The Mindful Art of Space Making — A Transformative Guide to Creating Calm

 

The Mindful Art of Space Making — A Transformative Guide to Creating Calm

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by clutter, chaos, or a lack of space — not just in your home, but in your mind — The Mindful Art of Space Making offers a grounded and gentle retreat into intentional living. This book isn’t about minimalism as a fad; it’s a mindful, compassionate approach to clearing space so you can breathe, think, and live more fully. 

📘 About the Book

Title: The Mindful Art of Space Making: How to Declutter When You’re Overwhelmed
Author: April Scott Tandy
Published: September 22, 2024 (Flume Canyon Publishing) 

This book guides you through decluttering with intention instead of pressure:

• How to make space without burnout

• Ways to handle emotional or sentimental items

• How to build momentum with quick wins

• Transforming your physical space leads to greater clarity and calm 

It’s ideal for readers who want realistic, step-by-step support — not just lofty advice.

Buy the book (UK):
📚 The Mindful Art of Space Making on Waterstones — https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-mindful-art-of-space-making/april-scott-tandy/9798991222907

Kindle & Paperback (Amazon UK):
📚 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindful-Art-Space-Making-Overwhelmed/dp/B0DDBXB69W

🎥 Videos & Decluttering Inspiration

While the author’s own videos focus on transformations and mindful space work, there’s also related content inspired by the book’s approach:

📺 Official & Related Videos

https://www.youtube.com/live/oQADNue2ybA?si=u_t8oKBAK2rahTan

This video ties to the book’s central themes — you’ll see real stories of decluttering progress and hear directly about the mindset behind mindful space making.

Other user-generated videos feature people applying the Space Maker vibe in real life:

• 📺 Ruthlessly Decluttering 50% of her Closet — https://youtu.be/ms6xXp6J4v0

• 📺 Empowering Julia to Become her Own Space Maker — https://youtu.be/e0le0H8qSDU

• 📺 Tackling 10 Years of Clutter Mindfully — https://youtu.be/ItL2C26u8GE

These before/after style videos capture the practical side of space making — the process, challenges, and emotional release of creating order.

🧠 Why Mindful Space Making Matters

The magic of this approach is that it treats decluttering as a mindful practice — not a weekend project or chore checklist. Instead of just storing things away, you learn to:

✨ make peace with possessions
✨ choose what truly serves you
✨ create room for what brings joy, purpose, or calm

As many reviewers have remarked, this book feels like a supportive friend guiding you through overwhelm rather than shaming you for where you are now. 

🎯 Final Thoughts

The Mindful Art of Space Making is more than a book about tidying; it’s about reshaping your relationship with your environment and your inner life. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve tried decluttering before, this resource offers a path that’s kind, practical, and deeply human.

Life on a Small, Sea-Edged Place

There is a special kind of peace that comes from living somewhere surrounded by water. You feel it in the slower pace, in the way the seasons shape daily life, and in how people still notice one another. It’s a place that teaches you to breathe a little deeper and live a little softer.

I love how nature is never far away here. Even on the busiest days, you’re only minutes from open sky, winding lanes, or a quiet shoreline. It reminds you that the world is bigger than your worries, yet small enough to feel held.

The Gift of Slower Living

Life here encourages a gentler rhythm.
Things don’t always happen quickly, and strangely, that feels like a gift. You learn patience. You learn to plan. You learn that not everything needs to be instant to be valuable.

Shops close earlier.
Conversations last longer.
Time feels more intentional.

It’s not about missing out.
It’s about tuning in.

Community Still Matters

In a smaller place, people matter more.
You notice when someone hasn’t been around for a while.
You recognise familiar faces.
You learn that kindness travels faster than gossip if you let it.

There is comfort in being known.
Not in a spotlight way, but in a someone would notice if I wasn’t here way.

Seasons Feel Real

The seasons don’t just change the weather, they shape life:

Spring brings hope and fresh starts.
Summer brings light, colour, and busy days.
Autumn slows everything and wraps it in gold.
Winter draws people inward, towards home and warmth.

You live in tune with nature rather than fighting it.

A Frugal Kind of Rich

Living in a place like this teaches you to value:

• Walks over shopping trips

• Homemade over bought

• Time over things

• Peace over pressure

It’s a quieter kind of wealth. One that doesn’t shout, but lasts.

Home Feels Rooted

There’s something grounding about knowing your surroundings deeply:
The lanes.
The coastline.
The rhythms of local life.

It makes your home feel more than just four walls.
It feels like part of something living and breathing.

Why I Love It

Because it reminds me:

• Life doesn’t need to be rushed to be meaningful

• Beauty doesn’t have to be loud

• Simplicity is not small, it is powerful

• Belonging matters

It’s not just a place to live.
It’s a way of being.

Why the Miss Read Books Feel Like Coming Home

There is something deeply comforting about the Miss Read books. They don’t shout. They don’t rush. They don’t demand anything of you. They simply open a door into a quieter, gentler world and invite you to sit down for a while.

In a time where everything feels fast, loud and complicated, the Miss Read series is a reminder that life doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Small moments matter. Kindness matters. Community matters.

And that feels like success to me.

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The Magic of Fairacre and Thrush Green

Miss Read’s villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green, are places we all secretly long for.
Not because they are perfect, but because they are human.

People misunderstand each other.
They gossip.
They make mistakes.
But they also show up, forgive, help and care.

There is warmth in the ordinary:

• Tea in china cups

• A walk to school

• A neighbour calling by

• A village fête

• A quiet conversation

It’s slow living in story form.

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Why These Books Feel So Safe

When I read Miss Read, my shoulders drop. My breathing slows. My thoughts settle.
It feels like stepping out of the noise and into something softer.

These books remind me:

• You don’t need to be extraordinary to be valuable

• A simple life can be a full life

• Kindness is powerful

• Stability is beautiful

There is no pressure to “achieve” while reading these stories. Just to be.

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A Gentle Kind of Strength

The women in Miss Read’s books are not loud or dominating, but they are strong.
They are dependable. Observant. Practical. Loving. Wise.

That kind of strength resonates deeply with me:

• Strength that steadies rather than overwhelms

• Strength that nurtures rather than controls

• Strength that builds community quietly

It’s the kind of strength that lasts.

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Miss Read and the Art of Simple Living

These stories echo so many of the values I try to live by:

• Frugality

• Contentment

• Mindfulness

• Gratitude

• Home-centred joy

They remind me that happiness isn’t found in more things, but in deeper appreciation of what already exists.

A warm kitchen.
A tidy table.
A handwritten note.
A familiar routine.

That is richness.

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Books as a Form of Rest

We often think of rest as doing nothing, but sometimes rest is choosing gentle input.
Miss Read’s books are like emotional nourishment. They soothe without numbing. They comfort without distracting.

They are perfect:

• Before bed

• On a rainy afternoon

• When life feels heavy

• When you want reassurance that goodness still exists

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Final Thought

The Miss Read series isn’t about escaping reality.
It’s about remembering what really matters within it.

Community.
Kindness.
Simplicity.
Belonging.

And every time I return to those pages, it feels like coming home.

Do We Live Under a Snow Shield?

They are forecasting snow for parts of the UK at the end of the month/ beginning of next month but will it come to where I am.

Every time snow is forecast for the UK, there’s a familiar mix of excitement and scepticism here. Maps turn purple and blue, warnings are issued, social media fills with dramatic predictions… and yet, more often than not, we look outside and see rain, wind, or simply cold air with nothing magical falling from the sky.

It often feels like we live under some kind of invisible snow shield.

Places just a short distance away are posting photos of thick white blankets, while we’re standing there with a damp pavement and a mild sense of disappointment. Again.

So Why Does Snow Rarely Reach Us?

Being surrounded by sea has a huge effect on weather. Water holds warmth much longer than land, especially in winter. That means cold air systems that bring snow elsewhere often soften as they approach here.

Snow needs cold air and cold ground.
By the time weather systems reach us:

• The air has warmed slightly

• The ground isn’t cold enough

• Snow turns into sleet or rain

It’s not that snow doesn’t try to reach us… it just doesn’t quite survive the journey.

Watching the Forecasts

We become experts in hope and realism:

• “Maybe this one will be different”

• “It looks close on the map”

• “If it shifts a little east…”

• “If it cools overnight…”

And occasionally, we do get lucky. A light dusting. A fleeting white morning. Enough to make everything feel magical for a few hours before it melts away.

Those moments feel rare and special because they are.

Will This Forecast Come Close?

If the wider UK is expecting snow, then yes, we may feel its edges:

• Colder winds

• Frosty mornings

• Heavy rain instead of flakes

• Maybe sleet

• Possibly a brief flurry

But deep snow settling is unlikely unless:

• The cold is already well established

• The system is strong

• The timing is just right

We live on the border between winter magic and coastal reality.

The Silver Lining

While others dig out cars and slip on icy pavements, we often stay:

• Safer

• Milder

• More sheltered

Our winters are gentler. Less dramatic, but kinder on daily life.

And when snow does arrive, even lightly, it feels like a gift rather than a burden.

Final Thought

It really does feel like there’s a snow shield around us.
Not because winter avoids us, but because we sit in a place where land and sea constantly negotiate what kind of weather we’re allowed to have.

So while the rest of the country braces for snow, we’ll be watching the skies with cautious hope, knowing that if a few flakes make it this far, they’ve earned their place.

Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success – Lessons from Steve Harvey (and How I’m Applying Them to Real Life)

I’ve been listening to the Audible audiobook Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success by Steve Harvey, and it has really made me pause and reflect. Not in a loud, motivational, “change your life overnight” way, but in a quiet, steady, this is how you start showing up differently kind of way.

Steve Harvey talks about one powerful truth:
Before success shows up in your life, it has to show up in your thinking.

And that really hit me. Because so often we wait for things to change before we believe we can change. But he flips that completely. You don’t think like a success once you’ve made it. You make it because you started thinking differently first.

For me, this isn’t about money or status. It’s about how I show up:

• As a woman of faith

• As a wife

• As a leader

• As someone who wants peace, purpose, and progress

Success, in my world, looks calm. It looks steady. It looks faithful.

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1. Acting Like Who You Want to Become

Steve Harvey says we have to act like the person we want to be, even when life doesn’t yet reflect it. That doesn’t mean pretending or being fake. It means making choices that line up with the future you’re praying for.

So instead of:

• “When I’m organised, I’ll be more disciplined”

• “When life calms down, I’ll take better care of myself”

• “When I feel confident, I’ll speak up”

It becomes:

• I organise because I value peace

• I care for myself because I matter

• I speak kindly and confidently because that’s who I am becoming

Small actions build big identity.

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2. Thinking Like a Success Is About Responsibility

One thing Steve is very clear about is responsibility.
Not blame. Responsibility.

Taking responsibility says:

• I can grow

• I can choose differently

• I can respond with intention

That’s actually empowering. It means I’m not stuck. I’m learning.

Even in frugal living, this applies:

• I’m not “going without”

• I’m choosing wisely

• I’m building stability and peace

That’s success too.

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3. Faith and Success Go Hand in Hand

What I loved most is how openly Steve speaks about God. He reminds us that success without faith feels empty, but faith gives success its meaning.

For me, success is:

• Trusting God even when plans feel unclear

• Staying gentle in a hard world

• Protecting my peace

• Being dependable and kind

• Showing up even when tired

That’s acting like a success in God’s eyes.

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4. You Don’t Need to Feel Ready

This book reminded me that confidence grows after action, not before it.

You don’t wait to feel brave.
You act brave and courage follows.

You don’t wait to feel successful.
You live intentionally and success forms quietly.

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5. My Quiet Definition of Success

Success for me now looks like:

• A calm home

• A clear mind

• Faith-led choices

• Steady habits

• Gratitude over pressure

• Progress over perfection

Not loud.
Not rushed.
Not flashy.

Just faithful and consistent.

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Final Thought

Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success isn’t about becoming someone else.
It’s about becoming who you already were designed to be.

You don’t need permission.
You don’t need perfection.
You just need intention.

And today, I choose to act like the woman I’m praying to become.

The 300 list

 I recently came across something Steve Harvey talks about called the 300 List, and it really stopped me in my tracks. The idea is simple but powerful: write a list of 300 things you want in your life. Not just money or material things, but experiences, habits, feelings, achievements, and the kind of person you want to become.

https://youtu.be/DlMAIYd7-J4?si=SQ7v07CO5yUcjErl

At first, 300 sounds extreme. I struggled to go further than the goals I set earlier this month. But that’s exactly why it works. It forces you to move past surface-level wishes and dig deeper into what you actually want.

And if I’m honest, that’s something I’ve been missing.

I had goals for this year, but I don’t feel like I’ve truly worked towards them. I know it’s only a couple of months in but life has already been busy, tiring, and sometimes overwhelming. I’ve stayed frugal, kept things ticking over, but I haven’t been intentional. The 300 List feels like a chance to reset and realign what I want this year, life even, to be..

What I love about this idea is that it isn’t about pressure. It’s about clarity.

Some things on the list might be big:

• Financial freedom

• Owning a comfortable, calm home

• Feeling secure about money

Some will be small:

• A peaceful morning routine

• Fresh flowers in the house

• Time to read more books

• Feeling organised and less rushed

And some will be deeply personal:

• Confidence

• Calmness

• Trusting myself

• Living with less stress around money

It isn’t about achieving everything. It’s about understanding what matters.

I want to use my own 300 List to build on my goals for the year, especially around:

• Being more intentional with money

• Creating a calmer, simpler home

• Using what I already have

• Saving consistently, even if it’s small

• Making choices that support the life I want, not just the life I’m managing

Frugal living isn’t just about spending less. It’s about choosing better. And I think this list can help me make those choices more consciously.

How I plan to start:

I’m not sitting down to write 300 things in one go. That would feel overwhelming and unrealistic. Instead, I’m going to:

• Start with 30

• Add a few each week

• Keep the list somewhere visible

• Let it grow naturally

I’ll include:

• Financial goals

• Lifestyle goals

• Home goals

• Emotional and mindset goals

• Small joys as well as big dreams

Why this feels important to me:

This year hasn’t started badly, but it hasn’t gone intentionally either. I’ve been reacting instead of creating. The 300 List feels like a way to gently take control again, without pressure or guilt.

It reminds me that:

• It’s never too early or late to reset

• Progress doesn’t have to be dramatic

• Small clarity leads to big change

• Frugality is a tool, not the end goal

I’m excited to see how this shapes the rest of my year. Even if I never reach 300, the process alone feels like growth.

Sometimes we don’t need a new budget or a new system.
We just need a clearer picture of what we’re actually working towards.

Have you ever tried writing a big life list like this? What would be one thing you’d put on yours today?

Here is a link to the video that started it all.

https://youtu.be/DlMAIYd7-J4?si=fRYBf2lk4ukNZ701

Let Them: Learning to Release Control and Find Peace

I’ve recently been thinking a lot about something called the “Let Them” theory. It’s simple in words but powerful in practice taken from this book

When people do things you don’t like, don’t understand, or can’t control… let them.

Let them be late.
Let them be distant.
Let them make choices you wouldn’t make.
Let them misunderstand you.

And then, instead of exhausting yourself trying to manage other people’s behaviour, focus on what you can control: your response, your boundaries, and your peace.

This idea has been quietly changing the way I look at my life.

For a long time, I carried a lot of emotional weight trying to:

• Keep everyone happy

• Fix situations that weren’t mine to fix

• Explain myself repeatedly

• Prevent disappointment

• Hold everything together

It was tiring. And if I’m honest, it didn’t actually work.

The Let Them theory doesn’t mean you stop caring.
It means you stop carrying responsibility for things that aren’t yours.

In frugal living, this shows up more than we realise.

Let them:

• Spend more than you would

• Live differently to you

• Not understand your financial choices

• Think your lifestyle is “too careful” or “too simple”

Your path doesn’t need validation to be valid.

It’s also helped me emotionally.

When someone:

• Pulls away

• Cancels plans

• Disagrees

• Makes choices that affect me

I remind myself:
Let them. And then let me decide what I need.

That second part is the important bit.

Let them…
But let me choose peace.
Let me choose calm.
Let me choose boundaries.
Let me choose what aligns with my values.

This mindset has stopped me from:

• Over-explaining

• Over-giving

• Over-thinking

• Over-spending to please others

• Over-functioning in situations that aren’t mine to carry

It has brought me back to simplicity.

Frugal living, to me, isn’t just about money.
It’s about emotional economy too.

Where am I spending energy that isn’t giving me anything back?
Where am I trying to control what I don’t need to?

Sometimes the most frugal thing you can do is protect your peace.

Let Them doesn’t make you passive.
It makes you intentional.

It frees you from the exhausting cycle of:
React → Explain → Justify → Fix → Feel drained

And replaces it with:
Notice → Release → Choose → Protect → Feel grounded

I’m learning that:

• I don’t need to manage other people’s reactions

• I don’t need permission to live gently

• I don’t need to convince anyone that my life is enough

I just need to honour what feels aligned.

Where in your life could “Let Them” bring you more peace?
And what would you choose for yourself if you stopped trying to manage everything else?