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Focus on Simplifying

By Erica Duran

"Simplifying is the perfect antidote for a stressful life"

~Connie Cox and Chris Evatt

30 Days to a Simpler Life

I'm a huge advocate of simplifying your life (which has a major impact on your career as well).

Simplifying means different things to different people... for some it means selling everything and moving to the woods. For others, it means making minor or major lifestyle changes.

For everyone who chooses to simplify, it means taking a good, hard look at how you're living your life and what you're allowing to take up your time and energy.

I've seen dramatic benefits in my own life and the lives of my clients through simple simplifying, automating, deleting and de-cluttering the excess.

What are the benefits to simplifying? It is having more time and fewer demands. Often, in the busyness of life, we let treasured passions and interests lapse into dormancy in our life. When we simplify, more of our true loves can be expressed.

Simplifying:

- Helps you stay organized

- Gives you the freedom to spend your time/money/energy on things you really want

- Saves time from doing what you don't want

- Saves money

- Creates a more peaceful life/reduces stress

- Is energy efficient and friendly to the environment

Simplifying is not something you can complete over a weekend.

It takes some time, because as you go, you will continue to find more things that you can simplify. Simplifying is amazing, because it is the ONE project in your life that never gets done, but you don't seem to mind. There is always something else to throw out, or delete from your life, automate or delegate.

Simplicity Questionnaire:

• How many hours of television do you watch per week?
• How many magazines do you read regularly? How many organizations do you belong to?
• How often do you take time for yourself?
• How often do you exercise?
• How many pairs of shoes do you own?
• Do you know what the 4 most important values are in your life?
• Do you have a storage unit separate from your home, where you're keeping things you don't have room for?
• Do you have a garage, but your cars sit in the driveway because the garage is full of stuff?
• What are your top 5 favorite activities? Do you do them every week?
• Etc.?

Does this questionnaire give you some ideas?

Start asking yourself what simplifying might mean to you. Do you want to make major changes, or are some minor changes enough for you to see huge benefits? Leave your ideas and the changes you would like to make to simplify your life further in the comments below - I'd love to see them and maybe even give you some helpful suggestions!

Erica Duran, CPO, is a published Productivity Expert/Coach, Web Designer & Certified Professional Organizer. She has been an entrepreneur and consultant for over 20 years.

Erica works with new entrepreneurs who are just starting their business and have a ton of questions! She also works with those who have been in business for years but long to be more productive, organized, and "get their life back" by doing what they love and make a profit at it.

If you've liked this article, you'll love Erica's dynamic courses and programs to help you get productive, organized, & profitable and stay that way.

Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

How Clutter Affects Your Lifestyle

By Erica Duran

Clutter is stuck energy.

The word "clutter" derives from the Middle English word "clotter" which means to coagulate - and that's about as stuck as you can get."

~ Karen Kingstona Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui

There are four categories of clutter:

• Things you do not use or love
• Things that are untidy or disorganized
• Too many things in too small a space
• Anything unfinished

Clutter can affect your life in many ways. Having lots of clutter means you need space to store it, time to rearrange it, time to find what you need, time to dust it or repair it, and money to insure and maintain it.

Plus, the more you have, the more you usually want.

Clutter also affects your peace of mind (your 'mind clutter'). For example, sit down at a desk piled high with papers vs. a neat, tidy desk with no clutter. How do you feel in each situation? When would you feel more motivated and productive?

Clutter can depress you, decrease your energy levels, make you feel ashamed of your home or office, and affect the level of respect you receive from others.

Clutter can also make you feel disorganized and distracted.

So why do people keep clutter?

We keep things because:

• It reminds me of someone
• I may need it some day
• It was so expensive
• It still works
• It was a gift
• But, it was my mom's
• More is better, right?
• We feel our possessions define us
• Get rid of something?
• It would be too much work to go through all my stuff

At the root of all these reasons is fear - we fear letting go. We fear for the future... what if you need something and don't have it? We also fear our own feelings - what kind of emotions might you experience as you sort through, and let go of some of your belongings?

The benefits of letting go of some of your clutter are enormous. Clearing clutter creates space in your life - for new experiences, new people, new ideas, and new energy. Simply getting rid of items you no longer use and love creates a huge reserve of energy... you'll have to try it to see what we mean!

Are you inspired to take a look at what you may be holding on to in your life? Are you ready to create some space in your life? We'll start the de-cluttering process with a very simple exercise. Today, right now, go through your home or office and fill one shopping bag with items you no longer love or use. If you're feeling particularly inspired, fill several bags. Or go all out and fill 20 bags.

When deciding whether something stays or goes, here are some criteria:

• Does it lift my energy when I think about it or look at it?
• Do I absolutely love it?
• Is it genuinely useful (NOW, not 'someday maybe')?

Immediately after you've filled the bags, put them aside. Call a charity or organization to come by and re-purpose or sell the items. Anything, just get rid of the bags right away! Otherwise you may find yourself digging through them in the middle of then night when you think you can't live without that one special item.

Once you've gone through this exercise, take few minutes to see how you feel. Do you have more energy? Are you feeling a little nervous? Are you inspired to continue? As the week goes on, be aware of any changes in your life... just pay attention. Are you looking at your 'stuff' differently? Are you experiencing yourself differently?

Erica Duran is a Productivity Expert and Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). At Erica Duran International, she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and small business owners who want results fast! She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, profitable and balanced lifestyle.

Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Ask a Professional Organizer: The Fine Art of Setting Limits

By Erica Duran

Question: "Hello. I feel like I am pretty organized, but I feel like my closets and cabinets are still overflowing and there isn't anywhere to put new things that come into my life. Do you have any ideas on why I am struggling with this?"

~K.W. Las Vegas, NV

PR Manager

Professional Organizer's Answer: "Awe, the Fine Art of Setting Limits. Most people rarely, if ever, look at how many of anything they truly need.?? For instance, when is the last time you considered how many towels you actually need? ??Or how many mugs? Silverware? Shoes? Bottles of shampoo? Photos?

If you have no idea how many of these items you need, there is nothing to stop you from continuing to purchase them, accept them as gifts, and acquire more and more of them.?? And, quite frankly, there IS such a thing as too much of a good thing!?? Setting limits on how much stuff we keep has some very powerful benefits:

• You know exactly how many items you have on hand
• You won't continue to buy things you truly don't need (saving you a lot of money!)
• You will have much more space in your cupboards, drawers, and closets
• You will greatly reduce the inflow of clutter into your life
• Since you'll have fewer items, it's much easier to get items that you truly love, rather than a larger quantity of 'so-so' items that you've settled for

Here is how to set limits:

Decide on the limits that work well for you.? One simple guideline is to look at how many people live in your household and use that as your guide.

For example, if there are 4 people living in your home, you might decide to have two sets of bath/hand/wash towels for each person... one set being used, and the other set in the wash or clean and ready to be used. So you'd have a total of 8 sets of towels.

If you want to have towels on hand for company, ask yourself how often you actually have company. Could your 8 sets of towels cover company as well?

Depending on your laundry, you might even find that one complete set of towels per person (4 sets) plus 2 extra sets (for a total of 6 sets) might be enough.

Then go through your towels and choose the best of the best so you have 8 sets (or whatever your own limit is).

And get rid of the rest.

YOU decide what your guidelines and limits are - so they truly fit your lifestyle.

Clear out that space in your cupboards, closets, and drawers.? You can do this in every area of your life: your office, your books, your cosmetics, your kitchen supplies, your clothes and shoes... everything.

Then be mindful about acquiring new items, rather than simply bringing them into your home without noticing if they enhance your life or simply add to your clutter.

If your needs ever change, give yourself complete permission to change your limits.? You will be amazed at the freedom (and spaciousness) that comes simply from setting limits!"

Erica Duran is a Productivity Expert and Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). At Erica Duran International ( www.ericaduran.co ), she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and business owners. She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, and balanced lifestyle.

Want to ask Erica a Question and be featured in her electronic magazine, blog, and other articles. Submit your question here: http://ericaduran.co/ask-erica/#

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Ask a Productivity Expert: "How Will I Ever Be "Ready" Enough To Get Organized?"

By Erica Duran

Question: "Hello! I've been meaning to call you for help organizing my office and taking advantage of your Streamline Your Success program, but I always feel like I am not "ready" enough. What do I need to do to get ready to work with a Productivity Coach/Professional Organizer?"

Productivity Expert's Answer: Hello. This is a great question! I applaud you for raising your hand and realizing that what you are doing now is not working and you recognize you need/want a change or a shift. Everyone I work with seems to have a little apprehension of the unknown as they move forward.

Honestly there is no way to "get ready" or to have all your "ducks in a row" before you start this process. It is actually best if I see what you are currently doing and what is working for you and what isn't so that we can set up the best systems for your situation. All you need is to know that you want transformation in your life and/or business and accept the guidance.

Some clients are afraid I will make them do a bunch of changes all at once and they will feel overwhelmed? But, most likely the reason they want to work with me is the fact that they are overwhelmed and want a simple, yet more productive existence. They want to get out of an overwhelming stress full lifestyle and into a calm and balanced one.

Some clients may worry that I will tell them they are doing everything wrong. They don't need me telling them that on top of everything else they are going through. They may be afraid of another disappointment of disapproval. I gauge the clients energy levels and willingness to change their habits and guide them through a transformational process. I give suggestions, reasons, and easy step-by-step processes to make small changes that will have a big impact. The small changes build to create new habits. This gives them the momentum to make the bigger changes needed and makes the new habits "stick".

Often my clients have been trying to make these changes on their own for years but they get "stuck" or don't ever get a-round-to-it. They don't have any accountability or support through the process on their own and get overwhelmed or their energy burns out. Then, they feel even worse about themselves when they fail yet again. Often times I can suggest one small little change or way of thinking that shifts everything for the client and motivates them to move even faster through the process. Many times it is just permission to release something they've been holding onto (physical or mental). Or they just didn't know that it was "OK" to throw certain mental or physical clutter away.

For some perspective clients their budget is what is stopping them from moving forward. I've created many programs at various price points to try to offer great help on any budget. Some of my programs even can accommodate payment plans. Not to be arrogant, but in this business you get what you pay for as far as level of experience and results. Remember too that Productivity Coaches and Professional Organizers save you tons of money through getting rid of the unnecessary and excess that fills up in your life - the need to "keep up with the Joneses". You will purchase less because you will know exactly what you need to be fulfilled, exactly what you have on hand, and where to find it.

The funniest objection I hear from future clients is that they think it will take a lot of time to get organized and more productive. This is funny because my whole goal in life is to save them time, money, and get them working on the big important stuff in your life and business - not busywork. In almost every case I can get a client more than eight hours back per week that they can use towards recreational activities they've always wanted to try or they can use those hours to improve their businesses.

The biggest question you must ask yourself when contemplating working with a Productivity Coach or Professional Organizer is:
"How is my situation ever going to get better?"

So, when would you like to get started?:)

Erica Duran is a Productivity Expert and Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). At Erica Duran International ( http://www.ericaduran.co ), she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and business owners. She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, and balanced lifestyle. Want to ask Erica a Question and be featured in her electronic magazine, blog, and other articles. Submit your question here: http://ericaduran.co/ask-erica/#

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran