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Wardrobe makeover: Living joyfully in your favourite clothes every day
- 05/10/2020
- 0 comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
Did you know that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time? That’s not a lot, right? And in these strange stay-at-home and work-from-home times it’s probably even less than 20%..It’s time for a change! Are you in?
Autumn is for me personally a time of new beginnings and rebirth. I feel it in my whole being as the weather starts to change and the leaves start to fall. Autumn is the perfect time to start something new. Challenge yourself and make way for new opportunities and change your life for the better.
Nobody says it better than one of my favourite poets:
Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.
RUMI
Your wardrobe might need to let its dead leaves drop too and make room for your favourites to shine. With the guide below you will be on your way towards a KonMarie‘d, simplified, curated and decluttered wardrobe that makes you joyful and smile every time you open the doors.
1. What is your ideal lifestyle?
Deep within I believe we all already know what brings us joy and what kind of life we want to live. We might have just buried it all under work, commitments, stress and random piles of physical clutter. Usually when we start tidying there is initially more chaos. That alone might become a shock and turn us numb. Maybe we’re having a hard time letting go, or finishing a task at hand? For all of these circumstances we need a WHY and focus on the goal!
What should have space and presence in your home and life going forward?
It’s crucial not to skip this step. It will help you reconnect to yourself, your values and what matters most in your life. As a consequence, when you tidy your clothes you will use these self reflection goals to help make decisions. This way you will know more clearly what kind of belongings will support you in achieving your ideal way of living. Ask yourself:
1. Where do you currently stand?
2. What would you like to have more of and what less of in life?
3. What should have space and presence in your home and life going forward?
Make a list, a visual mood board, a drawing, a mindmap…anything that helps you find YOUR unique ideal lifestyle.

2. Gather all your clothing and make a pile

Let’s go! Gather all your clothing in one place. All of it. Also from the entrance and the basement and wherever you keep pieces of clothing. Usually what you have currently in the laundry is stuff you wish to keep. If not, let it go with gratitude. Make a pile on the bed or somewhere where you have enough space to make a mess.

3. If you are short on time, make sub categories
If you can’t find the time to do the full makeover in one go you can easily break it down into smaller chunks and do a few sub categories. Examples of sub categories could be tops, bottoms, underwear and socks, sportswear, shoes etc. I would, however, recommend that you do not leave too many days in between the sub categories, as you might lose momentum and the light in the tunnel.
4. Joy check – what does spark joy even mean?
When going through each piece of clothing, focus on what you want to keep. Always. Your intuition and your previously assessed lifestyle goals will help you determine what sparks joy for you. Make sure to find a few absolute favourites to start with and compare other items against these. Remember, if it’s not a clear yes it’s usually a clear no.
We should always care for and handle our belongings with respect throughout their life cycle. If they have outlived their purpose, we can respectfully let them go with a “thank you” . This might feel strange to start with but give it a try! It will feel so natural after a while. After all, this item has served you and its purpose well and is for sure worthy of some gratitude. Make sure to think sustainably and categorise discarded items for selling, donating, recycling etc. and make an effort to part with the discarded items as soon as possible.
By involving our hearts when we tidy clothing, we can thank our items for all they do to protect our bodies and express our identity.
MARIE KONDO

5. Fold and hang, give everything a home
By now you should have chosen all your favourites to keep. If you haven’t tried file folding yet, this is your moment to try. Not necessarily with materials that love to be hung, like thinner blouses, shirts and some nice dresses or business suits, but with most other things. Depending on your wardrobe structure, fold what can be folded and hang the rest. If you have lots of drawers, they are simply made for neat folding. The ultimate goal is to see everything you have with one glance. It saves you a lot of time and energy in the morning when you have a full overview and you’re able to choose only from belongings you simply love.
6. Storage & final touches
Indeed, organisational supplies are pretty – but they are never the solution! So before moving on to storing your favourite clothes, please check that you’ve ticked all the below boxes first:
* Finish discarding first before starting to fold
* Hang all sensitive items rising to the right. For a visually optimised finish they should hang from long to short, from dark to light.
* Find a permanent home for everything
* Finally, add a final touch to your closet with something you love! A precious item could for example be a favourite photo, a pair of special shoes or a favourite piece of jewellery. This item will make you smile and remind you of a special event or memory each and every time you open your closet!

7. Capsule wardrobe, minimalism or maximalism – what is the “right” way?
First and foremost. Stop counting how many t-shirts and pairs of jeans you own and feel bad about it! That is NOT what KonMari, minimalism or a capsule wardrobe is about. What matters is what works for YOU. Maybe you need one pair of jeans for each and every day of the week due to your profession – so be it. Your wardrobe should mirror who YOU are and meet YOUR needs only. Any wardrobe styling method out there is actually there to serve you, not to make you feel guilty. However, these tools might be helpful for you to perfect your own style matching your personality.

8. Have fun and enjoy the ride
Life can be so serious sometimes, please make sure your tidying day is something completely different. Try things on in front of the mirror, make funny faces and take crazy pictures if you feel like it! Get a friend or partner to help you (but certainly not to judge!). You might be in for the most fun filled day in a long time. And finally – ENJOY your makeover! What you wear impacts your self-image as well as your self-esteem — make sure you choose clothes that make you feel amazing and confident!

You are doing it for YOU!
This article was first published on the expat blog My Swiss Story, where I am part of the expert editorial panel as the Home Expert. Would you like to contribute as a guest writer? Please contact me.
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Family, Home, Organising
Organising and simplifying with kids: 4 tips on how to tackle artwork and paper crafts
- 06/09/2020
- 0 comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
The simple truth is that our kids are, well, messy. They usually have the most stuff in the household, and as long as they are living under our roof it’s a never ending story of growth: in and out of clothes, shoes, toys, crafts, games, gadgets etc.. However, whenever I work with kids, I’m always positively surprised by their ability to find creative solutions, their willingness to help and share, and their natural need and feel for order. Some more, some less, but they all have it in them. You might just be in for a big surprise by how much they actually want to be involved and how eager they are to learn how to be(come) organised. All they need is a little help and guidance.
So how can we help our kids? By teaching them these 3 simple things:
1. reducing
2. setting limits
3. designating a home for all things
The best part is that we as parents are actually able to give our kids a gift for life! The gift of teaching them how to appreciate and care for their belongings. Now and forever.
I’ve recognised the worst 3 clutter culprits with kids, I bet you know too which ones these are…My top 3 list includes: clothing & shoes, arts and crafts, and toys. Clothing is no surprise, since kids might be going through 2 sizes in a few months, depending on age. But since I’ve gotten so many questions about what to do with the piles of artwork and paper crafts the kids are bringing home from kindergarten and school every single day or week (and some kids additionally creating more at home on a daily basis!) this is the category we will tackle now with our kids’ recent return to (art production) school.

Decluttering alone or with kids and for how long?
If your kids are over 5 years old I would suggest you do it together with them, if younger than that you can do it on your own (after they’re in bed!). Start with this project fresh on a free (weekend) morning, and depending on the age of your child(ren) try not to spend more than max. 15-30 mins in one go, since that’s usually how long kids can focus on decluttering. Remember that it takes a loot of energy for a tiny human to make so many decisions at once. My tips below might help you find your own unique way of dealing with your family’s artwork and paper craft mountain.
TOP TIP! The more often you declutter this category, the quicker it goes! And I’m sorry to say, but it won’t be enough with one session per year! If you want to keep on top of the artwork and paper clutter, it has to be made into a fun habit and done on a regular basis. I try to do this with my kids (pre-schooler and 2nd grader) every month.

1. KonMari your artwork
Decluttering artwork and paper crafts the KonMari way consist of three steps, as follows.
Step 1: Gather all your artwork and paper crafts
Like with all other KonMari tidying categories we start with gathering every single piece of artwork and paper crafts in the house and bring them to one place. A large floor space is all you need for this purpose. Before you start going through it all piece by piece, you might want to separate the artwork by year or month, depending on how much you have.
Step 2: Does it spark joy – what does it mean to a child?
Now comes the hard part. The only self evident thing is that you can’t keep it all! But what should you keep and what should you confidently let go of? When doing the joy check with kids ask them to hold the item close to them and feel if they like it. You might need to find some alternative ways to ask them what a certain piece of art means for them. I’ve put together a handy list of questions you can use when going through each item and find the gems truly speaking to their (and your) hearts:
Comparison questions:
* do you like this one or this one more? Why?
* you seem to really like blue, is this blue drawing maybe your favourite?
* use the artwork the child seems to like the most as a reference when comparing with new items
* is this one so beautiful that you would like to give it to someone special (family, friends)?
* let’s hang your 5 favourites on your wall. Can you please show me which ones you like the most out of these (max 15 alternatives)?
Fact based questions (mainly to help the adult guide the process):
* are there duplicates or even several of the same kind? Are they broken?
* does it represent an age/milestone/certain stage for your child?
* does it show a personal bond? Ie. pictures of your family, grand parents etc.
* did your child spend hours on something or only a few seconds?
* what does your child want you to save?
* did you receive the artwork as a gift?
Even if your child offers you every single drawing they make as a gift, it doesn’t mean you need to keep them all. Thank them for the gift, show them love and appreciation and they’re probably super happy with the attention. Keep only 5-10% of the best of the best, and keep them with joy and confidence.
TOP TIP: Remember to choose what you want to keep, rather than choosing what to get rid off! Always keep an OUTBOX (paper recycling) handy so that your kids know where they can independently put artwork they’re ready to gratefully part with.
Step 3: Find a home for each item
Once you’re done with the selection process you have one more job to do – organising and storing, meaning deciding where these jewels should live going forward. You might have a shelf or a drawer where you keep favourite things until the next decluttering session. Or for the true gems you might want to look into one of the options below.

2. Organise a pop up exhibition
Do you have an empty wall at home or in your kids’ room(s)? Why don’t you make it into an art wall where your kids can exhibit their creations for the next month, and then exchange the art, like a rotating pop up exhibition?! Using a simple clothesline with some clothespins will do. Make sure the artwork is placed on a child friendly hight too. You can even invite your friends and family over for an opening apero. Make it fun! Perfectionism has no space or place in this.

3. Make a memory box for each child
My first and most important tip for working with kids is to create a large enough memory box for each child. This box is only for very special emotional belongings, milestones and memories from their childhood. Examples of items to keep in this box could be a completed baby book, the first shoes, a special occasion dress, their birth certificate, special photos and artwork, a special soft toy etc. You’re the designer and creator of this box.
When it comes to artwork, why don’t you ask yourself this: did your parents save your old artwork and did you like getting this collection as an adult? If you did enjoy it, maybe your kids will too. But chances are they don’t want it and then you might as well consider the next option, a digital book. This is a topic with so many answers, and remember that there is no right or wrong – only what feels right for YOU!

4. Create a photo book out of the most precious artwork
This is a lovely idea, however, it requires you to keep track of which child did what and when. You can also choose to take a picture of the child(ren) together with their masterpiece so if you choose to make a photo book you don’t only have the masterpiece featured but also the child. There are also a few options specialised in kids’ artwork and memory books, you might want to check out Doodlenest or the Artkive app.

Have you organised your children’s artwork yet?
Let us know and comment below with your best tips!

Best of luck and enjoy decluttering!
This article was first published on the expat blog My Swiss Story, where I am part of the expert editorial panel as the Home Expert. Would you like to contribute as a guest writer? Please contact me.
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Home, Lifestyle, Organising
Declutter your digital life now – thank yourself later!
- 20/08/2020
- 0 comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
Before going back to work after the summer…hand on your heart: do you get exhausted even thinking about the amount of clutter in your workspace, physical and/or digital? You can’t even see your wallpaper on your desktop, your inbox is overflowing, your calendar is already packed, your phone memory is running out, you forgot your passwords, and your phone keeps beeping with notifications..you get the picture.

Think about it: does clutter and digital stimuli increase or decrease your productivity and joy at work? Yep. Clutter might be the cause of overwhelm as well as lead to a lack of focus and loss of control. To achieve a lifestyle and work style that is purely joyful we need to tidy up also your digital space. The goal is to get you back in control over technology, which is supposed to help you instead of draining you.

Get started with the 5 day digital declutter challenge: a step by step guide
You choose a start date and get going with the first task. Some tasks take more time than others, just go with the flow and allow it the time it takes. Remember that you’re doing it for YOU! Each day and task gets you closer to your goal: your new digital minimalist you. Well done for taking the decision – you’re already one step further than before!
Day 1: Digital documents and desktop
The first step is learning to let go and say goodbye with gratitude. We already know from the KonMari Method^TM that it’s essential to joy check your belongings and only keep what speaks to your heart. We can apply the same principle to your digital files on your hard drive. In addition to following any document policy of your company and asking yourself if your document sparks joy you will of course ask yourself whether you will need the document for your work and whether it should be kept for future inspiration or reference. Delete all files you no longer need and keep all saved files logically organised in order for you to minimise search time when needing a file. Depending on your job create a minimal amount of main and sub folders and stick to them. After finishing a project, decide what documents to keep and let go of the rest. You will quickly notice how staying organised will become an addictively happy habit!
Dear Desktop, you’re not a dump for random files. Simplicity is key – your desktop should make you smile, not cry! First, choose a wallpaper that inspires you! Keep your desktop visually tidy, and make it a useful place for your job: decide which items should be kept there, for example pending items, frequently used apps or inspirational documents or pictures. Once the pending items are done, delete them and enjoy the empty and calm space, inviting new creativity.
Finally, don’t forget to delete the contents of your downloads folder – it might contain massive amounts of unnecessary files taking up a lot of valuable space.
Day 2: Email: Unsubscribe from all you don’t read or need
Any newsletters, marketing emails or mailing lists you don’t find interesting or valuable, just ruthlessly scroll down and click the Unsubscribe link. Grouping or sorting your emails by sender might also help with this. Trust me, you will love the new zen look of your inbox and you’ll never go back to the way it was.
Day 3: Clear your inbox in one go
We send and receive way too many emails. Emails are necessary to a certain extent but many of them are usually containing a message growing your to-do list hence creating more stress. Like with the digital documents, firstly decide on the criteria for which emails need to be kept. If you need only an attachment from an email, save it to the appropriate document folder and delete the email. Then the easiest way to get rid of emails is to group or sort them by sender. This way you get a good overview of who’s mainly taking up space in your inbox and you may also delete multiple emails from a particular sender at once or move all messages from a certain sender to a dedicated folder. Once the emails are done you may tackle the existing folders. Again, keep the amount of folders to a minimum (ideally max 10) and use the search function within a folder when looking for a certain message. You might want to consider blocks of email time each day, for example morning and end of day, to allow for full focus on more important tasks in between.
Day 4: Smart phone apps & notifications
We all know how addictive and distracting smart phones can be. They’re designed to increase productivity (and get us hooked!) but if we get too attached it has the opposite effect. The usage and amount of apps might easily get out of hand unless you have a strict self discipline. The fewer apps the fewer distractions you naturally have. Let’s start by cleaning up all your apps and delete all that you don’t even know what they’re for anymore. Again, make sure you align the criteria for apps to keep with your ideal work style vision. This way you’ll make space for those important apps that are needed in your profession and truly spark joy for you! Now it’s time to organise your screen. Divide your apps into simple categories and make separate folders for these categories so you can have a clear overview of your essential apps. Some people like grouping their apps by function, some even by colour, I suggest you always choose the way that works best for you!
The final step is to go through the notifications settings on every app you use and ensure that you are receiving only the absolutely essential ones. This would most likely mean getting rid of a lot of social media notifications, but in return you will get your focus and concentration back! In addition your device’s newly extended battery life might just positively surprise you!
Day 5: Contacts & network on social media
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, phone contacts etc…there are so many different platforms and we actually don’t need to be everywhere. What kind of people do you enjoy spending time with? Which connections do you really need for work? What kind of people might be able to enhance your ideal work vision and goals? Why don’t you continue your tidying journey and use the KonMari Method to go through your contacts and network in order to keep only those that are truly meaningful to you and speak to your heart. You might be surprised at how much lighter you’ll feel and how much easier it is to value and nurture these chosen relationships. Building relations that matter, choosing quality over quantity might just be the icing on the cake, freeing up more mental space for yourself and creating space for truly authentic connections.
Bonus task: Reduce screen time
Yes, smart phones are addictive, but they are also a helpful tool connecting us with family and friends and staying informed about important events. The average person uses a smart phone for several hours per day. It’s no secret that a smart phone may affect your productivity, sleep and even happiness. Getting insights about how much and how often you use your devices might be helpful for your wellbeing, on many levels. Here are some tips to reduce screen time:
* Put your phone away when it’s not needed, ie. during meals and social gatherings
* Use an old school alarm clock instead of your phone and keep it out of your bedroom at night.
* Develop a calming evening routine a couple of hours before bed time without a screen.
* Develop an empowering morning routine hour without a screen.
* Set your screen to greyscale – it makes it less appealing (great tip for kids too!)
* Set an hour or two when no devices are allowed, for example no devices each day after 8 pm
Why is it important to declutter your digital life?
Because you’re worth peace of mind! A beautiful, fulfilled and purposeful life begins with and needs simple things. Like a tidy and contented mind. Or a happily balanced home and career. Be mindful of how you live your life and what brings you joy and calm, both at home and at work. This challenge and these tips are aimed at helping you succeed in decluttering that virtual noise so that you can become more productive, stress less and be able to focus and enjoy what matters most in your daily (work) life. Here less really is more.

This article was first published on the expat blog My Swiss Story, where I am part of the expert editorial panel as the Home Expert. Would you like to contribute as a guest writer? Please contact me.
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Home, Lifestyle, Organising
Live more with less. Create space for a life you love with the KonMari Method.
- 28/06/2020
- 0 comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
From inspiration to transformation
Are you just a tiny bit intrigued by the famous KonMari Method® and what it really does behind the pretty surface? Let me tell you a secret you might not even like to hear. It might look and sound so easy to go through all your belongings and choose to keep only what makes you happy. It isn’t. It’s hard work, both physically, mentally and emotionally, but at the end of the day the rewards are so huge you cannot even imagine you didn’t get started earlier. It’s a little bit like pushing the reset button of your life and getting a whole new start, only this time the game has totally changed.
In what way? You’ve evolved. Your mindset has changed. You’re more aware of what makes you happy and joyful. You’ve let go of things that no longer serve you, may it be belongings, social media, attitudes or relationships. You’ve simplified. You might have become more environmentally aware too. No matter what kind of transformation has occurred you’ve moved on and opened up doors for new things to enter.

Marie Kondo & Helena Zachariassen in London 2019
Are you ready to let go of the excess?
Let me ask you something. Are you tired of clutter? Is there too much clutter at home, in your mind, at work, in your diary..? Too much mental, physical and even digital stuff, too much of every.single.thing? Would you be ready to simplify your home and your life? Then allow me to introduce you to the method of simplifying that will not leave you untouched once you get the ball rolling.
The space I live in is graced only with those things that speak to my heart.
My lifestyle brings me joy.
MARIE KONDO
Myths and basic rules
Let’s also agree that the myths of the KonMari method® are exactly that, myths. It’s not about how many books you’re “allowed” to keep in your bookshelf or how minimalistic your home should become…quite the opposite actually. The objective is that every person decides the right amount of belongings for him/herself, as long as these belongings speak to the heart. It’s about curating Your home and life to suit Your ideal lifestyle.
The six basic rules of the KonMari Method® can be summarised as follows
1. Commit yourself to tidying up
2. Visualise your ideal lifestyle
3. Finish discarding first
4. Tidy by category – not by location
5. Follow the right order
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy
How does it work? And what is a joy check?
Each client starts with a visualisation exercise before digging into the actual work. Why? Because your ideal lifestyle will be the red thread to follow throughout the whole tidying process. Once the vision is clear we start tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items.

Joy checking. You will be going through all of your belongings in the above mentioned specific order, re-evaluating your relationship with them and keeping only those items that truly spark joy. Finally you will then choose a ‘home’ for every item from then on so you will always know where to find it as well as return it after use. Remember that the ideal amount of belongings will differ for each individual.
What about pretty boxes and storage solutions?
The final storage solutions always come last once we know how much there is left to store. A lot of times there is more than enough storage space when you’re done decluttering, and you can also choose to repurpose boxes and containers in so many ways.

The result
So how long does it take? Anything between a few weeks and 6 months, depending on the size of the household and the scope of the project. By following these steps you will be introduced to tips and tricks along the way on how to tackle your clutter and start living a happier, simpler and lighter life that truly sparks joy. You will learn how to maximise functionality and minimise clutter, forever. And it’s being done in one go, because once you’ve done the whole house you will never go back to the way it was.
The outcome of this process is unique for each unique individual. It might be a life changing transformation. It might have inspired you to minimise your wardrobe or change your morning routine or bring change into that one tiny area of your life that you’re not so happy with. Or make yourself a power spot at home. No matter the outcome, with time this way of life will sprinkle its way into other areas of your life and spread its wings of joy and happiness everywhere. Are you ready to give it a go?
Being organised isn’t about getting rid of everything you own or trying to become a different person. It’s about living the way you want to live, but better.
ANDREW MELLEN
Are you enjoying my tips? I invite you to sign up for my Newsletter to read more about simplifying, home organising, a well balanced happy home and nordic living. Alternatively you can head over to my Instagram for more inspiration. Stay tuned for some KonMari inspired summer tips..coming soon!

xx
Helena
This article was first published on the expat blog My Swiss Story, where I am part of the expert editorial panel as the Home Expert. Would you like to contribute as a guest writer? Please contact me.
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General, Home, Lifestyle
Meet Helena – The Founder of My Happy Home
- 14/06/2020
- 1 Comment
- by Helena Zachariassen
Hello friends, I’m Helena Zachariassen, a certified KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach and founder of My Happy Home. I was born and raised in Finland, the Nordic country of pure, quiet and beautiful wilderness. I’m a total Scandi girl at heart, with a long and difficult-to-pronounce Danish surname, nevertheless loving and embracing all of the opportunities and life lessons living abroad offers. Growing up in the north and spending all my summers on a lonely but beautiful island in the archipelago made me become deeply inspired by nature, beauty and simplicity and learn to respect and honour our precious environment.

Since 2011 I live in beautiful Switzerland, close to Zurich, with my husband and 2 young children. Before that, I used to live in 5 other European countries and I believe I have a wide understanding of most expat challenges by now… ?

Q: Tell us about your work
After spending most of my adult life in the corporate world of international business consulting supporting people in their professional development I became a mom and life changed over night. In the following years navigating a new world abroad, with two small children and no support network at hand, I was turning inwards to find my own life mission and purpose career wise. I discovered the KonMari Method® in 2016 and within a few years from this first discovery I got to meet Marie Kondo, became a certified KonMari Consultant and I was able to combine my passions and finally become an entrepreneur doing what I love!
The KonMari Method® is all about getting to know your ideal lifestyle, and let this vision guide you in choosing joy, not only with regards to your belongings, but in all areas of life. As a Lifestyle Coach I’m passionate about supporting, empowering and inspiring people of any walk of life to simplify and transform their lives by organising their living spaces according to the KonMari Method®. If you feel overwhelmed with stuff and chaos, in other words mental and physical clutter, and you don’t know where to start or are longing for a place to call your own haven of harmony I’m your go-to person. I will hold your hand, lovingly curate and create space for a home and life you’ll love. In our individual in-home sessions (or alternatively virtual sessions!) I will teach you how to minimise clutter and maximise functionality, forever. In addition I consult you with decorating any space you feel needs a face lift or simply just re-arranging or re-purposing what you already have.
The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.
MARIE KONDO
Q: What’s a day like in your heels?
I used to wear heels to work daily, I even cycled to work in heels when I was living in Copenhagen, a true bike heaven! However, as a mother of two running around from hobbies to playgrounds and nowadays as an entrepreneur having a very hands-on job, I mostly wear flats and comfy shoes, that I totally love.
No day is the same in our busy household. Usually my husband travels a lot, and I’m the one juggling and managing the daily home life as well as my business. Some days I have half or full day client sessions and some days I work behind the scenes creating content, photographing, writing and learning new skills for myself and my clients. Other days I spend my time as full time driver, teacher, coach, nurse and chef to my tiny humans.
To add some more fun to the weekly puzzle I also work part-time as Community Manager for Mom in Balance Switzerland, whose mission is to keep women and moms (to be) fit and in great shape through challenging and fun outdoor workouts. Such a fun and energising concept I can hardly believe I’ve been part of it for almost 7 years already.
My kids are my biggest joy as well as my daily teachers. I love spending time with them, but I equally love getting some needed me-time, no matter if it’s work related or simply talking to a friend over the phone. We’re so lucky to have found some lovely Au pairs, who have helped and supported our family through these busy years. What’s essential to me is that I’m able to be flexible with my work and be at home when the kids need me, especially if their dad is travelling.
Q: What can our readers expect from you?
I love to share ideas and inspire! Especially on all things home related, may it be tidying and decluttering, organising, simplifying, beautiful interior ideas or simply some life coaching tips for a happy home or a joyful thought. I truly hope that you as my readers will get inspiration from me and my own experiences in simplifying, juggling work and family life as well as find beauty, harmony and joy in your everyday lives.
Q: Tell us some fun facts about you
* As the only girl with 3 brothers, I wished I was a boy too and refused to wear any dress when I was little. Later on I actually really missed having a sister!
* I love my morning coffee, even if I rarely manage to drink it warm
* Red wine and salty liquorice chocolate are my real treats
* I used to be a gymnast and later on a gymnastics coach for young girls. I can (almost) still do the split!
* I used to be cabin crew for one summer for the Finnish airline Finnair
* I used to sing in the Helsinki University female voice choir Lyran for 10 years
* I speak about 6 languages (Swedish and any Scandi language, Finnish, English, German and French).
Q: What do you do when you’re not working?
Being with kids is amazingly rewarding but also exhausting and without sports and exercise I couldn’t function properly.
Whether I do a sweaty workout (which I love!), take a walk or run in nature, a hike in the mountains or a ski day out on the slopes, I’m in my element. I also love spending time with good friends, sharing a meal, a deep conversation, laughter and a glass of bubbly or two. And if I really want to wind down, I start folding clothes or I start an organising project, which are both amazingly therapeutical and I can lose myself completely in it.
Through the right amount of tidiness both in our homes and in our minds together with healthy nutrition, exercise to keep you fit and enough rest, I strongly believe that you will have more energy and be able to live a happier and lighter life focusing on what matters most for you.
“Tidying your home and life is like an artichoke.
Little by little you peel the layers away and with time you reveal the heart of it all.”
Helena Zachariassen
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xo
Helena
This article was first published on the expat blog My Swiss Story, where I am part of the expert editorial panel as the Home Expert. Would you like to contribute as a guest writer? Please contact me.
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Family, Home, Lifestyle
8 Easy Steps To Win Chaos and Enjoy Harmony In My Happy Home During Quarantine Times And Beyond
- 12/05/2020
- 0 comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
So we’ve all been at home with the family for weeks in a row now, some enjoying it enormously while others are going nuts. The Internet instantly got inundated with funny videos about moms getting grey hair in no time and drinking wine for breakfast. How were we, over night, to cope with working from home and at the same time becoming teachers, IT support, chefs, housekeepers, fitness instructors, nurses, coaches, mediators not to mention remembering there might also be a partner in the equation? Is there a way to truly enjoy the quarantine instead of getting on each others’ nerves every 5 minutes? I believe so.
Honestly, there is no right or wrong. The simple truth is that both of these worlds and feelings are profoundly ok, even if they some days might take us by surprise and happen all at once! The most important thing is to acknowledge them and at the end of the day, accept them for what they are. Feelings. We are not our feelings. Let’s allow them to come and go. Just like the waves of the ocean. You create your own haven of harmony.
I have 2 young kids, who are now 7 and 4. I love them to bits but with those two a beautiful chaos called life moved in too and hasn’t left since! However, these kids are the purest of joy gifts, and they’ve taught me more than anything that less is more, on so many levels. In the past few years I’ve decluttered our home and my life so thoroughly that I found my missing peace of the puzzle, became an entrepreneur as a KonMari Consultant & Lifestyle Coach in one go and I now support others choosing joy, organising and creating a home they truly love by simplifying their lives too. And I absolutely love what I do.

What does it mean to simplify?
Simplifying and decluttering your life is like an artichoke. Little by little you peel the layers away and with time you reveal the heart of it all. The things that truly matter in life. Are you able to see beyond what you already have in life? Gratitude goes such a long way and being able to cherish, appreciate and enjoy what is already there in front of our eyes. I’ve put together an introduction to simplifying your life, with small, easy manageable steps, doable during a quarantine or after. Whenever you feel the time is right.

1. Take down the expectations a level or two
You can’t expect as much from yourself and each other as before the lockdown. You still only have 24 hours in a day and one pair of hands. Relax and take a break. You’re perfectly imperfect just as you are.
2. Presence & grounding
To reduce any potential stress levels the first step for you to do is turn off your phone and decide what kind of (stay-at-home) life you really want and need right now. Sit with the thought and let the answers come to you. Your intuition will help you find the most important things for you. Invite your kids to do the same during a quiet moment. The next step is to take out everything that isn’t what you want right now. And I don’t mean physical items only. We’re talking about social media, TV, the flow of (bad) news, junk food, negative people…you name it.
3. Minimise your to-do list
It’s not the end of the world if you haven’t finished your never ending to-do list or that the kids’ homework is not perfectly done every single day. Do me a favour, cut down your to-do list to only a few carefully selected items for each day. You will notice how much more feasible it feels and maybe you tick them off quicker than you’d expected? Regardless: you are still enough even if you don’t finish a single thing.
4. Gratitude and togetherness
It’s really helped my family to hold regular family gratitude moments to share and truly listen to each other, even if the needs are quite basic for the small ones, they might mean the world to them! The biggest wish for the kids has mainly been about doing a small activity together, all 4 of us. It’s the little things that matter most.
5. A tidy home truly equals a tidy mind
Clutter is simply anything that stands between you and your ideal lifestyle. Your home can be perfectly tidy and still filled with clutter. Or it can also be filled with things and still provide an ideal source of growth. We’re all unique and one size does not fit all of us. Simplifying is not about minimalism, the amount of belongings or how it looks. What matters is how all these things help and support you move towards your ideal lifestyle. Think about how your home and environment make you feel? If you could get from feelings of overwhelm, maybe even hopelessness to light, happy, airy and joyful…would you do it? Lead by example for your family and start with any small (or big) tidying project that support you feeling amazing in your home. Tidying is contagious, you might be surprised…

6. Be more with less
Be mindful about what comes in to your home. Shop less if you can, and if you do need to shop, be aware, do some research on the origin, material of the items and working conditions. Make sure you choose well, long lasting and environmentally friendly. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose is a concept that works perfectly well in any household, especially when you don’t have direct access to shops right now. And honestly, the less material possessions you own the easier your home and life is to manage and maintain.
7. Tidy tips and slow living
When your home gets (too) messy invite your kids and family to take responsibility of a task or area, share the tasks and be involved. Let each family member visualise their ideal home and make a list of the most important organising goals for everyone. Make a visual list if helpful. Make sure that all things are returned to their homes after being used. As soon as people start leaving things around it will quickly get untidy. Ultimately the aim is to have less to do and to do more of what makes everyone happy!
8. Find your inner Sisu
Sisu is Finnish and has been defined as the word almost describing Finland. It has a vast amount of different meanings, from having guts to strength of will, determination and perseverance to sustaining courage. Sisu is in my Finnish DNA, it’s almost magical to us. Whatever your worries may be, find your inner Sisu – it will encourage and help you face your challenges.

For more tips on home organising, a well balanced happy home and nordic living head over to my blog, visit my website and/or follow me on Instagram.
Stay healthy and happy in your homes!
xo,
Helena
This article was first published in a new, inspirational online magazine called Rich Woman Magazine. Take a look!

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Family, Home, Lifestyle
5 tips to keep your family home organised during lockdown
- 20/04/2020
- 0 comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
Our new normal is anything but normal, but also different depending on who you talk to. Is it possible for a family to keep a home tidy and organised during a lockdown? Yes! With a positive mindset and a ‘we can do this together’ attitude anything is possible.
Even though, being a KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach myself and a fond advocate of the huge benefits of the KonMari Method®, I would always suggest that everyone should start their simplifying journey with reducing the amount of their belongings, I’m not asking you to do that. If decluttering is indeed something you do want to embark on, get started with joy checking your clothes and keep going, I will cheer you on and support you in any way I can! But if you feel that even thinking about a decluttering project is too overwhelming right now, let’s just focus on realistic, small and manageable steps to do as a family.
To reduce stress levels the first step for you to do is decide what kind of stay-at-home life you really want and need right now. Sit with the thought and let the answers come to you. Your intuition will help you find the most important things for you. Invite your kids to do the same during a quiet moment. The next step is to take out everything that isn’t what you want right now. And I don’t mean physical items only. We’re talking about social media, TV, the flow of (bad) news, junk food, negative people…you name it.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Hold a family meeting about your ideal organised home life and commit
Let each family member visualise their ideal home and make a list of the most important organising goals for everyone. One goal per family member is enough. Keep the final list visible at all times and respect each other’s wishes at all times.

An example list could look something like this:
* Make your own bed every morning
* Hang jackets and put away shoes to keep the entrance tidy and clutter free
* Put all dirty dishes in the dishwasher straight after use
* Tidy away school books/work items straight after having finished
* Tidy all toys back to their homes before dinner
2. Lead by example
Kids naturally love order, but they need help with learning HOW to be orderly. Show them how to be tidy and organised. Start by tidying yourself. Maybe fold your clothes the KonMari way and save tons of storage space would help your daily routine? If your kids are anything like mine they will ask what you’re doing and want to have a tidy closet, toy basket or room themselves. It’s so much fun to tidy together – make it into a game and you will find that you’re actually starting to enjoy tidying together!

3. Make sure that all things are returned to their home after being used
This is the Ultimate Tidy Tip. As soon as people start leaving things around it will get messy and untidy. Help the family by identifying a home for all items. Store likes with likes and label your shelves, boxes and baskets if you’re into that kind of thing. For small kids a picture on a box will help them recognise the right home for their different toys and makes it a fun task instead of a boring chore.

4. Responsibility
Make every family member responsible for a task/room/a small area to keep tidy on a daily basis, depending on age. This makes children feel responsible and they will feel so proud being able to manage their own task. If needed and age appropriate you can add a daily reward chart to follow how well the tasks are going and maybe pay a small salary for a job well done at the end of the week. At the same time you teach your kids how to work smart and earn money. Win-win.

5. Personal space & power spot
Make sure all family members have their own working space during the day, even if you all sit around the kitchen table, as well as their own power spot. A power spot is a space where everyone can go to find peace and get some important me-time, surrounded by a few of their most cherished belongings that bring them joy. When the favourite items are always kept at the personal power spot they will a) always be easily found and they will b) not be floating around the house either and needing to be tidied away.

My final tip is my personal favourite. Simple yet so enjoyable. Bring in fresh flowers if you are able to find any! They will brighten up any space and make it look lighter, happy and updated.

For more tips on home organising, a well balanced happy home and nordic living head over to my blog, visit my website and/or follow me on Instagram. And please don’t hesitate to share this blog with anyone you think might like learning more about these topics.
Stay positive, stay healthy!
xx
Helena
This article post was first published on My Swiss Story, where you will find amazing resources and stories about expat life in Switzerland!
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General, Home, Lifestyle
4 simple things that make a Happy Home
- 02/04/2020
- 10 Comments
- by Helena Zachariassen
I’ve wanted to write a book for as long as I can remember. But life happened and my writing never even started properly. I didn’t even know in which language to write! My third language feels so natural now I guess it’s fairly safe to start. One of my biggest inspirations is our kids’ former granny nanny Enni, a dear friend, who during her nanny year with us started blogging, at the age of 60. She’s still my every day heroine and oftentimes I find myself thinking, what would Enni say or encourage me to do now. I think she would love reading this blog, my blog.
In these turbulent coronavirus times of staying at home, I needed a change. Just a small one, something realistic, inspirational and joyful. Something for me. So I decided to give blogging a go! I will share my thoughts about the big and small things in life that inspire me. Home, family, my work as a KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach, things I love from my Scandinavian and Nordic roots, sports, wellbeing and other stories..

What makes a Happy Home?
Health, Love, Laughter and Simplicity. Seriously, it is that simple. It’s not stuff, it’s not clothes or designer furniture or a fancy car or any of the things we’re being urged to buy everywhere. All. The. Time. Somewhere in the race we’ve lost the fundamentals. The essentials of being human. If this crisis has brought us something positive it’s exactly this. Time for people to re-examine their lives and what matters most.
1. Health
We have only one life. Be gentle and kind to yourself and others. Be bold, take chances, dare to live and love and make mistakes. We all do, that’s human.

2. Love
Love is all around us and within us. Just breathe, still yourself and quieten the chatter in your mind. Look around you and you’ll notice. It’s the magic of life and love out there. The more generously you give out, the more you receive.

3. Laughter
Laughing is honestly so good for you. Research shows that laughter, especially in a group, decreases our stress levels and boosts our immune system. What easier and better way is there to boost your health?

Humour is mankind’s greatest blessing.
MARK TWAIN
4. Simplicity
Do you see beyond what you already have in life? Gratitude goes such a long way. The simple truth is that the less you own the easier your home and life is to maintain. A tidy home truly equals a tidy mind.

WELCOME to my blog dear reader and friend. I’d love to hear any feedback you might have and any topic ideas you would like me to cover.
Read more about me here or follow me on Instagram.
Stay Safe, Healthy and Happy in Your Homes,
xo
Helena

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