Thursday, May 22, 2014
Time and Your Priorities
By Karin E. Fried
Time is something that we can't control. I know. I've tried. I keep saying "if only I had a few more hours in the day... ".
But, then what? You could cram more things into your life? Step back and take a look at what's important. Do you really have to do all of the things that you try to do? Really? Are you being honest with yourself? Or are you just trying to impress all of the people around you with how much you can cram into your day and your life?
I remember when the kids were little and one of my neighbors had her kids in gymnastics, ballet, basketball, piano lessons... and on and on. I was exhausted just listening to her. I know that they didn't really have the money for all of the activities but it seemed like it was "expected" of the parents. Give the kids everything. But at what price?
Doing too much costs you time, money and your sanity. Let's be honest!
Kids get tired just like adults. They need "down time". They should be allowed to run outside and play, without being dragged from one "activity" to the next.
And adults... same thing goes for you. Are you involved in too many activities that you don't have enough time for yourself? Or your family?
Are you on too many committees and trying to impress too many people with how busy and exhausted you are? Why? Will being on all of these committees and going to all of the "after hours events" really do anything for your career or job? For most people the answer is "no". Unless your job requires you to "sell" anything and you are on commission or your "business socializing" actually brings in money for your company, you are really taking away time from your family.
Step back and re-think your priorities. Family should come first. That doesn't mean that you drag them to every possible event. It means that you give them your time. Your undivided attention. That is more precious than everything else in their life.
Time... It goes by too quickly!
Re-examine your priorities. Yes, you can have activities... but don't go overboard. Do what feels right for you... not everyone else. You don't need to impress your neighbors with how busy you are.
Have a great week and remember... Less Clutter in your Life makes for a happier you!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karin_E._Fried
Does Your Clutter Define You?
By Julie Riber
What a question! As I enter neighborhoods and people have their garage doors open I see all sorts of different garages. In some I see building materials and tools leading me to believe the owner might be a builder. I see garages jammed with all sorts of items like bikes, garbage cans, and gardening tools telling me that they have a large family and not enough room. And then I see garages with very little in them telling me that maybe they just bought the house or are minimalists. I will never know the truth about their garage unless they are a client or I ask them. I am probably not going to go around asking anyone about their garage, but I have formed a guess.
The inside of houses I visit yields the same result with every house being different. I have clients with paper in piles all over their homes and they struggle to get through it all. I have clients with so many clothes they cannot get it in their closets and drawers. I have clients with toys everywhere and no room for furniture. I have clients with crafts in 2 or 3 rooms and they cannot find anything and usually have multiples of many items and there are the clients with just one room they have difficulty finding a place for everything. Many have multiple unfinished projects in all areas of their home.
So, does the clutter define them? The common denominator in all these is that clutter is a delayed decision. They cannot decide where to put it, what to do next, or what to purge, so the clutter evolves. I believe their clutter defines them as someone who is having difficulty making some decisions. As a member of the Institute of Chronic Disorganization, I have learned that some struggle more than others and the some individuals have been chronically disorganized their entire lives.
The answer to the question is sometimes your clutter does define you. It might be situational and your clutter goes away when your life returns to normal and in some cases your clutter and lack of making decisions does define your work and home environment.
Julie Riber is Certified Professional Organizer and has been organizing in the central Ohio area since 2004. She helps organize individuals spaces, time, and lives and she helps businesses streamline processes, increase productivity, and organize their spaces. She is a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and a board member of the Ohio Chapter of NAPO since 2005. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter with organizing tips. http://www.transformare.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Riber
De-Clutter Your Life and Gain Perspective On What's Really Important
By Karin E. Fried
When you walk into a business that is organized and clutter free you have confidence that the person that runs the business knows what they are doing and are successful.
When you walk into a home that is organized and clutter free you feel a sense of calm and are happy to be there.
De-cluttering your home and your business is not only important because it allows you to function better, be more efficient and saves you time and money, but it also makes other people feel better and makes them want to associate with you.
If your house or business is cluttered or disorganized people will not want to associate with you and you might be too embarrassed to have people over to your house, thus creating social isolation.
But there is also "life clutter". You have too many things that take up time in your life. Too many activities. Either in your job or in your personal life. You are pulled in too many directions. But you can't seem to let anything go.
Life clutter can be things such as being involved in too many business groups or too many extracurricular activities (yours and your kids). Yes, there are some business functions that you have to go to, but how many is too many? Are they taking away from your family? Will missing an after hours business function really hurt you? It seems like that when you are young and just starting out, but as you get older you realize that family is more important and kids grow up too quickly.
What about kid's activities? How many sports and other activities (piano lessons, swimming lessons, karate lessons....) does one child actually need? Or want? Do they want them or are you pushing them on your children because you didn't get to do it as a child? Be honest.
If you never have time for your family and friends then your life is too cluttered. Friends are like the plants in your yard. They need to be nurtured. Take the time to nurture your relationships.
Decide what's really important and let the rest go. Get rid of the life clutter and start living your life.
Member: National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO); Member: National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD); Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization; Certificate of Study in Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client; Certificate of Study in Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client; CD Specialist - Level II Certificate; NAPO, Quantum Leap Trainer; NAPO in the Schools Trained Provider
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karin_E._Fried
Learn How to Get Organized
By Julie Riber
So you were not given the organizing skills like me when you were born, but you were probably given other talents such as creativity or music that I was not given. The good news is that you can easily learn some organizing skills and use them to help get your space organized.
One skill is to know that your space does not need to look as if it is in a magazine. Unless you are selling your home, your space should fit your current life and be livable. Perfection can be harmful when starting to organize. Some of my clients are perfectionists and that is why they are unorganized. They start one space and then move to another and never finished the first section and when they come to try to perfect all areas, they become overwhelmed and quit. Every space is different for every person, so don't try to keep up with the Joneses.
Another organizing skill is to take each space in sections. Break it down into manageable pieces. Most of my clients look at all their spaces as one and immediately become overwhelmed.
I also recommend really knowing the difference between want and need. As you look through the space you are organizing, ask yourself if the item is something you really need or just wanted when you purchased it.
I also recommend really knowing the difference between want and need. As you look through the space you are organizing, ask yourself if the item is something you really need or just wanted when you purchased it.
Skill number 3 would be to use the acronym SPACE when starting your organizing project. S would be to sort like things together to really get an idea of how many you really have. P would be to purge the items you no longer want, need or use. Many charities are glad to take your purged items and if you need help finding a charity, give me a call. A is to assign your items to a specific location in your home more specifically where they will be used. Obviously, certain items, such as holiday decorations should be stored in a storage area, not where they will be used. C is to contain those items in a properly sized container. That is why I tell my clients not to go out and purchase containers because they usually have enough, they just do not have the right items in them. E is to equalize and to periodically come back to those spaces to ask yourself if they are still serving your current life.
Organizing is a learnable skill but is not really completed as our lives change and so should your space. Purging consistently will leave your home clutter free and your life less stressful.
Julie Riber is a Certified Professional Organizer in the central Ohio area since 2004. She helps organize individuals spaces, time, and lives and she helps businesses streamline processes, increase productivity, and organize their spaces. She is a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and a board member of the Ohio Chapter of NAPO since 2005. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter with organizing tips. http://www.transformare.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Riber
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