When it comes to taking a break from our everyday lives, the allure of a holiday cottage, camping tent, or long boat retreat is undeniable. These places provide a much-needed respite from the routine of our own homes. They also seem to welcome inspiration more easily. Why is this?
Paula discovers that the same sense of peace a holiday cottage offers can be achieved at home.
Why do we feel extra inspired when we take a holiday? Is it the newness of an unknown environment, or is it our relaxed mindset? Why does inspiration come to us so easily during a breakaway from home?
Perhaps it is because a holiday location has no personal heirlooms, less stuff, and no possessions carrying memories. Is it then the personal belongings that weighs us down? I think so.
During a holiday, a new location give us new energy and make us feel younger. This is because it’s free of personal belongings. Why is that so inspiring? It’s not that we would trade the place for our homes. And that is remarkable. Maybe it tells us that our studios are filled with
- too many old and halfhearted projects?
- too many outdated tools?
These distractions can bring about feelings of negativity. In the worst-case scenario, we feel that unfinished art projects or canvases guilt trip us. 'You paid big money for that canvas!', 'That blue fabric you used wasn't particularly cheap, wasn't it?'
How do we address this? The answer lies in understanding that even creative spaces need a deep decluttering to create room for new ideas.
Marie Kondo asks whether all that stuff makes us happy. If not, she suggests letting it go. Similarly, William Morris remarks that all possessions should be either useful or beautiful; otherwise, we should part with them. Japanese Minimalism and Scandinavian Lean principles teach us that less is more. More space, fewer worries, and more time to spend on what truly matters.
'I started my own decluttering journey a few years ago. Not that I had much clutter, but I had too many projects, too many tools because of too many aspirations. At times this decluttering (making hard choices) wasn’t easy, but enormously liberating'.
That said, it is an ongoing process. One should pass on their ideas, possessions, and wealth before one's expiry date and bring one's possessions down to a Japanese minimum or Scandinavian lean. Basically keeping the just the essentials.
Our rooms are filled with heirlooms and clutter. Is it any wonder we enjoy staying in holiday cottages, boats, or tents? It is because we escape all that stuff—the heirlooms that till us with deep emotional memories and the gifts we feel compelled to keep out of gratitude. Each object evokes memories. With so much sentiment attached, these items pull us back into the past, to faces, dialogues, and memories.
Here & Now
Why do we relish holidays away from home? Because we live more in the here and now, free from the responsibilities that come with a home or studio. We distance ourselves from heirlooms, gifts, and memories stored in our living spaces. We distance ourselves from old projects for which we have lost motivation. We laugh more, sleep better, and feel lighter during a holiday.
There is another example that inspires us to confront our attachment to heirlooms and excess stuff. It comes from the practices of Buddhist and Christian monks. When they enter a convent or monastery, they must leave behind almost all their possessions. Why? To focus on their spiritual development through prayer and meditation. Prayer and meditation unhindered by objects that distract from living in the moment.
Transform your workplace
Transform your home to mirror that of a holiday retreat. Transform your workroom to a 'holiday' workroom as well. It is enormously liberating. It is as if all the stuff that is cleared out allows more room for Inspiration to enter.
But how?
Do away your old projects.
Donate to charity.
If needed, make a few photos of your old stuff but preferably don't hang on to the past.
Living in the here and now can make you feel a decade younger.
Here I have two rules for you to work with:
I. For the start of every new project; donate a project that has lost its spell on you to charity.
II. Replace single objects by multi-use tools and objects. This saves a lot of space and clutter. (I have written more about this here).
Wishing you the best of luck with transforming your busy creative workplace into a more holiday retreat like space.
Paula Kuitenbrouwer
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