It’s the day where people all around the world get dressed up in green, meet up with good friends, and celebrate the day and night with good luck charms by their side.
It really is great fun!
I have this picture of my Mom when she was a little girl standing in front of a thatched cottage in Ireland where she was born. Perhaps that’s where my love of cottages began. In any event, I love it so much, I think of it as my “good luck charm.”
But, the day also reminds me of how many people out there rely on sheer luck to get through their clutter. Although I am a big fan of the luck of the Irish, it does take a little bit more than that to get your “stuff” in order.
I have a 3 step process that just might produce a little luck if you’re ready to put a little muscle behind it.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Assess the clutter
Go through every area of your home. Room by room. Then on a scale from 1-10, (10 being the highest amount of clutter) rate your clutter accordingly. This way you have an accurate picture of what’s happening and you’re facing your clutter challenges.
Step 2: Choose the clutter
Based on your rating, select an area where you would like to begin. Depending upon your level of energy and/or how much the clutter is affecting you, you can either dive right into the most cluttered area or start with the smaller amount.
Step 3: Prioritize the clutter
Show up like you mean it! Figure out how much time you think it’s going to take you to tackle the clutter in each area and then schedule it. Put it on your calendar, planner, to-do list, whatever it takes to remind you that you are taking this serious.
Do this consistently and you’ll generate your own good luck for clutter-free living.
Again, here’s wishing you a great St. Patty’s Day! Go green!
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Are you familiar with the folk tale of Aladdin (the Disney movie from 1992) where he rubs a magic lamp and a genie appears and grants him 3 wishes?
It’s one of my favorite stories.
I sometimes wonder if I was granted 3 wishes like Aladdin, what I would choose and how my life would change.
So I make a little game out of it. I think really hard about the 3 wishes I would like. Then I try to figure out if I can turn those wishes into achievable goals.
It’s pretty interesting how this little game reveals some really big stuff.
I encourage you to try it.
Lately I’ve been thinking about how I can help make some of your wishes come true and turn them into achievable goals.
With Spring right around the corner, tidying up and getting organized I’m thinking might just be one of them.
If that’s the case, head on over HERE and see how I’ve created some magic just for you!
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Sometimes it just feels too tedious, too much, too overwhelming to get things done.
As hard as you try, and as much as you want to push through, you find yourself stopping and getting frustrated.
It’s a hard battle with clutter, especially during this time of year with tax season in full gear and papers piling up. Everything can feel, well, just too much!
This is the time when social organizing can be helpful.
Judith Kolberg writes about this in her book, Conquering Chronic Disorganization, discusses how many people find the act of organizing, sorting and weeding through difficult to do on their own. She writes about social organizing and also body doubling, which is where an organizer sits quietly, as a silent partner, and/or can facilitate by handing over paperwork, files, etc.
The key here is that the work would not be accomplished without the silent partner as a body double provides you with an anchor and a mirror.
Can you relate to this? Perhaps today is the day you recognize that you’re tired of wasting time, and getting nowhere. By working with a professional you can pull yourself out of this vicious cycle. Interestingly enough, the person helping you doesn’t have to be there in person in order for you to get things done.
I’ve worked for years virtually, helping people de-clutter their spaces, sort through their things, organize their rooms. There’s a level of comfort that provides the person the right dose of motivation and confidence to complete their tasks, simply by having me there to answer a question or give advice if needed.
With the commitment of a specified amount of time and the right dose of willingness, magic happens.
To make an appointment to see if social organizing is right for you, simply click here!
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Well, February is almost over and I know so many of you had good intentions to resolve your clutter by now.
So let me ask you this…
Why do you think you continue to struggle?
If I had to guess, I would say that you think you can go it alone. That it won’t take that long and eventually it will all go away and get better. Sound about right?
Let me share something that I learned from one of the top motivational and productivity coaches in the world, Brendon Burchard. There is something that highly productive people have in common and that is they all have support. Whether it’s a team of people or an individual coach, they all recognize that having support is paramount to their success.
Listen, whether you’re trying to figure out how to declutter and let go of your things, or organize and find homes for your stuff, there are strategies that can help you resolve your clutter much easier and faster. If you’re struggling, it’s because you’re doing it the hard way.
Perhaps it’s time for you to commit to resolving your clutter, once and for all.
A few signs along the way after teaching my Mindfulness Course in Florida. We are all so unique and special and although our stories may be different we are all the same – and we all need kindness, love and support. Here’s to staying mindful!
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Health and wellness touch each of us differently. This is one person’s story.
From early fall through the coldest months of the year, I’ve learned to expect (and manage) my seasonal affective disorder (SAD). As someone who also lives with an anxiety disorder and identifies as a highly sensitive person (HSP), I tend to look for the things I can control in my world.
Every August, without fail, I sit down to write my “winter prep list,” in which I check off areas of my home that need organizing and decluttering. Usually by November, my old coats have been donated, the floors have been scrubbed, and everything feels as if it’s in its proper place.
One of my first lines of defense in the battle against mental health challenges has always been to get organized. I’m preparing for those tough days when I won’t be able to lift a mop, let alone put a plate in the dishwasher.
It turns out my thinking is rooted in scientific studies that show organization is an effective tool to achieve a healthier life, both mentally and physically.
One study found that the physical act of tidying up one’s house can make a person more active and healthier overall.
Many professional organizers sing the praises of improving one’s mental health through organizing, including Patricia Diesel, an organizing expert, clutter coach, and the creator of a program called Mindful Tools for Organized Living.
As a certified chronic disorganization specialist and a hoarding specialist, Diesel has witnessed the power of organization in people’s lives.
“Addressing the emotional and mental components of clutter is critical to the underlying cause. I believe that clutter is an outward manifestation that mirrors the body and mind on overwhelm,” she explains.
5 small ways to organize for your mental health
If you’re in the throes of depression or healing from a panic attack, the thought of cleaning can certainly be overwhelming. But I also know clutter tends to make me descend even further into a negative mood. So, I’ve discovered my own ways to tackle organization without letting it tackle me.
Here are five ways to muddle through the clutter, even on your most challenging mental health days.
1. Throw perfection out the window
Even when I’ve been at my lowest, I’d often put pressure on myself to make things look “perfect.”
I’ve since learned perfection and mental health conditions tend to be in direct opposition of one another. The healthier route is to accept that my house may not look flawless during the winter months. If things are generally organized, I can accept the wayward dust bunny that may cross my path.
Diesel agrees with this approach as well.
“Organizing is not about perfection,” she says. “It’s about a quality of life standard. Everyone’s standards are different. As long as the organized environment is in alignment with those standards and it is not infringing upon a quality of life that is obstructing or detrimental to that person’s life, then usually a person will find acceptance and peace from that.”
Let go of your idea of “perfect,” and instead aim for a level of organization that doesn’t hurt your quality of life.
2. Break everything down into bite-sized pieces
Since overwhelm is a big deal to those who wrestle with mental health disorders, like anxiety, Diesel recommends breaking up an organization project into palatable pieces.
“I help people look at the overall project that needs to get done… then we break it down into different categories. Then we rate the priority of each category, and begin with the level that reduces the anxiety the most,” she explains.
“The goal is to have the person see the entire project, and then help them see how to accomplish it in a manageable way.”
Diesel recommends devoting 15 to 20 minutes per day to doing things that need to get done, like doing a load of laundry or sorting the mail.
Often, a little effort can reinvigorate the mind and build momentum toward increasing a feeling of motivation. But that’s not always the case if you’re living with a mental health issue. Be kind to yourself if you miss a day or are only able to commit to 10 minutes.
3. Let go of items that don’t serve you
Physical clutter often creates clutter in the mind, especially if that clutter has taken over your life and space. Diesel helps those with hoarding disorders, sharing tips that can benefit non-hoarders as well.
“It’s not so much about getting organized as it is about how to release and part with their things without shame or guilt. Once this is accomplished, the organizing is usually not an issue,” she says.
Diesel emphasizes the importance of considering what makes an item truly “valuable” as opposed to something you think might be valuable based on fear or other emotions.
4. Remove distractions
Being highly sensitive means I have a sensory disorder that can become overloaded very quickly. Loud noises, an abundance of clutter, and a to-do list in plain sight can instantly break my focus and pull me away from whatever project I’m working on.
When I’m getting organized, I make my surroundings as soothing as possible through peace and quiet. I set aside a block of time when I know I won’t be pulled away.
5. Visualize the end result
Out of all my mental health challenges, seasonal depression is the one that wrings me dry of any motivation to clean or get organized. Diesel says that’s because depression can create a mindset that feels defeated. In this case, it’s key to emphasize the final goal.
“I help people see the vision of the end result, and we use additional tools to help that vision come alive, whether it’s with a vision board or through journaling. The overall goal is to help them feel empowered,” she says.
And if all else fails, remember that you can always ask for help if you need it.
“People who suffer with disorganization is the body and mind on overwhelm, so having a support system and mindfulness tools to go to is extremely important for stability. Support is paramount,” Diesel says.
Shelby Deering is a lifestyle writer based in Madison, Wisconsin, with a master’s degree in journalism. She specializes in writing about wellness and for the past 13 years has contributed to national outlets including Prevention, Runner’s World, Well+Good, and more. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her meditating, searching for new organic beauty products, or exploring local trails with her husband and corgi, Ginger.
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I’ve often suggest to my clients that they keep a journal to help them along their journey.
Journaling is simply writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly. And if you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, keeping a journal can help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health.
Why is journaling good for your health?
Journaling can provide stress relief and boost your physical and mental health. Writing not only relieves stress and improves your mood, but it also boosts your immune system, which helps your body to withstand the effects of further stress.
5 Ways to Journal and Declutter Your Life
James Clear is an exceptional author who focuses on lifestyle habits that influence our productivity. He recently designed an adaptable notebook that he calls the Clear Habit Journal. The intention is to make it easier to build better habits that is rooted in the most effective behavioral science techniques.
Here’s an inside sample of the 5 different ways you can journal by asking just one question per day.
JOURNAL
What happened today? (Daily Journal)
What am I grateful for today? (Gratitude Journal)
What is my most important task today? (Productivity Journal)
How did I sleep last night? (Sleep Journal)
How do I feel today? (Mood Journal)
I highly recommend keeping a journal, especially if you are in the midst of decluttering your life.
The benefits will be invaluable.
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Rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives, yet “Eighty-four percent of recently stressed Americans say they worry that their home isn’t clean or organized enough, and within that group, 55 percent called it out as a source of recent stress.” (Huff Post)
When dirty dishes are piled, laundry overflows and your belongings are scattered about, your stress level rises. Trust me when I tell you, clutter & stress is real.
It is estimated that over a course of a lifetime, we will spend a total of 3,680 hours or 153 days searching for lost items; phones, keys , eyeglasses and paperwork are at the top of the list. (The Daily Mail)
When we are stressed out, it not only creates physical clutter, but it causes mental and body clutter as well. What you may not realize is that stress is inflammatory. Inflammation breaks the mind and body down and leaves us vulnerable to sickness and disease.
This is why being organized is so important to our health.
Clutter depletes your quality of life and raises the potential for serious health issues. It is one of the major sources of stress and can exacerbate medical conditions. When a person is under the influence of a significant amount of clutter, their well-being is compromised, leaving them feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and even hopeless.
These unsettling feelings are not only attached to the person who is struggling with clutter but their loved ones as well. It’s not hard to understand then why the home organization industry has grown by leaps and bounds and today has 32 chapters, with more than 4,000 members in 22 countries. (Fast Company)
The same goes for the workplace. The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) found in their study that disorganization can lead to financial losses equivalent to 10 per cent of a manager’s salary. NAPO also states that 80 per cent of the clutter in the office is a result from being disorganized and not due to a lack of space.
Some studies reveal the average person wastes up to 4.3 hours a week looking for papers, which adds stress and frustration to the workplace while reducing concentration and creative thinking – while cleaning professionals say that getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40 per cent of the cleaning work needed.
Understand this. When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment. (Princeton University.)
This is why including “health care strategies”for clutter control in the workplace is critical.
Stress-Free Lifestyle Tools To Conquer Clutter In The Home And Office
Mindful Tools For Organized Living is the most elite and complete step-by-step program that will help remedy these situations long before they get out of control. Implementing best practices for a healthy body and mind is a key factor in overcoming clutter and disorganization and living a healthier life. Although part of the challenge is underdeveloped skill sets with organization, it is not the only culprit to having clutter. To penetrate the problem and resolve it entirely, it is necessary to engage lifestyle tools that embody wellness for the body, mind and environment.
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The wellness industry grew 12.8% in the past two years.
Want to know why?
Because people are tired of being sick and are seeking answers!
The trendy phrase “workplace wellness” (where most employees only received lip service on initiatives) is now being replaced with real “health care strategies” to gain back the trust of their employees.
Want to know why?
Because employers are tired of losing money on sick people!
So what does this have to do with living an organized life?
EVERYTHING!
Statistics show that organized people feel better and stay healthy.
Want to know why?
Because when a person is productive and focused they are happier and less stressed.
What you may not know is that there are millions of people who have compounded health issues due to clutter.
Want to know why?
Because clutter and disorganization produce stress. Stress is inflammatory and affects your health.
In 2019, I want to help as many people as possible get organized so they feel less stress and live healthier lives.
Want to know why?
Because I see everyday the devastation clutter causes and how it affects a person’s quality of life.
Join me in my FREE webinar and let me show you how you can get healthy in 2019.
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One of the Top Ten Resolutions people put on their list is getting ORGANIZED.
Because I believe in the health benefits of being organized, I wanted to let you know that I will be offering my FREE webinar “Get Organized” once again.
All you have to do is register and you can be on your way to a stress-free, organized life in 2019!
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