Before I jump into today’s episode, a quick note.
I’m taking a couple of weeks off the internet, starting this weekend. I’ve got posts and podcast episodes scheduled already (there’s two excellent interviews coming your way!) but I won’t be answering emails or replying to comments.
Part of going slow is understanding the importance of disconnecting regularly and not forgetting a very important fact: the world will continue to turn with or without my presence on Twitter.
Thank you so much for being here, and I hope your next two weeks are delightful!
Also, don’t forget that tickets are now on sale for our Sydney Slow Living Workshop – get the details and grab yours here.
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The first Thursday of the month means one thing: a hostful episode of the podcast! Ben and I have a ridiculous amount of fun recording these host-only episodes and I really love the opportunity to answer listener questions in a relaxed, non-posturing kind of way. We inadvertently themed today’s three questions around other people. Or more specifically, how to move towards slow and simple while living with and taking into consideration the needs and desires of other people. The questions I try to answer today are thought-provoking and also quite common:-
- How can I create a slower home with less “stuff” when my spouse isn’t on the same wavelength?
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- How can I simplify large amounts emotionally-charged clutter, like kids artworks?
- How do I shift my thinking about “stuff” and what constitutes clutter as my children grow and develop their own interests and tastes?
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Alternatively, you can listen to the show directly, simply by hitting the Play button above.
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Things to Check Out After Today’s Episode:
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- Courtney Carver on hiding sentimental clutter
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Hi Brooke,
I really enjoyed todays podcast! Towards the end you briefly mentioned “house sizes” and I was hoping you might do a podcast on this in the future?
I have 3 daughters and a husband and we live in a beautiful three bedroom / two bath / one living area home. I often get comments from people about how we will need a bigger house when the girls get older etc. (they are 7, 5 & 3) and that they should have their own rooms (currently the two little girls share).
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
I hope you have a wonderful break!
Rachael x
Hi Rachel,
I just had to add some thoughts. Perception of need is so often defined by class. I lived a family of 7 in a 3 bedroom house. Noone told my parents that we ‘needed’ our own rooms- clearly a luxury we couldnt’ afford. Now that I have my own family and have a comfortable middle class income, I can afford to give my kids thier own rooms. But I don’t want to. I think there is value in sharing. It teaches kids to manage and negotiate with others.
Perhaps the kids can take turns to each have thier own room? They couls swap each year or each 4 months, what ever works for the girls.
I love that you’re taking time off. I think that is so very important. Enjoy your time being more fully-immersed in the real world (hopefully that’s what happens when we step away from the online world). Cheers!
Have a good break, Brooke! I’ll be staying slow too here in Cali.
Do enjoy your break!! Thank you for all your beautifully done podcasts. I eagerly listen to these every Thursday. I spent a lot of time decluttering my apartment just 2 months ago, and when I look around now, there’s almost no evidence of it. I don’t know how but somehow there’s stuff everywhere again. I hope to find the time and energy to invest in another intense decluttering episode in the coming months. These hostfuls are great!
It’s always amazing to me how much of a difference decluttering just my stuff makes to the space my husband and I share. Sometimes he follows along and sometimes he doesn’t (we have a lot more kitchen stuff than we would if I did the cooking), but either way, clutter is gone and that’s a good thing.
Have a lovely break!
Thank you so much for your site and all the help you give to help us return to what is essential.
I’m new to your site and have been following the yearly plan and also reading the various blogs.
Thank you again.
Your site is a much needed one in today’s society