Less is SO MUCH MORE! A Zero-Waste Challenge

When Room to Breathe was founded in 2005, our mission included a deeply rooted commitment to environmental sustainability. From the very start, we have offered a variety of eco-conscious services to our clients – donation and recycling drop off, consignment referrals, electronic and hazardous waste recycling, and reusing/ repurposing things found in our clients home. Whenever possible, we try our hardest to avoid items going to the landfill- a task that is a very important consideration when people are downsizing and purging mass volumes of worldly possessions.

One of the most crucial steps in organizing any space is re-evaluating our buying habit. This means identifying and curbing impulse purchases and learning to be more thoughtful and intentional about each and every item we allow in to our homes. That might sound daunting, and it by no means implies we can’t still enjoy beautiful things, but without this conscious shift, no organizational system will ever stand the test of time. 

All this said, it might not feel like such a huge stretch to consider that we are advocates of reducing waste whenever possible. Opting for quality over quantity, reusable over disposable, locally made over fast or cheap. And for many of the Room to Breathe team members this means continually striving to reduce our own personal footprint, shifting toward zero-waste whenever possible.  

So, to start the year off on the right (light) foot, we wanted to share some of our favourite and simple ZERO-WASTE ideas - and challenge each of us to take a few of them on. Some of these ideas are likely ones you are already doing, and some may be new- but all are tangible actions you can easily incorporate into your daily life - reducing your footprint, treading more gently on the earth, and saving some money in the process (bonus!) 

A little note of consideration: As with any lifestyle change, it’s import to approach it in small, bite-size pieces. Feeling like we need to change everything at once is a natural reaction, but it’s also one that inevitably leaves us feeling overwhelmed very quickly. Picking one task to implement, giving it adequate time to sink in and become a new habit before moving on to the next idea is a crucial step in making these transitions successful. 

Ditch Disposables

Reusable shopping bags, travel mugs, saying no to straws- these are probably the actions you think of when you hear the words 'zero-waste' - they may even be things you are already implementing in your day to day. If not, challenge yourself to lug-a-mug for an entire month - if you don't have a mug, you dont get to have a coffee. Or tuck a small reusable shopping bag into your purse or backpack so you always have one on hand. 

If you are looking to up your commitment, consider bringing your own takeout containers to restaurants, making reusable canvas produce bags, ditching plastic baggies and cling wrap for reusable alternatives, or buying grocery staples in bulk. These actions require a bit of premeditation, but the waste savings are immense. 

Make Your Own 

Over the last several years, we have seen a big shift toward making your own home cleaning and body care products, and although this can take a bit of time to adjust to, it's an impactful way to reduce the waste (and chemical load) in our lives. An easy place to start is by trying your hand at making your own natural cleaning products. A little bit of white vinegar, castile soap, and essential oils in a spray bottle and you have an effective germ-killing cleaner. Body butters and tooth paste are also good starting point for newbies. 

Go Without
So often, consuming becomes habitual. We buy things because it feels good or we need to have the latest and greatest. But when we take the time to consciously reflect and scrutinize these small purchases, they quickly add up to one big problem. SO MUCH of the work Room to Breathe does is downsizing excess. Removing items that no longer serve us, clearing out clutter that, over time, has slowly taken over our living spaces and filled our minds with stress and overwhelm. 

An interesting experiment is to take to a buy-nothing challenge. A commitment to buy nothing non-essential for a set period of time. Maybe that's a week, a month, or an entire year - being ruthless with where and what we spend our hard earned money on is an invaluable life lesson. And if you find there is something you truly need, consider borrowing from a friend, making your own, seeking out something second-hand, or repurposing an item you already own. 

The perfect way to reset and recalibrate. 

Room to Breathe
Calgary and Edmonton's Top Professional Home Organizers

YYC: 403-862-0515 | hello@roomtobreathecalgary.com
YEG: 587-228-6359 | hello@roomtobreatheedmonton.com

How to Simplify the Holidays

Do you find that you make great strides toward minimizing, purging, and organizing only to find yourself right back where you started after the hustle and bustle of Christmas comes and goes?

One of the most important steps in home organizing is addressing and adjusting our relationship with the stuff we purchase moving forward. Many of us have great intentions to declutter and streamline, but if we aren't also scaling back on the items we continue to bring in, we will be right back where we started very quickly.

Christmas is one of the most difficult times of year to scale back - Particularly if you have children, or were raised with the tradition of a tree bursting with presents, over doing it in December is a common concern for many of us.

The good news: there are a TON of creative ways to simplify the holidays. Small shifts can offer big impact! And over the years, we have found some great ways maintain our focus on conscious consumption and meaningful presence (vs. presents)... all without turning into the Grinch.

Over the years, we have discovered a lot of great resources for simplifying the holidays, but nothing quite as good as the New Dream's guide to simplifying the holidays. This guide is FULL of practical tips for reducing stress and increasing joy during the holiday season. It provides awesome ideas on how to connect with children and family, streamline gift giving, create new traditions, minimizing waste, and ultimately, create a holiday season that everyone in your family will enjoy and remember or years to come (without filling your life and home with chaos and clutter.)

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE ALTERNATIVE GIFT GIVING IDEAS:

• give away the last great book you bought and enjoyed to someone with similar taste.
• if you like to cook or bake, try your hand at making fresh salsa, pasta sauce, jam, bread, or baked goods. Or prepare homemade soups or dinners that can be frozen for future use and include the recipe.
• make and package up homemade green cleaning products.
• plant a tree or perform a “random act of kindness” in your recipient’s honor.
• put together a booklet of favorite family recipes.
• display a special heirloom - frame a recipe of your grandmothers in her handwriting, find a unique display box for a handmade piece of lace or knitting, or turn a pair of baby booties or a treasured baby rattle into a tree ornament.
• re-gift a cookbook you no longer use often. Highlight or flag a few of your favourite recipes.
• have a “re-gift” swap. we all have gift-quality things in our closets that we don’t actually use - get together with a few like-minded friends and trade them for items that fit your gift list. 
• celebrate your loved ones—write your friend or family member a letter listing all the qualities you admire most about them 
• have family home videos converted to DVD, or make a slideshow of old family photographs.
• commit to a monthly lunch date with an elderly relative or friend.
• offer to teach a skill you possess- canning, photography, gardening, swing dancing, knitting, furniture making, or doing the butterfly stroke to name a few. 
• give tickets to a community theater or a membership to a museum.
• buy renewable energy certificates to offset the carbon emissions of a friend. 
• purchase gift cards/ credit towards car or bike share programs or ride share apps like Uber. 
• set aside a few hours to volunteer in your community in honor of your friend or loved one.
• vow to send a letter or postcard each month for the entire year to friend or family member in a different city (this is especially great for kids and grandparents!)
• make a donation to charity or buy a gift card to an organization like canada helps or kiva and let the recipient decide where to best allocate the funds.

This is, of course, just the smallest sampling of ideas shared in the New Dream guide- you can download the full guide here for more ideas and inspiration.

May the holiday season be filled with beautiful memories, family and dear friends, delicious food, and moments of pure delight.

Essential Fall Reading | Blog Post Roundup

If you are anything like us, September always seems to catch us off guard. Perhaps it's our adamant refusal to accept that summer is nearing an end, but it definitely feels like overnight the air has turned crisper, the days are noticeably shorter, and we have forcefully been shoved back into routines, schedules, and a million things on the go.

It's definitely a month of adjustment and transition, but with a little planning and a good dose of gentle patience, we will find our autumn groove once again.

Below are three blog posts from passed fall seasons to help get the cogs in motion. We suggest picking one single project to focus on this week to help gently ease back into things. Perhaps it's meal planning for the coming week, maybe it's tackling your front hall closet to rotate out summer things making space for backpacks, lunch kits, and jackets, or perhaps it's overhauling your kitchen pantry- stocking up with after school snacks and cold weather essentials.

Or maybe it's simply making yourself a cup of tea and reading through the posts to plant a few seeds for another time. Wherever you are at in this busy season of life, know that it is enough.

The Essential Back to School Organizing List
Tips to help get your home and life organized, ensuring your back to school/ fall transition runs smoothly.

Three Easy-Win Projects to Tackle This Weekend!
3 bite-sized, easy-win projects that will replace feelings of stress and overwhelm with ones of pride, accomplishment, and overall lightness.

Make the Perfect Homework Station 
Learn to create the perfect homework station so after school is stress-free, streamlined, and easy to keep tidy.

Need a helping hand bringing your organizational vision to reality? Contact Room to Breathe today to schedule a FREE in home consultation - We LOVE to help!

Room to Breathe Calgary | 587-228-6359 | indianna@roomtobreathecalgary.com

This blog post was written by Jessica Thorburn - Our Vancouver-based Marketing and Administration Superstar.

Spring into Simplicity

Despite its reluctant start, spring is indeed beginning to peek in on us here in Calgary. With it, shaking up our winter hibernation routine - begging us to clear space, recalibrate, and refresh – both mentally and physically.

Spring is hands-down the busiest time of year for Room to Breathe. As soon as the snow begins to melt, our schedule is filled to the brim with eager clients looking for guidance to indulge their spring cleaning fever.

LET ROOM TO BREATHE HELP YOU...

• Clean out your garage - rotating out snow shovels, hockey equipment, and SO MUCH gravel, bringing back bicycles, skateboards, and camping gear.
• Purge your closets - and in the process, create a sustainable capsule system for rotating bulky knits and winter layers for lighter, warm weather staples.
• Tackle your kitchen - clearing your pantry and cupboards of clutter, making space for all that is needed for upcoming picnics, BBQ’s, and sun-soaked days spent living outdoors.
• Ready your yard and patio - get your shed prepped, gardening tools and supplies sorted, and patio tidied for the influx of summer days and nights enjoyed with family and friends.

Whatever your project, we are here itching to get our hands dirty!

If you have been thinking about hiring a professional organizer, consider this a sign! Get in touch today to schedule a FREE in-home consultation to go over ideas and begin your spring journey toward simplicity. We book up fast, so call today to secure your spot!

And if you are looking for a little more spring cleaning inspiration, check out some of our previous blog posts filled with helpful spring organizing tips.

New Year | New You!

For many, January can feel like a bit of slump. Gone is the anticipation of holiday cheer, gifts, and the social gatherings that fill December, all quickly replaced by a seemingly endless number of days until summer. So much cold and dark can be tough, and the massive sugar hangover sure doesn't help.

But January also offers something pretty special- a clean slate. A fresh, unscribbled in calendar waiting for the addition of your exciting plans, rooms and surfaces decluttered of holiday knickknacks, garlands, and fallen pine needles, new resolutions, goals, and positive intention setting for the year ahead, and time- lots and lots of quiet, unscheduled time. 

Could 2018 be the year you resolve to get your home and life the most organized it's ever been? We would love to help you succeed! So with that goal in mind, here area few ideas to get started!

Adopt a New Rule
December inevitably leaves behind an influx of shiny new things that don't always have a proper home. Never has there been a better time to get our belongings in order - creating space for the new and parting ways with that which no longer serves us. 

One rule we love to challenge ourselves with: one item in = three items out.

The idea is simple- for every new item you receive, three items must be donated and passed along. What gifts did you received that can replace items you already own? What existing items do you own that you no longer utilize? What hasn't been touched over the last 3 months and could be of use to someone else? All great questions to get you started.

Continue the positive momentum of downsizing by attempting to abide by this rule throughout the entire year. Any new item that comes in, means three old items must go out. You can do it!

Establish a Tidying Schedule
Upwards of 70% of cleaning is actually just picking up stuff and returning it to where it belongs- Often, clutter is what really makes cleaning up a challenge. Having a simple tidying schedule can make the task seem much less daunting and can help to avoid things piling up.

Need some inspiration? We adore Homesong Blog's rhythm for cleaning - a thoughtful and carefully composed list of daily, weekly, and seasonal chores to tackle in bite-sized pieces - There is even has a downloadable weekly cleaning schedule you can print off and customize to keep everything flowing smoothly.

Image Source: Homesong Blog

Clear Your Files
Tax season is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to see what you have, what pieces are missing, and make a space for the files that will be coming in in 2018. The same can be applied to any digital and computer files. Move anything that is no longer needed on to an external hard drive and create new virtual folder system for organized and efficient filing for all things 2018.

Dedicating the time and effort now will set you up for sweet success into the New Year.

Shake up your Cooking Routine
Meal planning can be a big undertaking, but January is a great time to make a plan. Take inventory of you cupboards, fridge, and freezer and see what you have on hand that can be used up or tested out.

Too many beans in the back of your cupboard? Google some new recipes. Want to learn how to cook a really delicious curry? Check out the cookbook selection at your local library, or ask a friend if they want to do a cookbook swap. Hoping to finally figure out how to utilize your slow cooker (or other new kitchen gadgets?) Ask friends one Facebook for tried, tested, and true recipes, or peek Pinterest for fresh inspiration. The ideas are endless, so take advantage of the slower pace and make extra batches to freeze for a later date.

What's Your Personal Limitation?

What is a task you truly dislike? you know- the thing that year after year ends up on your to-do list, and year after year is simply not getting done. Maybe its organizing the garage or keeping on top of household chores. Perhaps your home office is a dumping ground for everything that doesn't have an assigned home or you simply cant get on top of making meals as often as you would like. 

Identify what your personal limitation is and see if there is a solution to help take it off you plate. If your issue is making meals, perhaps a meal prep delivery service is something that will save you heaps in mental anguish and wasted food. If its a deep clean of the bathrooms, look at hiring a cleaning services to address that problem area, or if you find yourself unable to tackle the garage or other cluttered spaces, please give Room to Breathe a call! We offer a free, no obligation in home consultation, and would love nothing more than to help make your New Years dreams come true by finally getting things crossed off your list. 

Written by Jessica Thorburn - Our Vancouver-based Marketing and Administration Superstar.