DrDeClutterBlog.com

Autumn is almost upon us! Don’t let it fly by into winter and still not have your clutter decluttered and chosen joys organized!

Look around your house or office right now. Do you have clutter? Is any of it “in your way” in a “if I don’t walk carefully around it I’ll trip over it” kind of way? Or, how about all that paper stacked in your garage-is it safe to leave there for another year or ten?

It’s the human condition really, we’re genetically programmed to collect, accumulate and to save a variety of things. Generations of people before us had to seek out and collect anything that was materially useful. They had to be not only resourceful, but, because they didn’t have a store or all-you-can-buy-for-pennies-24/7-MART down the street, they had to make everything (EVERY THING) themselves, so that collecting, consuming and storing food and “stuff” was critical to survival in long winters and in times of famine. So, it’s really in our DNA. 

But, we do now have 24/7 MARTS and shops and stores. We don’t need to collect and store and consume as much as we do. And, we’re really not that many generations away from “those” people in past generations. My parents grew up on farms in the Midwest where they didn’t have electricity when they were children, if they didn’t have “it,” they created it or did without. My grandparents didn’t have an inside toilet until I was about eight. They just didn’t see the need. A woman in my home town passed away last year, she was 87. She still didn’t have an indoor bathroom. She chose to use the outhouse as she was used to it, she didn’t need “bigger, better and more” to enjoy her life.  

I’m not suggesting that you give it all up to live that simply, but to become more mindful and conscious of your choices on a daily basis. Technology, most markedly electricity, (what a blessing) makes us masters of the universe! Or at least the master of our own personal universe. But there are two sides to every coin. Technology and “more” can also be a curse. We can stay up all night long with the lights on, we can travel farther, plug in more stuff and buy the next gadget. As we “trance” out (unconscious consuming) and keep buying and collecting more of what we already have or don’t need and don’t use, we become overwhelmed with what we now call “clutter.”

CLUTTER AND STRESS

There is a direct correlation between clutter and stress. Clutter can lead to health problems including stress, weight gain and physical hazards from an unhealthy environment piled with “too much, too long.” It also affects our behaviors; clutter is a contributing factor to noncompliance to taking medications, keeping appointments, being able to exercise and eat well.  

And to add to this growing list is the inability to be genuinely happy, at peace with oneself and limited social enjoyment due to not inviting people into ones home for embarrassment of the clutter. And, the big hazard, your house burning down due to mounds of paper too close to a flame, oil or gas soaked rags left in the garage or any number of ways that clutter can start or impede the rescue efforts when there is a disaster. (I have several real news reports pertaining to this in my ebook, Burn Your House Down.)

CLUTTER MESSES UP YOUR BRAIN

Messes on the outside create messes on the inside. Over time, subtle, constant, low-grade stress develop from living in a cluttered environment. Even though you may think it doesn’t bother you, your brain remembers and sees and catalogues it all. Anxiety over clutter literally messes with your brain’s alpha waves and interferes with your sleep, making you more fatigued, impacting your hormone levels (women and men) and increasing production of cortisol, leading to weight gain and other more serious medical issues. The more clutter you have the more you need to deal with it. The more you don’t deal with it the more you generate stress, overwhelm and depression.  

Over 97% of doctors office visits are stress related. How many of these are related to clutter?  

A little or a lot, clutter steals your time, energy, peace of mind, and productivity. Are you ready to change?

CLEAR THE CLUTTER, STAY WELL

• Schedule the time in your calendar to declutter making it as important as any other date that is a priority and can’t be missed.
• Plan 30-60 minutes per project.
• Choose one “chunk”, pile, drawer or shelf and dig in. Pull it apart, sort it out.
• Trash the real trash, recycle and repurpose what is still useable, donate what is still good enough for someone else to enjoy, and reorganize what you’re going to keep and enjoy.  

Keep doing this same pattern of activity over and over around your home and office until it’s done. If you feel overwhelmed, hire a professional organizer or ask for help from a friend.  

It’s “just start it” time!  

You should own your possessions, they should not own you. Take time and take charge of your environment. Open it back up for joy and fun and friends. That’s what life’s about, not stuff.  

Records of all the financial transactions you make—from retail purchases to home equity loans—are fed to credit bureaus, which digest the data and issue a credit report. The report grades your credit worthiness and is available to anyone with whom you wish to do business. Based on your rating, creditors will decide not only whether to grant you a loan or card but also what interest rate to charge you. The lower your rating, the higher your interest rate.

You’re legally entitled to review your report, and you should do so. Errors are frequently made and should be corrected. To order a copy of your report, contact any or all of these major credit bureaus:

Trans Union   1-800-888-4213   www.transunion.com
Experian   1-888-397-3742   www.experian.com
Equifax   1-800-685-1111   www.equifax.com

If you’re a homeowner and your report is excellent, find out whether you’re receiving the best possible mortgage rate. Nationwide, homeowners spend $100 million more than necessary each year because they don’t know they qualify for lower interest.

Get more helpful tips like this - to stay organized - in my new ebook, BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN!

Ali Brown always shares the right stuff! “Run Your Business From Home? Here’s 10 Ways to Be More Productive” http://tinyurl.com/33ku4o6

The One Minute Effectiveness Rule states that, “Whatever you can do in less than one minute, do it!”
 
There are lots of little nagging things that accumulate over time that can be decluttered, moved, put away, closed, fixed, tossed or some action that will give movement to otherwise stagnated stuff and energy. Doing what you can do in that precious one minute on the way by the stairs or kitchen counter, dining room table or through the mud room will also keep things from accumulating more.
 
I know it doesn’t seem like much, but doing just a one minute declutter at a time will bring peace of mind, more energy and cut down on frustrations and stress.
 
Plus, outer order contributes to inner calm. We can all appreciate having more of that! 

Whoohoo! It’s summer! It’s JULY!!

When did that happen!

Don’t let this summer rush by and not enjoy it (again!)

Plan these next few months well  and really enjoy them.

If you have a family, or you’re single, you have to pre-plan or you know you’ll miss events that bring you new experiences, joy and possibly, new friends!
 
Think of all the great stuff you don’t want to miss! A trip, camping in the back yard, staycationing around the area to museums, parks, festivals and concerts and flower gardens . . .  or hiking, enjoying pools and water fun and so much more!
 
So, here are the 8 TO DOs to Enjoy Your Summer, so that you don’t miss this year’s summer fun!
 
1. Write a list of all the things that you and your family want to do this summer. Have each of them write a list too so that no one is left out.
 
2. Get a family calendar out to start “penciling” in (you may need to erase and replace some events) your choices. You will of course need to compromise on some events, that’s part of being in a family and team that works together!
 
3. Need to order event tickets? Do it now before they’re gone!
 
4. Use those coupons, gift cards/certificates to save too! Find them and put them all in a labeled folder so that they don’t get lost.
 
5. Make a folder for each event that you commit too with all the information, directions, maps, contacts, reservations, tickets, coupons, etc. that you’ll need to easily follow through on the adventure.
 
6. Have one place where you and others in your family know where the coupons, gift cards/certificates, tickets, etc. “live” so that they don’t get lost and you lose out on your planned event.
 
7. Use the calendar to keep everyone up to date, on the same page and to keep from double booking events. Plus, no one can say, “I didn’t know!”
 
8. Look at the calendar often in order to pre-plan other things you may need for each upcoming event, like food, an umbrella, blankets for the grass, sun screen, band aides for hiking blisters, water, etc. With the family event calendar in plain view, remind others to check in on the calendar too (this keeps you from being the “Calendar Keeper!” and so, a martyr! Who needs that?!
 
No summer should be lost again to lack of pre-planning.
 
You and your family deserve to enjoy this lovely time of year to its fullest!
 
Try something new! Challenge yourself and your family to stretch and expand their experience this summer!
 
Plan, plan, plan…. and have fun, fun, FUN!

Oh, and send me a post card!!

Dr. DeClutter / PO Box 6149 / Longmont, CO  80501    I’ll be looking for it!
 
Enjoy!
 
Kim

On average Americans lose one (1) hour a day searching for misplaced objects.

That’s not to mention
a) the loss in money, re-purchasing the same items over and over again, and
b) the emotional and mental costs of stress, guilt, shame, embarrassment and self-loathing or blame.

Count it up! This is “found time”, and can certainly be used for better things… like a vacation, reading, your hobby, your children, friends, family… you name it!

I have many stories shared with me on an ongoing basis about this frustration as well as my hands-on personal examples from organizing jobs in homes and offices. (If you think any of these are you… you might be correct… or not!)

Here are just a very few of the items I’ve decluttered and sorted at jobs over 9 years of organizing. Items lost and misplaced that added up to hours of wasted time, energy and money. Each line item from a different client/job:

- 10 bottles of prescription medication
- 8 uncashed checks for $1,500 and $600.00 cash
- $400.00 in gift cards unsent from the previous Christmas
- $600.00 in gift cards and gift certificates, now expired
- 27 pair of reading glasses, 10 reading glass cases
- 4 TV remotes
- 4 garage remotes
- 9 valid credit cards
- 3 valid passports
- 6 needed computer programs
- Four-year old wedding present wrapped, never sent
- 2 check books
- 26 cans of soup, past expiration date
- 32 gallon cans of freeze dried food and protein powder
- Approximately 80 items of bulk purchases: mustard, tomato sauce, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, razors, soy sauce
- 25 candles
- 3 ski passes
- 8 gold and silver chains/jewelry

Get organized and take a GREAT vacation with your time and energy saved. Send me a post card!!

How do you get more “time” in your day? I hear it all the time, don’t you? “I just don’t have enough time! I just wish I had some time for myself!!”

Rewriting your “to do” list is supposed to make it shorter, right? So, what happened?!

There never seems to be enough time. Life clutter is everywhere! Calendars, emails, deadlines, requests, work, home, kids, family, pets, chores, travel and other nagging “DO THIS NOW!” sticky notes makes for a life filled with stress, overwhelm, aggravated emotions, guilt and lost energy. Creating even one more hour a day is a skill not lost on anyone who can’t take it any longer.

8 TIPS TO TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE, TIME AND MIND
Life’s short! Add (schedule in) an hour a day, to relax, reflect and complete projects with these starter tips.

1) Start simply, by reviewing your holy “to do” list. Take off anything that is not truly yours to do. Give back and delegate those activities that belong to someone else. (Be prepared…they will not like it!)
2) Review your daily schedule. Make changes where you can to make time for yourself to breathe and slow down. Everything doesn’t have to done yesterday.
3) Manage expectations of others – stop being “user-friendly”. On a airplane, the flight attendant will instruct you to put on your oxygen mask first, before helping your child or neighboring passenger with theirs. Why? Because if you’re dead, you can’t help anyone else! Say “yes” to yourself first, which may sound like “no” to others and stop being, or feeling taken advantage of. You might just be the best person to head up “another” committee, and you can say, “No. But, thank you.”
4) Support yourself: Make sure to put your most important items and personal time on your schedule first, if you don’t there’ll be no room for them after all of the lesser or other’s schedules take up your time and space.
5) Say “yes” to simplicity! The more you have the more you have… to maintain, protect, take care of, look after, store, clean… etc. Declutter, simplify or hire someone to do most of it for you!
6) Delegate. When you can, delegate it, even if it means hiring someone.
7) Stop “shoulding” on yourself! As in, “I should…. “ Make plans, do it or not, but no guilt – big time, energy and spirit waster!
Breathe. Just stop and breathe. Running all day and feeling anxious causes multiple physical energy and mental capacity problems. For even ten seconds at a time, once an hour, sit down and just b-r-e-a-t-h-e. D-e-e-p-l-y. It will make a difference.

Work, children, school, sports, band, back to school… . If your most hectic time of the day is before 8:30 a.m., then these tips may be the S.O.S. you’ve been looking for!

The hurried feelings and urgency that can rule these early morning hours can ripple over into the rest of your day like dominos. No wonder, according to a University of Maryland study, 85 percent of us feel rushed some or all of the time.

Here are 6 TIPS to Stop Morning Time Crunch Crisis

1) Prepare the night before.
This is a must if you’re going to get on top of the day. Getting ready what you’ll need for the next day the night before will really help lessen the confusion and short tempers that can take a toll on your health and relationships each morning. At last a half-hour before you go to bed at night prepare for the next day: Get your clothes; food for breakfast and lunch, even dinner when possible; everything you need for work or school; items for planned errands, drop-offs and pick-ups; children’s school notes signed; their meals ready; clothes, sports equipment, etc. Preparing the night before will make the morning so much easier on everyone.

2) Be selfish! Take care of yourself first.
Taking care of everyone else before yourself (especially a women’s/mother’s issue) will not get you “points in heaven!” It will however wear you out. Preparing the night before will take care of some of this, but waking up 15 or so minutes earlier and getting yourself ready, ideally while the kids are asleep, will give you that breathing room needed “when” things don’t run smoothly.

3) Organize Your Basics.
My basic organizing information includes the fact that “everything must have a ‘home’.” You will waste much less time searching for the little things when you take care of the basics daily, giving everything a home – a specific, consistent place to “live.” Know where your house and car keys “live.” Have an extra $20 in your wallet in even smaller bills at all times especially if you have children, they may need some of it for a school function. If you wear nylons make sure you always have more than one good pair “just in case.” Make sure any medication is up to date and bottles are never too close to empty before refills. Ask the children daily if they have parent/teacher notes to read or sign or anything that needs to be prepared for the next day. Small measures to take care of the basics will bring so much peace to your mornings immediately. No more, “Where is it?” and “I don’t know!”

4) Keep it simple!
From children’s clothing to breakfast and lunch choices, choose the easiest options, especially during really busy weeks. Buy clothes that are so easy “a child could do it!” Example: Velcro sneakers for them; front buttons and zippers for you. Minimal preparation is the key for breakfast foods, as well as foods the children can get themselves: Like cold cereal, energy bars, and yogurt – healthy and easy. Teach your family to put dishes in the sink or right into the dishwasher as early as possible. Even very small children can do this to help out. Decide how important it is to fix the beds “perfectly” or have all the dishes cleaned before you leave – things like this don’t matter in the big picture and will only create more stress where it’s not necessary.

5) Just say “no” to TV in the morning.
You might consider TV a useful tool to keep kids in one place, but studies show that it’s actually a huge distraction. Leaving the TV off lets everyone focus on the business at hand, communicate without shouting over the TV and finish sooner.

6) Calendar Central.
Don’t let yourself become the “all knowing” person in the house of the appointments and schedules (it’s a set up for victimhood and martyrdom!). Buy a large calendar. Hang it on the refrigerator or wall where everyone, no matter how short or tall, can see it easily. Write in all kids’ appointments, practices, and activities. When you’re doing your night before prepping (see #1 above!), check the calendar. Gather all necessary items – school projects, soccer ball, treats for band, extra socks, violin cases – and put them by the door. You’re ready! When you leave in the morning, just grab everything and go.

Kids get as or more stressed than parents when they feel unorganized, unprepared, out of control and helpless to change it. Being a leader and model for peaceful mornings will be a life-long proactive lesson for your children. Start off of the right foot this school year!

“There is no such thing as a good tax.”
~ Winston Churchill

Tax time, again. I hear it in every phone call this time of year more than usual… “Kim, please help me organize all this paper. I can’t handle it!” Or, more to the point, two weeks ago I received a call from Jenna, “Kim, I will shoot myself if you don’t come and help me find all my tax stuff and get it together. I just can’t deal with this!”

Paper. Taxes. Not doing your Patriotic Duty throughout the year, one-receipt-at-a-time to stay on top of it. Life. Overload. High blood pressure. Fear. Anxiety. It’s a lethal mix.

What do you do? Please take the following guides seriously to organize now and throughout your year to get your financial paperwork and taxes ready and done, on time and with so much less stress, pain and self-loathing.

Fact:
If you haven’t started pulling your taxes together “yet” and may not until about April 14th, plan on lots of stress, fear, complaining, blaming the government and others and gnashing of teeth, thoughts about “extensions,” and wondering if people really do go to jail for not paying their taxes and by the way, “Doesn’t the government have more important things to worry about than my petty couple hundred dollars?”

Solution #1:
Stop waiting. Stop stalling. Stop procrastinating… NOW. Start doing them today… little by little. Sit on the floor or at a clean table and start dividing, sorting, culling through your receipts, putting them in their separate categories, such as vehicle, utilities, health insurance, etc. Put these in envelopes labeled for each category. When you sit down again, go through each envelope and add up the totals and write them on the envelope. Call your accountant. Be done for this year.

Fact:
What you put off creates more stress and becomes a health hazard.

Solution #2:
The magic of maintenance — I say it all the time, especially when I hear people complain about having to deal with and take care of their “stuff” – “90% of life is maintenance.” Whatever you have, buy, create, keep, use or store… must be maintained, even your thoughts and beliefs! You choose how much you want to maintain. If you don’t want a lot of tax papers to think about and take care of here are a few options: 1) hire someone to take care of them (which means having the money to pay them and trust that they’ll really take care of it); 2) use and buy less creating less paper/receipts; 3) move to a country that doesn’t have taxes; 4) see Solution #3.

Fact: Computer tax programs, they’re a good thing.

Solution #3:
Get ready for your 2005 taxes by getting ready now. Gather, organize and account for papers, receipts, etc. well in advance of the April 15 filing deadline. Keeping up with your paperwork and bookkeeping on a daily, weekly and monthly schedule gives you plenty of time for Tax Time to request copies of any missing documents as well.

Use Quicken, QuickBooks or some computer finance, banking and tax preparation program REGULARLY (weekly, monthly) to keep up with your receipts, expenses and income, investments and interest so that at the end of the year, like magic, you can click on REPORTS and PRINT and vwalla!! It’s all done. Incredible! Yea technology!

“This [preparing my tax return] is too difficult for a mathematician.
It takes a philosopher.”
~ Albert Einstein

Fact:
Some people need to have chaos, drama and negative experiences in their lives to feel alive.

Solution #4:
I know several people that I simply stay away from this time of year. They wait until the last few weeks before tax deadline and then become maniacs. This kind of behavior and self-imposed habit is not good for the person or their family, friends or co-workers.

Waiting until March or April every year to do your taxes creates fear, stress, anger and adrenaline spikes that are seriously not healthy for your body. Stop it. Drama and adrenaline may make you feel “alive,” but they are only helping you get “adead!” You should have and want to have much more important activities that bring joy, happiness, excitement and positive adrenaline rushes to exchange for doing mundane paperwork on a regular basis.

Do what you love, take care of the “life on planet earth daily stuff” and have a happy life — you deserve it! Those around you will love you for it too!

Yes, Virginia, there is a You-a-Claus!

It turns out money can buy happiness! What’s the catch? You have to spend it on others!

The University of British Columbia’s Elizabeth Dunn, Ph.D., led a survey of 632 American to find out just how true this is. She found, “We’re significantly happier when spending pro-socially” — on gifts or charity.

The amount of money isn’t even an issue, it’s just the giving it to and for others that makes the difference.

BONUS! Dunn says that the good feeling we get from this altruistic act can last 6 to 8 weeks! Much longer than your new sox or vacation!

So, when you’re returning Christmas gifts this week, think about the money you’re getting back in cash or gift cards. Maybe, instead of rebuying something for yourself, that you may not need anyway, put that money toward your favorite charity or cause. Remember, you’ll get 6-8 weeks of glow from it!

Oh, what does this have to do with the Law of Attraction? Like attracts life. Sooo, if you’re giving money and goodness, and feeeeeling it for weeks, you’ll attract “like!” I “like” that!