Clutter Be Gone - Get in Your Year End Donations

 As we get closer to the end of the year - you should start to think about "clearing your clutter" and "donating" your "stuff"!

We all know that you probably received a lot of presents over the holidays. Where are you going to put all of the "suff"? 

If you have kids - start clearing out their old toys (that they have outgrown). But - let them make the choices. Get the kids involved when they are young. Explain to them that they have outgrown some of their toys and how great it would be if other children could get the same joy out of playing with them. It gives them a sense of purpose. Letting them be in control will make them feel more grown up and you will have accomplished your goal of making room for other things.

Now - do the same thing with your stuff! Go through your closets and be honest with yourself. If you haven't used something in the last year, if you don't like it anymore, if you have lost interest in some of your crafts, if your clothes don't fit or your are tired of them - let them make someone else happy! Let them go to a good home!

And don't forget to get your donation receipt for your taxes!

Go through one room a day or one closet a day. Don't try to do it all at once and stress yourself out. It's still the holiday season and you should also take time for self-care.

You want to start the new year with an uncluttered home - where your new items have a place to belong.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

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Happiest of Holidays - to 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. 

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

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Clear Out Your Closets before Christmas!

 

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

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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

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It's Getting Closer to Christmas - Don't Forget About Self-Care

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:

• Have a cup of tea and take some time to relax for a few minutes
• Take some time to read a chapter in a book
• Take a long hot bath - add some bath salts and candles for extra decadence
• Take a walk - in the woods or just around your neighborhood
• Watch one of your favorite movies - you deserve it
• Call up a friend that you haven't spoken to in a while
• Spend time with a loved one 
• Ask your family members for help in getting ready for the holidays
  

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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If you are interested in a short 7 minute Guided Meditation to help you relax – send us an email with “Guided Meditation” in the subject line and we will send you a link to a relaxing Guided Meditation that will help calm and relax you during this stressful time.

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*** If you are interested in a FREE Discovery Coaching Session to help you figure out what your next step in life will be – just email or fill out the contact form on our website.     Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

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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

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It's Time to Send Out Those Christmas Cards.....

And now - the next holiday..... 

Thanksgiving is over and the stores are primed for Christmas.  Sales and Santa's are everywhere.

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 you can  schedule when you want them to be sent out. 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.

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

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Getting Your Car Organized & Ready for Winter Emergencies

 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 - Tips to Help

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....