Preparation | Fall, 2023

“I notice Autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

Dear Clients and Friends,

Fall has become one of my favorite seasons! Nature is settling down, preparing for a long pause...perhaps inviting us to take some rest as well? The cooler weather nudges me to turn inward and reflect, while the brilliant blue skies and intoxicating smells of the season inspire new projects and plans. There is excitement in the air as we hunker down, getting ready for another long winter journey (because Vermont winters are a journey!).

As we move from summer into fall, I invite you to notice where you sense dynamic possibilities. Like the trees that are just starting to change color, let’s assess where we are, let go easily of what we don’t need, and create space for what’s to come.

With deep care,

Sarah Thompson
Clean Slate Home Organizing

Free Workshop

Home Harmony: Organizing for Family Bliss

Wednesday, October 4th

 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Zoom

Parenting is incredibly hard, especially now when parents are facing unique challenges like a pandemic, the digital world, economic turmoil and a housing crisis, educational pressures, and the constant reminder to “find the balance”.
 

In this free training, I'll be teaching you how to connect with the part of you that is grounded, centered and steadying so you can parent with more joy and ease.  I'll also be sharing practical organizing strategies for:

• managing the mudroom as we move from fall to winter

• bringing intention and calm to your child's play spaces

• approaching "stuff management" with clarity and a sense of humor

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Come spend an evening together and learn how to access your parenting wisdom, create daily rhythms that nurture family calm, and find solutions for the endless flow of stuff that enters the home.

Create a Calm and Intentional Morning Routine

Five tips for building space into your morning.

A morning rhythm that honors the start of the school/work day is essential for a calm morning. Fostering a consistent routine allows the whole family to begin the day in an intentional way, whereas a morning filled with chaotic rushing doesn’t give kids -- or parents -- time to regulate before they arrive at school/work.

Prepare as much as possible the night before. Someone once said to me,"The day starts the night before." Make sure backpacks are packed, clothes are laid out, and anything your children need is ready. I’ve never been able to pack lunches the night before, but it’s important to know what the lunch plan is so everything is available when you need it.
 

Create consistency. Develop a rhythm that allows you to be present. Plan as much as possible for the morning so you don’t have to make moment by moment decisions. Moving through the morning in a thoughtfully planned way fosters a sense of peace for you and your children.

Let something beautiful be the focal point for the morning. If breakfast has become a grab and go meal, consider setting the table (the night before), lighting a candle or putting out a few colorful leaves as a centerpiece. This simple act honors the beauty and connection you’re creating during your morning routine.
 

Greet your child with gentleness. Always have the first interaction with your child be sweet and gentle. Instead of hollering up the stairs to wake them up, touch their head gently or sing a simple song to welcome them back from dreamland.
 

Be mindful of devices. As a parent, you want to be setting the tone of being present, and often devices are a distraction to paying attention. Observe whether your family’s phones/iPads are fostering a caring energy or disrupting it, and consider having no devices or media present for younger children.
 

Starting off the day in an intentional, calm way is good not just for children, but also for adults! For other back to school suggestions, check out this blog post on peaceful transitions.

Let Your Wardrobe Reflect Your True Self

Several months ago, I met with Lisa Sampson of Vermont Wardrobe Styling, and she helped me powerfully shift my relationship to my clothing. Her approach is based on the idea that your wardrobe should be a true reflection of yourself. As summer moves into fall, I invite you to assess what’s in your closet using these suggestions:

Play with the idea that your wardrobe can nurture you. What if everything in your wardrobe supported who you are right now, and who you are becoming? What if you felt like your full, confident self in everything you wore?

Assess if there are items of clothing that could be removed. If the thought of editing your whole wardrobe all at once is too scary, start by simply removing the easy stuff...things you don't like or that you know you'll never wear again. Once you do that, take another look. Pick up (or try on) each item and ask yourself: Do I still want this? Does this item still support who I am? Does this piece reflect who I want to be?

Have space for what you love. Make sure this season’s clothes are easily accessible. If your closet or drawers feel cramped, put your summer clothes away in bins so you have space to find what delights you each day.

When your wardrobe is a true reflection of yourself it becomes a powerful way to support your current and future dreams. If you'd like more information about de-cluttering your closet as a form of self care, here is a recent blog post.

My New Offering: Mentoring

As Clean Slate celebrates its fifth anniversary, I am so excited to share the wisdom I’ve gained with other Home Organizers. I am now offering mentoring for new and aspiring Home Organizers!

Do you know someone who loves to organize and is on the fence about starting a business? I’d love to have a conversation with them. Please introduce us. 

You can send me an email at sarah@cleanslatevermont.com.

Reminder:
Free home organizing workshop, October 4th.

Nurturing Community

I send inspiring updates seasonally.  If you'd like to support my work, please forward this newsletter to a friend or visit my website. To learn more about my home organizing services, moving services or family coaching sessions, find Clean Slate on Facebook and Instagram @cleanslatevermont or email me at sarah@cleanslatevermont.com.

CLEAN SLATE: Bringing ease to your home, your move, and your family life.