After Divorce: Saying Thank You

There’s some good that comes out of every divorce. No, really there is.

And it’s usually about freedom. Whether it was your idea to divorce or your ex-partner’s, you can develop your autonomy now if you want to. So why not have a little fun with it and be grateful for the independence that some only dream of. 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.