Make a Bit of Space for Yourself
Posted by Sue on Nov 1, 2011
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”
November is Get a Jumpstart on the Holidays month at Breathing Space.
How are your holiday preparations going? No, I’m not going to ask whether you’ve finished your Christmas or Hanukah shopping yet (I certainly haven’t). In my last tip I suggested that you focus on what you want to create during this holiday season: Joy, serenity, festivity, sanity, peace, tranquility … In this week’s tip, I suggest you create a little breathing space in your life for these worthy qualities to shine forth.
How do you create a bit of space in your life? A concept called Selected Neglect popped up in my life a couple years ago. This is the practice of intentionally letting go of something, or somethings: Actively deciding not to write the holiday letter or make bread for every one of your children’s teachers or attend any holiday parties or choosing to turn off all screens (television, computers, hand-helds) one evening every week or _____ (fill in the blank). Taking control of the treadmill that is about to lurch into the highest speed by s-l-o-w-i-n-g down invites you to create your experience rather than react to time-worn circumstances.
So, take a deep breath and search for ONE thing you are doing that you will deliberately let go of for the next 10 weeks: One activity that you will intentionally put on the back burner. And then reassign that pocket of time to something that pleases you and creates the kind of holiday that soothes your soul. Maybe you fill the time by visiting an elderly friend or taking a long overdue walk in the woods or simply taking a nap. Rest assured, the people in your life will only benefit from your IN-ACTION.
What will you selectively neglect? What will you let go of in order to make space in your life for what matters most? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Don’t forget: Our next monthly FREE Organizing Forum!
In next month’s free teleclass (November 16th from 7:00 to 8:00) we’ll talk about using gratitude to help us declutter. We’ll also look at our Keep Test – a handy tool for deciding what to keep and what to discard. If you’re interested in joining us, please call or send me an email and I’ll send you the contact information. You don’t need to be at a computer to participate. If you can’t attend, but would like to receive the recording, let me know.
A quick holiday organizing tip:
If you’re having trouble letting go of all the things you like to do during this holiday season, make a list in your journal or calendar or anything that you’ll likely be able to find next October of each of the tasks, events or I-wish-I-coulds that you have decided to selectively neglect. This simple exercise will ease your mind and give you a jumpstart on next year’s holiday planning.
The True Cost of Clutter
Posted by Sue on Sep 23, 2011
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Why should we bother organizing?
Given the actual time we spend organizing our stuff and the mental energy we spend thinking about organizing our stuff, perhaps we should start by figuring out why we’re trying to get organized in the first place!
When you look at the clutter that surrounds you – Whether a pile of magazines spilling off the coffee table, an overflowing file drawer or a closet that won’t close because it’s too stuffed full – You probably don’t see dollar signs. But what’s the real price tag – in $$dollars$$ – on all that clutter?
To find out, take the short quiz below. You may see you stuff in a different light:
In the past week …
- Estimate how many minutes you spent looking for things.
- Add to this the time you spent in extra cleaning that wouldn’t have been necessary if you didn’t have to work around the clutter.
- Add how much time you spent organizing and decluttering.
- Multiply this total number of hours by how much you make an hour at your current job.
- Add to this dollar amount how much money you spent on eating out because you couldn’t face your kitchen or didn’t want to invite friends into your home.
- Add how much you spent on items that you knew were someplace, but didn’t know where.
The total is a concrete dollar amount of how much your clutter costs you every week.
If you want to take this one step further, multiply your $$$Clutter Cost$$$ by the X-Factor: The X-Factor is a number, 1 to 10 that indicates your level of frustration, shame and embarrassment when you think about the state of your home or office.
Most of us are astounded by the number that we come up with when we consider the true cost of clutter. But I haven’t written this tip to highlight your embarrassment or shame. I’ve written it to underline just how important are our ongoing, committed efforts to reduce and reorganize the excess stuff in our lives.
It’s not about looking good.
It’s about having more time and energy and money to invest in who we are and what we truly want in life. I repeat: It’s not about looking good. It’s about having more time and energy and money to invest in who we are and what we truly want in life.
We can’t make all these changes in a day or even in a week. Anne Frank wrote, How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. How wonderful, indeed.
802-258-4800
Sue@breathing-space.com
Is it really a bargain?
Posted by Sue on Sep 7, 2011
Is it really a bargain?
Along with the end of summer crickets and the occasional red maple leaf, are the end of summer sales. Have you noticed? You can’t walk ten feet in a downtown without being bombarded with, “Back to School Special” and “Drastically Marked Down” ~ All with double and triple exclamation points!!!
Bargain is a dangerous word.
Several of my clients have commented on how difficult it is to pass up a great deal, even when they have no particular use for the whirligig and have been determinedly decluttering for months or even years. The pull is so strong. Even for me; though I’ve spent hundreds of hours helping folks figure out how to deal with the stuff that clutters their spaces and lives.
Beware the getcha phrases!
They are designed to make you stop, forget what you were planning to do with your hard earned pennies and buy, buy, buy:
- BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
- ONE DAY ONLY SALE
- DISCOUNTED 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%
- BARGAIN, BARGAIN, BARGAIN
Instead of getting caught – try this purchasing test.
I call it, the Do I Really Want to Buy It? quiz, not unlike my Keep Test. Here are the questions:
1) Do I love it? Will it really make my heart sing to have it?
2) Is it something that I have been planning to purchase or needing for a specific use? Or is it the idea of getting a bargain that is pushing me to buy?
3) Is it truly a treasure? Is it something that I will use and cherish for a long time?
To actually save money and space, run every purchase – no matter how discounted – past the Do I Really Want to Buy It? quiz to confirm that it will truly be a savings for you. Sales and bargains are great if you don’t let yourself get trapped into buying stuff that you never needed and may never use.
So Readers … Beware the bargain bin!
What’s your best bargain story?
With a little help! YAY
Posted by Sue on Dec 28, 2010
WOW– does THAT feel good! I made myself a target for THIS week– get my personal checking account UP TO DATE and ready for the new year. As of this moment 5:23 a.m. on Tuesday 12/28/2010 I’d like to report that I have completed the WHOLE YEAR … It’s been a LOT of data entry but the great news is that this past summer my bank changed their statement format. That made reconciling the last 6 months a BREEZE . I have to tell them. Maybe I will NEVER get behind again. THAT would be fine with me.
What else – Well, I’ve been doing some local house cleaning for the past month – “moonlighting”. Folks are usually way too busy think about organizing right before the holidays but housecleaning is welcome. 
You should see the great side effect here in my own home. I’m surprised. Things are getting cleaner and more sparkling by the day! Really– what fun. I’ve started using the naturally GREEN copper cleaner (salt and lemon on my pots and it really works …Bon Ami for the inside. (From GREEN CLEANING http://www.ivillage.com. I like their suggestions. ) Yesterday I did their microwave thing — lemon and water and nuke it so you have nice lemon steam. Then wipe out the microwave really easily. I recently discovered SIMPLE GREEN – all purpose cleaner (thanks Naomi) it says biodegradable and non-toxic … I need to check into it further but so far it seems really magical. A little help goes a long way.
So dear reader – NOW is a great time to clean out AND declutter!!! – I’m going to start on my files tonight! Oeeeeeeee – let’s get going on a new decade! All best wishes! Joanna
Boxes Collection R US!
Posted by Sue on Nov 11, 2010
Today I did a consultation in a wonderful house with a couple who are planning to move to a retirement community – probably in two years. Their sister-in-law had offered to give them a consultation to help them get a plan in place for the process of downsizing. Because of the tip I’d written a while back about embracing limits which included a tale of boxes, I was invited to see the collection in the attic of this house. Unfortunately the photo doesn’t really capture the great variety 
but you’ll get the idea . It was agreed that when moving time gets closer the collection will be pared down to 20 of the most precious boxes. But in the meantime they’ll be relished and used liberally ! Since I too love sweet boxes I had a great time looking at them and got permission to share the photo with you…
November — the “NO” month???
Posted by Sue on Nov 3, 2010
Hope you had a fine Hallowe’en weekend … By the way –our email is back in place. The website domain registration had expired . I hadn’t updated Breathing Space contact info and the renewal reminders were all going to an email address that hasn’t existed for 7 years .. erk. What’s interesting is that all my emails from that weekend are completely and totally GONE! Permanently failed! Lack of TWO of them caused a bit of confusion that I sorted out — who knows about the other 187 or so that didn’t arrive. A blessing? I’m beginning to imagine having at least one NO EMAIL day per week.
In Vermont there’s a joke about November being the “NO’ month – no colors,no snow and I was just thinking WHAT IF we were to make it the No NEW Clutter month. That would be a refreshing switch as the MORE STUFF season comes in.
The other day I was sorting “stuff” with a wonderful client. She agreed that she probably has enough projects going to keep at LEAST THREE people fully occupied for a long time. When I suggested that she commit to NO NEW PROJECTS for the month of November she said “Like this ?” and showed me a kind of intriguing Japanese weaving that she had just ordered.. We chuckled together! Hmmmmmm Joanna
Life without email!!!
Posted by Sue on Oct 24, 2010
Oh my gosh! For some reason there’s a problem with my incoming email and NONE has come in since 1pm yesterday — FEELS VERY STRANGE! The Hostagor folks are looking at it right now but in the meantime – it feels very weird. Like the house when the electricity goes off and the fridge stops making noise … makes me see instantly how dependent I’ve become — and that’s without having an I- this or that – and no Blackberry. At moment if you want to communicate to me — don’t do it by email ! Thanks!
Fall Is Upon Us
Posted by Sue on Oct 13, 2010
falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly
~John Bailey
Fall is upon us. Here in the chilly Northeast we’re firing up our furnaces, making sure our woodpiles are stacked and putting on our wool sweaters and fleece vests.
Knowing that you’ll be more inside than outside for the next six months, take a moment and look at your main living spaces. Imagine curling up in a chair reading a book with the wind howling outside: You’re cozy and safe and maybe enjoying a cup of tea or a glass of wine. The inner peace and tranquility that you experience is reflected in your space. The furniture may not be new, or even matching. The rug may be a bit threadbare, but it’s serviceable and clean. In short, the space may not be Good Housekeeping perfect, but it’s welcoming, warm and inviting. Read the rest of this entry »
Saturday – and HAPPY
Posted by Sue on Oct 9, 2010
Perhaps perhaps — I actually am getting a clue about this limitations thing (see my earlier blog :EMBRACING LIMITATIONS) . It appears that lots MORE gets done when I don’t try to do everything! I ‘ve finally truly been trying that long suggested concept — make time for myself with as much attention as I extend to others. I’ve heard that for how long?? Wel
l at least since the 80s, but I’m hoping that I actually finally GET IT . Since my boss is ME– wouldn’t it be smart to make a schedule that HELPS me! How could I have been so dense as to have not systematically done that all these years …
Anyway- now is now – and I have finally figured out that I CAN have a schedule that allows me to work at my best. Whether it’s myprenatal life in Venezuela or whatever, it seems that the Latina schedule of early to rise – have a siesta- and then get back to work full steam is the right one for me. A genuine break in the middle of the day –and voila – another morning arrives (the best time of the day for me to get things done) …. SO finally I have a schedule that HELPS me! Only took the 15 years of being my own boss to figure this one out … ah well. Maybe I can learn a whole ton else – I’ll let you know. Meanwhile – my office is really decluttered and my inbox is down by 300 emails Hurrah… Have a great weekend and let me hear how YOU deal ! Okay? Joanna
October Clarity
Posted by Sue on Oct 8, 2010
Beautiful clear day- and clear that most of all I want to work with 3rd Agers who want to make space for WHAT COMES NEXT! Yes- this includes me : Clearing out the cob webs and accumulated stuff in our spaces and lives so that we can use the vital time left to give to the world the unique gifts we’ve developed over 60 or 70 years of living. NOW is the time to declutter and streamline – to get the proverbial ducks in an orderly row and make those dreams happen … !
