There’s something sacred about the way light shifts in November. The mornings grow softer, evenings come sooner, and the world outside begins to quiet, inviting us to do the same. Before we rush into the glow of the holidays or the pressure of new-year goals, this first week is about pausing.
Your home reflects your energy and your energy is shaped by what surrounds you. The clutter, the lighting, the forgotten corners. It’s about rekindling warmth and calm in the places you move through every day. Little shifts that help you feel at home again.
On this 4 week journey with me, I want to preface this with go slow + keep it simple. We’re not looking for an in-depth weekend project. We’re looking for a 10-15 minute refresh button. Reference this series to come back to it as often as you need it.
Here are the first 7 actions you can do this upcoming week to relight your space and calm your surroundings with minimal to no added effort on your part.
Refresh the Lighting
November ushers in lighter mornings and dark early evenings. Instead of getting annoyed that it’s dark at 5pm, I’d challenge you to embrace it. Allow the dark evenings act as a hug. Create a transition into winter that feels natural to your innate nature.
In the mornings, open your blinds + curtains first thing. Swap out bright white bulbs for a nice glow. Keep your evenings dark – utilizing as minimal of lighting as possible. Add dimmers to any light you can at a minor cost. Reignite your senses to soften in your space.
The 10-Minute Tidy
This, my friends, has been the lovely gamechanger in my personal house. While you may not have time this week to deep clean, I’d challenge you to use 10 minutes of your day (and every-day from here on out) to do a quick, intentional reset of your space.
Set a timer, put on headphones, play some music you enjoy, and go at it. This can be anywhere in your home you feel is the most chaotic. For me, it’s the living room. Straighten your pillows, fold the blankets up, clear the space with small motions that become your second nature. It’ll feel so good that you’ll make it part of your daily routine.
Tend to Mental Clutter
It’s imperative that you remove the clutter from your brain. That never ending to-do list… it’s wearing on you, isn’t it? We all have issues, we’re human. This challenge is about getting them out of your brain.
Pen and paper -or- digital device. Get it out. As always, if it’s bigger than just a few minute vent, a professional is always there for you.
Need to get stuff out of you but don’t want anyone to find it? An easy fix would be to narrate to the notes app on your phone then delete it.
Time for a Declutter
Sounds easy … right? It can be, but often we make things too complicated from the start Instead of going all in on decluttering your entire home in one day, start slow.
What’s one spot around your space that annoys you every. single. day.? Perhaps, your desk is too cluttered to think properly. Maybe it’s the landing zone with mountains of shoes, bookbags, and sweatshirts. Something to consider (especially if you have kids) is to clean out their toys before the influx of new comes in. Which brings us to the next one…
Donate + Make Space
Do you have a bag in your trunk with donations that’s been there for months? Are you constantly adding new clothes to your closet without anything coming out of it? Do your kids play with toys once then discard them for the shiny new toy? Then, it’s time for a donation time.
To keep this within 10-15 minutes, I want you to do the 10-minute tidy on ONE area that you deem needs the most help. Bonus if you want to keep up with it and make it a bigger project, but right now, we’re looking for freedom of space and clarity. Your soul and space will feel lighter by donating to those who need it.
Bye Digital Clutter
Have you ever tried to take a picture on your phone but you can’t because your photos are full? Yep, same. It sucks. Today your challenge is to clean out your photos.
Now you may have so many you may have to make this more in-depth one day. But today, start with finding a cloud storage system (like Google Photos) that you can upload them to.
If you’ve already got that, then start deleting the un-needed ones from your phone. My advice is to start with screenshots and go from there. You’ll feel so much better when there’s not 1,897 photos and 381 videos on your phone.
And day 7…. Simplify your Digital Environment
Unsubscribe, delete, organize, unfollow. Today is all about your phone. Do you ever have trouble trying to find the app you’re looking for? Let’s see if you can solve that frustration. Delete any apps you don’t use any more (aka kids games they stopped playing years ago…).
Organize like apps with like apps, like listening apps (Pandora, Spotify, Podcasts, etc.) then continue… photos, social media, work, house tech, and so on. If you’re up for it, start clearing out your inbox. A calm device supports a calm mind.
There you have it. Your first week tasks. Doesn’t seem terrible, right? Remember: This isn’t about perfection, it’s about peace. Every small act of clearing creates room for light to return. By the end of the week, you’ll start to feel the shift.
If you enjoyed Week One, stay with me for Week Two- where we move from clearing your outer world to relighting your passion for the upcoming holiday season.
Want a deep dive into more? You can also explore A Simply Tamed Life, my guided workbook for women rediscovering themselves through intentional living, seasonal rhythm, and gentle self-reflection.
Simply Tamed 
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