Ep 39: How to Simplify Your Life Amidst Chaos with Sarah Baehr

What do you do when life gives you lemons? Well, you could make a sour face and complain, or you could look at the situation for what it is and move forward with lemonade.

The latter is what my guest, Sarah Baehr of TheBaehrNecessities.com did when she and her husband discovered they were in over their heads thanks to some poor financial decisions early on in their marriage.

Through a very chaotic year, she discovered that what she was really after was a life of intention. Minimalism and living with less stuff came along as a welcomed byproduct, but wasn’t the first thing Sarah thought she wanted.

Instead, she discovered the secrets of how to simplify her life amidst chaos and she’s helping us do it too.

Sarah reminds us that life can be simple when we just take a minute to press the pause button. I know it may not feel possible at times, but if you can remember to breath and think about the end goal of what you really want your life to look like, you too can see through the chaos and get to the other side.

Big changes are possible and I was thrilled to get to chat with Sarah about her determination to make a change (or 2 or 3) that led to her life of intention on her journey toward minimalism.

Sarah is a wife, a mom of two girls and their beloved pug, as well as an intentional living coach. She is passionate about helping overwhelmed moms cultivate their homes and lives simply, beautifully, and on purpose.

After moving twice and having a second child in less than 12 months, she found there was more to life and motherhood than a packed schedule and possessions. Sarah encourages moms to kick clutter and chaos in order to find more joy in motherhood just as she did.

If you have ever wondered if life could be less chaotic by decluttering, this show is for you.

This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover:

How to look at your life with a clear lens
Sarah’s secret to changing your life right now
An amazing tip for keeps kids things decluttered
How to incorporate gratitude in daily life for you and your children
The best advice about minimalism Sarah’s ever received

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00] – This episode is brought to you The QUICK Way to Declutter and Organize Your Home. This 5 part mini-course will help you declutter, tidy, and organize any room in your home. Get started today!

[00:53] – Deanna welcomes listeners back to the show and introduces listeners to Sarah Baehr of TheBaehrNecessities.com.

[03:16] – Sarah introduces herself and tells us about the year that changed her life. After discovering that the life they were living was too expensive, she and her family decided to move to a different state. A few other life altering events happened, but I won’t spoil the fun.

[05:19] – Deanna relates to Sarah’s story and they chat about moving with children. But, what does Deanna feel like the key point in Sarah’s journey was that made this new minimalist lifestyle possible?

[06:24] – Sarah chats about the best way for families to start living with intention and gives us a great example that a busy mom with two little kids can totally relate to.

[07:10] – Truth bomb time! Sarah puts to rest one of the biggest myths. You do not have to have it all perfect or everything completely done to start to see a huge difference in your life.

[07:39] – Sarah tells us more about what has worked well with decluttering her kids’ things.

[08:36] – Since Sarah’s children were young when their family started the process of simplifying and becoming more minimalist, Deanna asks Sarah if there were other ways they dealt with toys; like limiting what came into the house instead of decluttering what was already there.

[08:49] – Sarah gives us tips on how she handles gift-giving holidays with grandparents and what kinds of toys and gifts they have focused on.

[09:30] – Deanna gives her take on her favorite experience gifts.

[09:48] – If it’s too expensive, Sarah gives the perfect solution so everyone gets what they want and no one breaks the bank.

[10:30] – What did Sarah’s daughters think about these experience gifts and were they as big of a hit as she hoped?

[11:13] – Deanna asks about ways to include a smaller gift with a larger experience gift so kids have something to actually open and unwrap.

[11:40] – Sarah agrees and gives us an example from a recent holiday. It’s a super fun and creative way to share the big reveal of where they were planning to take their girls on vacation.

[12:33] – Deanna and Sarah discuss how minimalism has become part of their families. It was more gradual for both because they started when their children were younger, but Sarah shares what to do if your children are older.

[14:11] – Deanna asks the question we’re all wondering…how do you keep the clutter out?

[14:22] – Sarah’s #1 tip is great because once you have established this rule, it’s easy for your children to stick to it. The trick is that it is visual so there’s no need to verbally remind them.

[15:53] – Deanna switches gears and asks Sarah about incorporating gratitude into her daily life.

[16:14] – How does Sarah include a gratitude practice in her life? Hint: it’s daily and in the morning. Don’t miss what she does and how it can help you.

[17:20] – Deanna and Sarah discuss finding gratitude even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

[18:05] – Sarah lets us in on how she incorporates gratitude with her children.

[19:00] – Would you be up for creating a gratitude journal with your children? Sarah’s children write down 3 things they are grateful for each morning and Deanna comments that this will be a great time capsule to look back on in a year.

[20:15] – Deanna asks how someone could get started with gratitude if it’s new to them.

[20:24] – Sarah shares her tips for how to start with gratitude in your life

[20:55] – Where can you find Sarah online?

[21:38] – What has been Sarah’s favorite simple pleasure this week?

[22:08] – What is the best advice about minimalism or intentional living that Sarah has ever received? Oh, this is such a good one.

[23:10] – And finally, what is making Sarah happy right now?

[24:35] – Deanna circles back to Sarah’s best tips of starting right now…where ever you are. Take a minute to be grateful and then decide that if you are ready to make a change in your life, you will start with yourself. The rest will fall into place and your family will join you on the journey before you know it.

[25:47] – Pick up the show notes for today’s episode at LittleGreenBow.com/39.

[26:08] – Join Deanna in her private Wannabe Minimalist Group on Facebook and get in on the discussions going on there with others just like you. And remember we love hearing from listeners, so please get in touch by email at hello@littlegreenbow.com or by sending her a message on Instagram (@WannabeClutterFree) or on Facebook (@WannabeClutterfree)!