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During this uncertain time we are experiencing I hope we can all take a moment and remember the ones we have lost, their families and those fighting this disease on the front lines - Thank you!
Also, the many people who live with abuse, hunger, mental and physical complexities. Many are currently suffering with so many other diseases and fighting for their lives and the emotional and financial toll it takes on their family and loved ones can be devastating. Stay strong. Be Kind. Help one another and pay it forward when you can. One of the hardest things in life is to let go.
Letting go of old habits. Letting go of all of your kids art projects & drawings (every grade, every year, every child). Letting go of the clothes that you know you will fit into when you get started on that fitness plan. Letting go of the clothes that you might need if you have to stop the fitness plan. Letting go of all those papers because with your luck, you could get audited. Letting go of all the hobby stuff that you never had/have time for (Creative Memories, sewing, etc.) Letting go of the items you inherited, but didn't want or ask for, but keep out of guilt. Letting go of those strange small appliances that take up all that great kitchen space, just in case. Letting go of fear. Letting go of toxic relationships. Letting go of guilt and shame, as it seems like an old friend after awhile. If we could let go of just 3 of these things that weigh us down or take up space we would have room for the those beautiful moments in life. The special people we want in our lives that we miss because our stress, our shame, and the time we spend worrying and moving around our physical and mental clutter keeps getting in the way. Today is Veterans Day (observed) and I would like to take a moment to thank all who have served and are still serving. If you are reading this, please pause and send good thoughts and prayers to those who are still in dangerous areas of the world. Thank you for defending the freedoms that we often take for granted and I wish you all a safe return.
Ways that you can help support a service member or their family:
Many of my clients and friends constantly ask me how to control the constant stream of paper coming into the home. When school starts again in the fall it seems to triple!
Here are a few solutions I have made habits in my home when it comes to tackling the paper beast! 1) When I go out to retrieve the mail I stop at my recycle/trash bin prior to coming back into the house and sort out what is junk so that it never comes through the door. 2) I found a large boot box and put it up on one of the main floor closet shelves to put my kids school papers in. This keeps the counters clear on a daily basis, if they need to refer back they know where the box is and then we clean out every few months and throw out what they don't need anymore. 3) Make specific home for things such as magazines or reading material. If you don't have time when you receive to read it place in it's home (box, bin, drawer). When this place gets too full, it's time to take 5 - 10 minutes to clean out what is probably outdated information or take the time to read it. The trick is to never get a larger container or another location for the item. I quickly page through magazines and rip out articles or pages that are of interest or referral and recycle the rest. 4) Update your filing system so that it works for you. This is key! I have tried many filing systems before I found one that works for me. Simple is usually best because you will be more apt to use it on a regular basis making it a habit. I have a bin on my step to the basement and bring papers down once a week and file. If I am really strapped for time I ask my kids if they want to make some money filing and someone usually wants to make a couple bucks! Feel free to share any systems that work for you and don't be afraid to look around your house and think about spaces that be daily homes for paper items. It may fail, but keep trying eventually you will find a system that works with your life. Enjoy the fall colors that are coming! Help those in need if you are able. Hosted and sponsored by NAPO-Michigan Chapter
Thursday, October 19, 2017 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Red Olive Restaurant Conference Center 1051 W. Ann Arbor Road Plymouth, MI 48170 To learn more and to register go to: www.KickButtBusinessBootCamp.com For the entire article with pictures go to: http://themidlifeguru.com/organizing-trends-for-2017/#respond Organizing Trends for 2017
January 11, 2017 By Caryn Payzant “Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money and improving your overall quality of life.” -― Christina Scalise, Organize Your Life and More What better time than the New Year than to return to the healthy habit of organizing. If you were like me, the holidays were joyous — and a disruption to my preferred lifestyle of organization. Things got a tad out of control; piles popped up everywhere. I didn’t realize how much inner stress and tension I was harboring until I began breaking those piles down. When everything was put back in its proper place, I breathed a sigh of relief. Organizing is not a one time chore. It is a habit that needs to be developed and revised in order to maintain. Midlife is a wonderful time to perfect organization, cut back and downsize to relieve stress in the later years. How are your organizing skills? Are you looking to update or improve them? Here are some great organizing tips and trends I have found for 2017: Start Now. Procrastination is so 2016. Make a fresh start in 2017. As you are putting away your holiday decorations and gifts, clear out unwanted items and declutter to make room for your new belongings. Don’t be afraid to simplify. If you haven’t worn or used something in a year, get rid of it. Donate to charity and feel even better about your organization and downsizing. Try an Organizational App. Organizing and Decluttering apps are plentiful. They can provide an effective way to complete the organizing and purging process. For instance, the app Snupps lets you digitize your belongings and organize them into simple categories or “shelves.” From there, you decide what to keep, sell or give away. You can also reach out to other users for organizational inspiration, discover items you may be interested in acquiring or show off your personal collection. Develop a Room-by-Room Schedule. To systematically organize over time, try monthly organization that’s broken down by room. This helps so that you won’t be so overwhelmed and rushed with your organizing. For example, you can tackle the kitchen in January and give the home office a deep clean in February. Make a schedule that works for you.When all my guests left after the holidays, I had a lot of food leftovers, uneaten holiday treats, and my pantry was a mess. I decided that organizing my food shelves along with the fridge was a good place to start. I threw away outdated items and food my husband and I would not be eating. Three trash bags later, my pantry and refrigerator looked great and were more manageable. Another benefit of an organized kitchen is that it aids in loosing weight; knowing what you have and getting rid of what to avoid. This is especially convenient if that is another one of your New Year resolutions. Single Purge. If you prefer to get your organizing done all at once, designate a few days or a weekend to devote to the process. The secret is to stay focused on one task at a time and avoid getting sidetracked. Work your way through each room one by one until you’ve cleared out all areas of your home. I feel blessed to have a job I love doing and awesome clients that are each unique and wonderful!
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent
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