Organization - 2 Things to Do TODAY to Start Your Week Off Right

I've moved both my home and my business in the past three months. Which is to say:  the shit of seven people is taking over my life. 

And yet, I THRIVE.  One of the main reasons is my penchant for the organized. I love to reach for something and have it be there.

I mean this is big ways (reaching for support, having it be there) and I mean this in simple ways (reaching for a paperclip, having it be there).  

When I can't find something or I have to struggle it makes my life HARD. 

I want to thrive.  I want flow.  I want ease.  

Some shit in life is just HARD.  So to allow those hard things their space, I need my space to be easy.  Hence, organization. 

Find those little places to leave the struggle behind. (Click to Tweet)

Here are two easy things you can bring into your life, starting today, that will create space, ease, and flow (things that everyone wants more of):

1. Clean off your computer's desktop and only keep open the browser taps you are currently working on.   Have you tried to read 5 books at once?  It is too confusing.  Be kind to your brain.   When you are working on your computer, don't allow clutter to accumulate.  A clean desktop means a better workflow and less distractions.  Start today.  Sure, ten thousand tabs might have gotten opened, but you can just as easily close them.  If the stuff is that important, you'll find it again, I promise.  Go forth, close tabs, clean desktops, be happy.
2. It's Monday ya'll.  Where's your weekly to do list? Spend some time at the beginning or end of each week plotting what's ahead.  If you get all down on paper then it won't be floating around in your head trying to not be forgotten.  Find a system that works for you.  But WRITE THAT SHIT DOWN.  I don't know one truly successful person who keeps it all in their head.  Get your goals clear. 

Two Cleaning Tips for Instant Self Care

When I came home from the hospital with my first baby, Camilla, I rested for a bit, then hopped right back into my type A shoes and rush forth for a busy three months of holiday shipping in the retail industry.  See these pictures?  The pack'n'play IN MY STUDIO.  Permanent baby strapped to my chest.  It worked. I was happy and I felt good.  Still, I don't want to repeat it this time.  I want slower time, I want down time, quiet time, bonding time.  And it's up to me to carve that out. 

Really, what that means, is it is always up to each and every one of us to carve out our own DOWN TIME.  No one will force us to care for ourselves.  And for the self employed, and the type A's, and the working moms - well, let's just say this might not be our number one skill by nature, we have to work to nurture it.  There are a lot of pieces to the self care puzzle.  But today I am going to pick ONE concrete area where I can do a little practical work to pave the way of self care for the next few months:

Cleaning up a few little special "me" spaces to promote EASE and INSPIRATION.

• I like a clean desk. So when I move into my workspace, only work awaits me and I can jump right in.  If there is clutter in my work space I find working is harder.  Wait a second - aren't we talking about self care.   Darn work, always sneaking in :) But in truth, work is a part of our self, so any care we take there nurtures us as well. Go, clean your desk.

• Clean thing number two. I am on a roll here!  Another thing I like to have de-cluttered is my bedside table.  With a house full of dogs and kids and projects I just want to see something clear and relaxing and inspiring when I first awake.  Right now, it's not looking so good. My draw has become a catch all, there are cords and wires all tangled, a bunch of used tissues, and not ONE item of inspiration.  Okay, this is it.  I've got to move on this one today and get my morning shrine on.  I am thinking: Clean it up! Add art, a quote or two for inspiration, a nice coaster for my water glass, a drawer separator, small journal with a nice pen, a good book (quotes maybe), a new Chapstick.  What else?  

Here are a few shots form my desk area that make me smile: 

Homecoming - Mess on Display

I love coming home. 

I don't sleep.  I wander around and touch my stuff.  And wade thru dog fur.   

The mess doesn't bother me.  Piles seem exciting.  Inviting. I start thinking of new filing cabinets.  I want to order glass jars for my tea.  I wish my label maker did more fonts.

I take in small details.   The fat blueberries in my oatmeal.  Her blue eyes.

How can you approach something with freshnesss, with newness?   Can you do just a little today?

It was HARD and it was GOOD

The time I spent with the organizer was both.  I wanted to cry a bit (luckily he had big shoulders to cry on).  And, my husband was there helping too (and he ALSO has big shoulders).   

Things I learned: 

1) People are different.  My husband, my assistant and I all were around for this and we were all immediately diagnosed as ADHA, OCD & pregnant, respectively.  Totally nailed it.  We all have such different styles of what to do with stuff and HOW to deal with it.

2) When everything from one closet is out on the floor in piles you will probably want to give up.  If you are really lucky and have someone there to help, they won't let you.

3) You might not finish in a day.  These projects can take some tweaking over time.  Be hopeful, but flexible. 

4) You have more shit than you ever thought possible. 

5) Trash day doesn't happen nearly as often as one might like. So, remember to plan in advance for the throwing stuff out portion of the process.  I didn't plan well enough for this.  So, a few days later we still have a section of crap to deal with...

6) Old paint smells really, really bad.

7) Drink a lot of water. 

THIS LINK:  DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF TIDY FAMILIES really reminded me that LESS STUFF is GOOD.

THIS LINK: MAKING SPACE CLEANSE  sounds like a great way to begin and set intentions for some serious process.

I Hired a Personal Organizer

My family and friends are laughing at me.  Usually, I am the one who organizes their spaces.  

"The organizer hires an organizer," my mom said.

I needed help.  Every time I looked in this closet I shut down.  I couldn't even do simple projects because just finding my glue was too damn hard.  Closet of excuses?  Closet of avoidance?  Closet of lost hope? 

He comes this morning for our first pass at it.  My first job was to define this space's function.  My goal is for this to be a supply closet for all of my rental spaces in this building.  I'd like to be able to do most building projects from this closet alone.  However, for now, while we still live IN the building, it also must hold some wood and raw materials that will eventually be gone... Dual purpose organization, if you will. 

Oh, and I'd also like to be able to actually walk into the closet. 

Here we go!  Stay tuned for more and think about your own spaces.  Can you define your goals for specific spaces?

Organizing - My Brain

I am telling you the truth when I say that somedays I wish I could hire myself.  I spent the last two days wrestling with pregnancy hormones and trying to sort out my plan of attack.  Guess what?

 I didn't get there yet.  And that's okay.  Or at least, that's what I'd tell you.  So that's what I am telling myself.  It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.  Allow space for these feelings, allow things to be DIFFERENT.  I am choosing to allow myself to be DIFFERENT then I perceive myself to "normally" be.  I tend to be very clear when it comes to my (or your) plan of action.  These last few days, I can  see yours clearly, but not mine.  Can I roll with that?  Can I make lists and watch the rain and read Dr. Seuss to my daughter and do some laundry and ignore some dishes and make something with my hands?  Can I give myself the chance to NOT BE ORGANIZED OR EFFICIENT?  

I'd like to try to let these feelings just float around and not attach to them.  Not to struggle against the flow.  Not to try to understand the WHY of it all.  I'm gonna give it a shot and just keep repeating these words:  Allow, alllow, allow.  Don't judge, don't justify.  Allow, allow, allow.

How do you adapt when you are not feeling like yourself? 

Do you use inspiration?  THIS print about songbirds and roots inspires me.