Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
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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.
Go through your families closets and clear out the clothes that you no longer wear (don't fit, don't like, never worn....). Just about everyone gets some new clothes for Christmas - so make room in your closet for them. Having a closet so full that you can't get to your clothes, or can't find clothes because everything is squished so tightly - is one of the things that make people not wear all of the clothes they have in the closet (or their dressers). Leave a little space in your closet so that you are not always fighting to get your clothes out.
Most people only wear about 20% of the clothes in their closet. So - purge out the clothes that don't "make you feel good about yourself" - and donate them - so that other people can enjoy them.
You will want to start the New Year with a decluttered home - so start now and declutter what "doesn't make you happy".
By clearing out before the holidays - you will be ahead of the game when Christmas arrives and new items magically appear in your home.
Wishing you and your family a "Happy Holiday".
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....We are now about 3 1/2 weeks away from Christmas. The pressure is on. Holiday decorations are going up in people's homes. Presents are being bought. Cards are being written and sent out.
We want to feel happy and excited about the holidays - but if we are really honest with ourselves - they can be a bit stressful! Being organized - with a timeline that is spread out so that you don't get overwhelmed - will help.
Make a list of things that you need to do for the holidays - and spread them out over the next few weeks. Put them on your calendar - so that you will actually do them. Don't overload each day.
In between your tasks (shopping, writing cards, sending presents, decorating the house.....) - be sure to take care of yourself! Self-care is really important - especially during times of high stress.
Some simple self-care things you can do:
We've all heard the saying "you need to take care of yourself - before you can take care of others".
Don't over-commit yourself. Spread things out over the next few weeks. Don't wait until the last minute.
And most importantly - take care of yourself!
You deserve a happy and stress free holiday season!
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Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....And now - the next holiday.....
Organizational Consulting Services
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....It's not winter yet - but we have snow at some of our higher elevations - so - let's get ready for winter!
Check your tires. It might be time for snow tires!
Check to make sure that you have the essentials needed for winter - like a snow brush & ice scraper. It you don't - get some.
Make sure that your car is in working order and all of your fluids are filled up.
Living out in the west - and driving long distances without a town or gas station in sight - brings about it's own problems.
Unlike being in a big city where there is a gas station and help within a block - living out in the west - with lots of land and few people - you always need to be prepared for any and all emergencies.
So – the question is ..... are you prepared ?
Now is the time to stock your car with winter essentials.
In your backseat:
* Snow brush
* Ice scraper (or two – various sizes)
* Blanket
* Gloves (keep extra’s in your car)
* Hat
* Scarf
* Snacks
In your glove compartment:
* Paper
* Pen
* Matches (in something waterproof)
* Candle (in a tin) – this can be used if your flashlight doesn’t work or for extra heat
* Tissues
* Hand wipes
* Cell Phone Car Charger
* Flashlight (make sure the batteries are good – or get a windup one)
In your trunk:
* Salt, cat litter or something to throw under your tires if you get stuck
* Extra Windshield Fluid
* Extra Antifreeze
* Spare Tire
* Shovel
* Jumper Cables
* First Aid Kit (basic)
* Towel (this can also be used as an extra blanket)
* Rope
* Bungee Cords
* Duct Tape (so many uses!)
* Tire Gauge
* Tire Repair kit
* Road Flares
* Fire Extinguisher (small one)
* Plastic Garbage Bags
If you are going to be driving outside of the city limits I would also suggest that you keep water and snacks in your car, especially if you have kids. You never know when an accident might keep you tied up for a long time and you will need water to keep you hydrated and snacks to keep the kids occupied.
Being prepared is always the best defense. Now relax and embrace the weather.
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....Getting organized starts with "starting". That might sound "simplistic" but it's the reality of how a person can become "successful".
People often ask - 'where should I start"? The answer is always "what bothers you the most"? There is no "one size fits all". If the kitchen clutter bothers you - start with the kitchen. If the living room bothers you - start with the living room.
It doesn't matter where you start - just start.
Taking that first step to wanting to clear you clutter and get organized is huge!
But take a few minutes to create a goal and a plan on how to get there. People have a tendency to just jump into a project without a clear plan. That usually leads to a lot of wasted time and frustration when things come up that you did not anticipate.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is not being realistic about the amount of time it actually takes to get organized. And they don't realize that it will "look worse before it looks better". For example, if you plan on reorganizing your pantry, you usually take everything out of the pantry. It has to go somewhere. Then you have to decide what to keep and what to purge. And how to reorganize it so that it fits better and makes sense.
And then all of a sudden hours have gone by and you have to be somewhere else. And there's a mess everywhere.
You have to take into consideration how much time you actually have to work on your project and also (and more importantly), you have to leave enough time to clean up or put things away at the end. For a lot of people, leaving things out until the next time you can work on your organizing project, is not something that a lot of people can deal with. They don't want to look at the mess for a whole week before their next session.
Before you start a project, make sure that you are in a good frame of mind to purge things that you haven't used in the last 6 or 12 months, or are broken (no, you probably won't fix it), or no longer need.
Have a box for donations that you can put things into throughout the year. When it's filled, take it to a donation center.
Don't go out and buy a bunch of organizing bins and other items because you think that will help. You need to purge and come up with an organizing plan first so that you know what will make the most sense for that particular space.
For more "Tips to Getting and Staying Organized - Do's and Don'ts" - send me an email (kefconsulting@gmail.com) and I will send you a list with 40 tips to get you started!
Happy Organizing!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....These days a lot of people have pantries where they can buy and store large amounts of food. A great idea to save time and money. You only have to shop once and you get discounts for buying in bulk.
But, how long are these foods actually good for? A lot of foods, at least foods that go in your pantry, have an “expiration date” on them. Or a “sell by” date. Or a “best if used by” date.
What does this all mean? Well, unfortunately the answer isn’t as simple is you might expect. Foods like ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, herbs and many others have “best if used by” dates on them.
Meats have “sell by” dates on them. These dates do not mean that the products are no longer good after that date. It means that, in the case of things like ketchup and mayonnaise (unopened), the products are at their ”best” if “used by” a specific date. After that the textures, consistency or taste might be affected. For meats the “sell by” date means that the stores want it out of the store and in your home “by” that date. But, you can still have it in your refrigerator after that date. It’s a bit confusing and scary.
A great website that has a lot of information on “expiration dates” and can answer a lot of questions about those “dates on the cans” is: http://www.stilltasty.com/
It has tips for storage and how long food lasts. It answers questions such as: “When should you wash fruit, before you store it in the refrigerator or right before you eat it?”. The answer: “right before you eat it”.
Another question - “Is it O.K. to put hot foods directly into the fridge?”. The answer: “yes”.
The website has info on : * Fruits * Vegetables * Dairy & Eggs * Meat & Poultry * Fishes & Shellfish * Nuts & Legumes * Grains & Pasta * Condiments & Oils * Herbs & Spices * Snacks & Sweets * Baked Goods * Beverages It’s a great website !
Another great article was published in Southern Living. Check it out:
Organizational Consulting Services
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....
