From the Desk of Nettio Designs Issue No. 14
The past two weeks my husband Adam and I have been busy moving from San Antonio, TX to Houston, TX. Being a military family, we’re certainly no strangers to moving, especially considering this was move number five in just under eight years. But despite being one of the shortest moves distance-wise we’ve done – no new states or countries involved! – this move was by far on of our craziest.
But thankfully we’ve managed to dig ourselves out from the piles and piles of boxes and now that life is feeling a bit more settled, I’m starting to get excited about our new adventure and the creative opportunities hidden within.
One of the things I love most about moving is the opportunity to start fresh with a clean slate. There are few things more inspiring for me as a memory keeper than a new home in a new city, ripe with the possibility for new adventures, photo opportunities and memories. Moving pushes me to look at everyday life with fresh eyes and even the most mundane tasks, like taking a trip to Target or cooking dinner can suddenly seem interesting when paired with a new environment.
But let’s face it, unless you’re living a modern-day nomadic lifestyle like I am, odds are you probably aren’t going to be packing up and moving every few years. So how can you take advantage of a fresh start without the hassle and stress of actually moving?
Well here are a few ideas:
1) Switch up your scrap time
If you normally scrapbook first thing in the morning, try scrapbooking at night. If you’re a night owl, try scrapbooking first thing in the morning! The change in lighting and mood may just push your pages in a fun new direction.
2) Scrapbook from a different location
Do you always scrapbook from the same exact spot in the same room of your house? For a change of pace, try switching up your scenery. If you have the luxury of a laptop, go to a crop or spend an hour scrapbooking in a coffee shop. Desktop lover? Move your computer to a new room in the house for a little bit. Even if all you do is moving from the living area to the bedroom for a day, the new view can do your creativity good.
3) Go on a vacation
Vacations are one of my personal favorite ways to get a fresh start because they’re basically like a short, non-permanant move. Even if you don’t have the luxury of a three week trip to Europe or a seven day cruise to the Bahamas, spend a weekend camping at the lake or even an afternoon visiting a new-to-you place in your hometown. The downtime and break from your normal day-to-day routine paired with some fresh new memories is sure to jumpstart your creativity.
By nature, we are creatures of habit. Our brains love routine, repetition and pattern because let’s face it, it’s less work for them! That’s why starting with a clean slate can be so inspiring. Because it forces your brain to take a fresh look at your surroundings and see new ideas & connections. Even if you only step away for an afternoon or a day, it’s sure to give your creative process a quick boost.
Well now that you’ve heard a little bit about what I’ve been up to, I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to! Any other fellow movers out there?
So envious of your PCS… We have another 15 months on our current tour and we are SOOOO ready to move on!
I agree that one of my favorite parts of our ‘nomadic’ lifestyle is exploring new areas and going on new adventures (especially when I get to photograph and scrap them).
Enjoy exploring Houston!
Thanks Amy! Where are you stationed now?
We’re at Langley AFB right now, but DH just got unaccompanied orders to Korea (like an hour ago), so our 15 months just be came 8. :). (If we get the follow on we want the kids and I will move up there ahead of him leaving.)
Glad to hear that you are on the other side of your move. Sometimes I think that moving short distances are some of the hardest because I don’t always pack everything properly. I say to myself – I’ll just pop this in the car…. and then everything is all over the place. Hope that life settles down for you.