Everyone I run into lately has brought up their desire to slow things down this year. The always on, always connected, always sharing what’s new, what’s next, where I am right this second seems to be weighing on people. I think we’re hitting a tipping point to change our collective approach to the rat race and I’m all for it. Anything that makes the day’s pace slow is alright by me.

Luckily, there are pretty easy ways to bring some semblance of sanity into daily life. I’ve decided to try four things to add an air of calm to my world this year.

CLEAR THE CLUTTER

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The art of tidying was all the rage in 2015 and it’s certainly not going anywhere. The concepts are pretty straight forward. Set a bar for what you surround yourself with.Keep things that bring you joy, that are useful or are just extra special. Things that don’t make the cut? Anything that’s sat in a drawer for a year, stuff that needs to be fixed, something you’re saving “just in case,” or anything you’re just sick of looking at.

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I’m definitely taking a “out with the old” approach to decorating in 2016. Notice there was no “in with the new” at the end of that cliché. I’ve been having a ball getting rid of stuff and firmly believe if you purge the physical things clogging up your life, it will spill over to your mental and emotional life as well. You quite literally have space to breathe. Design books that I haven’t revisited in the last year? Buh-bye. The magazines I keep thinking I’ll reread? Oh no.

My coffee table is now a blissfully open expanse, punctuated by a tray to set my daily cup of bliss coffee – but nothing more. Thankfully, our pending move is going to help facilitate an even deeper mass exodus, but you don’t have to move to do your own version of decluttering. Here’s how I try to tackle it: take one hour per week to address a specific area in your house that feels stuck, but won’t overwhelm you. That might be the junk drawers, under the bathroom sink, the box of unsorted paperwork. Then you can block out an afternoon for major projects like the closet clean out. I promise, you’ll slowly but surely chip away at the overflow.

REFRESH YOUR ARRANGEMENTS

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With all those things that do bring you joy – display them! Put them within arm’s reach. Set them out in high trafficked areas that you’ll see daily. I’m a big fan of using picture rails to not only display art or personal photos, but also books, magazines and even a candle or air plant for some texture. They add a ton of interest without taking up a lot of real estate. They’re perfect for small spaces or a hallway. Any time you need a mood booster – rearrange. It’s my form of meditation and I swear by it.

TAKE A TIMEOUT

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All too often I grab a coffee on the go, chugging it while I’m racing to from point A, 15 minutes late to the point B. This year I’m committing myself to sitting down and fully enjoying a cup of fresh coffee and a little time to myself everyday. Thankfully, I’ve fallen in love with my VertuoLine Evoluo from Nespresso. I’ve been partnering with Nespresso as part of their “Experience A Cup Above” campaign. (You may have spied this post or this post).

Having a Nespresso at home makes taking a few minutes to myself really easy. A push of a button and I have a beautiful cup of coffee and a good ten minutes of sanity-returning quiet time. And the fact that Nespresso’s coffee capsules are made of 100% aluminum and recyclable means no additional clutter. I’m currently obsessed with the Limited Edition Swiss Chocolate variation that was available during the holiday season. That little whiff of chocolate makes mama very happy. You can also try the Intenso variation  that is a permanent addition.

SET AN INTENTION (OR 2!)

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There are just too many things coming at us all the time to remember them all. And we can all agree there aren’t enough hours in the day to get through your entire to-do list, so this year I’m committing myself to serious prioritization. And to hold myself accountable, I’m writing it all down. There’s something about putting pen to paper that adds a whole new level of gravitas to a goal. This is something you can do while enjoying said cup of Nespresso and revel in your tidy minimalized space.

There you have it. Just a few simple changes to your daily routine and updates to your environment will help you get 2016 off to a positive start. I’m going to do my best to keep the momentum going long after January has passed.

Who else is with me?!

 

original photography by me & aubrie pick (images 3, 4)

This post was created in connection with my appointment as a Nespresso “A Cup Above” participant. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

What do you think?

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21 Comments

  1. I love this post! I’m a new reader, only been following along for a couple months now, but I’m glad I’ve tuned in. And this post especially is wonderful. For once I can finally relate to someone else’s “resolutions” post. And here I thought I was the only one whose brain worked this way.

    1. Thanks for the sweet comments Jessie! I appreciate you being a new reader and I hope you drop by again. Happy new year!

  2. I couldn’t agree more. The past few months of 2015 were great but an absolute whirlwind for me, and I always love this time of year as an opportunity to reset goals but also relish in a {typically} less packed social calendar.

    Molly {Dreams in HD}
    http://www.dreamsinhd.blogspot.com

  3. Excellent… great article, simple ideas creating positive results. Thank you

  4. What a lovely post. Where is that gorgeous notebook from? – the one in the last photo!

  5. Great post and love the re-design!
    Where are the white shelves from in the 3rd photo?
    Thanks!

  6. Loved the post….absolutely identify with it. I’m also redecorating and have fallen in love with the leather sofa. First pic…please cld you tell me where it’s from ?

    Thank you so much, Radhika

  7. I really enjoy the inspiration to refresh for the new year. Also love the appreciation for simplicity in changing a daily routine while staying content!

  8. Hello! I´m Diana and I really like your blog not only because ou the contents but also because of the layout and I´m particularly interested in the typography you use for example on your question “what do you think”.

    Can you tell the name?

    A big thank you from Portugal!

    Diana

  9. Cool. This is really helpful. Starting a new blogblog soon.

  10. I would love to know where your leather couch is from! I love the color.

  11. I just discovered this site through a YouTube advertisement and I’m loving it already! I’m a recent college graduate who is looking forward to applying an elegant yet simple design to my future apartment, and I’ve been looking for inspiration just like this. I’ll definitely be referring to this site while picking out and planning my decor – thank you!

  12. Love your ideas, they can be applied anywhere, any time of the year. Thanks for this post!