest.
        ii.    Do not start any new collections under any circumstances unless the collectibles also serve a practical purpose.

4)      Books
a.       Textbooks
             i.      New strategy: Sell or donate any textbook not used in the last two years.
b.      Reading books
            i.      New strategy: Try to borrow books from the library as much as possible. Be honest with myself about the likelihood of rereading a book. Give away books I am unlikely to read again.

What are your areas of clutter concern, and how do you best manage them?

Single Girl Snippet: The Mattress (Continued)

After sleeping on the wood floor in my apartment for a week, my mattress was finally scheduled for delivery on a Monday. Sunday evening, I pulled out the metal support frame and discovered not only did I have no screws to put it together, but the frame was not the right type for the mattress I had ordered.

Excerpt from conversation between new salesman (N) and me (M) at the mattress store the morning my mattress is scheduled to be delivered:

M: There’s really no way a new bedframe couldn’t just be added to the delivery I already have scheduled?

N: No, it’s definitely too late for that.
M: And, you don’t think I could just carry the metal frame home? I live ten blocks from here. (I can see his eyes quickly scan me from head to toe. He was obviously trying not to laugh.)
N: No. You could not. You don’t have a car?
M: Nope.
N: You live alone?
M: Yup.
N: I could drop it off to you on my way home from work tonight.
M: Thanks. That’s very kind of you.
N: Not a problem. So, what brought you to our city?
M: Work.
N: What kind of work do you do?
M: Health-related
Disclaimer: People I don’t know like to tell me the intimate details of their lives completely unprompted. It happens all the time – which is why I barely batted an eye when the next thing he said was:
N: My brother, he sees a psychiatrist.
M: A lot of people do.
N: He thinks he has the ADHD. After 50 years! Can you believe it?
M: I can.
N: And my kid, he was falling behind at school. But he’s getting extra help.
M: I’m glad to hear he’s getting the support he needs.
N: His mother and I, we split up. Marriage is hard.
M: It sure can be.
N: I tried to get her to go to counselling with me. She refused.
M: Sounds like you did your best to save your marriage.
N: I did. You know, this is therapeutic for me (throws his arms back like Kate Winslet on the Titanic). I’m getting in touch with my feelings. This is like seeing a psychiatrist for free.
M: About that bedframe…

Thought Bite

Single Girl Snippet: The Mattress

Excerpt from conversation between me (M) and the kind, middle-aged, tattooed salesman (S) at the mattress store:

S: What exactly are you looking for? And, what is your budget?

M: A queen-sized mattress. Something pretty firm, but not like plywood. The last time I bought a mattress, I loved it in the store but found it a little soft once I was at home. Oh, and my ideal budget is ‘on sale.’
S: We have a 60-day comfort guarantee – why didn’t you just return it?
M: My husband liked it.
S: Uh… Is he still a factor?
M: No. This is my single girl bed.
S: Well, you should know that the mattress model you are lying on features individual spring coils. This is great for isolating motion. You know, for when the occasion arises.
M: It’s going to be a while.
S: Ok… I think I can get you a pretty good deal on the mattress.
M: Thank you.

I walked out of the store after having three separate discounts applied to my mattress set.

Thought Bite

Gorganization

Excerpt from a conversation between my mother (O) and me (M):

O: Have you started that blob of yours?

M: It’s called a blog. With a “g,” not a “b.”

O: Whatever. What are you writing about?

M: Well, the first month is going to be about getting organized. Or, as you would say, gorganization.

O: You?! You’re writing about getting organized?!

We are not exactly known for our subtlety in our family.

M: It’s a personal growth blog. I’m spending a month aspiring to be more organized. You should be a guest poster. Share your words of wisdom.

My mother is seriously one of the most organized people in the entire world. It really is quite remarkable that so little of those skills managed to be passed on to me. Ah, genetics…

O: Me?! Write on your blob?

Conversely, computer literacy is not near the top of my mother’s list of talents.

M: Blog. I could help you. You could just type up your best tips in a Word document, and I’ll post it. I’ll send you the link in an email, and you’d just have to click on it to see your post online.

O: Oh, I don’t know about this blobbing business. We’ll see... You’re really going to spend a month getting yourself organized?

M: Yup.

O: I look forward to seeing that.