DrDeClutterBlog.com

Some people jump right in after the holidays and start the big take down and store it away. Others wait until into January and enjoy those lovely decorations and good memories. However you do it, have fun!

Set a date to undecorate. Make it a fun event!

Have a party!

Ask for and allow others to help.

Make it a pot-luck or make a fun snack spread with fun beverages and music.

Have fun, that’s what it’s all about.

“And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more!”

- Dr. Suess

Tired of holiday hype?

No matter what event or holiday you are celebrating that includes gift giving, you might just want to sit quietly and pick out something from a shopping trip in the “department stores of your mind!”

Even if it’s a week before Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, a birthday, wedding or anniversary, think about making your gift instead of buying it at a store, keeping it simple and personal.

Consider the following:
- Bake muffins, a pie, a cake or cookies
- Cook a special meal
- Put together a picnic basket and invite others out for a hike in nature
- Create a scrapbook page of photos from something you did with them, or of their childhood or a special event.
- Put together a music CD or digital recording – download or sing songs that you know they like
- Make an ornament significant to them
- Write a song, poem or story for them

There a lots of small and fun ways to give from the heart this year and always.

TIP: Ask the what they really want and like that you could make for them, and do it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Kim

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.

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! 

Labor Day weekend is coming up fast! Sadly, many people along the eastern coast of US and other countries will be on survival mode due to Hurricane Irene. Hopefully electricity, water and food will be back to normal soon.

But, for millions of others who can plan to enjoy Labor Day Weekend, make sure that you get out your thinking caps and plan ahead so that you don’t miss it! It happens all the time.

I found some great ideas at The Wilderness Society site. Pick and choose, just don’t “not plan” and lose!

Thank you, Laura Bailey for these great ideas! Laura is a Colorado native with a passion for travel and culture.

Get off the beaten path and onto the wild lands that we all cherish and work to protect. Whether you plan to spend Labor Day weekend at home or away, there are so many ways to get out into wilderness and enjoy a last slice of summer. Enjoy!

#1 Leave the Labor Day weekend crowds behind - check out these less populated recreation areas for a lovely slice of tranquility is good for the soul. Nearby recreation areas and National Parks are crawling with visitors on Labor Day weekend, so save the popular places for another day, and focus on finding Labor Day activities in more tranquil spots.

#2 Enjoy a sunset picnic - If you’re staying at home Labor Day weekend, a sunset picnic will allow you a quick outing to the wild. This may be one of the last sunsets you’ll be able to soak up without a sweater!

#3 Uncover American history – Amazing relics of our nation’s past (from dinosaur fossils and ancient petroglyphs to historic battlefields) can be found in national monuments and other public lands throughout the 50 states. Visiting such historic places will give you a feel for another component of why designating land protections, such as national monument status, is so important

#4 See the wild at night – One of the best things about summer is the warm nighttime temperatures with the stars above.

#5 Visit a wildlife refuge - They’re not just for the birds!  National Fish and Wildlife Refuges can be found in all 50 states, and most of them are less than an hour’s drive from a major American city. Bird watching is always great, but wildlife refuges also welcome hiking, picnicking, fishing, hunting and photography. Many allow canoeing or small boats.

#6 Record a child in nature – Your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are always growing, and so are the ways in which they interpret nature. They will never be 2, 4, 8 or even 12 again, so don’t miss the opportunity to document their unique reactions to being in wilderness. The cute things a five year old says about wildlife will be totally different by this time next year.

#7 Send The Wilderness Society your Labor Day weekend photos! – Make a handmade sign with six words about why you love wilderness.  Bring the sign with you to any of your favorite wild areas and take a photo of yourself with the sign. Send it to: action@tws.org  They’ll use it for a photo montage of the their wilderness community.

#8 Play in the sand dunes - Because nothing beats a giant sandbox.

# 9 Hike a portion of a legendary trail – Because you’ve been itching to hike one of America’s great long distance trails but taking six months off is not an option.

#10 Sleep under the stars - Nightime. Stars. Frogs croaking. Crickets chirping. Need we say more?

#11 Play nature photographer - Photographing nature is a relaxing activity that allows you to be outdoors with out the pressure of a schedule. The only pressure is finding the next great photograph.

#12 Go fishing! - Labor Day weekend can be a tricky time for fishing because of the crowds. Increased boat traffic sometimes makes for shy fish, but this is still one of your last opportunities to get out while the weather is still great.

Do these with family and friends and everyone gets good out of it!

So, whatever you do this Labor Day weekend have fun and don’t forget to respect the wild by minimizing your footprint. Stick to designated trails, pack out your trash and keep your animals on a leash.

The Wilderness Society site is a great place to visit too! Click on the link and see the full write ups.

Find out about Laura here. 

 Hopi Elder Prophecy

(It is questioned regarding who and when it was written, but it is good to read and remember no matter.)

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered. . . .

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your truth.

Create your community.

Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, “This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its  destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the one wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word ‘struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

–

Other guides and prophecies by Hopi and other tribes:

http://www.matrixmasters.com/takecharge/hopi-prophecy.html

http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/peterr/annex/HopiSpeaks.html

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/prophecy/prophecies.html

What a grrrreat birthday I had last Saturday! Many thanks for all of your calls, emails, tweets, facebook texts, gifts, sidewalk well wishes and more.

WHY I’M SHARING THIS

I’m sharing this because I want you to see how a day can flow like butta’! How lovely that this was flowing on my birthday too! Every day should be so smooth! That’s my goal!!

Here was my awesome day. Having a birthday on a weekend is great!  

First… I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and knew I wasn’t going back to sleep, so, I got dressed and took a walk under the FULL MOON down to the lake – 1.3 mile walk, always good. The sunrise on the Rockies and Longs Peak was breathtaking as always.

Then, I went to the new Family Dollar on 17th and Hover (Longmont, CO) for their Grand Opening – the first 50 customers were to get a $5 Gift Card! Shoot! I’m there! I was 2nd in line – a beautiful Saturday morning to hang out. I ended up getting TWO GIFT CARDS! $10!! (Okay, I’m easy!) I felt like maybe they made a mistake. So after I spent one of them I asked if they wanted the other one back. They said no, that some people got two of them! Yea!

Then, I went to our lovely Longmont FARMERS MARKET. I haven’t been there yet this year. What a treat. I walked around, talked to friends, ate good samples, bought some fresh green string beans, sat and listened to the bluegrass band play while eating an organic brunch. Perfect weather and lovely morning!

Then, I went to Vitamin Cottage health food store on Main St.  It was their 10th Year Anniversary Celebration! So tons of great samples of everything I could eat and enjoy, bring home and enjoy trying lotions, potions and such for awhile.  Talked to friends and signed up for 2 raffles. When I got home, the phone was ringing – I’d won one of the gift baskets! WHOOT! (See photo above.) Yes, the new grocery bag was free too! Goooo Vitamin Cottage!

Then,  I figured, with all this awesomeness going on, I’d better leverage it, right? I went to Safeway to get some extra groceries and bought a few lottery tickets!

Guess what?

I checked the numbers online after 10 pm that night and…. no winners! : (  Oh, well!! ; )

NO MIND FLOW

What I became very aware of is how all of the lovely inflow of goodness happened during a 1/2 day when I wasn’t thinking of anything. Buddhists call this “no mind.” I was just doing the doing and enjoying it all without expectations or desires. A good example of childlike innocence and the Law of Attraction at work.

Thank you all again for blessing me with your love and gifts of friendship, support and joy!

Let me know about a “flow” day that you’ve had in the comment section, on your Birthday or not!

Blissings!

Kim

I’m so excited to share this awesome study I read in the Longmont Times-Call  yesterday. All of these findings aren’t a great mystery to people who work off the land and have gardens, but it is great to have studies like this that make it so clear you can’t miss it!

This study shows that: 

Those with garden plots eat more veggies, exercise more and weigh less.
But, the gains of community and urban gardens is even more
than these good outcomes, they help grow communities and bring people together.

A new study led by University of Colorado scholars shows that community gardeners harvest better health, as well as stronger connections to their neighborhoods for generations. It’s a great thing for all!

BENEFITS

Community Gardeners

• eat more vegetables: Denver-area community gardeners consume an average of 5.7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, compared with 4.6 servings for home gardeners and 3.9 servings for non-gardeners
• exercise more: 720 minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, compared with 570 minutes a week for non-gardeners
• weigh less:  the average body-mass index for community gardeners is 24.2, compared with 27.2 for non-gardeners. A BMI of 25 or higher has been a measurement used to suggest that a person is overweight
• feel healthier than non-gardeners (and even home gardeners)

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN? 

Community gardens are parcels of land divided into plots in which people can grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. At the Kerr Community Garden, plots range from $48 to $183, depending on size, and reduced rates are offered to low-income gardeners.

COMMUNITY GARDENS AND GARDENERS ARE GENEROUS AND GIVING  – THEY CHANGE THE COMMUNITY FOR GOOD

The study also found that community gardeners tend to feel more attached to and protective of their neighborhoods resulting in less crime and chaos.

We are social creatures, we need to be with others and share, give and receive. Community gardens are the perfect place for these activities naturally.

SCHOOL AND URBAN GARDENS BUILD COMMUNITY

Helping children and school systems learn the entire cycle of a good garden builds trust, lifelong education and generational relationships. Community gardens reach into the community of all ages to build deep and wide security, stability and strong roots for a lifetime of growth.

“We eat out barely at all,” Dillingham said. “When you grow your own food, you cook your own food and tend to eat healthier.”

A sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and personal pride goes a long way toward our health: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.

RESEARCH PUBLICATION

The research team includes Jill Litt, an assistant professor in the CU environmental studies program. The findings were published in the journals “Social Science and Medicine” and “The American Journal of Public Health.”

Now, got get your hands dirty!

(Might be a commercial linked onto this first) 

Don’t let time slip by this summer, or any season without slowing down to make quality time with family – especially if you have children.

Time goes by so quickly when they’re small. Enjoy every moment!

Great job, Trace!

Are you in love with your home? Or, what ”home” means?
 
Enjoying our homes is a really special luxury and privilege. Everyone has their own idea of what a home should look and feel like. Do you love your home? Does our home love you back? 
 
                          ”A house is made of walls and beams;
                          a home is built with love and dreams.”

Clutter and disorganization very quickly make for an unhappy home, an uncomfortable and frustrating space in which to live. There’s much to do in the world all around, but there is only one “home.”
 
Emily Dickinson spent her entire mature life at her family’s homestead in Amherst, Massachusetts. In a letter of 1851 to her brother Austin she wrote, “Home is a holy thing — nothing of doubt or distrust can enter its blessed portals . . . . Here seems indeed to be a bit of Eden which not the sin of any can utterly destroy.” Samuel Beckett an Irish writer, dramatist and poet who passed on in 1989 was notorious for his love of his sparse apartment and for his resistance to the world, spreading his ideals of minimalism.
 
                                         “He is the happiest,
                                         be he king or peasant,
                                  who finds peace in his home.” 
                       ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
 
I know that since my dad died (Dec. 4) that home has felt rumbled by an earthquake, or maybe just tremmers, knowing that it won’t be there forever.

Home where we grew up, it’s not the houses really, but the people and energy around which we dance when we’re together – no matter how frustrating, crazy-making, dysfunctional and wonderful, it’s still home. Mom is still “home,” literally and figuratively.” But when she’s gone, it will be one of many homes that will have been lost and never to be experienced the same again.
 
                                     “Home is not where you live,
                                   but where they understand you.”
                                        ~ Christian Morganstern
 
Do you love your home? The more you can create your home to be that loving, nurturing, happy and peaceful place that is your castle and your Eden, the more your home will love you back – and everyone you invite into it – every day of the year.
 
Declutter. Reorganize. Realign the energies in our abode so that you can truly dwell in it.

Blissings, from my home to yours.
 
                                       “Love is a symbol of eternity.
                                       It wipes out all sense of time,
                               destroying all memory of a beginning
                                           and all fear of an end.”