Automate Your Day – Clearing the Mental Clutter

How would you like to clear your mind from all the little distractions that get in your way? These everyday distractions can wreak havoc on your productivity. Wouldn’t you love to have a machine that automatically made your life easier? Well, I have a little secret for you. You already own it! It is that thing in your head that weighs about 3 pounds. Your brain!

Wikipedia defines automatic as “Capable of operating without external control or intervention. Done out of habit or without conscious thought.” There are certain things we can’t avoid in life. We must wake, sleep, eat, bathe and dress everyday (now don’t try and tell me you don’t do at least three of these every day). There are also things that must take place on a weekly or monthly basis, like laundry, cleaning your home, personal grooming,

Creating a routine for your regular to do’s will not only make your life easier, but will free space in that crazy brain of yours to actually think of more important things. I have so many clients feel they are ADD, regardless of whether they were every diagnosed or not. It is the crazy way we run through the day, feeling like we are spinning our wheels and not getting anything done. We are so distracted by what we have to do that we simply don’t focus easily.

Create regular routines for your Home

• Laundry
• Changing sheets
• Dust
• Vacuum
• Bathrooms (yes the dreaded bathrooms)
• Empty Trash Cans

For your Errands

• Grocery Shopping
• Dry cleaning
• Bank
• Gas
• Library
• Discount Stores

For your Personal Grooming (whether you are a do it your selfer or you visit a spa/salon)

• Manicure/Pedicure
• Haircut/Color
• Waxing
• Facials

For your Workouts (if it is scheduled, you will be more apt to stick to it!)

• Weight training
• Cardio
• Stretching/Yoga/Pilates

For your Work

• Meetings
• Writing
• Phone Calls
• Email Checks

Other benefits of having your life scheduled:

• Ease in budgeting. You will be able to know what you spend in the month and/or what you can afford to spend in the month.
• Others will know what to expect of you and you will have an easier time in saying NO! Stick to what you need to accomplish to make you and your family’s lives productive. If the schedule allows, you will be able to help others when necessary.

Reflect back on what you do on a regular basis, whether it is routine or not. Wouldn’t it be easier for you to know what you can handle in your day, your week, your month? I know, scheduling seems so boring and rigid. But if you can accomplish what you need to do with ease, you will have more time for fun in your life and you will accomplish things much more efficiently.

Take the strain out of your brain by making the to do’s in your life so routine you don’t have to think about them any more! What do you do to make your life a little more routine? We learn best from each other!

My Life is Like a Country Song

There is no doubt I am a Country Music Fanatic. I love the concept of a country life, plain and simple. Now, in saying My Life is Like a Country Song (to give credit where credit is due, this is a play on Chris Cagel’s My Life’s Been a Country Song), I don’t mean the country song about how the wife has left him, the dog dies, and he has been drinking to no end. I mean the concept of family, good values and simplicity! The front porch swinging, slow paced living kind of song.

When you live in a busy area (like Orange County, CA) you somewhat feel the need to stay busy like all the others. There is a feeling you are missing something if you don’t do it all. Whether you are a stay at home mom, with a crowded activity/volunteer schedule, or the high powered executive who needs to close just one more deal, it seems as if we are wearing ourselves out. Personally, the fast paced life can beat me up. Some days I dream of sitting on a wrap around porch, sipping tea, rocking in a swing and staring out at a field of grass. (Of course I would be listening to some old Kenny Rogers and the sound track to Urban Cowboy). I guess I just wish the world would slow down, at least for a day or two.

For most, to slow down we dream of relaxing vacations. We go on vacations with the idea we are going to relax, but come home more exhausted then we left because we crammed in so much on vacation we never had the opportunity to relax. Not to mention the amount of money we spend on vacations that make us feel we need to work more to pay off what we spent! It is like a vicious cycle that never ends.

I keep myself, home, and family organized so I feel a little less crazed in my daily life. There is rarely a time where we are stressing out looking for something. We are efficient as we can be in a busy life. This allows us to have time to hang out and just be. But for some reason, I still feel the need to do more. My brain can be on overdrive, while my surroundings are not. On my lists: write a book, update my website, send out a mailer, work on my presentations, PDF downloads on my website…the list goes on and on. I want to try and squeeze in so much I don’t allow myself to have the down time I need. I am always thinking of the next project.

This summer, I am making a vow to allow myself at least one day to just do nothing. Well, not really, I am a mom and that requires full time work, but to really not work on the house or my business. Just to be with my family and just BE! We have Adirondack chairs on our front porch and this summer I will be planting my bum on those while I watch my kids play. I will read, I will relax, and I will know that my work will still be there when I get back to reality. With my organizational skills, having a systems and procedures in place, I know I can allow myself to have the quite happiness I am looking for! Now if only the asphalt street I look out to on my front porch could turn into a field of wild flowers…

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, But Only if You Can Find Them! A Guide to Organizing your Jewelry

Photos courtesy of Erin Markland with Stella and Dot www.gotstella.com

Whether you are dripping in diamonds or collecting costume jewelry, it does you no good to have it if you don’t wear it. Most women don’t wear their jewelry because it is just too complicated to find it. There are the balls of necklaces that are so complicated to untangle you would rather write a thesis on nuclear fusion than deal with it, the lost earring collection, and bracelets that need repair.

The proper storage of your jewelry is not only important to keep it in good condition, but also so you can wear what you have. Even if you spent $5 on a pair of earrings, it is a waste of money if they sit in a drawer or box.

Drawer:

You can use containers specifically for jewelry as shown below, or even kitchen/bathroom drawer organizers work well too. The benefit of the ones designed specifically for jewelry is the lining keeps the jewelry protected, but the cost of the standard drawer organizers can be significantly less.

Wall:

With how beautiful jewelry is today, you can treat it like art and decorate a wall with it. Use bulletin boards to hang and display. Keep it simple though. Decorative bulletin boards will look cluttered and confusing and will not show off your treasures, nor will you be able to quickly see what you have. Also, consider peg racks or hooks. I great way to separate your necklaces and bracelets. Utilizing both is great. Earrings just poke into the cork, smaller necklaces and bracelets can be hung on the board with push pins (stick to clear so you it doesn’t interfere with the color/design of your jewelry. Then hang the chunkier necklaces and bracelets on the pegs. Arrange by color or style, which ever way makes most sense to you.

Closet:

The Container Store and Ikea, among others, sell closet organizing systems with portions of the closet designated for jewelry. They have beautiful “trays” that pull out like a drawer and allow you to see your jewelry up close. The only problem with these trays is that they only work if you have a large closet to designate that much space to. If space is an issue, try going vertical with hanging jewelry organizers. These allow you to see what you have, but keep items separated for ease in retrieval.

On Top of Dresser or Counter Top:

Decorative storage is widely available to hold your jewelry. Keep in mind though, what you wear. If you are trendy and wear the large chunky necklaces, traditional jewelry boxes won’t do. They are built for small delicate jewelry and you will only fit one necklace inside. Make sure the items you choose will fit what you use!

Cabinet:

Drawer organizers that stack are useful in a cabinet, but you will have to pull it all out to see what you have. . Also, any of the counter top containers mentioned above will work as well, but since they will be out of sight, the expense for the beautiful containers is somewhat wasted. 3M hooks that are removable can be attached to cabinet doors that are not opened more often than looking at jewelry. Otherwise the necklaces and bracelets will bang against the door and risk damage. Also, clear acrylic containers are great because not only can you stack them, but you can see through them to know what you have! I have used clear double sided adhesive tape to hold them in place when stacked.

Accessories are the finishing touches to your outfit. You have spent money on jewelry, organize it so you can see what you have and actually use it. No more tangled messes – get out there and look like the super model you were meant to be!

Decorative Swapping

The other day I was watching Oprah and she had the adorable Nate Berkus and the clutter cutter Peter Walsh on. They were showing neighbors swapping furniture in order to recreate new looks in their homes. The point behind the show was to open our eyes to how, in hard times with limited budgets, we can be creative in our design to get the best out of our space. Now of course having a fabulous designer makes a huge difference when you are decoratively challenged (I think I just created a new word), but the point was easy to get. The “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” was spoken loud and clear here.

Anything unused or unloved is clutter! Clear your clutter by having a swap party! Have you thought about other ways to swap? It doesn’t have to be just furniture! How about:

Kitchen Gadgets
Video Games
Women’s Clothing
Children’s Clothing
Accessories (belts, scarves, jewelry)
Children’s Toys
Books
Magazines

The list is endless. You can save so much money by trading what you don’t want, need, or have grown tired of with someone else! The only thing you must remember in a swap is that this is not a garage sale!!! These items are good quality and something someone would really WANT in their home (or closet) to update their look. Your tattered couch that the dog has called home for 15 years may not qualify!

Let us know if you have had an opportunity to swap with friends, neighbors and/or family to get the best results for your homes! What was your experience? What worked? What didn’t?

Simplifying Your Kitchen Clutter – Keep the Plastic Containers from Taking Over

At the recent National Association of Professional Organizers annual conference, I signed up to give a review of the latest lines of Rubbermaid food storage containers. I was excited as a child on their birthday when I received my package of containers in the mail. My children were looking at this package I received like what is the big deal, but I was quick to open it and pull out everything to see what was inside.

Rubbermaid sent four types of food storage containers for review. I have to say, I am not big on too many choices, so I was a little disappointed at first that I had to review four. But after playing around with them are reading more about each, they all make sense and I can see why they have each line. The best feature of all these lines is the lids lock together and then lock to the bottoms of the storage containers, keeping your storage containers organized in your kitchen cabinets and drawers!

Let me explain, I did not need new containers, but I am a bit unhappy with the ones I choose for myself. The problem I find with the ones I own are that they are hard to store in my small space designated for storage containers. The lids have flaps and take up so much space! Other than that, they serve my purposes, so I needed Rubbermaid to win me over!

The first is the Easy Find Lids line. I would say for the most basic storage containers, these rock. I had already owned the smallest version of these containers and I love the way the lids stay together. I will say they can be a bit hard to open for my youngest child, but other than that, I love these. I use them in my children’s lunch and mine, and can’t think of anything more I would need for everyday use for lunches. (Can you say so long to Ziplock bags?!?)

The second is the Produce Saver. I have been using the Tupperware line of Fridgesmart for all my produce, so I was a bit skeptical of how these would compare. I really like the Fresh Vents to allow airflow which keeps the produce fresher for longer! Also, the Crisp Tray keeps the produce up with vents underneath to keep the produce from sitting in moisture. I love my Tupperware, but they don’t have a great line for taking produce in your lunch or on the go. I would use the smaller versions of this for our lunches and taking food on the run. I like the way the lids, containers and vents all stack and lock together, which the Tupperware Fridgesmart does not. If I need to replace my Fridgesmart, I could be swayed over to this line pretty easily!

The third line is the Lock-Its. I will say I was disappointed in this line because it is very similar to my current line of storage containers. If you have a lot of space to store your containers then I can see purchasing this line. The claim is that if has Locking Tabs to provide an extra seal. I would hope that the other lines have a strong enough seal that I don’t need an other set just for a stronger seal, so in my opinion, I would skip this line all together! (No offense Rubbermaid, you know I love you!)

The forth line is the Premier. This is the top of the line so to speak. The lids are partially clear so you can see what you have inside from up above. The line is stain resistant and resists odors, which is huge when you have stored chili in a container, and then you want to store leftover pancakes in it next. Chili flavored pancakes do not go over well in my house! Also, it is pretty gross to see the red stain from sauces after you have washed the container! Makes you not want to use them again, which is very wasteful. This is my favorite line by far for meeting my needs and wants. For long term storage, and storage of leftovers that stain and

When I feel the need (and have it in the budget) I will add to my new collection of Rubbermaid. I would think a few more of each, with the exception of the Lock-it, would make me a happy camper!

I know, who cares that much about food storage containers, but really we all use them and use them often! Not only do these storage containers work for food, but they are valuable in many other areas of the home, like in the garage, the bathroom, and the office. Because they stack and are see through, these are a great investment for organizing your home!

For more information regarding these products visit:

http://www.easyfindlids.com/

These products are available for sale on http://www.rubbermaid.com/. Use coupon code 0902 to save 10%!

5 Lazy Ways to Organize

How many times do you think about organizing a drawer or even a room and give up because it is too overwhelming? Well, I hate to break it to you – organizing is work, but organizing doesn’t have to be a nightmare! Like weight-loss, most people are looking for a quick fix to organizing. And as we have learned, quick weight-loss doesn’t work and you return to the habits which got you to where you were in the first place. The same rings true with organizing. Creating new habits will make organizing a breeze as time goes on.

Lazy is defined as slow moving or sluggish. Organizing the “lazy way” will still take time (I didn’t call it 5 Fast Ways to Organize now, did I?). Going in with a lazy mindset will help you slowly and steadily gain control over the disorganized clutter monster that looms over your head! Patience is a virtue! The old adage, “How do you eat and elephant? One bite at a time” should be playing in your head as you tackle your clutter and disorganization.

1. Get over perfection! Most people feel organizing is about living Martha Stewart Perfect. Not the case! It is really as simple as finding what you need when you need it and keeping what you need, use and love. Finding a good home for what you have is essential. Keep those things you use often close to you, not as frequently a little further, and those you don’t use often furthest away.

2. Get over guilt! If you are holding onto things because you’d feel guilty getting rid of it DON”T! (Like your friend who gave you a shirt that just doesn’t look good on you, but you feel she will get her feelings hurt if you give it away). You will be able to shed yourself of so much clutter when you purge the guilt first! Those who love you should understand your needs are, and guilt isn’t one of those needs!

3. Stick to one area at a time! If you want to organize the whole house, trying to organize it all at once will take longer. You will become the Tasmanian Devil, spinning on a path of destruction. Choose one area to organize at a time. Slow and steady wins this race! Seeing one project through to the end will give you the motivation to continue on to the rest of the house.

4. Stop making to-do lists! If you skip this step and put your tasks directly into your to-do lists, then you will actually have the time to get things done! If you need to purge your brain to get it out of your head, create different lists. You need one for long term goals, short term goals and one for everyday tasks. Work those lists into your calendar to see what you can accomplish daily, monthly and yearly. Remember to leave room in your schedule for fun!

5. Get help! Any way you look at it, help is the best way to change your habits. You will have someone to hold you accountable. Don’t you have enough on your plate? Adding self accountability (is that a phrase or did I just make it up?) is just one more thing to worry about. Pass that responsibility on!

You can actually waste time by being “hyper” organized (as I like to call it). You can procrastinate on projects by organizing as a distraction. You can lead an unbalanced life if you are so focused on perfection. Organizing should bring you more time to do what you love and want to do. So get lazy and organize your home one space at a time!

Looking for More Together Time with Organization

May 26, 2009

What image comes to mind when you think of spending time with family? Is it interaction and conversation? Is it fun activities or relaxing vacations? What we think of and what actually takes place can be so very different. We are so busy with technology, work, school and activities that we actually could be in the same house, yet we don’t spend any time together. No wonder families feel so disconnected!

Oprah (yes again, an Oprah topic) recently had on families who were taking part in a “What Can You Live Without” Experiment, Part II. She profiled two families and followed up one single mother from Part I. All families were living with excess, both physical items and activities. One family spent time together in the home by adjourning to their prospective space (bedroom, recliner, office) where they would thrive on technology. The computer, video games, cell phones and TV were high priorities to the family. They were so “busy” with their gadgets they didn’t have time to spend together. They would text each other in the house to talk, instead of walking to the other room to talk. Technology can be a helpful tool and entertaining, but it can also suck up your valuable time like a Dyson vacuum.

The other family showcased wasn’t spending quality time together either. The biggest complaint was that mom was busy working and would come home late from work. As the episode went on, you could see home much this hurt the children. They lost themselves in iPods and video games, and ignored the underlining problems. They also bought in excess and never really thought twice about it. To show a portion of their excess, they pared down their pantry. The excess food was purged and brought to a food bank. The family had an eye opening experience of what it would be like to not have food in their home. The family was changed for the good. Possibly the problem was the parents were working so hard to give their children so much, but never realized what the children really needed – more together time!

What is getting in the way of your family spending time together? Are you really achieving your goals or are you chasing your tail? Is what you do in your daily life bringing you closer to your goals, in balance with your values? Are you living in excess? If reading these questions make you stop and think that there needs to be some change in your life, relax and know it can be done.

Through organizing you can clear the excess and clutter in your home. The organizing process helps you to realize what you actually need in your home and what is truly excess. This doesn’t mean you get rid of everything and live in a tent. This means you live with what you need and use to function in your life. Now, that isn’t permission to keep everything. Really decide what you use and need. All the “stuff” can occupy your time; having to maintain, clean and care for it all.

In order to organize clearly, you need to prioritize. What are your goals? What is important to you? Where is your time wasted? Are you busy checking email and not checking in on your children’s life? We all think we are using our time wisely, but we tend to waste our time on matters that don’t line up with our priorities. Really look at your schedule and see what is unnecessary. Also, look to see what you can delegate and purge in order to realign your time with what is important to you.

Are you getting Together Time? How do you spend quality time with your family? Where can you improve? Let us know and get the support from those who know what you are going through. We would love to be on your journey with you.