A couple of weeks ago I decided to bake a cake for my NAPO-MN holiday party. Not a big deal to most people, but something I haven’t done for years. While standing in the baking section of our local grocery store, a friend of mine (about my age and also divorced) stood behind me scanning the shelves of cooking oils opposite the cake mix section. Embarrassed, I admitted to her, “It’s been so long since I bought a cake mix, I don’t know what to choose.” She laughed and said, “That’s nothing. My oven is heating at home so I can bake brownies and I don’t even have 1/2 cup of oil! What kind am I supposed to get anyway?”
We reminisced a minute about how well-stocked our pantries used to be when we had children and spouses at home. Life has changed dramatically for both of us and, apparently, in ways we hadn’t anticipated or even recognized until that day.
For many of my clients, the clutter that has accumulated is because of changes in their lives...divorce, marriage (combined households), children moving in/out/in again, new jobs, parents aging/dying/moving into smaller homes, aging themselves, etc., etc. It's essential to give yourself time to adjust to these alterations, and to give yourself credit for the many accomplishments you're making every day.
Before long, a mess can become overwhelming - and depressing! One of the things I love most about being a professional organizer is helping others to feel better about their space and, in turn, themselves. Sometimes it just takes a nonjudgmental, objective person to guide you through the process of breaking the Huge Job of clearing a room or sorting piles of papers into manageable pieces. And, I’ve found we can have a lot of fun together while we’re at it.
Each year I write new lyrics to classic melodies as my holiday gift to other PO’s and my clients. If you’d like to see this year’s version, go to this link: www.4shared.com/document/HDwgg3_Q/SOS_Auld_Lang_Syne.html
Also, if you’d like to take advantage of my S.O.S. BOGO special that ends Dec 31st, contact Susi@MessDistress.com.
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Friday, December 17, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
S.O.S. Blog #3 - 01/30/10
Can January already be almost over? Time goes by so quickly. Sometimes I feel like I’m finally ready for the holiday before last, but certainly not the current one. Stores have had Valentine’s Day displays out for a month and -I hate to admit this - I still have Christmas decorations waiting to be packed up. Before I put them away, they need to be sorted into “Keep for Next Year” and “Good-bye” boxes.
In my defense, I went to Arizona for a week to visit my dad and watch daughter Jami, her boyfriend Dave, and niece Renee run in the Phoenix half-marathon. So, what was the positive side of walking a quarter-marathon from and to the parking lot (okay, slight exaggeration) and standing around in the sun for hours waiting for everyone to get to the gathering spot? First of all, it was exciting to watch Jami run by - for the split second I could see her anyway. Plus, they ran their best times yet and were deservedly proud of that achievement. Most importantly, it was an opportunity to share a new experience with my family. What a great day to be a mom!
Now it’s time to buckle down and focus on clearing off the Christmas collection table. My goal is to get everything stored before February 14th. Time to G.I.G.G.L.E.!
Positive Spin Tip #3: As you heard in PS Tip #2, the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process helps you to organize just about anything. The first step (G.) is to Get Moving, so I will start by checking my calendar and scheduling a time to start. It’s important to make a commitment by putting a task on your calendar or planner (a To Do list is really just a Wish List). Using a timer can also give you a boost when trying to get started. Set the timer for 10-20 minutes - or the time you feel you can dedicate to the task. Then, stick to the job until the timer goes off. You can always reset the timer if you’re motivated to keep going, but allow yourself a reward for sticking to your plan: Take a walk, have a snack, read one article in a magazine, or call a friend (set the timer again). Christmas decorations, here I come!
Next: Blog #4 will introduce the “I.” step of the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process.
Enjoy Today!
:)Susi
In my defense, I went to Arizona for a week to visit my dad and watch daughter Jami, her boyfriend Dave, and niece Renee run in the Phoenix half-marathon. So, what was the positive side of walking a quarter-marathon from and to the parking lot (okay, slight exaggeration) and standing around in the sun for hours waiting for everyone to get to the gathering spot? First of all, it was exciting to watch Jami run by - for the split second I could see her anyway. Plus, they ran their best times yet and were deservedly proud of that achievement. Most importantly, it was an opportunity to share a new experience with my family. What a great day to be a mom!
Now it’s time to buckle down and focus on clearing off the Christmas collection table. My goal is to get everything stored before February 14th. Time to G.I.G.G.L.E.!
Positive Spin Tip #3: As you heard in PS Tip #2, the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process helps you to organize just about anything. The first step (G.) is to Get Moving, so I will start by checking my calendar and scheduling a time to start. It’s important to make a commitment by putting a task on your calendar or planner (a To Do list is really just a Wish List). Using a timer can also give you a boost when trying to get started. Set the timer for 10-20 minutes - or the time you feel you can dedicate to the task. Then, stick to the job until the timer goes off. You can always reset the timer if you’re motivated to keep going, but allow yourself a reward for sticking to your plan: Take a walk, have a snack, read one article in a magazine, or call a friend (set the timer again). Christmas decorations, here I come!
Next: Blog #4 will introduce the “I.” step of the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process.
Enjoy Today!
:)Susi
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