Clear Space Clear Mind

This week is episode 6 of the Weighting Room Podcast: Clear Space Clear Mind. My co-host, Sarah and I chat about the benefits of decluttering. Is your home and your work space filled with too much stuff? Do you misplace things regularly? Do you feel unorganized or overwhelmed? Clearing clutter is one of the simplest things you can do to move your life forward. You want to release the old to make room for the new. And we don’t mean buying new things, we mean new and exciting things coming into your life. When it comes to creating a lifestyle change such as losing weight and getting healthier, it’s no different – clear your space, purge, get rid of the shit that is holding you back.

A good place to start is often the kitchen where lurking in the back of the pantry and assorted cupboards are out of date pasta, spices, sauces and such. I have a list of essential pantry items for those who like to cook and/or do cook that I hope can be useful. I’m on a mission to use up the curry pastes and other jarred items that have been loitering in my fridge far too long. I’m getting rid of appliances I never use, plates, bowls, utensils and…especially dealing with the Tupperware cupboard. Not that I have any Tupperware nowadays opting for glass containers that don’t stain, smell or warp in the dishwasher. I’ve decided that event though cooking is my career, I don’t need 16 cutting boards – apart from ones I use for props for my food styling and photography. This shot of what I think is a butler’s pantry sadly isn’t mind – one can only wish.

I’m challenging myself this month to purge in quite a full-scale way. But I feel it necessary to share that I am quite good at not holding onto things that don’t serve me, I don’t use, love or have a deep sentimental reason for keeping. Even though I consider myself quite good at purging, true minimalists would disagree. I have those cupboards that I hate opening but have to because I know somewhere in there is the needle and thread required to alter Ramsey’s coat or sew on a button. They’re all getting a clean this month. What I have done is written the numbers from one to 28 on little pieces of paper and put them into a jar. Every morning, or evening depending on my schedule, I pick a number out and clear out that many things. I either donate, recycle or sell. The latter of which I’ve little patience. So here it is, day six and I’ve purged over 100 things – yes, I’ve been pulling out the twenties.

Another great place to start is your closet. Be honest with yourself. I’ve had a handbag fetish for years and had a collection. 99% of which I didn’t use. I’m now down to a few good quality bags I love and use both for general use and travel.

In keeping with my pairing down, simplifying and more of a minimalistic lifestyle, my recipes will reflect this too. At least that is my plan. I’ve prided myself on being a ‘from-scratch’ cook and a big advocate for that. But there are some ingredients, such as a good curry paste, that are helpful in simplifying one’s life. That doesn’t mean I will never make a good curry from scratch with toasted the spices and grinding them myself, on a day to day basis, it isn’t necessary. And I’m okay with that. A one-pan-meal also helps to simplify life by leaving a little more time in the day for things you love…apart from cooking. So here’s in a recipe called One-Pan Lemon Shrimp and Orzo that has been so popular on my website. Try it and let me know how you liked it and whether it saved you a little time. I love that it makes a wholesome midweek meal and yet serve it with some crusty bread, a salad and wine and you’ve got a banging easy meal for entertaining too.

If you want to keep up with my progress on my February purging, tune in to our podcast. The Weighting Room Podcast can be found on several major podcast platforms. Here’s a list of them. Make sure to follow us on Instagram – @the-weighting-room-podcast. And subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. Tune into episode seven next week when we talk about caring for yourself as a parent and finding time in the chaos.