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!
As you may know, I coach people that benefit from a mindful, holistic approach to clutter-free living. I care for my clients, which is why I’m writing this note to you today. I’d like to offer you or someone you care about something – a second opinion.
My second opinion service is a time-tested process I use to determine where you (or your loved ones) are now and where you would like to go by reviewing your lifestyle goals and identifying any conditions that may need improvement.
It never hurts to know more and I want to help you and the one you care about live a stress-free, organized life.
Why now? I’ve never seen so many people hungry for wellness solutions. This includes the body, mind and living space. There’s a a lot of uncertainty in today’s world and a noticeable shift where people long for alternative methods for their well-being.
I want to help make sure the people I work with have peace of mind from being clutter-free and living a lifestyle that is conducive to the wellness they deserve. Plus, I want to provide them with the right tools to ward off any potential risk factors that may negatively influence their quality of life.
THREE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES:
If you think you or the people you care about would benefit from a second opinion – please take advantage of my no-obligation offer by scheduling your call with me HERE!
Remember, I’m here to help.
It’s finally here…The Ultimate Women’s Workshop!
It’s for women who want to get ORGANIZED (for good) without the stress, overwhelm or procrastination.
One of the main objectives we will be focusing on in the workshop (aside from learning how to be clutter-free) is the importance of self-care.
You might be very surprised how this impacts the cause and effect of clutter.
And here’s the beauty of it all…
The workshop is LIVE, on-line. So you get to learn from the comfort of your own home!
This is a rare opportunity with an irresistible offer (watch my video) to finally get organized (for good!)
See ya on the other side soon.
Clear the clutter and your mind, even when motivation is scarce.
https://www.healthline.com/health/organized-even-on-toughest-mental-health-days#1
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to Smash the 3 Deadly P’s
If you’re struggling with excessive clutter, it’s practically a guarantee you’re experiencing one (or all) of the 3 Deadly P’s:
Perfectionism. Procrastination. Paralysis.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks I see for women who are trying desperately to get organized is they over-think “things.”
They have an idea in their head the way “things” are supposed to be that they get caught up in perfectionism and never take action.
Now, why is this deadly?
Because perfectionism actually leads to procrastination and then…
Yes, you go it.
Paralysis. (Overwhelm)
And there you have it…a very vicious cycle.
Sometimes things have to get “messy” before they get better. Decluttering is a perfect (excuse the pun) example of this. There’s going to be some turmoil.
Yet, what most don’t realize is that it doesn’t have to be pure chaos.
If you follow a system with step-by-step strategies, everything will fall into place neatly and orderly.
One of the strategies that I noticed resulted in making the MOST progress for my clients is imposing deadlines.
Now I can hear some backlash …
“I don’t do well with set time frames. It feels to restrictive.”
Yes, but here’s the thing.
Clutter loves the fact that you’re a free-bird with no routine, schedule or plan.
Case in point…
Without a time management system to follow you can expect the clutter to be hanging around. GUARANTEED.
That’s why I developed 7 Simple Steps to Cure Clutter inside of my Mindfulness Program. It’s a process that if followed as instructed will stop the 3 Deadly P’s in their tracks.
What makes it so successful?
Having effective time management skills is important in just about any area of your life. But for clutter control purposes…
You get to rely on a process where you exercise conscious control of your time spent on specific tasks without the worry, fear or overwhelm of over-thinking.
This is how you overcome clutter.
For now, I challenge you to set a workable deadline at a pace that stretches your comfort zone. This may include using tools that you are not familiar working with; a timer, calendar, planner.
NOT at a pace that’s going to burn you out or cause anxiety. You want to begin in a way that gives you a good experience so you can build your momentum.
Only you can determine what a reasonable yet challenging deadline is.
However, a deadline can be one of the Golden Rules of Organizing. For example, “I’ll spend 15/20 minutes per day tidying up.”
Deadlines can also be for an overall project. Such as “I’ll give myself 30 days to declutter all my closets.”
When you see how well this works for you, in no time you’ll feel more inspired and confident to tackle the bigger elephant in the room (Um, that would be the rest of the clutter) and smash the Deadly P’s for good!
5 Ways To Journal
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.
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.
To learn more about the Mindfulness Program and how it can help you in the home or office, please visit https://mindfulness.patriciadiesel.com/mindfulness and/or go to patriciadiesel.com and book your FREE Consultation.
Why now is the best time to get things in order
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.
PS: Feel free to pass this invite along.
Black Friday mania is here.
Everything is on sale, everything looks enticing, and everything is so tempting to buy, buy, buy.
But here’s the thing…
If you have an existing clutter problem, it’s a good idea to distinguish between what you will be purchasing versus what you will be investing in.
You see, a purchase can be a random, snap decision, based on impulse. It’s something you see, want, buy and never really give too much thought about. Usually these purchases are stress related triggers and give you a negative return.
But, when you are truly making an investment in something, you are being mindful about your choice. You’re considering why and how the investment will help you advance, overcome or improve some aspect of your life. The investment will give you a positive return.
Because I know the holidays are tempting times, I want to make sure that you have the right tools to keep you as organized as possible and as mindful as possible throughout the season.
My mindfulness program is designed to do just that.
And since it’s massively discounted, you will be saving on your investment that will give you a rapid return before 2019. Now that’s a bargain for Black Friday.
So if you want to live a stress-free, organized life, reduce your clutter for good, I’m going to suggest that you think about what’s most important to your overall well-being…
Gathering more stuff that will only clutter you up or making a sound investment that will improve the quality of your life?
Choose to be mindful.
Oh and by the way, the program has a money-back guarantee. That’s how confident I am that you will be successful with your investment. It’s a lifetime of savings.
PS: If by chance you’re new to my community and have not purchased my book, Organically Yours –
get it here and enjoy the extra bonus items to live a healthier, stress-free life.
Here’s to wise choices.
Where does stress come from and how can it be managed?
Let’s look at this example:
Someone rejects, hurts, or wrongs you in some way. How do you respond? Perhaps like many people, you immediately want to retaliate in some manner. After all, what happened to you is not right.
On the other hand, you may think it’s nobler to stuff the hurt deep inside your soul. But despite your resolve, it keeps popping out, and as you relive it, the pain engulfs you once again.
Now from a spiritual point of view, you might believe what’s necessary is the grace of forgiveness. And although this may be the case, if it doesn’t come from a sincere heart, there will be a struggle.
If we lash out, stuff down our feelings, or forgive with an insincere heart, how does that resolve the issue?
It doesn’t.
Eventually the stress will outwardly manifest in some form or fashion.
Clutter is a lot like that. It manifests in all sorts of ways that reflect unresolved feelings.
It’s the reason why I created my new program, Mindful Tools for Organized Living. I literally coach you through the clutter and walk you through a step-by-step process so you can fully understand the story behind your manifestation.
It’s the only way to find resolve so you can move forward.
Sure you can clean your place up and pretend nothing is really bothering you, but….I can guarantee, until you get to the root cause of the clutter, it will come back…again and again.
Here’s the link to the program: https://mindfulness.
You can always upgrade later to one of my personal one-on-one coaching programs, but the value that is packed in this, especially with all the bonus items are incredible.
Oh and by the way, you get a FREE Discovery Call with me once you register, so you’ll know exactly how to start and where to begin. I thought about everything to ensure your success – so you don’t have to worry, I got ya covered!
If you want to get a jump-start on next year so you can be living a stress-free, healthy life, I am encouraging you to follow this link: https://mindfulness.
It might just change your life!