We were talking about information/articles torn out/things printed off the internet in the Declutter Group Monday.

It’s helpful to think about where you go for information when you are ready for it. If you were to plan a party, would you go to your party planning binder or file folder, would you do an internet search or would you go to the library for a book?

If you are creating a garden, or going on a health plan or planning a vacation where do you go for information?

That is the kind of information you keep. That is where you store your information.

I rarely go to any torn out magazine article anymore. I would search the web or my Evernote online notebook. So I keep almost no magazine articles or things printed.

If you automatically go to your binders, then why are you keeping a bunch of folders on your computer?

If you get most of your info from books – make sure those are organized and don’t worry about keeping the paper information glut.

Information is only helpful if you can find it when you need it.

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Photo by Evelyn Giggles

Some experts say making your bed every day brings more discipline and you are more likely to exercise. Some say it’s better to air out your sheets. Some experts say a messy desk impedes work. Others say a clean desk impedes creativity.

If you exercise in the morning, they say you are more likely to make it a habit. Afternoon exercise can give you a lift from the afternoon slump. Evening exercise releases the day’s stress.

Experts can tell you how to be more productive, have the best body and clean your house. But, none of them are you.

What works for you is what works for you. My friend and accountability partner, Marcia, loves the Konmari method of decluttering. That way does not remotely work for me and I teach what worked for me in my declutter class.

Personally sometimes I make my bed and sometimes it’s more like a nest surrounded by books for break time.

My desk is rarely completely cleaned but I clear it off every few days. (Currently though, as it’s the week before show time for the musical I am in and the desk is pretty messy.) But, no matter how busy I am I always put my makeup and grooming supplies away in the bathroom when I’m done. It makes me cringe to see them cluttering the sink.

The good news is there is most likely some expert that says the way you like to do things is the “right” way.  So now you can concentrate on figuring out what works for you. This means experimenting not trying to fit into a mold. Exercise at different points in the day and see which feels best. What breakfast gives you the most energy? Does taking a break every 15 minutes, 25 minutes or 90 minutes keep you on track best? What part of home care needs to take priority because it matters a lot to you or your family?

There can also be multiple ways to live your life as well. I rarely do the exact same morning routine, but the elements are there most days of the week. Some days I like to start with exercise. Some days I like to ease into exercise after some quiet time. One day may have more meditation, one more journaling, one more music. I check in to see what I need most that day.

When situations changed – different marital or children status, new work hours, a health concern, care-giving, etc. then you can experiment again to find what is most helpful in this new situation.

What will you experiment with today?

Somehow last week a bunch of client projects happened at once. I was working long hours. The first day of this I didn’t take my breaks, I worked fast and was annoyed most of the day. I ended my work with a migraine.

So the rest of the week I reminded myself to work with love. These weren’t just tasks I was doing. Someone on the other end was going to be helped by them. I thought about the pressures clients were putting on themselves to make things urgent which brought out feelings of empathy. I radiated love as I did support emails. I prayed before each call and project.

I also sent love to myself. I took my breaks. I ate lunch at the kitchen table not my desk. And I gave myself compassion when feelings of overwhelm arose.

I was even more productive, had a ton more energy and my migraines went away.

When you see your week ahead, where can you work with love? What would that mean to you?

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Photo by Giuliano Maiolini

One of the big mistakes I see is the idea that if you just get organized, life can run smoothly. But, if you have too much stuff or too many commitments it doesn’t matter how organized you are. You will still feel not enough and stressed.

You can have the most organized basement even though it’s piled high with boxes. All the boxes take time to keep organized. Plus you still have to find what you are looking for among many, many boxes.

You might have the most organized scheduled – things written down for each 15 minutes. But, you can still feel stressed, especially when real life happens and your schedule falls off.

A room full of magazines ordered by magazine title and date, is still a lot of magazines to go through to find what you want.

A full binder or recipes may be organized, but overwhelming when you are trying to decide what to make for dinner.

Your closet may be organized by color and type, but if it’s stuffed it’s still hard to find what to wear.

Simplifying makes things more manageable quicker than organizing can. What if you only had what you love and what fits in your closet based on a few colors so most things match each other? Would that make it easier to get dressed in the morning?

You can have a menu plan of two weeks worth of recipes you can re-use then a simple file folder with a few recipes you want to try based on how many new recipes you usually use in a few months time.

You can recycle those magazines only clipping a few articles to implement while letting the rest go. No big pile of looming projects you probably won’t get to.

Your schedule would be easier to maintain if you cut some things out of it based on you and your family’s priorities. You could have a simple list of things to do morning, afternoon and evening instead of being tightly scheduled.

If your home is filled more with things you use on a regular basis and love rather than crammed with stuff from the past or things you “might need someday” you can take care of your home easier.

What are you trying to organize into manageability in your life? What needs simplifying instead?

This roll top desk is my favorite part of my home. Ever since I was little I dreamed of having a roll top desk for a place to write. But, those things are expensive so it stayed a dream.

A few years ago someone listed a roll top desk on Craigslist. They were moving and didn’t have room for it. I bought my cheap roll top.

At first I was disappointed. My roll top is not one of those solid wood desks. I’m not even sure it’s actual wood. Which did made it easier to get up the stairs.

It’s another reminder that dreams aren’t always fulfilled exactly as you want it. I’ve grown to love my desk.

I set up a place to write and do my quiet time. The top is lined with sacred objects like an angel someone sent me after Jon died, a picture of a cross at my favorite place on earth, stone cups I got on my trip to Washington D.C. with Brea filled with writing utensils, and shells I picked up from beaches throughout the country.

I have books I am reading, my journal and notebooks. I usually have a cup of water (with a lid on it so my cat doesn’t drink it.)

Every morning I sit and connect with God, journal and write. Sometimes I light my candles.

Where is your favorite spot of your home?

Most people live paycheck to paycheck, barely saving or having much in their retirement account. We buy too much, save too little and go into debt for more stuff. We need a different mind set. We need to work hard, contribute and act responsibly.

In Fred Seigel’s book, “The Richest Man in Babylon for Today“, he lays out the 10 Steps to Financial Success. We know most of them, we just don’t do them.

1. Pay yourself first – save 10%
2. Develop a budget – to stop overspending
3. Pay off debts – for peace of mind and more money to invest
4. Start looking for ways to put your money to work – invest, part time business, sell things on e-bay, real estate
5. Accept risk, but be careful – if it sounds too good to be true, it is
6. Don’t procrastinate – take action
7. Invest in your home – buy a home when you have enough money, upgrade it
8. Invest in retirement savings – 401K, Roth IRA
9. Invest in yourself – training, skils, knowledge
10. Prepare your walls – insurance, wills, epert advice

Which do you need to work on?

In the  Simplify Your Money Systems class we talk about pay yourself first, a budget (I call spending plan), paying off debts along with paying bills and dealing with the paperwork.

I ran across an article in Real Simple magazine for March on Mindful shopping. It talked about impulse buying and the hit of good mood at the time of purchase. Almost all of us have gone to the store for a few things and ended up with a basket full. Plus once you are already buying, it’s easier to buy something else – that includes online shopping.

So when you are buying for a “hit” instead of for what you need, the author  suggests looking deeper. What are you really looking for? Stress relief, approval, status, comfort? Then meet those needs in other ways. Calling a friend. Journaling. Creative activity.

At the store when you are craving a splurge, ask yourself, “What am I feeling?” Sit (or stand) with the feeling and you can ride out the temporary urge to buy. Sometimes you find you are just feeling tired or hungry, so you can plan how to fix that after you are out of the store.

Much of the clutter in our homes is because we bought something to feel better, but didn’t really need it. In my declutter class last week we talked about questions to ask yourself before you buy to keep clutter at bay. The first is, “Where am I going to put it?” If you have no place to store an item and can’t think of something to let go so you do have room, put it back.

Other questions:

“Do I need it?”

“Can I afford it?”

“What am I really looking for?”

“Am I buying just because it’s on sale?”

I like to keep questions like these printed out and kept in my wallet so I can see it before I buy.

Shop with intention instead of mindlessly shopping and see how much money you can save.

We talk about spending plans along with other systems in my Simplify Your Money System class starting soon.

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Photo by Matthias Ripp

(Pix from making cards with my daughter the other day)

For many people the craft/hobby room or area is the most difficult to declutter. The #1 thing that holds people back is thinking they are going to finish all the projects in there.

If you declutter a project maybe that means you failed, never finish anything or wasted money.

It could also mean you learned what you needed to from that project, your optional project is no longer fun, or it’s from a different lifetime for you.

Be clear on which projects you actually want to do. It’s also important to know how many more projects you can do. Will you have time to use all those scrapbooking supplies, bushels of yarn or boxes of fabric?

If not, a local school or art center would love your hand-me-downs. I know of a church sewing group that makes things for people that need them.

When inspiration hits, don’t you want a clear space to work? Or do you want to be going through boxes and boxes of stuff? Keeping everything in hopes of an item igniting inspiration often backfires when there is too much stuff. The mind freezes and the creative mojo runs away.

I prefer to buy things for a particular project. I don’t go to Michael’s picking up a bit of this and a bit of that in hopes I will use it someday.

Now this room doesn’t need to be perfect (none of them do). Creative spaces often have a bit of disarray. The question to ask yourself is, “Is this disarray helping or hurting my creativity?”

Now: Maintain

Quarterly decide on your next creative projects. If you are done with (either finished or decided you will not complete) any creative project, declutter the supplies.

One reason people stay busy doing and buying is fear.

If you are too busy you don’t have to do things that might frighten you because, "I just don’t have time for it."

But, it’s when you go beyond what is comfortable that life becomes most alive.

If you keep feeling an urge to draw, but keep yourself busy then you never have to go through that awkward beginner stage. You don’t have to judge whether you are good or bad at it. You don’t have to potentially fail.

You also don’t get the rush of learning something new or creating. You don’t get to do what may make your soul happy.

I was at my Saturday morning Groove class and they mentioned they were going to a Buddy Holly tribute dance party that night. The thought sent excitement through my heart. I knew this would be fun.

Yet I didn’t know where to park. I’d have to go there and hope to find them. Then there was the dancing in front of people thing. Also, what if we were the oldest people there?

About an hour before it was time to go I got "too tired." I also had laundry to finish. Laundry seemed exceptionally important at that moment.

I am very familiar with these voices and knew what was going on, so I gently told them to go away. I pictured me smiling on the dance floor and got ready.

I found parking. Met up with everyone. Danced, danced, danced. I felt completely alive.

(We weren’t even the oldest people dancing. We had older couples swing dancing and teenagers dressed in 50’s clothing on the floor with us.)

Last year, I was convinced I didn’t have time to join the worship team at church. But, really it was because I was used to singing in choir and groups – not singing with just a few others on stage. I started off timid and have grown each time I am on stage. Last Sunday each of us even did a solo on a verse and a chorus. My heart was beating faster than normally but I sang it and was so happy I did.

I used to let fear stop me from doing many things. I claimed busyness and tiredness. No one pressed me. I excused myself and lived a much smaller life.

How about you? Do you have anything that has been calling to you? Anything you’d love to try or experience if only you weren’t so busy?

I’ve noticed that when people aren’t confident with their ability to deal with something (technology, paper, cooking) they often start getting flustered immediately. They can’t think because they are going willy-nilly in their head and body.

A technology glitch shows up and they get in a panic. The mind goes fuzzy until they can’t see any solution.

A cooking error happens or they lose a place in a recipe and dishes start getting tossed as the cook becomes a whirling dervish. (Have you seen Worst Cooks in America?)

Surrounded by paper they may shut down instead of making small progress.

"I don’t know what I am doing!!" "I can’t do this!!"

No one likes to be a beginner at a skill. But, being a beginner at a skill does not mean you can’t learn to do it. In high school I was a horrible typist. My teacher said I would never learn and I have very short fingers. Now I type 90 wpm. I was afraid of technology myself. I used my typewriter the first year in college before trying out the computer. I learned and never looked back.

I’m still not the best cook, but I am learning more and more cooking skills.

The first thing to do when you start to feel that "I don’t know what I’m doing" panic is to stop and breathe. Check what thoughts are racing through your brain. Are they helpful? Remind yourself you can learn things. You have learned many skills in your lifetime. Think of a few right now.

Once your mind is calm, can you think of any solutions?

Then do a little research – online or talk to a friend who knows. Take a class.

What I don’t want you to do is sell yourself short. I don’t want you to give up.