Letting Go is Hard to Do….

Sung to the tune of Breaking Up is Hard to Do….

Some items can be more challenging than others.  I have found with a lot of my women it is clothing. (I include myself in that statement!)

“When I lose those last ten pounds” or “But I might need that outfit for lunch with the governor some day” or “Get rid of the sweater that I was wearing when I was asked out on by my future husband?”  My favorite professional organizer Peter Walsh offers some good suggestions:

1. Those clothes that don’t fit you now are just taunting you every time you open the door! Why would you want clothing that doesn’t fit you or flatter you to take up your space? When you get to the weight you want to be, reward yourself with clothing that you love and makes you feel attractive!

2. When you hold onto items because you are worried you might need them someday you are not living in the present. You are looking to the future. Don’t most of us have dreams and wishes for the future? Do you really want to hold onto something shabby or ill suited to represent your hopes and dreams? Is the money, space and energy you are using to keep everything the best way to try and create your future?

3. Holding on to the sweater is an emotional reason for not wanting to pitch it. But the memories are never going to go away. If you value an item, then you need to show it the honor and respect it deserves. If you aren’t doing that now what makes you think you will start?

By clearing your clutter you are able to open space and open your life to possibilities. You want to change your life? Change your clutter!

Letting go of stuff doesn’t mean it has to end up in the landfill–  freecycle & Craigs List are two popular options.  For more, check out green resources on my web page!

What are you ready to clear or let go of today?  What new possibilities do you want to bring into your life?

Reusing: Buying Used to Get Organized

When getting organized you don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of new gadgets. Many times you will be able to reuse what you already have.

The state surplus store here in Raleigh sells chairs, desks, as well as other items you can bid on from a pepsi machine to tires. Here’s the link:

http://www.doa.state.nc.us/ssp/

Check your state to see if there is one near you! With cash strapped states it is a win win for you to buy used and for them to get some money!  http://www.usa.gov/shopping/auctions/surplus.shtml

Get creative! Instead of a clothes swap have a container swap with your friends and have fun getting organized! By making organizing fun you are more likely to stick to it and finish a project! Of course, you can always hire a professional organizer to help!

Organizing Your Gift Giving

I know the holidays just ended, but now is the perfect time to plan your gifts for the year!  Decrease stress with no more last minute shopping and spreading time and money throughout the year.

• Get your calendar/PDA and enter all birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

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?

Next Page »