Day 40 of 100
Happy Valentine's Day!
In a random drawing, the winner of the Dymo Electronic Label Maker has picked and notified by e-mail to get permission to publish their name! As soon as I get this it will be announced! Check your e-mail to see if it is you!
Go hug someone you love!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Winter Wonderland
Day 39 of 100
What a rare site to be looking out the window at our snow covered yard! What a difference blanket of pure, white snow can make. Everything looks so peaceful and beautiful! The snow covers the imperfections of our lawn, weeds and fallen trees disappear and all you see is the beauty of nature. Decluttering has the same affect on our homes. By getting rid of the excess we see the beauty that lies beneath all our clutter.
Let nature inspire you to transform your home into a place of beauty and peace!
What a rare site to be looking out the window at our snow covered yard! What a difference blanket of pure, white snow can make. Everything looks so peaceful and beautiful! The snow covers the imperfections of our lawn, weeds and fallen trees disappear and all you see is the beauty of nature. Decluttering has the same affect on our homes. By getting rid of the excess we see the beauty that lies beneath all our clutter.
Let nature inspire you to transform your home into a place of beauty and peace!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Refrigerator Canvas
Day 38 of 100
Today begins a 4 day Winter Break weekend! How fitting that the weather is calling for snow! It was great to sleep in this morning, not having to rush and go to work. As the children were eating a very, late breakfast at 10ish, I was in the kitchen piddling around. I began, unconsciously decluttering the front and sides of my fridge. This wonderful “magnetic wall” is a great collector of recipes, pictures, school notes, notices, phone numbers, invitations, a huge family calendar and “to do” lists. I took all the items off and wiped down the exterior. It is usually so packed, that this is impossible. I then carefully selected what would stay, the boys Square Art magnets, some family photos and our calendar, which we could not function without. I filed the recipes I wanted to keep and would realistically cook and threw the rest away. What a difference a tidy refrigerator makes in my whole kitchen!
I, for one, like this “canvas” and don't want it totally empty; however, what had collected there was ridiculous. You may feel comfortable with more or less “stuff” on your fridge.
What does you refrigerator exterior look like? How do you want it to look?
Do you have any spaces that you look at so often, you don't even notice the clutter that is amassing before your eyes?
Today begins a 4 day Winter Break weekend! How fitting that the weather is calling for snow! It was great to sleep in this morning, not having to rush and go to work. As the children were eating a very, late breakfast at 10ish, I was in the kitchen piddling around. I began, unconsciously decluttering the front and sides of my fridge. This wonderful “magnetic wall” is a great collector of recipes, pictures, school notes, notices, phone numbers, invitations, a huge family calendar and “to do” lists. I took all the items off and wiped down the exterior. It is usually so packed, that this is impossible. I then carefully selected what would stay, the boys Square Art magnets, some family photos and our calendar, which we could not function without. I filed the recipes I wanted to keep and would realistically cook and threw the rest away. What a difference a tidy refrigerator makes in my whole kitchen!
I, for one, like this “canvas” and don't want it totally empty; however, what had collected there was ridiculous. You may feel comfortable with more or less “stuff” on your fridge.
What does you refrigerator exterior look like? How do you want it to look?
Do you have any spaces that you look at so often, you don't even notice the clutter that is amassing before your eyes?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Music
Day 37 of 100
Isn't it funny how the music of our youth can transport us back in time? You can almost smell the gym of your high school, when you hear a song from your Senior Prom.
Nostalgia is one reason it is hard to let of some items. We attach memories to “things” and give “stuff” power, based on this. A dried up, molded corsage from 1985 isn't going to make a memory of a special night, any more special.
If you hold onto everything that reminds you of the past, where will your future go? What about your present?
Keep the memories, let go of the excess! If there is something you really want to keep, give it a place of importance in your home.
Are you holding on to stuff because it reminds you of a happy time? Let go, embrace today and create happy times NOW!
Isn't it funny how the music of our youth can transport us back in time? You can almost smell the gym of your high school, when you hear a song from your Senior Prom.
Nostalgia is one reason it is hard to let of some items. We attach memories to “things” and give “stuff” power, based on this. A dried up, molded corsage from 1985 isn't going to make a memory of a special night, any more special.
If you hold onto everything that reminds you of the past, where will your future go? What about your present?
Keep the memories, let go of the excess! If there is something you really want to keep, give it a place of importance in your home.
Are you holding on to stuff because it reminds you of a happy time? Let go, embrace today and create happy times NOW!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Being YOU
Day 36 of 100
For young children, this is very easy. It is all they know. They are who they are, warts, dimples and all. They don't try and hide or pretend to be anyone, other than whom they were meant to be. Somewhere, somehow, this all changes and others' opinions about you become far more important to you than your own. With age, comes wisdom and confidence in being, doing, liking, dressing etc, the way you want!
The way your home looks only has to reflect you, no one else. You do not have to keep up with the Joneses. If you love the latest home fashion/decorating trend...great. However, if you don't, DO NOT DO IT, no matter how popular it becomes. You want to come home to a haven, made just for you. The only way you crate this is by making choices about what comes in, what stays and what goes! If you love it...keep it! The rest.....say goodbye with love and watch your space transform into the home of your dreams.
Are you being true to yourself and what you love? Does your home reflect this?
For young children, this is very easy. It is all they know. They are who they are, warts, dimples and all. They don't try and hide or pretend to be anyone, other than whom they were meant to be. Somewhere, somehow, this all changes and others' opinions about you become far more important to you than your own. With age, comes wisdom and confidence in being, doing, liking, dressing etc, the way you want!
The way your home looks only has to reflect you, no one else. You do not have to keep up with the Joneses. If you love the latest home fashion/decorating trend...great. However, if you don't, DO NOT DO IT, no matter how popular it becomes. You want to come home to a haven, made just for you. The only way you crate this is by making choices about what comes in, what stays and what goes! If you love it...keep it! The rest.....say goodbye with love and watch your space transform into the home of your dreams.
Are you being true to yourself and what you love? Does your home reflect this?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What if I need it?
Day 35 of 100
This is the mentality that maintains much of our clutter. I once read that by keeping/hording/holding onto excess you actually perpetuate this and bring it into reality. I know that sounds kind of “hocus pocus” , but think about it, will you ever really use that (fill in the blank)? I mean, you've had it for years and there is an inch of dust covering it. Perhaps, by holding onto it, along with hundreds of other similar items, you find something to do with it, that if you had let it go, you never would have needed it in the first place. Finding a way to use something, just because you have it is very different from loving something and honoring it.
Are you finding uses for your clutter, just to enable it to hang around?
Go find 10!
This is the mentality that maintains much of our clutter. I once read that by keeping/hording/holding onto excess you actually perpetuate this and bring it into reality. I know that sounds kind of “hocus pocus” , but think about it, will you ever really use that (fill in the blank)? I mean, you've had it for years and there is an inch of dust covering it. Perhaps, by holding onto it, along with hundreds of other similar items, you find something to do with it, that if you had let it go, you never would have needed it in the first place. Finding a way to use something, just because you have it is very different from loving something and honoring it.
Are you finding uses for your clutter, just to enable it to hang around?
Go find 10!
Monday, February 8, 2010
How to Create a Habit
Day 34 of 100
Nicole, from North Carolina sent me this, as she thought it might prove beneficial to my Clutter Therapy readers. I agree. Each day, as you spend time decluttering your 10 items, you are creating a habit that will change your life and how you look at your stuff.
HOW TO CREATE A HABIT
HABIT: an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: No better time than the present!
HOW To's:
1. Only one habit.
2. Start small. Just commit to 10 minutes a day. This might sound too easy, but you will almost guarantee success if you do this. You can increase later.
3. Commit publicly.
4. Write your plan. Write out exactly what habit you'll be forming, when you start, what time during the day you'll be doing it, rewards you might give yourself, how you'll overcome any potential obstacles. Write it down to succeed!
5. Find a trigger. Find something you already do consistently every day -- wake up, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, shower, arrive at work, have lunch, have dinner, anything -- and tie your new habit to this trigger. Do it every day RIGHT AFTER this trigger.
6. Be consistent. Do not miss a day. Try to get a streak going -- 30 straight days! If you miss a day, keep going, but the more consistent you are, the more likely the habit will stick.
7. Report progress. Every day, report your progress.
8. Motivate. Give yourself rewards each week. In fact, give yourself a reward each of the first few days, and then weekly after that.
9 Be positive. Keep a positive attitude throughout the entire challenge to be successful. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, squash them like a bug! And replace them with positive thoughts. It really works.
Thank you Nicole!
Is decluttering becoming a habit for you?
Nicole, from North Carolina sent me this, as she thought it might prove beneficial to my Clutter Therapy readers. I agree. Each day, as you spend time decluttering your 10 items, you are creating a habit that will change your life and how you look at your stuff.
HOW TO CREATE A HABIT
HABIT: an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: No better time than the present!
HOW To's:
1. Only one habit.
2. Start small. Just commit to 10 minutes a day. This might sound too easy, but you will almost guarantee success if you do this. You can increase later.
3. Commit publicly.
4. Write your plan. Write out exactly what habit you'll be forming, when you start, what time during the day you'll be doing it, rewards you might give yourself, how you'll overcome any potential obstacles. Write it down to succeed!
5. Find a trigger. Find something you already do consistently every day -- wake up, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, shower, arrive at work, have lunch, have dinner, anything -- and tie your new habit to this trigger. Do it every day RIGHT AFTER this trigger.
6. Be consistent. Do not miss a day. Try to get a streak going -- 30 straight days! If you miss a day, keep going, but the more consistent you are, the more likely the habit will stick.
7. Report progress. Every day, report your progress.
8. Motivate. Give yourself rewards each week. In fact, give yourself a reward each of the first few days, and then weekly after that.
9 Be positive. Keep a positive attitude throughout the entire challenge to be successful. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, squash them like a bug! And replace them with positive thoughts. It really works.
Thank you Nicole!
Is decluttering becoming a habit for you?
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