I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. May your day be filled with joy and happiness.
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your
business and your life
Organizational
Consulting Services
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Christmas Wishes...for You and Yours....
I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. May your day be filled with joy and happiness.
Monday, December 23, 2019
De-Stress Before the Holiday
A few more days before Christmas! If you aren't done with all of your shopping and holiday preparation - take a deep breath, make yourself a cup of tea and ask yourself "what can I let go of?".
The holidays are supposed to be a wonderful, happy time. I know...I know...they are usually stressful because we try to make everything "perfect". But if you are behind - you either need to let some things slide (no one will notice....) or enlist help from your family.
People - especially women - put too much pressure on themselves to have the "perfect" holiday. The holiday might be "perfect" but you end up exhausted and not able to enjoy it.
It takes years of practice to be able to step back and give up some control.
Take some time for yourself (I know - I hate when people say that....), put on some holiday music and enjoy a few moments of the holiday magic.
By destressing your mind and body - you will actually be more productive.
Take some time to figure out what hasn't worked and make some notes for next year - so that next years holiday season can run smoother.
Now finish your tea and get back to work!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your
business and your life
Organizational
Consulting Services
Monday, December 16, 2019
Are You Ready for Christmas ?
It's about two weeks until Christmas. Are you ready? Or are you starting to stress out?
The holidays should be joyful and fun. But the reality is - that's not the reality! There is too much pressure from retailers to buy, buy, buy...... The television bombards you with ads. The newspapers and stores send out ads and coupons and make you think that shopping is your idea. People will love you more if you buy them things!
The holidays aren't about family or friends or anything important anymore. It's about commercialism.
So be daring and "just say NO". Take a step back and remember what the holidays are supposed to be about. Appreciating your family and your life.
So - if you haven't finished your shopping or planning for the holidays - here are a few ideas to cut down on the stress.
Allow yourself to enjoy the holidays by taking a step back and making a list and checking it twice.
Write down all of the things that you think you need to get done before the holiday. Write down all of the things that you think you need to buy.
Grab your calendar and start planning on when you are going to do all of the things that you think you need to do. Write it down on your calendar (in pencil!). Be specific. Give yourself time limits on each item.
For example:
Going to the store for husbands gift - Wed - 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Kids Holiday concert - Thur - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Work party - Fri - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Taking kids shopping for holiday presents - Thur - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
You get the idea - write it all down - so that you can see it in front of you. Then decide if there is overlap with some functions that you can't realistically get to. Or you can decide which functions you want to skip (yes, give yourself permission to skip things!). Don't stress yourself out about going to every single event. That takes all of the fun out of the holidays.
Next - make a list of all of the things that you have to do and buy.
Things to do:
Buying wrapping paper, gift tags and tape
Wrap presents - when kids and husband is not at home
Send presents to out of town family
Deciding on a holiday menu
Make a list of all of the ingredients needed for the holiday dinner
Make sure that you have all of the serving dishes that you need for the holiday dinner
Plan your holiday schedule of events for that big day
These are just some of the things that you want plan for. The more you plan - the better the chances that things will go smoothly (or as smoothly as they can). Even a professional organizer can't predict that her oven will stop working two days before the holiday! Stuff happens - but if most of the important things have been planned out - the little things won't get noticed as much.
And the most important thing - take time for yourself! Write that into your calendar of events. Take time to go to the coffee shop and sit and relax with a cup of coffee and watch all of the people hustling about. Enjoy the holiday music that is everywhere.
Knowing that your next few weeks have been planned out and that everything can get accomplished will help keep you de-stressed.
And a calming bath with some bath salts can't hurt!
Happy Holidays!
The holidays should be joyful and fun. But the reality is - that's not the reality! There is too much pressure from retailers to buy, buy, buy...... The television bombards you with ads. The newspapers and stores send out ads and coupons and make you think that shopping is your idea. People will love you more if you buy them things!
The holidays aren't about family or friends or anything important anymore. It's about commercialism.
So be daring and "just say NO". Take a step back and remember what the holidays are supposed to be about. Appreciating your family and your life.
So - if you haven't finished your shopping or planning for the holidays - here are a few ideas to cut down on the stress.
Allow yourself to enjoy the holidays by taking a step back and making a list and checking it twice.
Write down all of the things that you think you need to get done before the holiday. Write down all of the things that you think you need to buy.
Grab your calendar and start planning on when you are going to do all of the things that you think you need to do. Write it down on your calendar (in pencil!). Be specific. Give yourself time limits on each item.
For example:
Going to the store for husbands gift - Wed - 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Kids Holiday concert - Thur - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Work party - Fri - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Taking kids shopping for holiday presents - Thur - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
You get the idea - write it all down - so that you can see it in front of you. Then decide if there is overlap with some functions that you can't realistically get to. Or you can decide which functions you want to skip (yes, give yourself permission to skip things!). Don't stress yourself out about going to every single event. That takes all of the fun out of the holidays.
Next - make a list of all of the things that you have to do and buy.
Things to do:
Buying wrapping paper, gift tags and tape
Wrap presents - when kids and husband is not at home
Send presents to out of town family
Deciding on a holiday menu
Make a list of all of the ingredients needed for the holiday dinner
Make sure that you have all of the serving dishes that you need for the holiday dinner
Plan your holiday schedule of events for that big day
These are just some of the things that you want plan for. The more you plan - the better the chances that things will go smoothly (or as smoothly as they can). Even a professional organizer can't predict that her oven will stop working two days before the holiday! Stuff happens - but if most of the important things have been planned out - the little things won't get noticed as much.
And the most important thing - take time for yourself! Write that into your calendar of events. Take time to go to the coffee shop and sit and relax with a cup of coffee and watch all of the people hustling about. Enjoy the holiday music that is everywhere.
Knowing that your next few weeks have been planned out and that everything can get accomplished will help keep you de-stressed.
And a calming bath with some bath salts can't hurt!
Happy Holidays!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your
business and your life
Organizational
Consulting Services
Monday, December 9, 2019
Organizing - At Your Own Speed
Everyone has a different way of organizing. And that's OK! There is no "one size fits all". Not matter what anyone says. There are a ton of books out there on organizing and everyone has their own idea.
It's important that you know yourself - your style - and how your brain works. If you try to use someone else's method - and it is too complicated - you won't keep it up. You have to look at your lifestyle and how you use your home - before you can come up with an organizing solution.
Don't make things over complicated. Don't go out and buy a lot of "organizing products".
Start slowly - start with the basics.
As always - you start by decluttering first. This is a crucial step that you can't skip.
Then, the organizing process can take place. Keep it simple. It needs to make sense to "you" - not the Organizer.
Know yourself and your body. Be sure to take frequent breaks so that you don't get overwhelmed.
Know that it always gets worse before it gets better. When you start clearing things out - they need to go somewhere. Make sure that you have enough time - so that you can put things back where you want them (in an organized fashion). People tend to underestimate how long an organizing project will take.
If you can't finish a project all in one session - know and understand that you might have a mess on your hands until you can get back and finish your project.
Plan your projects out by scheduling them on your calendar. That way they might actually get done in a timely manner.
If you don't know where to start or are overwhelmed at even the thought of organizing your home - reach out to an experienced Organizer.
We live to Organize!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational
Consulting Services
Monday, December 2, 2019
Clearing the Way for New Items in Your Home
Let's get real - everyone is probably going to get some "new things" for Christmas! So - where are you going to put them?
In order not to end up with overflowing closets or pantries - you will need to purge.
So start now!
Get the entire family involved! Because you know that the kids will probably get new toys as well as new clothes.
This is also a good time to teach your kids the meaning of "sharing". Let them decide what toys they want to "donate". Ask them to go through all of their toys and be realistic. If they haven't played with them for a long time or they are too old for the toys - have them put them in a pile so that you can look at them - before putting them into the "donate" box.
If the kids are resistant and don't want to get rid of things (even though they have outgrown them) - explain to them that by donating them - other kids will be able to get the enjoyment out of them that they had. Also - you can explain to them that they will need to make room "just in case" they get new toys for Christmas.
Set a good example by also going around the house and decluttering and donating things that you no longer use.
By clearing out before the holidays - you will be ahead of the game when Christmas arrives and new items magically appear in your home.
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your
business and your life
Organizational
Consulting Services
Monday, November 25, 2019
Gifts for the Holidays....
The Perfect Gift - Don't Get Stressed Out....
Trying to find "the perfect gift" can be challenging and very stressful!
But as you shop - are you even thinking about the amount of room that your gift takes up in that person's home? Or the clutter that is will cause?
A lot of people buy gifts they think the recipient will like - but - they might not think about the effects - such as noise or damage - the gift might cause - especially if the gift is for a child.
A drum set sounds like a great gift for a child - when it's not yours and you don't have to listen to the constant noise. Paints and other messy items might be fun - but you don't have to clean up the mess.
Try to be sensitive to the parents when you are buying a child's gift. It might help to preserve your friendship.
Then there are the gifts that you might like - but if you never see a gift that you bought displayed - maybe you don't know that person as well as you think.
One idea might be to give gifts that don't last...... gifts that are consumed or turned in for things the person might actually like, need or use.
Christmas ideas that don't clutter:
* Gas cards
* Gift certificates to restaurants
* Gift certificates for babysitting services
* Gift certificates to a spa
* Fruit baskets or gourmet fruit (or chocolate or candy)
* Gift certificates for lawn care
* Gift certificates for house cleaning
* Gift certificates for books
* Gift certificates for a "special time" with you
* Gift certificates for a weekly home cooked meal
There are a lot of ideas out there - and I am sure that you can think of more. Don't let yourself get stressed out by trying to find the "perfect gift". That's not what the holidays are about.
The gift of time is the most precious of all!
Spend time with your loved ones in this special Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your
business and your life
Organizational
Consulting Services
Monday, November 18, 2019
Get Ready to Start Writing Out Your Christmas Cards!
On to the next Holiday!
It's hard to enjoy one holiday at a time when they all seem to run together. But this is the time to remember your family and friends and reach out to people, your friends and family, that you have neglected over the past year. It's not entirely your fault. We are inundated with so many obligations that we can barely keep up with everything and friends sometimes go by the wayside.
So instead of sending out Christmas cards where you barely sign your name to the card - write a short note that really means something. Not a "form letter" that you send to every person in your address book. Write something special and meaningful to each person individually. A few sentences mean a lot.
Start now. A few cards every day so that you are not overwhelmed. Make it personal.
With email and texting, cards and real letters seem to have gone by the wayside. But getting a piece of real mail means something. Something special!
OK - if you don't want to send out "real" cards - because of the cost of the card or postage - how about if you sent out an eCard ??? There are FREE sites that will allow you to send out FREE cards- and schedule when they are sent. You could send out a bunch of cards - with a note attached - all with the touch of a button. It's not the same as a card you can touch - but it's the next best thing.
So start now - one card at a time. And before you know it, you will be done.
Happy Holidays!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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