Owning less is better than organizing more.
~ Joshua Becker
With increased daylight in the spring, it is harder to sit still.
As the sun shines into the home, not only do the dust balls become more visible, but the congestion of accumulated stuff compels action.
It’s time to discard what no longer brings joy - what weighs one down.
If you’re not using the stuff in your home, get rid of it. You’re not going to start using it more by shoving it in a closet somewhere.
~ Joshua Becker
This week when I walked into the closet and noticed that the rod holding up the hangers was bowing in the middle, I knew it was time to reduce the burden.
Two boxes of clothes had to be donated.
I had become attached to some items that have moved with me several times. They were seldom worn. Letting them go helped me feel lighter.
Longer days increase energy expenditure
You can get the highest quality sleep by keeping your sleep cycles in tune with the rhythms of the universe (known as circadian rhythms).
~ Deepak Chopra
Physiologically, with more daylight, we produce less melatonin. We sleep less and move more.
The longer sleep in the winter or hibernation conserved energy in a time of food scarcity. Times have changed. Unlike when we only ate what nature provided, sweet, rich foods are now abundant year-round.
We tend to crave comfort food in the winter. Unintentionally, we hoard unnecessary energy. We have to rely on willpower to eat less when we sleep more.
When the sun rises, cortisol production increases. It mobilizes action. Cortisol (like steroid drugs), in the right amount, reduces inflammation and congestion.
Ever notice that you tend to be more congested at night when you have a cold? When our hormone production aligns with natural light-dark cycles, cortisol levels decline as the sun sets, increasing mucous and inflammation. It's part of the healing process.
Thyroid hormone levels also fluctuate. The thyroid gland helps regulate metabolism, growth and development of the body.
Research suggests that thyroid activity fluctuates throughout the day, seasonally and postnatally. Nature is wise. Sometimes, rather than intervene with medication, it is best to allow the body to self-regulate.
Honour light-dark cycles. The body will co-operate in producing and administering the right dose of hormones as needed.
Closing thoughts
Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.
~ Barbara Hemphill
Spring has sprung, and so must we. It’s time to become decisive, to lighten the load of stuff we have accumulated.
People can become attached to things and overwhelmed with the thought of letting go. Personal possessions can take up a lot of real estate in our homes and our brains.
Stuff may become a distraction from addressing unresolved attachment trauma. Material possessions can offer comfort when we fail to develop healthy human relationships. If you are hoarding, seek help. There is no shame in that.
The sunshine has nudged me to feel a need to declutter, plant seeds and foster renewed growth. Now is the time to declutter our lives. Let it go. Less is more.
Amen! Love this!