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Posts Tagged ‘organizing’
RESOLVE…To Get Organized!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I look forward to sharing lots of helpful tips and exciting plans with you in the year ahead.
Did you know? In a recent survey for CNN by the Journal of Clinical Psychology, GETTING ORGANIZED was Number 2 on their 5 Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions. Surprised? Probably not.
To help you jump-start your productivity in 2013, CLICK HERE to claim your copy of Brian Tracy’s Eat That Frog. Happy eating!
RESOLVING TO GET ORGANIZED
“The biggest reason most people fail is that they try to fix too much at once – join a gym, get out of debt, floss after meals and have thinner thighs in 30 days.” Marilu Henner
Have you already given up on your New Year’s resolutions?
Whether you need to organize your home, your office–or both–here are some ideas to help you succeed. Let’s get started and turn over another leaf!
Planning
“Most of us start out with a positive attitude and a plan to do our best.” Marilu Henner
Set aside some time to think about what you want to organize. Make yourself a cup of your favourite hot drink. Grab a pen and some paper. Did you know that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to achieve them?
It’s the start of a new year. Dream BIG—even if you think it’s unattainable. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you break a big dream down into small projects.
Create a Master List
Go through your house thinking about one room at a time. Take photos of each room; decorators say you’re able to view it more objectively. Determine what functions each room has to fulfill. If the room has to perform multiple functions, create a different zone for each activity.
Your master list should contain all of the projects that you want to complete. Estimate how long you think each project will take. Be realistic.
The next step is to prioritize your list, and determine which room you will work on first. It’s best to start with the room that causes you the most stress.
Scheduling
When you schedule organizing sessions in your planner or calendar, you’re making a commitment to do the required work.
You may not be able to complete a room all at once. If necessary, divide it into sections, and work on one section at a time. If you only have one hour, pick a project from your list that you can complete in that time period.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to do all the work yourself. If you want to organize a number of areas, schedule a family meeting. Involving the whole family in the process can teach them valuable life-long skills. Just remember that children can’t stay focused as long as an adult. Try to make it fun!
It’s also a good idea to schedule a snack break; prepare snacks ahead of time. Plan ahead–when cooking, double a recipe and freeze one batch. At the end of the day when you’re tired, you’ll have an easy meal!
Supplies
Stock up–garbage bags, recycle bin, empty boxes, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, etc. Label boxes—Keep, Sell and Donate.
Use storage containers that you already own—the ones you emptied when you decluttered. For some items, you may need to purge before you can determine what type of containers you need.
Getting Started
“. . . don’t let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started.” Marilu Henner
Harold Taylor, a leading Canadian time management expert, tells us studies have found that you’ll accomplish more if you focus on one task at a time.
Gather together everything you want to store in an area before you start organizing that space. Start by grouping similar items together, so it’s easier to make a decision about what to keep. Place items that belong elsewhere in a box just outside the room. It’s easy to become distracted if you leave the room.
Resist the urge to tell yourself, “I may need it someday.” Remember to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.
Take a break–set a timer–to keep up your energy level. This is especially important when working with children.
Storage
Similar items should be stored together and as close as possible to where they are used. An item is more likely to be put back if its home is close at hand.
Clear storage containers should be used as much as possible, so you can see what is inside. Be sure to label all containers.
Maintenance
Maintaining your organized space will require some effort from everyone. Make tidying up part of your children’s chores. Schedule a daily or weekly clean-up time, so things don’t get out of control. If you find something isn’t working, don’t give up. Schedule a family meeting; a small change may be all that’s required.
Rewards
When you’re done, don’t forget to reward your children and yourself for all your hard work!
Emotional Wisdom…by Susan Holm
Recognize your Emotional Wisdom
When you experience uncomfortable feelings like unrest, sadness, irritation or unhappiness, don’t be so quick to label them as bad feelings. Your feelings are genuine, and signs that something is stirring inside of you.
Our feelings direct us and shield us from harm. They help us know what is going on inside and around us. They are our teachers. Don’t judge your feelings but follow their direction to reveal the underlying issue, so you can move forward to a resolution.
Recovering your Emotional Wisdom
This month really listen to your emotions. When you repress your emotions, you are working against them.
But if you embrace your emotions, you work with them, so they can heal and provide protection as they were meant to do. Remember that emotional well-being is directly related to your physical and mental well-being. Don’t permit your feelings to drag you down. Acknowledge them, let them go, and then take action. Remember, responding in this way is not only a step toward creating a happier life, but you will also be moving toward living in an emotional state that supports good health. Every thought we have has a powerful effect on the body.
It’s important to be aware of the amount of emotional stress that you are attempting to cope with in life. Take some time to think about your life, and how you respond to external influences. Identify the specific emotional stressors that you are dealing with. Ask yourself the following questions. Your answers will go a long way in helping you reduce your stress load.
Do you enjoy your work/co-workers? Do you feel secure in your employment?
Are you in a supportive family/home environment? Do you have occasions to express and receive love?
Do you trust that you will always have enough of what you need? Do you have sufficient creative expression?
Does your environment feel like a sanctuary, without clutter?
Do you make time for relaxation during the course of your day? Do you enjoy deep restful sleep?
Do you take days off? Do you go on vacation?
Are your relationships harmonious? Are you involved in community activities (spiritual, sociable, professional, volunteer)?
Are you without any significant health challenges?
Have you accomplished a notable personal achievement in the past six months?
If the majority of your answers are YES, you have created a life that supports you emotionally. If you notice that you have more NO answers, take some time to evaluate how you can improve the quality of your life experience.
To begin, acknowledge and embrace your emotions, so that you can uncover their cause and work towards a resolution.
MY ACTION CHOICES AND RESOLUTIONS TO RECOVER A SENSE OF EMOTIONAL WISDOM:
To begin recovering a sense of emotional wisdom, I will:
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Suggestions to Help You Recover Your Emotional Wisdom
There are different things you can do in everyday life to ensure you remain in touch with your emotions. Consider the following:
Breathe slowly and deeply.
Rejuvenate with a nature break.
Let your media influences be uplifting and positive.
Get plenty of good sleep.
Make a commitment to regular stretches.
Write in your morning pages.
Schedule your artist dates.
Cultivate a spirit of gratitude.
Practice patience.
Emotional Wisdom Activities
Don’t let the winter weather get you down. Participate in some type of activity to keep your emotions positive and inspiring!
Indulge in a warm bath.
Take up Nordic Pole Walking.
Go see funny movies.
Play some of your favourite songs while making a lovely dinner.
Strap on your skates and skate on an outdoor rink.
Curl up with a copy of your long-lost favourite book and read a few chapters with a cup of tea.
A Little Inspiration
Stop resisting your feelings, so you can see what they offer you: a sense of wisdom, and a chance for nourishment and growth.
Susan Holm, Naturotherapist, and Owner of Natural Health Care Centre, provides therapies facilitating optimum wellness. These natural therapies provide relief from painful symptoms, correct the cause to help you live healthy, think healthy and stay healthy. Click here to learn more about how Susan can help you live your best life.
Ideas for Clutter-free Gift Giving This Year!
The holidays are here, and the big day(s) is(are) edging closer and closer. If you want your preparations to run smoothly, your objective should be to accomplish the priorities on your list. Don’t let your perfectionist tendencies keep you from completing your tasks. There’s no reason why that can’t happen.
So let’s get started and turn over another leaf!
CLUTTER-FREE GIFT GIVING
“The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.” Charles Dudley Warner
We have become a country (along with our neighbours to the south) that likes to accumulate stuff. Why is there such a high value placed on having so many possessions? Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses? Are you drowning in debt in order to do so? This compulsion to accumulate causes clutter.
Getting Started
One of the first steps in dealing with clutter is to reduce it. Think Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Given the state of our economy, many people are out of work. The holidays aren’t supposed to be about who spends the most money.
Family Traditions
Schedule a family meeting, and review your family traditions. Consider eliminating the least favourite. You don’t have to do something just because you feel it is expected. It might not be as important to others as you think.
Gift Giving
When you give a gift, give it without any strings attached. If you are concerned that the gift may need to be exchanged or returned, include a gift receipt.
Regifting
The decision whether or not to regift is a personal one. If you decide to regift, the item should be in mint condition. Make sure you aren’t returning the gift to the person who gave it to you.
Gift Ideas
Ask for suggestions. Don’t assume everyone likes what you like. Listen carefully to people; they often give you ideas without even realizing it. Jot down ideas as you think of them.
Be creative. A membership for car services can be appreciated at any time of the year—whether someone’s stuck in a snow bank or has a flat tire. A magazine subscription—decorating, crafts, health or sports—can be a thoughtful gift. Tickets to a play or concert are also another idea.
Give gifts that are kind to the environment. Check out the many church bazaars and shows which showcase talented local artisans.
Gift Cards
Give a gift card to a person’s favourite store. A gift certificate to treat themselves for lunch or dinner at their favourite place will always be appreciated. For someone who loves gardening, a gift certificate to a nursery makes a great gift.
Make your own gift certificates—several hours of babysitting for a friend, a home-cooked dinner, shovelling snow for a neighbour, etc. Let your children have some fun suggesting ideas and creating the gift certificates.
Homemade Gifts
Homemade baking, jams, soup, pickles or canning wrapped in a festive tea towel, basket or cookie container are always appreciated–particularly by someone who doesn’t bake or can.
Organize a cookie exchange. If you have a friend who loves to bake, ask her if she’ll bake for you in exchange for wrapping gifts or another task.
If you knit, scarves, hats and mittens in a person’s favourite colour will be appreciated on a cold wintery day.
Services
Give a gift of your time. Running errands for a friend or having afternoon tea with a senior are just a couple of ideas.
Donations
For those people who have everything, make a donation to their favourite charity. Make a donation to your local Community Services Christmas Goodwill program in their name. Or give them a card stating that you have purchased an Angel Tree gift, so that a child has a gift to open on Christmas morning.
Instead of another mug for your child’s teacher, ask if you could donate classroom supplies.
Holiday Clothing
When you’re going through your closet deciding what to wear to your holiday get-together, think about donating the outfits you no longer wear.
The Princess Project provides young women who may not have the means to afford a beautiful dress for their graduation or prom. All dresses, accessories and shoes are provided at no cost to these young women. For more information, contact Kelly Steiss.
Make it Meaningful
Make time to volunteer. Involve your children. Whether it’s serving a meal at a soup kitchen, helping at the Food Bank, delivering Christmas hampers or visiting with someone who lives alone, there are numerous ways to get involved in your community. Volunteering is a reward in itself.
The important thing about the holidays is that you allocate some time to do whatever means the most to you.
Remember–clutter-free gift giving can apply to the whole year, not just the holidays.
ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!
I invite you to share our newsletter with your friends and family. As well, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.
Help Us Help YOU to Get Checking!
We all have our own Holiday traditions, which often take some planning and organization.
Take some time to create your own Holiday checklist that you can use year after year!
If there’s a checklist that YOU would like to see on our website and in the next issue of The Monthly Organizer, please contact us and let us know!
We’ll get to work so that YOU can get checking!
Holiday Food Safety Prep!
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JANE’S NUTRITION TIPS
Let the Holiday Food Safety Prep Begin!
Food Safety Starts With You:
You’ve heard it before; wash your hands before touching any foods. This is a simple way to keep germs from spreading to food. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Remember to keep your hands clean throughout the preparation process, especially between handling raw and cooked foods.
Storage:
When storing ingredients in your fridge, keep raw foods separate from cooked and ready-to-eat foods. Storing raw foods such as the uncooked turkey on the bottom shelf of your fridge is an easy way to ensure turkey juices do not drip onto other foods.
Holiday Buffets:
During the holidays, potlucks and buffets are very popular. There are a few things that you should remember so the food you, your family and your friends are consuming is safe.
- Cook food to the safe internal temperature, and serve it immediately after it has reached this temperature.
- Keep hot foods hot (at least 60°C /140°F and above). This can be done by using warming trays, chafing dishes or crock pots.
- Keep cold foods cold (at or below 4°C /40°F). This can be done by putting the serving trays on crushed ice.
- Throw away any food that has been sitting on the buffet table in the temperature danger zone (between 4°C and 60°C) for more than 2 hours.
- Remember to provide serving utensils for every dish on the buffet table to prevent guests from using their fingers.
The Best Part: Leftovers!
Everyone looks forward to leftovers from big feasts.
After the foods have been served quickly store in uncovered, shallow containers. This will help the food cool more quickly.
Eat the refrigerated leftovers within 2 to 3 days or freeze the food instead.
The fridge can become overstocked very quickly with leftovers; be sure that the cool air in the fridge can still circulate.
Hot leftovers need to be reheated to at least 74°C (165°F) before consuming. Check out this food temperature chart link to verify your food is fully cooked.
Make food safety your most important ingredient during the holidays by planning ahead!
Jane Dummer, RD, is a leading dietitian for the Canadian food and nutrition industry and a long-time resident of Waterloo region. Jane offers services for corporations and media, specializing in agri-food, functional foods and workplace nutrition and wellness. Follow Jane on Twitter @janedummer and subscribe to her Grow with Nutrition Blog.
It’s never too late to eat healthy!
Praise for A New Leaf from Susan H.
“The challenge was to relocate a business that had been open for 20 years. I don’t know how I would have done it without Cathy’s help. It wasn’t what she did, but how she did it that really impressed me. I was instantly drawn to Cathy – she was very pleasant, warm and easy to talk to. Cathy has a good heart; she was very understanding, patient and respectful. Best of all, she kept the process fun and lighthearted, yet she really made me focus and stick to the task at hand. Everything is neat, beautifully organized and yet still accessible. I love the end result! Cathy really can help you turn over a new leaf – with dignity, pride and care.” -Susan H.
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