Wishing you an imperfect Holiday

My wish for you this Season is for things to be imperfect.
 And for you to be okay with it.

In fact, for you to  find joy in things not looking like the advertisements.
For you to be touched by people's misguided gifts.
I wish you might relax enough to be amused by your family interactions, not threatened or angry.

I wish that you could see how charmed the people who love you are by your imperfections.
That it's really okay that your life is a little messy, and you truly are doing the best you can at this moment.

Hidden under the pile of wrapping paper, the tangle of ribbons, the powdered sugar dust on the cookie plate,
tucked into the small moments of joy and satisfaction,
centered in the laughter and nostalgia, is what truly makes the season Merry and Bright:
Love for ourselves and our good wishes for others.

Wishing you Peace in your Heart.
And a Perfectly Imperfect Christmas.

Comfort and Joy

What gives you Comfort?  Who gives you Joy?
What gives you Joy? Who gives you Comfort?

Over the next week consider where you find Comfort and Joy in you life.

Is it time with friends?
A cup of tea and a gingerbread man?
Sharing your time and talents?
Laughing out loud with family?
Stockings hung by the chimney with care?

Spend time with the people and activities that truly mean something to you.

Feel Comforted.
Open up to Joy.

Give yourself the gift of paying attention to what moves your heart.

That's where you'll find the real magic of the Season.
And a glimpse of Peace on Earth.....

Presence, not presents.

This month seems to center around the giving of presents.
Take a moment and consider the gift of your presence.

Most mental clutter is a result of worrying about the past or planning for the future.
Our minds love to engage us with stories of what should have been, could have been, might be, and if only.

We fail to notice who and what is right in front of us.
We listen with half an ear, planning our next comment, or considering what's left on our to do list.

By taking a breath, pausing and paying attention to this moment, this person we are with, this gift we are wrapping,
the way the lights glow on the tree, the words to the carols, the taste of the cookie, the smell of the tea; we practice being present.
(It is a practice.  It needs a lifetime of repetition......)

This month give the gift of your presence.
Pay attention to this moment.
This conversation.
Pause in the rushing.
Feel connected.

Your presence is your most heartfelt gift.

The race is on!

The Holiday Marathon has begun.  

Shopping and  wrapping and baking and decorating and parties and pot lucks and gift exchanges and travel plans and traditions and, and, and.
Exhausting to think about and impossible to not feel like you're behind before you've even begun. 

If you've been engaged in the process of decluttering your life,
if you've made some much needed space in your home,
if you're trying to have a simpler more connected life,
then step away from the December More is better Madness.

Take a breath.
Decide who and what about the Season has meaning for you.
Concentrate on doing one or two things that warm your heart and reflect your kindest intentions.

Bake one kind of cookie.
Decorate just the tree.
Offer your regrets to the party hostess.
Give fewer gifts.  (Most people don't need another pig for their collection)
Turn off the television.
Sit quietly with just a candle burning.
Be grateful.  

It's only a race if you choose to run.
Walking will get you to the same destination,
with more time to enjoy the sights and sounds along the way.

Give

Give thanks.
Give compliments.
Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Give someone your full attention.
Give up trying to be perfect.
Give from your heart.

Have a meaningful Holiday.
It's your choice.

Oh, and Unstuff a turkey too if you get a chance!

Ah...the Junk Drawer

Most kitchens have them.
The drawer that is stuffed, crammed, filled with this and that, random little bits, anonymous pieces, parts and pennies, pencils and the cat's collar.

The repository for the 'I don't know so I'll shove it in here', Justin Cases's things, and the it's too far to put it where it really lives, so now it is out of sight and out of mind.

Is that really the best use of such valuable real estate in your already crowded kitchen?
Even though you think you'll look there to find the tiny screw that holds the thingy bob together, or the extra flash light bulb or the key to the -oh dear, what is that key for?

There's a reason it's called the Junk Drawer.

Today's mission is to ditch the junk, keep what you really use and need, and arrange the drawer so you can see what you have and where to put it  when you're finished with it.

So pull out the drawer, dump it out on the counter top or table and start sorting.
You'll need the trash close by, along with the recycle.
Make groups/piles of like items.  Pens and pencils, loose change, batteries, rubber bands, miscellaneous nuts/bolts/screws...
Let the mystery items go. (It'll be okay, I promise.)

Surveying your groups, what really needs to go back into the drawer?  And of those items, how many of each?
Are there are other places in the house that make better storage sense?  Your office?  The medicine cabinet?  The tool box?

Could some of the items live in an over the door clear shoe organizer-perhaps on the back of the door leading to the garage?
Those items would still be readily accessible and visible.
Think small tools with small tools, flashlights and their batteries together, etc.

Find logical homes for things.  Store like with like.

Consider a drawer organizer for the things you've decided to keep in that drawer.

Having dedicated spaces for items will keeps the drawer from reverting to the mess it was.

The next time you're tempted to just toss something into the junk drawer,
pause and ask yourself:
  Why am I keeping this?
  If I really do need to keep this; is this its best home?

Sorting, prioritizing and organizing even one drawer in your home makes a difference.
Try it.
You'll be happy faced with the results.

Being wrong.

Some people think “learning” is “knowing.”
But that’s not learning; that’s repeating what you know.
Learning is not knowing. Learning is getting a lot of things “wrong.”

Don’t prepare yourself against surprise and not knowing; prepare yourself FOR surprise–say “I don’t know” or “I was wrong” more often. It liberates you from perfectionism.   Patti Digh

Plugged in

but not always connected.

Smart phones and iPads, Facebook and Twitter, podcasts and email, Words with Friends and the nightly news, and and and....
Some devices may indeed be wireless-but we're still tethered.

Once again, more isn't necessarily better-it's just more.
The constantly available stream of information, updates, images, sound bites as well as requests to Like, Friend, LinkIn, support and forward can be overwhelming.

How do you know when it has all become too much?
Just like with other clutter in our lives we need to take a giant step back, take a breath and decide:
Is this how and where I want to spend my limited time and energy?
Does this connection add value to my life and relationships?
Do I have room (mentally and emotionally) for this in my life?
Is keeping up with all this across the cyber world interfering with me making real live connections?

Only you know how much is enough for you.
If you're unsure or perhaps unaware of whether you're connected or just plugged in-try unplugging for a while and see how you feel.
Turn off the radio on your commute.
Only check Facebook once a day.
Make Wednesday TV free.
Leave your phone in the car the next time you go out to dinner.
Call your friend instead of texting.

A less cluttered life isn't just about dealing with the junk mail or hanging up your coat instead of dropping it on the chair-
it's about making decisions about all the interwoven, over lapping, amazingly complex as well as obviously simple aspects of our lives.
And the choices are all yours.

Your collections.

Collect moments.
Not things.

Shoulding on yourself.

Eww....
How many of our thoughts begin with "I should.........."
I should get more sleep. I should eat better.  I should get more exercise. I should learn to meditate.
I should be thinner, richer, kinder, smarter, more successful, a better friend, parent, co worker.
I should be doing more, having more, being more.

Where did those expectations of behaviors come from?
How was it decided that those results are important to you and what gives your life meaning and joy?
Despite the constant Should Tape looping in your mind, why is it that so many of those things never happen?

The next time the Should Whisperer leans in and tries wielding their Should Stick, pause.
Take a breath.
Figure out just who or what is actually behind that urging.
What voice from your past, or the media, or self help book, or younger you is fueling the Whisperer's insistence.

The problem isn't the actions or the results you're hoping to achieve.
The problem is in automatically assuming that all those Shoulds will make your life happier, easier, more successful.
Letting go of the Shoulds happens when you consciously decide which things really are important to you.

You only have a limited amount of time and energy-where do you want to spend it?
And who do you want to spend it with?

Let go of the shoulds that make you feel ewwww....
Decide for yourself, for the life you want to be living now, which actions you want to take.
And begin taking small steps in that direction.
Maybe:
Go to bed fifteen minutes earlier.
Have an apple.
Call a friend and meet for coffee.
Walk around the block at lunch time.
Spend ten minutes in silence on the drive to work.

It's your one true life.
Mindfully choose how you want to be living it.

Simple, but not necessarily easy.

Decide what is important.  Let go of everything else.
Sounds simple enough, but it isn't always easy.

Things we've purchased, gifts we've received, sentimental items, relationships, beliefs, all of Justin Case's stuff.

Although we've committed to having a less cluttered life, moving from desire to action requires more thought and effort than we initially realized.

Some times the letting go is easy-the ugly clothes, the books we'll never read, or the telephone bills from three years ago.

Other choices present us with reminders of who we used to be, things we thought we might enjoy, people who are no longer in our lives, unnecessary or duplicate purchases, and gifts we don't need or even like, but have felt obligated to keep.

It is when we are faced with these harder choices when we need to remember the simple part.
What you want is a simpler life.
A life that holds only what important and supports the life and activities you truly love.
A life of connection and meaningful relationships.
However that looks to you.

Only you get to decide what things resonate with you.
What clothes make you feel fabulous.
Which gifts bring you joy and warm your heart to the giver.
What supplies allow you to make the art you want to create.
How many _______ is enough to make you feel you have an abundant and full life.

It is only clutter if it gets in the way of you having your one best life.

Actually quite simple if you pause and take the time to really think about it.........

Process/Results

What we want is a less cluttered life.
What we sometimes forget is that the process to get there is just as important and interesting as the results.

It is through the sorting and deciding, keeping or giving, arranging and organizing that we realize some of the reasons why we have clutter in the first place.  

When we take the time to look at what is piled up and where, what never gets put away, what we've purchased but never used; we get little Aha moments.  It is in those moments where we can start to shift our mindset or set new priorities about how we want to be living and maintaining our homes.

Sorting and organizing can be tiring, not because we're moving many many items, but because each of those items requires a decision, consideration, and perhaps a mental or emotional connection we hadn't consciously made.  The process literally involves processing our connections to what we own.  (Or may own us....)

By paying attention, making conscious decisions about what activities we want to happen in what spaces, how many is really enough, why  we keep some things and readily  let go of others, and what is the easiest and simplest way to store our belongings; the results of the process of decluttering will be easier to maintain.

It's true that the results/destination are a great motivation, but paying attention during the process/travel makes the journey far more interesting and the arrival more appreciated.

Price vs Cost

Sometimes we confuse the price of something with its cost.

The dollar sign with the numbers after it is the price.

The cost involves not just money, but also what was involved in getting the item to you, how long did you work to get the money to buy it, the time you spend using it, the space it takes up in your life-on every level, and what will happen to it when you no longer need or want it?

Cheap things usually are. Just because something was on sale or a good deal doesn't necessarily mean it's a bargain.
Try to keep in mind the difference between wanting something and actually needing it.  And there's always the how many is enough question!

Having fewer things of better quality, considering cost per usage and better understanding why you purchase certain items will help you avoid bringing clutter into your home.

Before you put it in the cart or hit Buy Now, think about what it is that you're hoping this purchase will change/improve/add to your life and home.

  

Make the money you do spend buy happiness in ways that are important and meaningful to you.

Pay more attention so that the price you pay is worth the cost.

It's your life and your decisions.

Oh, watch The Story of Stuff to get another perspective on the cost of things.

Complaining

as clutter.

Not only can there be physical clutter in our lives, there is mental and emotional as well.  (You're thinking, oh, great.)

Given that clutter is anything that gets in the way of you living the life you truly want, connecting with the people and things that are important to you; complaining certainly does get in the way.

Just as we sort through our other clutter to decide what to keep and what to let go of, taking the time to look at who or what we're complaining about gives us the opportunity to get some clarity about what exactly the problem might be.

What is it about the situation or person that annoys us?  Angers?  Frustrates?  Is it an ongoing whine on your part or a reaction to a new or unfamiliar circumstance?  

How much mental space is it taking up?  

How frequently do you go  over and over this same complaint?  

What if you let it go?
Or dealt with the underlying issue?
Or took one small action to resolve the situation?

Most clutter is the result of a deferred decision.
How much of what we complain about is caused by us not taking an action we are perfectly aware of, but would rather put off?

Try applying the Two minute Rule (If you can do something in two minutes or less, do it now) in circumstances where you find yourself getting ready to whine or complain.  

What could you do to change your attitude, your reaction, your response, your results?

Less time and mental energy spent complaining gives you more  opportunity  to engage in a heartfelt way in your life and relationships.

You have so much to be grateful for-whining really does seem beneath you.

Trust gravity

You don't need to pile clothes on the chair to keep it from floating up to the bedroom ceiling.
It isn't necessarily to leave this morning's (or last night's) dirty dishes on the kitchen counter to hold it down.
The carpet will stay in place even without the cds and books randomly stacked on it.

Hang up your clothes when you take them off.
Put the dishes in the dishwasher.
Shelve the books and cds in the bookcase where they belong.

Even though it feels as if there is a magnetic force field that attracts clutter once it starts,
that field is easily disrupted by some simple new habits and routines. 

Just as you can trust gravity to do its job,
trust yourself that you can maintain clutter free home.
One decision at a time.

Exploration

"Exploration in conversation is sometimes very satisfying."  Catherine Aguilera

Expressing our thoughts aloud, sharing our anxieties, articulating our worries and our options

may help us clear the mental clutter and chatter that often seems to be a constant in our lives.

Spending time in conversation gives us the opportunity to articulate our feelings, as well as allows deeper connections with the people we choose as our listeners.

Talking often helps us peel off the layers that cloud certain thoughts and ideas.
And  allows us to go deeper and perhaps have an Aha moment in regard to a difficulty or challenge.

Make time in your life to build connections through heartfelt conversation.

Speaking of connections:  I will be disconnecting this next week.  From the phone, the Web and most things electronic.
I'm off on an adventure:  Relaxing, seeing new sights and hanging out with my family. Making time to make deeper connections.

Waffles.

Waffling between keeping an item or letting it go?
Ask yourself, "Would I buy it today?"
Your yes or no response will let you know if it will stay or go.

True you might have spent good money for it.
Or it is perfectly good or useful or hardly worn.
None of those are reasons enough to allot it space in your closet, drawer, or life now.

Surround yourself with the things you need, use, love and value in the life you are really living.

Giving up things that don't fit, you've kept out of guilt or obligation, unnecessary impulse purchases or
left overs from an activity you no longer have the time or energy for  will create room physically, mentally and emotionally in your home and life.

Make room for quiet, joy, love and connections.

When

was the last time you did something for the first time?

Something as simple as took a different route to work.
Or tried a new restaurant in the neighborhood.
Volunteered to be the Team Leader on a work project.
Hosted a family gathering at your house.
Signed up for a language class or the watercolor workshop.

Routines can assist us in simplifying the mechanics of daily living.
However, when routines turn into ruts, our lives become narrow and lose some of their spark.

Balancing simplicity with new experiences helps keep our lives interesting, and our hearts and minds engaged.

It doesn't matter if your 'first' is  jumping out of an airplane,
or  trying a soy latte.

New experiences create new pathways in our brains,
spark new thoughts and sensations, and open us up to new possibilities.

How many

is enough?

One, three, five, seven?

Jeans, coffee cups, pairs of shoes, unread magazines, old tee shirts...
Only you know the answer to that math story  problem.

More isn't better.  It is just more.
Anything more than enough is merely excess and can quickly become clutter.

Remember that ten of something isn't ten times better than one.  It is one, ten times over.
And that having one item of high quality is better than having four cheap ones.  

Decide the number that makes you feel comfortable.  The number you need and can use.
The number that fills your need for sentiment around a particular event.
Pare what you have down to the best, most meaningful, the ones that look fabulous on you, the number that you can reasonably store and access.

Once you're at the perfect number then it's time to practice the One In, One Out rule.
If you bring something new into the house, one thing that's there has to go.

Enough really is enough already!

Easy

If you make it easy and keep it simple you exponentially improve you chances for success.

Every step you add to the process, every decision you have to make to complete the task decreases the chances of you following through successfully.

LIfe is rarely black or white, however, many decisions and actions can be reduced to yes or no, this or that, keep or toss.

By making the mechanics of daily living as routine and simple as possible your home is less cluttered, you can manage the constant stream of papers entering your home, laundry doesn't pile up, you stop buying duplicates of items you already own, and things are where you need them when you want them.

Deal with the mail when you bring it in to the house, down't put things down-put them away, fold the clothes as you take them out of the dryer, put things away when you're done using them.

Simple routines, good habits, and making small efforts repeatedly will create an easier life.
Life is complicated enough, make what you can as simple and easy as possible.

I wish I hadn't

spent so much time laughing, being with friends and making memories," said NO dying person ever.

Life isn't about our stuff.
It's about our relationships.

Spend time with the people you care about and love.
Create some memories.
Laugh until you can't breathe, your mouth is open but no sound is coming out, and tears are running down your face.

Trust me, you won't regret it.

Under and in back.

Beneath the bathroom sink, that is.

Oh, come on it won't be that bad.  Really.

Think of it as an excavation.  An archaeological dig of sorts.  Down through layers and other eras.
Each half empty bottle, tried once and abandoned container a relic of some past life or moment of retail weakness.

Take everything out.  Yes, everything.  Have your garbage and recycle cans at the ready.

Toss the dried up, the gloppy, the not quite right color, the expired, the left over and the enviromentally incorrect.

Sort the keepers like with like.

Decide how many kinds of hair product do you really need.
How many half bags of cotton balls are enough?
Do you travel enough to warrant keeping ten travel size bottles of shampoo?  (that you don't even really like?)
Is under the sink the best place to store your ___________?

Whew.  That wasn't so horrible and the amount of things you've kept will actually fit back under there, without piling it four high or six deep.

If you want to use containers to help keep like things together, or some stacking baskets to take advantage of the vertical space or maybe fill a small caddy with cleaning supplies, here's your chance.

If you don't have things around the house you can repurpose and you decide to purchase some helpful containers-measure what you're hoping to store as well as the space you want the container to fit. Armed with that information you can shop knowing that what you buy will help, not add frustration.

Under the sink is valuable real estate in your bathroom.
Don't let it become a burial ground for stuff you don't need, products you don't use or supplies that should live some where else.

Oh, and I will be checking under there next time I'm at your house....
(No. I won't.)

short.

Life is short.
Live accordingly.
                                                           Patti Digh

Independence Day (and not just July 4th)

Not just one day of independence, but how about a week, month, or life time of freedom from unnecessary stuff?

How about celebrating letting go of clothes that don't fit, VHS tapes, the pile of six month old magazines, an unused crock pot, toys and games your children find boring, yarn you will never knit, or the ugly rug you've never liked?

Box up the unused, let someone else get value from your mistaken impulse buys, decide how many ________ is enough and let go of the rest.

Celebrate your relationships'
Ohh and ahh over all the open space in your drawers and cupboards.
Make your home the land of the free from clutter and the home of the brave enough to make choices that reflect what you truly love and value.

Live your life to ignite the fireworks in your heart.

Starting and going.

Motivation gets you started.
Habits keep you going.

Face it, there are certain mechanics of daily living that need to be done on a regular basis or life becomes chaotic, messy and overwhelming.
Bills need to be paid, laundry needs to be done, the floors need sweeping.

Decide for yourself how often these items need your attention and create some habits to address them.

Make Monday evening your time to sit down and pay your bills for that week.
Do a load of laundry every morning while  you're in the shower.
Grab the broom and sweep while the pasta water heats for dinner.

We often spend more time avoiding and dreading a task than it takes to complete it!

The thing about habits is you do them without much thought (which can be the good news/bad news).
Consciously scheduling time into your week to take care of chores frees up time and energy.
Come Friday you don't have to worry or wonder  if you paid the bills, or if you have any clean socks, or if the dust bunnies have taken over the living room.

This week get motivated to make one new habit.

A house with four rooms.

“There is an Indian proverb or axiom that says that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time but, unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.”     Rumer Godden

Because our physical space is the one we're most aware of, we are  most conscious of the clutter in that room.

Take time this week to peek into the other rooms and see if you can do a bit of decluttering in them.

Is your mental room stuffed with To Do's you forget to do?
Write them down.
Is your emotional room cluttered with past hurts, grievances, anger or fears?
See if you could do a bit of forgiving, of others and most importantly-of  yourself.
Does your spiritual space have ideas laying about that no longer resonate with who you are now? Are there voices and stories that someone gave  a younger you that now weigh heavy on your heart?
Spend a few moments in silent reflection, connect to Spirit-however you define that experience.

Not all the 'stuff' is our lives is visible.
Do a little house tour and take the time to declutter each of the rooms.
Open up to all that's possible and relax your spacious new home.

 

Available transportation

"Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith."  Margaret Shepard

We don't always know how we're going to get from Here to There.
Knowing we want things to change doesn't necessarily mean we know how to make it so.
Often many of us are waiting for conditions to be different/perfect before we're willing to commit and change our actions.

What's true is we never know what is going to happen or how things may turn out.
We can't guarantee outcomes or know that we've made the absolute best choice.

What we do know is that a change in outcome is a result of  a change in behavior.

The trick is to go ahead and take a tiny step forward.  (Which may feel like a leap!)

Small changes and  little leaps can move us great distances.......

Look how far you've come. Wow!

Take a step back and give yourself some applause and credit for how far you've come.  

We are often so busy looking ahead, focusing on what isn't done, what we haven't perfected, how much more there is to do, that we forget to acknowledge all we have already accomplished.

I'm not just talking about getting your life less cluttered and more organized...

Change is challenging.  Whether it is putting your keys in the same place every day, learning to say No, or passing on the second cookie, but you've done it!  Once choice at a time.  

Remind yourself that it is a process and a journey, not a race to a destination. 

Every time you put your dirty dish into the dishwasher, every time you hang up your coat instead of tossing it on the chair, every time you make space and time for what has meaning in your life; your actions reinforce the choices that create change.

Trust me, you're doing a great job.  Your life looks and feels differently than it did before you committed to pay attention in new ways to old situations.

Sometimes it is perfectly okay to look back-just to see how far you've come!

I applaud you.

Honor your commitment.

And see a reduction in your clutter.

Start with one agreement with yourself to change your behavior around a particular item or situation.
Decide to always put your keys in the same place, every time you come in the door.
Choose to deal with the mail, everyday.
Hang your clothes or put them in the hamper every time you undress.
Only check your email at nine, noon, four and seven.

Make an agreement with yourself and make that one behavior a habit.
Support your choice to be more organized by following through on this one action.

You wouldn't ignore a commitment to a friend or disregard an obligation at work.
Treat yourself and your decisions with the same integrity.

Act to create an outer world that is congruent with your inner desires.
One choice, one commitment at a time.

Would you buy it now?

As you sort through your 'stuff', if you have difficulty deciding what to keep, 

ask yourself "Would I buy this item now?"

A Yes answer indicates that it is something you currently use and value.
That means you decide does it live in the area you are sorting?
If here, based on importance and need, where is its 'home'.

If not in this area, where in your house should it live?

If it is important enough to keep, it needs to have a place where you can readily locate it when the need arises.

A No means it no longer has use or value in the life you currently lead.  
True, you spent 'good money' on it, there was a time you used it, you wore it once or maybe twice, or it is part of a hobby or activity you used to spend time doing....

That was then, this is now.

Hoping you might use it again, keeping it Justin Case,
rationalizing that it doesn't take up very much space; all cause clutter and disorganization.

Make space for the life you want to be living,
doing activities that delight you, and
connecting with the people you care about and love.

Oh....

Put a lid on it!

And if you don't have a lid that matches-toss it.

Let's revisit and organize the plastic container cupboard/drawer/shelf.
Come on, it will be fun....(if not fun, at least the results will be satisfying)

Take out everything from the space.  Every container, lid, cap, bottle-whatever you've been 'storing/hiding' there.
Toss or recycle the misshapen, the grungy, the melted.
Match lids to bottoms; these are the potential keepers.

Now, let's get serious about how many you really need and will ever use at any one time.
What do you ever really store or save in this type of container?
They aren't useful if you never use them....
Or do you 'store/save' things only to toss them later when you discover them as a science project in the back of the refrigerator?
(Just because your mom saved cottage cheese containers doesn't mean you need to)

How many is enough?
How much valuable kitchen real estate do you want to devote to storing things for storing things?
Could you use a Ziplock bag instead?

Keep what you will really use.
Ditch the rest.
(and not just in the kitchen.......)

Your best life:  One choice at a time.

Help. (not just a Beatles tune)

Permission granted  to ask for help.

Help getting a project finished.
Help keeping your house clean, the lawn mowed, the windows washed.
Help learning a new skill, updating your computer, creating an exercise routine.
Help making your life easier.

You don't have to know it all, do it all, or handle everything.
(There is no prize, except maybe exhaustion, for taking care of everything all by yourself.)

Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness or a waste of money.
Let someone else use their time and talents; give yourself some room and time to concentrate on who and what really matters to you.

Remember how it makes you feel when someone asks you for assistance?
The chance to share what you've learned, the opportunity to guide someone else, or being paid to do what you're good at and love.

Your willingness to ask for help provides an example for others to do the same.

(Oh, and remember to say Thank you)

Now, instead of later.

Don't put it down.
Put it away.

Hang up your coat; don't fling it across the chair.
Load the dirty dish into the dishwasher; don't set it in the sink.
Toss the junk mail into the recycle container; don't pile it on the desk.
Put the socks into the hamper; don't let them fall by the side of the bed.

Why pick something up a second time?  Deal with it now.
"I'll take care of this later" too often turns into never.
Don't give stuff a chance to become clutter.

Eliminate steps.  Make life as simple as possible.
It's your choice.

Step back.

Get a little perspective.
See the bigger picture.
Take a time out from whining and complaining.

You really do have a wonderful life.

Respond with kindness.
Be grateful.
Say Thank you....

Keep or Give?

If  you can't decide if you want to keep or donate an item, ask yourself "Would I replace this if it were lost or broken?"

Your answer to that simple question often causes the but I spent X amount of money on it, or I might need it, or I received it as a gift, argument to lose its validity.

Letting the item go  opens up space in your house and your life now and  puts it out into the world where someone else could use and value it.

IF someday you need that thing again: Trust that you could buy, borrow, rent, repurpose something you already have or find a suitable replacement.

"The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want."  Butler & Cavett

Small change.

Staying uncluttered consists of habits and consistency.

This week I invite you to create one new small habit.

One action you can do in two minutes or less.

One tiny change in your routine that will become a habit that will keep you in the routine of being more organized.

Consider a place in your home that 'bugs you lots'.  

It might be the dining room table, the coat closet, the bathroom counter, your desk, or?

Commit to making one change in your routine that will have a positive impact on how that space looks, feels and functions.

Recycle the newspaper every night instead of leaving it on the table, thinking you'll get back to it.

Install an over the door hook on the closet door so you can hang your coat when you come in, instead of just tossing it on the chair.

Clear the bathroom counter of items you don't use on a daily basis.

Don't leave any papers piled on your desk. Put every paper in the appropriate folder or file.

Practice your one small change until it becomes routine.  

Then choose another small task.

Sure there are times when a total do over/sorting three hour tackle the space project is necessary to get an area Uncluttered. 

And there are simple easy tasks you can do on a daily basis to make your home feel more organized and you feel more in control.

This week, choose something small and easy.

You are your choices.

Karen