Unnecessary Mind Clutter: Letting Go

With 2012 around the corner, take time to examine what you need to declutter in your mind: old loves, people who don’t treat you well, stress over things you cannot control, a job you hate, a mate that doesn’t treat you well….

After you come up with a list, start to take concrete actions that you can do to declutter these people/situations/items from your life.  Ask yourself what it is costing you to keep these people/items around.  When I finally realized how miserable I was in my last job, I started planning my business.  The job still sucked, but everyday I did something for my business which made the job more tolerable: I knew there was an end in sight and I was building my future.  Letting go helped lift my depression and make space in my mind for all the new, wonderful events coming my way.

I had also held on to some mementos from a relationship that I would hope was leading to marriage.  In my heart I knew it wasn’t, but somehow by keeping some stuff I was holding onto hope that maybe it could work. By clearing the stuff, I also decluttered my heart, allowing me to open up to someone new.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful, prosperous, filled with love & happiness year for 2012!

What changes do you need to make?  What can you do today to start letting go of unnecessary clutter?

Tidy Files = Tidy Finances

In the March 2010 issue of O magazine, Suzy Orman talked about being organized in your finances as a “surefire way to build wealth.”  She suggests cleaning up finances by getting rid of (make sure you shred!) old paperwork, and develop a system that keeps your important documents organized.

She writes, “A pile of bills and statements–whether paid or not–is a sign that someone is clueless about what’s coming in and what is going out.  When you consciously open, read, and file away your bills and statements, you are connecting with your money and taking control of your life.”

How is your financial health?  What one thing could you do today to organize your finances?  What is your plan for wealth in 2012 and are you organized for it?

Organzing Your Wrapping/Green Ideas

Here are some suggestions:

Instead of getting all different kinds of wrapping paper for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, etc. consider getting just butcher block paper that you can dress up with bows, artworks, etc. ; create your  signature color (purple should stand out at every event!): or simply choose three colors such as silver, white and red that you can mix and match for the occasion.

When wrapping gifts consider assigning one color for each group of people to make mix ups less likely and easier for you to organize.  Immediate family could be white; co-workers could be red; cousins silver, etc.

Some eco-friendly options instead of wrapping paper include: using newspaper (foreign & comics are good choices); old maps; reusing paper from last year (simply set an iron on low and smooth); leftover fabric; old calendars, catalogs, magazines; jars and other resusable items such as a cake pan.  Have fun getting creative!

Look for non-paper  (http://www.islandnet.com/~ecodette/ecosource.htm)  and high post consumer content ( http://www.endoprint.com/wrapping-paper-s/3.htm&click=16 and   http://www.greenraising.com/Recycled-Gift-Wrap-C12.aspx ) as this closes the loop. Also check out reusable wrapsacks:  http://wrapsacks.com/

Remember to reuse bows; my mother has been doing this since I was a child and they last several gifts.  I also like to reuse the clear containers curtains come in to keep ribbons.

Organizing your holiday feasts!

When I lived in Los Angeles I had an annual holiday dessert party where I would make about 15 desserts from scratch.  I learned the hard way that I needed to be organized to save me time, money and stress!  Trust me, there is nothing worse than being in the middle of a baking marathon and discover you don’t have an ingredient!

Spending some time now will save multiple trips to the grocery store later.  First, plan all your menus for your parties, dinners, any baking you are doing, etc.  Go through every recipe and create a master list of all ingredients you will need with the amount.  If this is something you do annually create a master ingredient list on your computer (also a good idea for grocery list).

Remember to shop when the stores are least likely to be busy when you won’t feel rushed.  Figure out what can be prepared ahead of an event.

The ingredients for the average U.S. meal have traveled 1,200 miles by the time they reach the plate. This travel requires oil for transport and refrigeration. Buying locally grown food tastes better, too. Choosing food that is in season and isn’t flown in saves energy. When you shop at farmers’ markets, you support small farms and organic food reduces toxic pesticides. Raleigh has many great places to choose from: Whole Foods, Harmony Farms, Earth Fare, and the State Farmers Market.

Give an Experience

Most environmental damage is done in manufacturing stage; the less consumerism, the better it is for the environment.  The EPA estimated Americans produced 254.1 million tons of household trash in 2007.  In 2008 when the economy tanked landfills reported a 30% decline in waste. What is an experience or event or class that you have always wanted to take?

Organize Your Shopping

When I posted on Facebook I had only one gift left to buy I was bombarded by jealous, stressed out and overwhelmed friends! With the days counting down many people are more frantic than ever.  Here are some tips to make shopping more efficient!

When your gift list is completed, is there one place the majority of gifts can be found?  List those stores in geographical order to make as few trips as possible.   Group trips.  Have a plan so you don’t make several trips to the store.

Carry your list with you on all errands.  Maybe you  discover a gift you need.   Record each purchase and price beneath the recipient’s name.  Keep a running total of money spent to stay within your budget.

Shop local when you can!  Many small business owners can help you with gifts & wrapping if you need.

Want to be more green?  The internet saves time, money and resources.    If you are travelling for the holidays you can have gifts shipped directly to your destination. Not only do you save time by avoiding long lines and packed parking lots, but you can comparison shop and save money too! Additionally, most e-commerce warehouses use 1/16th of the energy used to operate retail stores. And even overnight air shipping uses 40% less fuel than the average car trip to the store.

More Habits of Highly Organized People

The Holidays are a great time to get organized so you have less stress and actually enjoy the seasons celebrations!  Here are some suggestions to help keep you organized.

Get Out the Door Quickly. Have a place to keep all that stuff the moment you walk in the door.  The better organized this is (place for permission slips, car keys, the dog leash) the easier it will be for you to find what you need fast.

Ask for Help. Be willing to show your vulnerable and potentially embarrassed and ask for help when you need it.  Can’t bake everything from scratch?  Buy stuff already made or ask a friend for assistance.

Separate feelings from stuff. Keep items with real sentimental value (your grandmother’s necklace, a painting from Italy) and let go of the rest (cheap souvenir glasses, sweatshirts from high school, etc.)

Foresee Problems. Take time to anticipate problems and deal with them directly instead of waiting to tackle when they do happen.  Children’s toys stacked high and about to tumble?  Take time to organize before they all tumble out and you are left chasing parts.

Know where to Give. If you know someone can get good use out of your stuff, it will be easier to let go.  I have resources on my site at www.healingorganization.com

What habit can you put into practice at this very moment?

What to Ask Before You Buy

One of my favorite commercials a few years back showed a bunch of people mesmerized by “pretty shiny objects” and they just stared in wonderment.  Sometimes it is like that when we go to a store, overwhelmed with music, shiny objects and sales.  Take a deep breath and ask yourself some questions before making a purchase.

Financial author Beth Kobliner suggests asking these questions for Can You Afford it?

Have you covered your monthly expenses?

Are your credit cards paid off?

Do you have the cash?

Is it with in your (clothing, household, etc.) budget?

Is the price tag reasonable?

Are you getting the best price?

Will you still want it tomorrow?

Remember to think before you buy.  Is there an experience you would rather enjoy? Consider how you will feel when the credit card bills come in January.

Avoid the Gotchas

If you are like most Americans, the race is on to buy gifts. Shop Smart from Consumer Reports in December 2009 highlighted the big money wasters.  Don’t get trapped!

1.  Hidden debit-card fees. Banks previously rejected debit purchases that were overdrawn. Now, they will accept and charges range from $25-35.  If you spend big on one day you could be hit with several fees.  Some banks have said they will lower or eliminate fees, but I am not counting on that.

2. Phony Sales. Highly promoted door sales on Black Friday offer deep discounts on line.  Sometimes the item advertised is a phony come on to get you to buy something else and spend.  If you try to buy just the sale item on line they will cancel sale, back order or send you lower quality merchandise.  Returns can be difficult, if not impossible.

3.  Unnecessary warranties. Shoppers were expected to spend a billion dollars on extended warranties.  Stores keep as much as 50% of what they charge for them. When electronics and appliances break they repairs on average cost about the same as the extended warranty.

4. Gift Card Charges. SS advises against these.  Some come with purchasing and process fees, expiration dates, transaction fees & inactivity fees that unfairly diminish their value over time. 25% of people hadn’t used their cards since the last holiday.

5. Return Fees. Many electronic items are subject to a 15-25% restocking fee if they are returned open or if they aren’t in a factory sealed box. Merchants can’t resell as new any item after the package has been opened, so they penalize you for opening.

Shop safe!

Gratitude is Attitude

Whenever I give a presentation on eco-organizing  I always talk about organizing your mind.  This is about being clear about your priorities and goals; following your passion; surrounding yourself with good people; and enlarging your life.

For me, this also includes gratitude.  I have been in business almost two and a half years and there were days when I struggle.  How many people out there also started a business in the worst economic times?  What helped sustain me besides family, friends, my Women’s Power Networking group, Inside 919, etc. was my attitude.  I would remind myself that many of my problems were “first world.”  I had food, shelter, good health and family and friends that I could turn to if needed.

How often do you express your gratitude?

What are you thankful for in this Thanksgiving season?

In what other ways do you express your thanks?

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