Part 1: Love Your Space, Love Your Job: a 10 Step Refresh [Reset Your Relationship with Reselling In 2025]

It started as a dream: shopping! Working from home! Packing cute little orders for happy customers! Thank you stickers!

But then reality crept in: piles of clothes with problems. Unhappy customers. Endlessly pricey supply restocks: tissue paper, lint rolls, and those damned Thank You stickers.

What happened? And what can you do about it?

The upside of having all the responsibility of working for yourself is that you also have freedom: freedom to work when you want, how you want, in the environment you want. So let's start reshaping things.

In this series we'll address key trouble spots of the reselling lifestyle and help you make intentional choices to boost your happiness, productivity, and quality of life.

Let's do it!

This series post is about ~space~: yours, to be exact.

A very wise woman (okay fine, it's my therapist) once said: never underestimate the power of environment.

While it's true that willpower is an important part of getting where you want in life, it's also undeniable that setting the scene can expedite things a bit.

At the risk of sounding bro-podcasty, Atomic Habits by James Clear makes an excellent case for this. He writes that reminders of who you are (ahem, who you want to be, anyway) can shape your behavior, because we as humans like consistency, and hate cognitive dissonance. If you want to run more, dressing, eating, and stretching like a runner will tip momentum in your favor, because you  start to reshape your identity as a person who runs.

Real talk: I realized about six months ago that my environment was that of a person who is overwhelmed by their death piles, is barely squeaking by financially, and hates reselling. As evidenced by said death piles, shabby work area, and ugly, messy space.

I didn't feel like I deserved a better workspace until I tackled my death piles, but I did something very out of nature for myself: I rewarded myself with environmental upgrades before achieving any of my reselling goals. And frankly, it's changed how I feel about my business, as well as how I've started running it.

Your approach may be different, but here's what I did--and I didn't spend much money:

• I emptied and cleaned my space. You'd be amazed what freshly mopped floors, laundered curtains, and dusted woodwork can do for your spirits.

• before putting stuff back, I imagined zones for what actions I wanted to do and in what areas (for example, I wanted my order-packing-table to have tape, scissors, lint rollers, and my label printer to my right, and a shelf of packing supplies (boxes/envelopes/tissue paper) directly behind me). This would mean being able to pack orders without having to walk out of my workspace.
• I made a few small, specific purchases for problems I noticed (ex: for sore feet from standing a long time, a fatigue reducing mat for the spot I put away inventory and pack orders in)

• I put back ONLY the essential stuff, like a rolling cart near my photo area for tools, and got rid of random crap (I moved my sewing stuff out because in reality, I never sew in my photo area!)
• I used the space created by removal of ~random crap~ to add in quality of life improvers, most of which I already owned: a bluetooth speaker, a stand for my tablet, PLANTS (so many plants), a mug warmer I found in a drawer (no more cold coffee!), a scented candle, and a few vintage Vogue prints I found at the thrift store and hadn't yet hung up.

The change has been huge. Now when I think about starting work, I think about being surrounding by plants, sipping a hot coffee, playing an audio book or podcast, and burning a lovely candle. You can imagine what this has done for my productivity, but more importantly, how I feel all day working.

Thinking of hitting the reset button on your workspace? Here are 10 steps to get you started.

1. Get a fresh start by emptying your space.

It's important to get EVERYTHING out, so your imagination can do its thing. Maybe a completely different set up is in order, but you won't be able to picture it without a blank canvas.

2. Clean.

Dust, vacuum, mop, wash windows, etc.

3. Envision your ideal work flow.

What activities does it make sense to do in here, and how can you streamline the movements as much as possible? Think too about what to subtract--does it make sense to prep items for photos in the same area you pack in, or right near your photo booth?

4. Arrange your space into work zones with efficiency in mind.

Invest in ergonomic upgrades as needed. You can't be happy at work if you're in pain.

5. Only put back what you need, and what you love.

Get ruthless about ditching what no longer serves you. Now is the time to donate that rug runner you always trip over, or replace your wonky steamer.

6. Find online inspo or just daydream about a space you’d love to work in.

What are the key elements you find yourself drawn to? It might be lots of open space and clear surfaces, greenery, girly touches, or artwork. How can you start incorporating elements of this right now? A few steps toward the look and feel you want can trigger a landslide over time. Don't underestimate them.

7. Use your senses to start building your ideal workspace.

What does is smell like? What’s the temperature? What amenities are at hand? What do you hear? What are the colors? A small space heater, scent diffuser, speaker set, or fresh coat of paint might make a colossal difference.

8. Tackle trouble spots.

Is there nowhere to put a drink? Are you traveling a lot for a certain task? Is the room too dark to see what you're doing clearly?

9. Plan future treats.

Make a list of a few “must have” purchases that you'll need to save up for, and for “nice to haves,” create a wish list to bring on thrifting trips with you. It's giving scavenger hunt!

10. Observe, adjust, repeat.

Your needs might shift, your tastes might change; stay in touch with what you like and how you feel during the day to keep your space functional as your business grows.

Did I miss anything? Do you believe in the power of environment, or is this sounding bratty? Please advise in the comments below. And take care of yourself--you're the magic, babe!

Love and magic,

Cathy@ClosetWitch