Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~Newt Gingrich
Most of us have no problem organizing what is easy and convenient. You know, the "obvious" stuff.. tossing what's broken, donating what hasn't fit in many years, or filling the same bills month after month. I call it the "low hanging fruit".
But persistence and perseverance to see the organizing process through to the end is the challenge for most. You know, like getting all the way to the BOTTOM of the in-box for example, instead of filing the easy stuff, and leaving the "weird" papers behind week after week, month after month.
Practice leaving no stone unturned. By doing this, you will eventually find that EVERYTHING you own and keep is there with your permission. You have determined that it has a purpose, contribution, and place.
You can relax and find joy in knowing that nothing in your newly organized area is missing, in the way, or keeping you from what is important; there is nothing left to nag you, to resent, to make you feel you can not get control.
When you commit to starting the process of organizing any area, decide to also commit to being disciplined to see it through once and for all!
"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned" ~ Peter Marshall
Mamasource
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tips of The Season: October-December
PLANNING
1) CALENDAR IT! Spend planning time NOW penciling in all your family and outside events, to avoid confusion later. Whether it’s the fall festival, work party, school concert or when you will put up the tree, write it in your calendar!
2) WRAPPING: Purchase holiday paper early from school fundraisers so that you are ready to wrap. You’ll also be supporting your local schools. Or buy gifts from stores that offer free wrapping of gifts. This will cut down on costs and time. Lastly, wrap as you purchase gifts to avoid becoming overwhelmed having to wrap them all at once.
3) MEALS: Prepare a few make-ahead meals for Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner so you are not stuck in the kitchen the whole day but relaxing with your guests, or ask family members or guests to bring a side dish or dessert of choice.
4) CARDS: Use Thanksgiving Day as your benchmark date, before the busy month of December arrives. Get them addressed, stuffed into envelopes and stamped before Thanksgiving day bundled with a rubber band and a post-it note on top reading “Drop into mailbox second week of December”.
SHOPPING
1) BEST DAYS: Shop on Mondays and Tuesdays, if possible, typically the least busy in retail…or shop on-line this year for easy door to door service! Keep several hostess gifts and frozen cookies on hand. If you clip coupons, keep them in your car or purse so you will have them handy when needed.
2) MULTIPLES: Kill two or more birds with one stone! See a great gift? Consider who else might enjoy it, and buy several.
3) Stamps: Save a trip to the post office: Order Christmas stamps online at http://www.usps.com/ They can be delivered to your door. The Post Office has all their holiday postage stamps available by late October.
HOME
1) CLOSETS: Seasons change, and so should your closet. First discard any worn clothing, or clothes that no longer fit. Next, wash or dry-clean everything. You'll avoid stains setting and attracting pests. Do not starch clothing prior to storing, the starch feeds bugs and weakens the fabric, leading to brittleness, and, in a humid environment, can lead to permanent stains.
2) GARAGE
A study by the University of California at Los Angeles showed that 75 percent of the families polled had so much in their garages that they could not fit one car into the space. Instead of using your garage to store a couple hundred dollars worth of unused flower pots, sports gear that no longer fits the kids, pool toys that have seen better days, or warehouse store cases of paper towels, consider using it to store your $5,000 to $$60,000 investment - your car by keeping it protected from long term sun damage, rapid hail damage or theft! Stow away your gardening supplies, summer sports & camping gear, camping gear and other non-winter gear. Have a garage sale if necessary to clear it out. Get ready for winter by keeping boots, umbrellas, scrapers and other cold-weather gear accessible.
GREAT IDEAS
1) DECORATING: Love the way your house is decorated for the holidays? Take a photo of how you decorated, and store it with your Holiday items so you can cut your decorating time in 1/2 next season.
2)GIFT IDEA: Wondering what to get the person who has everything? Give the gift of home or office organization to someone you love! Starting Oct. 1st, prepaid gift certificates are available at a discounted Holiday/Recession Buster rate for use between 10/15/-12/31/08.
1) CALENDAR IT! Spend planning time NOW penciling in all your family and outside events, to avoid confusion later. Whether it’s the fall festival, work party, school concert or when you will put up the tree, write it in your calendar!
2) WRAPPING: Purchase holiday paper early from school fundraisers so that you are ready to wrap. You’ll also be supporting your local schools. Or buy gifts from stores that offer free wrapping of gifts. This will cut down on costs and time. Lastly, wrap as you purchase gifts to avoid becoming overwhelmed having to wrap them all at once.
3) MEALS: Prepare a few make-ahead meals for Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner so you are not stuck in the kitchen the whole day but relaxing with your guests, or ask family members or guests to bring a side dish or dessert of choice.
4) CARDS: Use Thanksgiving Day as your benchmark date, before the busy month of December arrives. Get them addressed, stuffed into envelopes and stamped before Thanksgiving day bundled with a rubber band and a post-it note on top reading “Drop into mailbox second week of December”.
SHOPPING
1) BEST DAYS: Shop on Mondays and Tuesdays, if possible, typically the least busy in retail…or shop on-line this year for easy door to door service! Keep several hostess gifts and frozen cookies on hand. If you clip coupons, keep them in your car or purse so you will have them handy when needed.
2) MULTIPLES: Kill two or more birds with one stone! See a great gift? Consider who else might enjoy it, and buy several.
3) Stamps: Save a trip to the post office: Order Christmas stamps online at http://www.usps.com/ They can be delivered to your door. The Post Office has all their holiday postage stamps available by late October.
HOME
1) CLOSETS: Seasons change, and so should your closet. First discard any worn clothing, or clothes that no longer fit. Next, wash or dry-clean everything. You'll avoid stains setting and attracting pests. Do not starch clothing prior to storing, the starch feeds bugs and weakens the fabric, leading to brittleness, and, in a humid environment, can lead to permanent stains.
2) GARAGE
A study by the University of California at Los Angeles showed that 75 percent of the families polled had so much in their garages that they could not fit one car into the space. Instead of using your garage to store a couple hundred dollars worth of unused flower pots, sports gear that no longer fits the kids, pool toys that have seen better days, or warehouse store cases of paper towels, consider using it to store your $5,000 to $$60,000 investment - your car by keeping it protected from long term sun damage, rapid hail damage or theft! Stow away your gardening supplies, summer sports & camping gear, camping gear and other non-winter gear. Have a garage sale if necessary to clear it out. Get ready for winter by keeping boots, umbrellas, scrapers and other cold-weather gear accessible.
GREAT IDEAS
1) DECORATING: Love the way your house is decorated for the holidays? Take a photo of how you decorated, and store it with your Holiday items so you can cut your decorating time in 1/2 next season.
2)GIFT IDEA: Wondering what to get the person who has everything? Give the gift of home or office organization to someone you love! Starting Oct. 1st, prepaid gift certificates are available at a discounted Holiday/Recession Buster rate for use between 10/15/-12/31/08.
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