DrDeClutterBlog.com

You may know the Bible story about Lot’s wife. God told her not to look back on her village and “past” life or she’d turn to a pillar of salt. Well, she looked back.

Every time your attention is distracted into the past you turn to a pillar of salt. Your thoughts and attention literally “crystallize” (like rock salt) into “what was,” not “what IS.” You get stuck in old stories and memories; mental movies unable to stay HERE NOW, open to your PRESENT and move forward.

Most people today are walking, talking pillars of salt. Filled with thoughts, looping memories of regret, remorse, sadness, grief… how do you do this? Do you have items in your home, in your life, or stories that you tell that make you constantly “look back” to your past?

Look around your house right now. What photo’s, greeting cards, knick-knacks, letters, emails, articles of clothing, jewelry, books, gifts, etc. drag your attention into the past? Moreover, into a negative past filled with, “Why me?”, “Why them?”, “Should have’s,” etc.

You can’t open your PRESENT in the PAST! Stay present in your present. Open your present NOW, in the PRESENT!

                                     “Whatever the price, identify it now.
             What will you have to go through to get where you want to be?
      There is a price you can pay to be free of the situation once and for all.
               It may be a fantastic price or a tiny one — but there is a price.”
                  ~ Harry Browne, 1933-, American Financial Advisor, Writer

LEARN THE LESSONS, LET GO, LIVE YOUR LIFE – YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION
Life is about learning from our past and living in the NOW, creating plans for a better FUTURE. It’s time to LET GO (maybe, with all your might!) of whatever is not true for you anymore.

Will “letting go” be easy? Some will, some will not. But decluttering and reclaiming your space for your HERE and NOW “conscious” life is a very important decision and act to do for yourself – it’s in fact a very selfish act… good for you! Reclaim your home and environment as yours.

Grieve your grief, resolve your areas/emotions incomplete and move on, no matter what it was (“was” is the operative word here.) Reset your energy for TODAY and your wonderful FUTURE. LET GO of anything, anyone, any thought, any statements and old stories that keeps dragging you backwards.

                                                 “The world is a great mirror.
                                          It reflects back to you what you are.
                          If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful,
                      The world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you.
                                                 The world is what you are.”
                                                          ~ Thomas Dreier

GRIEF & DEPRESSION
Upon meeting a person I can pick up if they’re in grief or depression, and I certainly know upon just a few steps into a house if a person is still stuck in their past. I have worked with clients to declutter their outer stuff only to walk, sit and talk about their “inner” stuff – emotions, fears, frustrations, stuck places. Your outer world is a manifestation of your inner world. Start with either. Clean up one and the other will “shift.”

So, look at everything you have and if you get a twinge of remorse, grief, negative longing, sadness, etc., pack it away in storage (some are family heirlooms, etc.) or get rid of it. You can’t have joy and pain the in the same place at the same time. Choose one or the other: why wouldn’t you choose joy?!

YOU DESERVE THE BEST LIFE, EVERYONE DOES

Are you stressing and anxious about the holidays already? Only a few weeks, and then a few more to go!

Join me and all my attendees while I share tips and keys to making this holiday less stressful.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 8th – 7:00 pm Mountain time/9:00 pm Eastern. 

BY PHONE OR WEB:
This is a tele-seminar. You can call in from anywhere! You can also listen online – you’ll get the phone number and webpage to listen online if you like after your register and click on the confirmation link you will get in your inbox.

TO REGISTER: Go to www.holidaystressbegone.com/free-call/

ATTEND LIVE or GET THE REPLAY
If you can’t make it to the live call on Tuesday, you’ll get the link for the recording soon after the event. But, you need to register to get the link.

YOU WILL LEARN:
 
 – How to figure out what stresses you out the most about the holidays (it may not be what you think)

 – Identifying the triggers that turn things from fun and joy to frustration and disappointment

 – One word that will set you free to really enjoy the holidays – your way

 – The 3 secrets to making it a stress-free holiday (really)

When you think about all the time you’re likely to spend in the coming months preparing for the holidays (cooking, writing cards, going to parties, shopping), this 45-minute call can make it all worthwhile. See you there!

The holiday season can kick up the spam phone calls  that waste your time and energy. You can stop this insanity quickly by making just one phone call.

“Cell Phone Numbers Go Public This Month!” This may be an urban legend, but just to make sure, you can take action now and stop them in their tracks!

To prevent spam calls, take just 20 seconds and call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.

It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the phone number you want to have blocked.You cannot call from a different phone number.

You can however go online and type in numbers there. https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

Please help your family and friends stay less stressed too, pass this on!

Whoa! It’s Halloween time again! When did that happen!!

If you have kids that want Halloween to be fun, planning ahead, even at the last minute! is important.

1. What will your kids be wearing? What do they want to dress up as?

2. Can you create it out of what you already have or will you be purchasing, renting or barrowing a costume and accessories?

3.  Where are they going?

4 . Who are they going with?

5. What’s happening in your neighborhood or area for trick-or-treating?

6. Safety is a must of course. Safety in regards to their costume for walking, skipping and running (because they will!) and safety if they are out and about on their own or with other little ones.

Help your kids have memorable fun this year!

7. Take lots of pictures.

8. Scrapbook those photos immediately!

DONE! Have a great Halloween!

No, this is not a push to buy, buy, BUY! If you follow my teachings you know that I’m not about buying any more than is necessary and practical, plus a little extra here and there! However, if you’re going to buy gifts for the holidays, which you know you are, then start early, plan it out and enjoy the process!

I just talked to my friend Jean in Florida, she’s already done buying her 43 Christmas gifts – for children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, plus a few friends! She loves it and it works just fine for her. It’s never too early to start thinking about holiday giving – one of the tips in my ebook Holiday Stress BE GONE!

Use this keys to keep your holiday focus enjoyable and less stressful:

1. Plan: Who are you shopping for and for what?

2. Ask: Ask them what they want, don’t guess.

3. Sales: Take advantage of sales with your plan and requested list of ideas.

4. Shop to Give Smart: Keep receipts and ask for GIFT RECEIPTS to include in the gift if they need or want to return. Know the return policy of the store so that a gift can actually be returned after Christmas, or they’ll be stuck with it!

5. Enjoy!: If you find yourself complaining, griping and stressing, it’s time to  stop, breathe and ask yourself why. This is your “choice” to shop and to give the way that you do. Take charge of your  shopping and giving experience, it should always be fun.

Think “zip it!” while you get ahead of possible chaos, drama and stress over gift buying, giving AND receiving!

GIFT RECEIVING 

People can sometimes be unconscious when receiving gifts. You know those moments, “Oh, I have ten of these already!” Or, “I don’t like this kind of ______.” Or, “You got me this? Why?”

When we give and receive gifts I think it’s very important (if we want to enjoy our experience and love others) that we organize our thoughts and emotions before the gift is opened, before our mouths engage, to avoid blurting out something tacky, rude, unfeeling, negating, embarrassing and hurtful.

Re-set and sharpen up your “attitude of gratitude”, compassion, care, unconditional love, acceptance and humility for every gift receiving event.

GIFT GIVING

It’s important too that when you’re giving a gift not to negate your giving. Don’t put yourself or your gift down, “Oh, I couldn’t afford the better one, I hope this one works.” Give with an open heart and with love, for yourself and the receiver. Very seldom can we know exactly what another wants or likes, even after we’ve asked them to tell us! At the very least, have the GIFT RECEIPT included in the gift box for them to return and/or exchange as they like.

Here’s a list that may be of help to review before the holidays.

Seven Things You Shouldn’t Say About a Christmas Gift You’ve Given

7. I just know this belongs in your house! Here, I’ll show you where.
6. It was on sale!
5. Not very many people like these, but I thought you would.
4. I had three of these, I thought you might like one.
3. Oh, I just picked it up at the last minute.
2. I made it, but it’s not that great.
1. You’re probably not going to like it.

GIFT RECEIVING
Here are some gems to delete from your holiday gift receiving vocabulary.

Seven Things You Probably Shouldn’t Say About a Christmas Gift You Don’t Like

7. Hey! There’s a gift!
6. Oh, look at this. I’ve heard about this on the news.
5. This is perfect for wearing around the basement.
4. Oh, you didn’t have to! Really, you didn’t have to.
3. I love it — I’ll put it away so it doesn’t get ruined.
2. Oh!? I’ve seen these before but didn’t know what they were! What are they?
1. This is great. I know somebody who’d really like this!

Assume… that all gifts are given with care, love, friendship or just plain old kindness, so accept them with kindness, surprise and joy. If they were given for any other reason, accept them with kindness, surprise and joy anyway. Period.

TIP: If you don’t want gifts, let all your friends and family know months ahead of time, or tell them exactly what you like. Tthink “perishable gifts” like food, restaurant gifts certificates, movie or theatre tickets, concerts tickets, etc. or give them the address of your favorite charity and let them donate the money they would have spent on your gift to charity. Bottom-line, make gift-giving easy, kind and fun!

Holiday shopping is in the news, stores and advertisements already of course. Enjoy the roll down the hill into Happy Holidays! Do what it takes to make them better this year!

For extra help, I suggest my ebook Holiday Stress BE GONE!, it’s packed with tips, ideas, guides and lists to help you out! Click here to find out more and order.

There are plenty of examples of people who have chosen to be bigger than their adversities. What do you complain about, gripe about, curse and fuss about? Is it important? Really?

This young man and his brother are shining examples that we can let go of so many of our own daily frustrations that just don’t matter. 

Find out more of their lovely story here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOqV_4ltPZM&feature=related

Choose joy.

Choose happiness.

Choose a bigger vision of your glorious life, now!

Get Holiday Stress Be Gone!

The Complete Self-Help Guide
on How to Change Your Holiday Experiences for GOOD!  

Stop Your Holiday Stress and Simplify in these 44 pages packed with mind and life altering tips for re-deciding for choice and balance. Great for use all year round. (Original title: Simplify Your Holidays)

Overflowing with check lists, to dos, ideas, tips and even assignments to help you enjoy your holidays more. Get waaaaaaaaaay ahead of them now!!

Click here to find out more and to order yours today.

“Kim, this book was just like being in one of your programs. The “BOC” breaks in your book are so fun and cute! HA! Great idea! I LOVE THE PICTURES, and suggesting the use of crayons instead of a pen on the worksheets was terrific. It really lightened me up!!”
~ Paula, School Teacher, Flint, MI

HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND, AMERICA!

Freedom! …. Food!… Fat. Frustration. Fatigue. . .

Don’t let fatigue ruin your holiday weekend. Mental and physical fatigue are different than ordinary tiredness . Fatigue is disruptive and can be chronic, interfering with all aspects of daily living. About 10 million doctor visits each year are attributed to fatigue, and many of those are tied to arthritis-related conditions.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 98% of rheumatoid arthritis patients and 50% of people with lupus or Sjogren’s syndrome report fatigue. The percentage escalates with obesity and depression, and complications of secondary conditions such as fibromyalgia, lung conditions, and cardiovascular problems.

WHAT DOES FATIGUE FEEL LIKE?

Patients often feel fatigue is inadequately addressed during doctor visits, likely because there is no quick fix. The impact of fatigue is significant. Many patients describe its effect on their lives as greater than that of pain.

Fatigue is

·         extreme weariness

·         overwhelming exhaustion

·         a feeling of being “wiped-out” and having no energy — even after a night’s sleep.

·         Fatigue affects a patient’s ability to think

·         and its unrelenting presence can cause emotions to change quickly.

Here are 10 Ways to Fight Fatigue on a daily basis to enjoy every day as much as possible. I’m going to start with the basics that even the healthiest of people can do. 

1.       Eat for Health First at Every Meal and In Between

- Breakfast Every Day

To “break” your “fast” is exactly what “breakfast” means! You are eating – breaking the fast from not eating all night long.  So, when you first wake up, your blood sugar is low. Eating a proper breakfast can serve as an energy booster. Skipping breakfast drains your energy, contributing to the fatigue problem. It’s important to eat nutritiously at every meal, but focus on breakfast to start your day off right. Balanced your meal with protein to get your blood sugar back up and balanced.

Eat a well-balanced morning meal with complex carbs, protein and healthy fats. The following dietary guidelines are very helpful in balancing your mood, brain and body chemistry.

-          Eat 5-6 smaller meals a day keeping your blood sugar up and even.

-          Drink less or no caffeinated drinks

-          Eat less or no carbohydrates, gluten, wheat, etc.

-          Eat less or no sugar

-          Read labels: stay away from high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, soda pop

-          Eat less or no prepackaged, boxed or canned foods.

-          Drink less or almost no alcohol, alcohol is a depressant

2.       Drink a Sufficient Amount of Water

Dehydration can cause a person to feel very tired or fatigued. Drinking 8 glasses of water each day should become part of your routine. It seems like such a simple thing, but hydration must be taken seriously.

3.       Exercise Regularly

Moderate and consistent sessions of aerobic exercise, 3 or 4 times a week for 30 to 45 minutes, will help increase your energy level. Even 15 minutes a day will rejuvenate your body and mind.  Though it may seem counterintuitive, exercising regularly actually boosts energy levels rather than depleting them, particularly when you incorporate low-impact workouts that involve stretching, such as Yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi. Exercise also reduces stress, which is a serious cause of fatigue. Higher-intensity exercise and cardio also reduce stress, providing an outlet for frustrations and releasing happy hormones called endorphins—which also fights off fatigue.  

4.   Lose extra body weight.
      Being overweight can make you feel sluggish. Break the cycle and drop those pounds by eating right and getting plenty of exercise. 

5.       Develop Good Sleep Habits

Get 7-8 hours of (undisturbed) sleep a night. Take charge of your sleep pattern – go to bed at the same time each night, get up at the same time each day, establish a ritual so that your body will recognize it’s time to sleep.  Sugar, caffeine and low nutrient foods can cause sleep pattern disturbances.

6.      Learn How to Control Stress
        Choose your battles, let more things slide off you like water off a duck’s back, don’t react to anything “it too shall pass.” When a person is under excessive stress, creating fear and anxiety, breathing becomes more shallow limiting oxygen that’s available to the body. Start breathing deeply to consciously ward off the effects of stress. Take 5 or 10 deep breaths when you feel stressed and fatigued. Breathing exercises and meditation are techniques you can practice any time; practicing them will arm you with the tools you need to react to stress and fatigue.

7.       Don’t Be a Victim or Martyr to Others

Being the “caregiver” or the one “everyone always depends on” gets no rewards. Take care of yourself FIRST so that you’re humming at 100% to be and attend, assist, care and love others too.

8.       Be Responsible with Your Medications and Be Aware of Medication Side Effects

First, take your mediation “as directed.” Forgetting to take your meds, double dosing, etc. is very confusing and abusive to your body, to your self.

Be Aware of Medication Side Effects: For example, while it is necessary for most arthritis patients to take medications to treat pain and other symptoms, drowsiness is a common side effect of many of these drugs. Some medications list drowsiness as a known side effect. If the medications are part of a daily regimen, drowsiness may add to already-present fatigue.

9.       Get With Other People

Plenty of studies show that when we are more sociable and are in relationships with family and friends, we are happier. People who are happier are less stressed and fatigued, they have friends and buddies to share and vent with as needed, to laugh and cry with too.

10.   Have fun!

What brings you fun? What makes you laugh and brings you joy. . . stories you like to share over and over again? Do something you enjoy every day and make socializing with friends a priority.

  Know we’ll look at a few specific health issues that are fatigue prone.

Chronic pain alone can cause fatigue. Pain also can lead to depression and mood changes that can worsen fatigue. To control fatigue, it’s important to have pain well-managed.

11.   Thyroid Problems

Thyroid symptoms include depression, lack of sleep and fatigue. Taking care of your thyroid health is imperative so that it doesn’t become worse and move into autoimmune diseases. See my list of health care practitioners who are educated in thyroid health (not all doctors are.) If you have a thyroid problem you will find great help in Get Your Life Back! Thyroid Reset Manual (a diet plan good for everyone, even without a thyroid problem.)

12.   Treat Arthritis Pain and Other Symptoms

Higher-than-normal levels of cytokines — chemical messengers involved in inflammation — have been found in the blood of patients suffering from fatigue. It’s important to control inflammation and monitor active inflammation.

Inflammation is also caused by sugar, toxins and chemicals in your diet.  (See #1)

13.   Be Tested for Anemia

Referred to as “anemia of inflammation” a condition where the size and number of red blood cells is affected. Consequently, there is too little iron to bind to oxygen in the red blood cell causing a decrease in energy production.

14.   Protect Your Joints

Joint protection can reduce stress on arthritic joints and decrease pain. There are several joint protection principles which, if followed, will help to conserve energy. Use adaptive equipment to protect joints too. Good body mechanics can also help decrease fatigue.

And, here are a few more good things to do for yourself to ward off fatigue. 

15.   Let Nature Heal You

Get some fresh air and sunshine on your face. If you’re stuck inside all day at work, especially if you have no windows, be sure to step outside a couple of times a day for an energizing dose of fresh air and sunlight. Take a walk outside to maximize the energy boost.

16.   Challenge Yourself to Make Positive Changes in Your Life

Break unhealthy habits like smoking and eating fried foods. Let go of grudges and resentment towards others – those feelings are exhausting. Organize your home or office and get rid of energy-zapping clutter. Pick up a new hobby or sport. Enjoy living.

17.   Mix It Up a Little!

Change your surroundings to emulate brighter colors, use aromatherapy to stimulate the senses, look into natural supplements, or drink teas that are of lower caffeine content with other great health benefits.

18.   Pace, Plan, Prioritize and Organize

It’s important to balance fatigue and rest, but what about those times when you must be doing something? Devise a plan for how to accomplish certain tasks. Plan for all that needs to be done. Prioritize the list and what needs to be done first. Pace yourself as you go through your prioritized list. The trick is to be organized and deal with tasks in manageable chunks.

20.   Time For You

Don’t forget to schedule time for yourself. Time for something you enjoy is the only criteria. Take just a half hour or hour a day for yourself and reap the benefits.

For some people, it seems like they’re tired all the time. Fatigue is a byproduct of so many factors in our lives. Use this list to be more mindful and conscious of all areas of your life that you have control over and can take charge of right now, and for a great Holiday Weekend!

So, what causes your fatigue? Remember that if you understand what causes your fatigue, that you will be in a better position to fight it—and it doesn’t have to require a chemical fix.

Happy Labor Day weekend, America!