Simplicity

Does Your “To Do List” Have Tasks or Opportunities On It?

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Lately I’ve read several books (see below) about negative thoughts versus positive thoughts.  Many times we don’t even realize how negative we can be.

Every day I write out a “to do” list on a white board.  I tend to lose focus throughout the day and this list helps bring me back to the tasks on my list.

But the problem is I rarely finish everything. …

Does Your “To Do List” Have Tasks or Opportunities On It?Read More »

Does Your “To Do List” Have Tasks or Opportunities On It? Read More »

Fire Drill! Stop, Drop, and Roll.

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fire_1Do you remember being taught the fire drill of Stop, Drop, and Roll? This short statement is drilled into our brains from the time we are little to help us know what to do in case our clothes ever caught on fire.

The idea behind this is to condition our brain with a routine to fall back on. This can prevent us from going into panic mode and not thinking clearly. This same idea also is what saves us from running into traffic to chase a ball or cross the street, “Look both ways first!”.

We condition our brain with “fire drill” statements to help protect our physical well being.  But many times we tend to neglect …

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Fire Drill! Stop, Drop, and Roll. Read More »

Are Your Holiday Greeting Cards Addressed and Ready to Mail?

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IMG_1389-1I pulled out my greeting card list to get started with addressing the cards. Wow!  I didn’t realize it was such a mess.

Addresses were scratched out.  New ones written to the side.  My niece got married.  A new last name plus a husband’s name were added.   A few names are scratched off because either they passed away or I no longer wish to send them cards.

It’s time to update my list on the computer and print out a new copy.  I set this list up many years ago. It has been a great organizer when tackling the task of sending out greeting cards.

It’s set up in such a way that I can make sure the Hanukkah cards are mailed on time.  Hanukkah starts this Saturday, December 8.  Once those are done I’ll start on the Christmas cards.

This list is also set up in a way where if I run short on time it’s easy to prioritize who I want to send cards to and who will be left out this year.

Below is an excerpt from the holiday tip eBook on how to create the greeting card system I use.

Take a few minutes to set your list up today.  You’ll then be well on your way to getting those greeting cards out on time.

Holiday Greeting Card System – Tip #12

From the eBook “Tips To Simplify And Organize Your Holidays”

Step 1: Write out the names of people you want to send cards to.

The first step is to look at your address/phone book and write out all the names and of the people you want to send cards to this year.  Be selective.  You don’t have to send to everyone.  Write these on a separate piece of paper or type them into your computer.  Don’t worry about the addresses now; you’ll work on those in the next step.

If you already have a list from last year then just add any new names or scratch off any you don’t want to send cards to anymore.  Remember, you don’t have to send cards to everyone. Now review each name and decide if you can cross off a few more.

Step 2: Divide into sub-lists. Update addresses.

This step will take a little time to set up depending on how many people you have on your list.  But the time is well spent by helping simplify the task of sending out greeting cards this year and many years to come.

1.  Label a separate sheet of paper with the categories listed below. You can also do this on the computer at this time or after you have completed the handwritten copy.

  •         Family
  •         Friends
  •         Co-workers/Business acquaintances
  •         Neighbors
  •         Others (mail person, hairdresser, school teacher, etc.)

2.  Now write the name of each person/family you want to send a card to under the appropriate category.  Do not add the addresses yet.  You are just dividing the names right now.

3.  Once all the names are listed in their categories you will want to mark next to the name which kind of card you want to send.  A Christmas card, a Hanukkah card, or a Seasons Greeting card.  A generic Seasons Greeting card can be sent to most people if you aren’t sure about their religion.

4.  Now you can make your final list with the addresses included.  You’ll do this by making a separate list for each group and each kind of card you are sending.  For example:

  •         Friends – Christmas
  •         Friends – Hanukkah
  •        Friends – Season Greetings

Customize for the people on your list.  Several categories can go on the same page if you only have a few people in each. You might want to include first names of the family members on this list.  This will help if you like to personalize the inside of the cards.

This is now your master list. It will help you prioritize who’ll you’ll sent cards  to if you don’t have enough time to get to them all.  If you want you can even list the names in each category in order of importance.  You may want your sister who lives out of town on the top of the list and your 2nd cousin you rarely talk to, on the bottom of the list.

If you didn’t put it on the computer yet now would be a good time. It will be a lot easier to update the copy on the computer before printing it off each year. Step 4 explains how to make the list portable and why.

Step 3: Buying your cards.

Your master list will help you determine what kind and how many cards you’ll need to buy. 

1. If you have cards left over from last year be sure to check them out before shopping.

2. Look at your categories and determine how many of each kind of card you will need.

3. Subtract the number of left over cards you can use in each category and this will give you the minimum number of cards to purchase.

4. Try to find boxes that are close to the number you need with maybe a few extra.  You really don’t want to store boxes of unused cards each year.

Step 4: Addressing the envelopes.

1.  To make it easy to keep track of which ones you’ve addressed and to make it portable, you can put the printed sheets in plastic page protectors.  Check off each name with a dry erase marker once the envelope is completed.  When you’re completely done with addressing the envelopes you can take a damp tissue to wipe off the marks.

2. Start with the most important category for you and work from there. Family, friends, co-workers, etc.

3. Sign the cards at this time and put them inside the envelopes.  Don’t seal the envelopes now because you may want to insert a newsletter, photo, or write a personalize note right before mailing them.

4. If you make the sheets portable (see number 1) then it’s easy to take the addresses, cards, and envelopes with you while waiting for your child’s dance lesson, music lesson, etc. to be done. You can also address them while watching TV in the evenings.

Step 5: Insert a newsletter, photo, etc.

This is where you will insert a newsletter, photo, or personal note.

Step 6: Stamp and mail envelopes.

Stamp the envelopes and mail them at the proper time.  Here is a list of suggested dates the United States Postal System puts out for the latest days to mail cards and packages.

  •     Dec. 4   Military mail destined for Iraq or Afghanistan
  •     Dec. 11  Military mail to other international destinations
  •     Dec. 15  Parcel Post
  •     Dec. 20  First Class Mail  
  •     Dec. 20  Priority Mail
  •     Dec. 22  Express Mail

Dec. 17 is the busiest mailing day of the year.  Buy your stamps now and plan on mailing your cards and packages before that date.

If you found the above tip helpful you can find 24 more tips in the eBook “Tips To Simplify And Organize Your Holidays”.  It’s only $2.99 and is available for your PC (PDF), Kindle (Amazon), or Nook (Barnes & Noble).

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

 

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Remembering the Lessons Learned After 9/11/01

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As we go about our hectic daily lives have we lost some of the lessons 9/11 taught us? With the election coming up are we focusing too much time and energy on the petty differences and not what’s really important?

Two years ago I wrote a post about remembering 9/11/2001.  I’ve reposted it here because it’s a good reminder of how we should be grateful, caring, and have empathy for our fellow man/woman.  Read the post below and then look back at how you may have treated others in the past week or so.

Remembering 9/11

We go about our days getting irritated by the little things such as someone else’s car accident causing heavy traffic making us late for work. Or we’re behind someone in the grocery store line who doesn’t have enough money and has to decide what to put back, slowing everything down. Now we have to rush to get home so dinner can be served on time.

It’s when we remember tragedies like 9/11 that we put the human factor back into our thinking. Instead of being irritated about being late for work, be grateful you weren’t the one in the accident. Have empathy for the people who were. Their lives will be forever changed, whether it’s only a bad memory of a minor accident or a life changing event due to major injuries or even death of a loved one or friend.

That person in the line at the grocery store may just be unorganized. Or they may be struggling to put food on the table for their children after a job loss or other financial struggles.

We never know what is going to happen to us nor do we know what other people are going through. In the days, weeks, and months following September 11, 2001 most people in this country showed more empathy towards their fellow man/woman. The little irritating things became unimportant. Family, health, friends, a sense of community, caring about others, pride for our country, became the important things.

Unfortunately we seem to have forgotten these things. Since that time we have become a country of people divided on both sides of the fence with a them vs. us attitude. Whether it is the war, health care, the economy, or any other area we are affected by or have an opinion on, maybe it’s time to at least try to see what the other side is seeing. Step into their shoes for just a moment.

We don’t need another 9/11 to remind us of what is important. Just remembering, truly remembering, the feelings we felt that day and beyond can help us get back to recognizing what makes this country great – it’s people caring about each other in spite of their differences.

Janice

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An Experiment in Clothes Closet Clutter

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I was reading a blog post from “Be More With Less” where she talked about doing experiments on how to live with fewer things.  She said to look at these experiments as temporary.

This seemed to hit a cord with me.  The definition of experiment is: a test, trial, or an act or procedure for the purpose of discovering something unknown.

The unknown can be learning to live without clutter.  Of course everyone’s definition of clutter is different.  Most of the time it’s the fear of having nothing left after we clear out the clutter keeps us from taking actions. A temporary experiment with decluttering might just be the way to discover those fears are unfounded.

Experiment – Step 1

I decided to give it a try.  Somehow my clothes closet has grown smaller over the past several years. I figured that is a good place to set up an experiment. Tackling one section at a time should help to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

I started by taking everything off the 3 foot rod where most of my tops are hanging.

When I piled them on the bed I separated them by winter, summer, and all those T-shirts that have accumulated from special events or vacations.

 

I packed away the winter clothes in under-the-bed boxes. Since it’s summer, I’ll deal with those clothes this fall.

After all the extra hangers were put in another closet, I hung the summer clothes back in my closet. I easily got rid of six summer tops, but I know I need to declutter more.

After putting the summer tops back in the closet I realized I had 13 more clean tops hanging in the laundry room. They are not in the photo above so needless to say my closet will still be crowded.

Experiment – Step 2

In this step comes the real “experiment”.  All the vacation/event T-shirts (the ones laying on the bed in the above picture) were hung up in a closet in another room. I always think I’ll wear them to work out in the yard but I never do.

The next thing is to mark a calendar or desk planner for a date in September. Summer will be winding down so that will be a good time to make a decision on whether to keep those T-shirts or not. Maybe by then I’ll discover I can live without them and give them away.

Summer is the time we naturally “lighten up”. Take advantage of this time to experiment with different areas that are cluttered in your home.  Pack away books, trinkets, and other items on your shelves. Live with the uncluttered summer cottage look for several months. Then decide if you miss all those things.

Remember, the experiments are temporary. You’re preforming the experiment to see if you can live without many things that clutter up your home. You don’t have to get rid of anything just yet.

Of course if there are things you’re ready to let go of now, then go for it! That will be less to deal with later.

If you’ve preformed an experiment like I described above I would love to hear about it.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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