Why do stress free holiday tips stress us out?

I just looked online for tips on how to entertain stress free.  And do you know what I came up with?  Lots of articles loaded with advice to make endless To Do lists weeks before the holidays even hit.  One article even proclaimed that your life during the holidays should be run by lists. Ugh!

If I followed all these suggestions,  I should have prepared my shopping list weeks in advance, made another list for every dish I’m going to serve (including nuts and mints), along with a third list for everything (yes everything!) that needs to be done one week out. Do you think that includes blow drying my hair?  Yikes!  I’d better give up on Thanksgiving right now because I’m several lists behind.  Read more

Why Are We All So Busy?

My new column is about questions we ask ourselves. Let me know if you have a question you’d like to ask!

When I bump into someone I know in the checkout line at the grocery store and ask,  “How’s life?” the response is usually the same.

“Crazy.  I’m so busy,” as they rush to get their food on the conveyor belt. 

As co-author of a book with the word “Balance” in the title, I thought I’d find some tips on how to balance out our busy lives.  Here’s what I came up with to help us lead healthier, centered lives so we can pace the flow of each day and vow never to say, “I’m so busy” again!

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Free Yourself from 10 Things that Bog You Down

Want to get organized? Before you start a list of hundred’s of things to do to clear the clutter this spring, think again. Instead of getting bogged down in wanting everything to be in order, let’s take a look at 10 things that will never completely be tackled no matter how hard you try. Read more

Make It Happen? Write

No, not a book or a novel. Sometimes, all it takes is taking pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard for things to start to happen in your life.

Why? Because when you write things down you sift through your thoughts, intentions, ideas, fears and truths. Things are put in some sort of order instead of floating aimlessly in your head. Even if it doesn’t make sense at first, the practice of writing things down will help you to prioritize and organize all parts of your life. Read more

How to S.T.A.R.T. to Get Organized

Are things piling up and you don’t know where to start? I love acronyms and this one will help you begin to de-clutter, simplify and organize.

S - Start Simple… and then build momentum to tackle bigger jobs.
T - Time It… 10 minutes is a manageable allotment of time to get something done. Too long and you won’t come back and finish the job. Read more

Cleaning Closets

My walk-in closet is quickly becoming a walk-out closet. It’s packed with stuff. Yikes!

When I venture in to find something, I quickly exit empty handed; scratching my head and wondering where the black hole is that engulfed my favorite sweater. It’s clearly time to roll up my sleeves and tackle the dark abyss I call my closet for the dreaded seasonal change-over.

Why make the effort? Because life is better with a little organization even if it’s not perfect. Read more

Organize Your Life 101

Blooming is all about. . . living up to your full potential and growing every day. But when you’re in transition, this is easier said than done.  One common trait of those who live into old age is their joy for learning new things…they are constantly in a state of blooming.  And what a great way to start than to get organized right now!

If you’re not organized, you can feel “stuck” and can’t move ahead. When things can’t be found, time is wasted and tasks get started but not finished, your mind can become flooded with too many things to do as enter the world of Overwhelm. And Overwhelm’s captal city is Paralysis which is where you tend to end up and stay for a while. You know, that “frozen” feeling of not knowing where to begin when there’s too much to do. And so what happens? You go to lunch, start yet another project or dial someone up on the phone – anything other than delving into your mountain of “to do’s” which would actually start relieving your overwhelmed feelings. Since we tend to get sidetracked rather than resolve things head-on, disorganization increases and overwhelmed feelings escalate more. And so on and on goes the vicious cycle.

Hey, I’m not a professional organizer so I won’t load you up with tips on how to get organized. But, I’ll tell you this. When you feel organized, you can put your sites on more productive things in your life and really Bloom.

Remember, organizing your life is a work in progress. Don’t expect to reach “perfection” and have every paper in place and every closet looking like it came out of a magazine before you can start to live again. Instead, identify what needs to be organized and then tackle each, one step at a time. And in the meantime, start Blooming!

Here is my organizational strategy when you’re in transition:

• De-clutter ….Your home, work, and finances so that you can get out of overwhelm and on to the important work of recreating your life. Now is the time to clean those closets, get to a project you’ve been putting off and balance your checkbook. Prioritize things to do and start doing them!

• Enlist Help – You can’t do it all yourself, so hire a high school student to get stuff out of the attic and give the kids assignments that will help the household run smoother. At work, divvy up your read pile with a co-worker and discuss important points over lunch. Take control of your finances by seeking out a financial consultant to plan for the future or take a money managing course.

• Create Nurturing Environments – Does your home reflect who you are today? Do you live where you feel safe and comforted? Does your work space allow for productivity and creativity? Should you move your home or office, or grow better roots where you are now?

De-clutter your mind, time, tasks and “stuff” to create environments for clarity and productivity.

Finish Unfinished Projects and UnClutter Your Mind

For me it’s books. I can’t believe it, but right at this moment I am reading six!

Now, before you think I’m a literary genius (wish I were but… NOT!), let me explain.  I start a book and then I start another. And then another. Somehow, I hear about yet another “must” read, and I’m online with my frequent book buyer card, ordering more books that either come in and stack up on my shelf, or get started and end up getting shelved anyway. Read more

Sunday Night Set Up for a Productive Monday

Tomorrow I’ll be excited to jump into all that my week will bring; challenging work and time with the kids. I can’t wait to get my appointments finalized for the week and my schedule set. Words and phrases and concepts have been dancing in my head the entire weekend for all that I want to do. I have calls to make and people who I want to contact. Read more

Does Your Desk & Office Welcome Clients (& You)?

A Desk Cleared of Clutter Sends a “Welcome”
… to your clients and prospects. It lets them know that you want to do business with them when there is a place for them to sit and a space for them to write. Read more

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