here’s what The Zenplicity Coach can do to help you:

Virtually and physically help you eliminate clutter and unnecessary stuff from your home – and more importantly, from your life.

Help you understand the benefits of minimizing your physical belongings and what it can do for you in the long term.

Teach you how to make decisions about what to keep & what to get rid of … using simple steps.

Help determine problem areas in your home and teach you how to fix them … forever.

Help you create new, fresh spaces for the stuff you do keep.

Help you clean up areas that are stagnant (under kitchen sinks, utility room cupboards … any place that hasn’t seen the light of day in years.)

Help you create clean lines and openness within your living space.

Teach you how to make use of what you already have and to organize the leftover things that are important to you.

Teach you how to use tiny steps to get where you want to be.  Sessions are not long, hard and tedious.  They will be short and fun over a longer duration of time.

Teach you ways of how to preserve things you love and learn how to create something new (e.g. quilt, framed art) to save space.

Teach you creative & unconventional ways to simplify and maintain that lifestyle.

Teach you what you can do on your own, between phone/chat sessions & emails, so you can continue to progress.

Have fun realizing what you really use, love or need, and most importantly, what you don’t.

Learn how to make a difference in someone else’s life by giving items that no longer serve you.

Sell items on eBay or via another source, donate items to charity or call a junk-hauling service.

Learn to minimize materialism. Become more about “you” and less about what you own.  Feel what it feels like to just “be”.

Be able to breathe deeply again.  You will shine from the inside-out when this is finished.

types of help:

in-home / hands-on coaching & motivation

phone coaching & motivation

email coaching & motivation

instant messaging coaching & motivation (chatting)

on-going support  via phone or online (email or instant messaging)

… or simply enjoy reading & utilizing The Zenplicity Coach website / blog as you see fit

here’s what you should know about the way this works:

Confronting your shtuff is not always easy.  Be prepared to let go of things.  This is a final resort type of service, not just a professional organizing “make-my-stuff- look-pretty” service.

I will tell you the truth about what I think.  No beating around the bush.  But I am nice about it. 

I may ask you to take digital pictures of the rooms in your home and send them to me if you have chosen to take advantage of virtual-only coaching.

No need to ever feel embarrassment, be in denial, be defensive or make excuses – I truly “get it” and will never make you feel bad about your situation.  It can be fixed, and you will learn how to be empowered instead of defeated.  Some feel better doing this virtually for this very reason, but it’s not necessary, really.  Again, whatever works best for you.

We will talk about what got you to this point.  I will want to know what makes the chaos comforting to you. 

Everything we do and say is 100% confidential.

I will not judge you.  Your need for help in this area is why I do what I do.  I love it, and although you may never love it like I do, you will understand how to tame things soon.

We will do this in simple, tiny steps.  A session of 2-3 hours is typically the longest we’ll ever go at one time (unless there is a specific project that you want to do all at once).  We will chat or work together either once a day, once a week or once a month.  Whatever works best for your individual needs is what we will do. 

You hold the power, and you know how much help you need.

I would prefer if you don’t straighten up before our appointment or before taking your digital photos, especially for the 1st visit – I want to see your organizational issues in all their glory … that will help us know where to start and how to proceed.

doesn’t this sound fun?  I don’t use words like “create systems”, “processes” and “clutter management” … it just doesn’t sound like fun to me, and I would like to show you that it can actually be very fun and refreshing to learn how to get your home to a place that makes you happy.  It’s that simple.  No stuffy processes required.  Just you, me, some music, a full belly and perhaps a glass of sparkling water to toast your new way of simple living.

When you’re a first-time parent, the urge to buy tons of cute, new stuff for your baby is overwhelming.  There are so many cool gadgets, products, clothes and more for your little one … not to mention all the already-parents telling you what you absolutely have to have in order to survive as a new parent.  I am 38 weeks pregnant with my first child — a boy named Quentin (whom we already call “Q”) – and I really do believe that it will be possible for my fiance and I to maintain somewhat of a simple lifestyle.  Am I living in a dream world?  As of now, we buy only what we need in terms of food, consumer products and clothing — so why should having a baby change all that?

Well, there’s a laugh!  It just does, doesn’t it?  And those of you who are already parents probably know exactly what I mean.  I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments about raising a “minimalist” baby.  I think it’s completely possible, but I want to hear feedback from the clutter-ridden to the absolutely minimalistic.  Although we are not total minimalists, we thrive on having a simple household — I truly believe there is a happy medium in which we buy and keep things that we love, use or need.  And that’s it.  If anything doesn’t fit into one of those three categories, it goes to charity, the recycle bin or — as a last resort — the garbage.

Here are 10 useful tips (I’ve found) on preparing for your first newborn: 

1.  Wait until after the baby shower to buy.  So far, we’ve had a baby shower and we received many items that we will definitely use (products and such).  My suggestion is to not buy anything such as baby shampoos, soaps, wipes and diapers until after your baby shower.  People will most likely buy these things for you.  You will also receive gift cards, and these will come in handy to buy the things you still need after the shower is over.

2.  Definitely have a baby shower for your first baby.  Even if you only invite a few people, a baby shower is a time not only to receive special gifts and wishes from people you care about, it’s a time to celebrate the new family member that will soon enter your lives.

3.  Keep your baby shower simple.  Forget center pieces.  Forget renting a hall or restaurant space.  Invite people that are closest to you.  Have it in your home if at all possible.  Order catering (so you don’t have to cook/prepare food).  Obtain the help of a friend or parent to help you clean the day before.  Enlist another friend to help with handwritten or computer generated invitations and keeping things organized on shower day.  People understand that you are close to giving birth, and they will not expect you to be the hostess of the year for your shower.  Sometimes it’s easy to forget how sympathetic others are — there is no need to pull off the “perfect” shower — just have fun, open gifts and enjoy your guests.

4.  Do not feel like you have to use the “must-have” newborn checklists on mega baby store websites.  These lists are designed to get you to buy as much stuff as possible.  From the layette to toys to bottles to strollers, it can all be very overwhelming.  The best things I did to see what I absolutely needed was to 1.) ask friends that already have babies what they absolutely needed and what they could do without and 2.) read the book Baby Bargains - it answers so many questions for first time parents and tells you what you absolutely need and what you do not.  You can get it used or new from Amazon.com, or borrow a copy from a friend.  Even if you don’t have the newest version, you’ll still benefit from reading it.

5.  Get creative and stay simple when decorating your baby’s nursery.  Why must we paint the baby’s nursery pale pink or blue and buy all the fancy “trimmings” like quilts that can’t even be used in the crib anyway?  Let me be the one to tell you … the baby does not care what his or her nursery looks like.  He will not remember.  Do you remember your baby nursery?  Buy or use furniture that will grow with the child instead of baby-looking furniture like white or pale wood.  I think it’s important for a child to love his own space once he’s old enough to appreciate and remember it — it’s something you can do together once he’s old enough.  But, as for an infant, do what doesn’t require 1.) a lot of work, 2.) a lot of paint, and 3.) a lot of “fuss” (too many stuffed animals, blankets, toys, etc.)  Simplicity starts from the very beginning, and if you want to instill that mindset into your child, you must start from day one so things don’t start accumulating.

6.  Breastfeed if you can.  This eliminates the need for extra bottles, nipples, formula, bottle warmers (which don’t work well anyway and aren’t recommended even for formula) and burp rags (your baby will spit up less with breast milk).  Breastfeeding is the best possible food for your baby — not only that, but it’s also the simplest!  You can go anywhere and always have food “on hand” (or “on breast” … however you want to look at it!)  Don’t give up early if you feel you just can’t do it … keep trying, and your baby will thank you in more ways than one. 

7.  Don’t feel bad buying second-hand clothing or accepting hand-me-downs from friends and family.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with using second hand clothes for babies.  Think about it — babies outgrow their clothes about every three months until they are in school.  Why would we buy all new clothes everytime they have a growing spurt?  The great thing about this is, used clothes clean up like new with some fragrance free detergent and fabric softener.  No one will ever know but you … and maybe your “baby” when he becomes a teenager!

8.  Buy or use products that “transition” into something else.  Some examples of this include:  cribs that transition into toddler and then full-size beds, carseats that can be used as carriers and also insert into your stroller, carseats that transition into bigger carseats (so you don’t have to keep buying new ones), pack ‘n plays that can be used as a bassinet, changing table and playpen.  These products will last longer and transition with your baby as he grows older.

9.  Create your own list of baby needs and wants.  Start from scratch with a list of things you think you may need or want with a new baby, and then think of places or people that you can get these things from without buying them (or getting them dirt cheap … ebay is a great start!)  Stick to your guns when people try to tell you you need something when you clearly know you don’t.  Chances are, you won’t.  You definitely need the basics when taking care of a baby, but the “frills” are for the parents sake only — not the baby’s — you just don’t need all that extra stuff.  Truly think about what will make your life easier for you and your child during those first few months, and that’s it.

10.  Simplify your own home.  This entire website is about simplifying your life.  If you haven’t taken action to simplify your own life before this new life comes into your life, now is as good a time as any.  You may have that nesting instinct kicking in, so take advantage of it, and perhaps enlist the help of a spouse or friend to go through your home (little by little) getting rid of things that no longer serve your new life.  I promise you, once you get on this “kick”, it will carry over into your life as a new parent, and you’ll want to keep things simple even with your new little one.

I hope this list helps you get started and takes away some of the overwhelming feelings that come along with being a first time parent.  You really don’t need all the stuff that stores and even well-meaning friends and family press upon you.  Be who you are, stick to what you believe and continue your minimalist-like lifestyle, even with a new baby in the mix.

Life coaching is not really a new concept — people know that coaches are out there to help others realize their dreams, start and build businesses, lose weight, or whatever it may be.  Most coaches work via the telephone or even in person (sort of like a therapist).  But how does an online coaching relationship work?  And, how can an online life coach help you find purpose in your life?  Life purpose is a big deal, and it seems rather elusive, sort of like “finding happiness” … so how is that accomplished?  And — how can you find purpose in life simply by simplifying and minimizing your current lifestyle?  It is possible.  Very possible indeed.

First and foremost, living amongst too much stuff is a pervasive problem that so many people have that most people don’t even realize it’s a problem.  They do not realize it is affecting their energy levels, emotions and daily life.  Having too much stuff that you don’t care for, need or use just takes up physical and mental space until you use the “block out” technique to try and forget that it exists; but instead, there’s always that “nagging” feeling in the back of your mind reminding you that you are not taking care of it as it grows bigger and bigger until things are literally busting out of your closets.

Stuff is huge.  It affects everything else in our lives, including things like:  weight, job or career motivation, energy levels, finances, major decisions, mental health (depression, anxiety, etc.), school … and even your dreams and aspirations.  The good news is:  IT DOESN’T HAVE TO!  My coaching philosophy is that we must get back down to the basics of who we are and what we have in order to move forward and develop into the great person we are meant to be.  There’s an old belief that says you will not be successful or happy until you’ve lost everything at least once.  And although you never have to get to that extreme to be happy and successful, learning to let go of what no longer suits you is HUGE in terms of finding your bliss.

So where does an online life coach come in?  And how can corresponding with someone over email or instant messaging help fix these issues?  What are the BENEFITS of hiring an online coach as opposed to a traditional phone or in-person coach?

Benefit #1.) The answer to that is easy.  So many of the answers come from YOU … the CLIENT.  The beauty of email coaching is that you develop a stream of communication between you and your coach, save the emails and then go back and re-read things over and over until they really sink in. When you are talking on the phone to someone, or even in person, it’s so easy to get off the subject, ramble and forget about more than half of the things you discussed. 

Benefit #2.)  With email coaching, you also get a chance to write out your emotions.  With my clients, I ask specific open-ended questions and assign “homework” each day (or every few days) to allow you to think, write, reflect and write some more, and then send me your responses.  After you have had a chance to really get your guts out on paper (well, on computer screen), you can re-read your own answers and learn so much about yourself.  After I respond to your emails, you will get even more insight and a fresh perspective on things you once thought had no other way to be viewed.  Writing down your ideas, thoughts & feelings is therapeutic in itself.

Benefit #3.)  With email coaching, you have 100% complete confidentiality and anonymity.  The only thing I ever have to see with my clients is their email address and at least their first name so we can correspond in a friendly manner.  Most times, it is so much easier to open up to someone when you are writing in an almost anonymous manner.  The very nature of me and my business is non-judgemental, open-minded and friendly … the necessary ingredients needed to pull out the most pertinent information from the bottom your soul — all in order to guide you in the direction of your bliss … a life with less mind-boggling information, commitments & stuff and a life with more time, peace, happiness and motivation.

Benefit #4.)  With online coaching, you can go for as little or as long as you need.  Unlike therapy (which coaching is not), coaching is completely directed by the client and is designed to be “used” however you see fit.  You take what you need and discard the rest.  You go for as long as you need.  I offer my clients weekly or monthly packages at very reasonable rates.  Signing up is so simple, and renewing is just as easy.  I believe that investing in yourself and your long term goals & happiness are worth the price of your daily Starbucks!

Benefit #5.)  Getting good email is fun!  The feeling of getting too much email is overwhelming to say the least.  Your email inbox is probably bombarded DAILY with junk, junk and more junk.  It is so refreshing to see a “goodie” in your email inbox — something with substance that is ALL ABOUT YOU.  It’s so much fun to write about none other than YOU … and not having to feel guilty that you don’t have to ask how your coach is doing or try to solve her problems.  Does it get any better than having your own personal coach in your corner cheering you on, listening to your issues and helping you iron them out little by little?  Constant and consistent motivation and “pep talks” await you every day when you sign on with an online coach … a good online coach that is!

So — through self-exploration, a simplify-your-life approach, confidentiality, anonymity and fun — an online coach can help you achieve your goals while helping you pare down your over-abundant lifestyle.  Give up the rat race.  Do something that jives your soul.  Pick up a pen (or a computer keyboard) and start hammering out your thoughts and feelings.  Start to think about what hiring an online coach can do for your life and those dreams that you thought you gave up on so long ago.  You may just surprise yourself.

How old school is it to clean your house once a week or once every two weeks?  Of course, if you live in a home with 800 square feet or less, this may be less of an issue, but even so … small home or large … a “deep clean” every week or two can be tiring and de-motivating, and who are we kidding — boring!  Well, I have some news for you.  If you are ready for some new-age cleaning advice, you’re going to get it.  Consider your last deep clean — uh, well — your last deep clean.

1.  Pick up daily.  The best way to maintain a “neat” looking home is to pick up the random stuff lying around and causing eye sores (a.k.a. clutter).  If you make it a routine or ritual each morning, right after you wake up (feed the baby, feed the dogs, whatever), you will no longer have stuff monsters everywhere you turn.  Simply pick stuff up.  Put things where they belong.  Everything you own should have its own home, and if it doesn’t, that will be discussed in previous or later blog entried.  Or see, services for more information in this area.

2.  Make a weekly list of tasks.  Create a list with all the days of the week.  Feel free to give yourself a “day off” from doing anything.  On the days you are “on”, however, write down one of the cleaning tasks that you would do on a “deep cleaning” day.  For example, if you vacuum all the rooms during “deep cleaning” day, make that a weekly task on, say, Monday.  Perhaps you have two big labs that shed constantly and you prefer to vacuum 2-3 times per week.  That’s cool too; just remember to write it down on the days you will plan to do it from this day forward.  Go through all your “deep cleaning” tasks and assign a day to each one.  Some days might have 2 or 3, but they should be easy-peasy tasks, not involved tasks that take up too much time.  (For example, you might quick-vacuum all rooms and dust your bedroom on one day.)

3.  Empty all garbage cans.  Sometimes the simplest things can make a huge difference.  If you are feeling zealous each morning while you perform your Daily Pickup, empty all the little garbage cans around your home into the big “master” trash either in your kitchen or garage.  This will make your home look fresh & inviting and will also make garbage day a cinch.

4.  Perform a quick purge.  You might want to perform this task before you start your maintenance fun.  The definition of a quick purge is just that.  Do a quick purge.  By quick, I mean set a timer for about 15 minutes and briskly walk around your home with a big, black garbage bag.  Throw away anything that doesn’t mean anything to you.  Just toss it and never look back.  If you find things that are good items but you no longer want them, those are items worth donating.  Find a box to put these items in, and then put that box in the back seat of your car right away (or put them on eBay as soon as humanly possible if you can’t find it in your heart to give them away).  Performing a quick purge about once a week will soon clear your home in ways you never imagined.

5.  Forget being perfect.  This is so important.  So important, in fact, that I’ve written another blog posting just about this: Perfection Exits the Building.  One of the biggest traps of spending too much time cleaning is trying to get every nook and cranny clean.  Let’s face it, we are human.  We like a clean environment, sure, but if there’s a dust bunny under the couch that won’t budge (but you swear it’s there), you really don’t have to move the entire couch to get to it.  Yes, really.  No one will know but you.  And that’s ok!  If you want to deep clean that badly, set a monthly task for yourself to focus on one large deep cleaning project (e.g. sweeping under the couch for dust bunnies).  Perhaps that’ll put your dust bunny fears to sleep once and for all.

So you see, maintaining a clean home can be as easy as doing 1 or 2 small tasks a day.  Never again will you have to slave away for hours at a time inhaling Clorox bleach and ammonia vapors at the same time.  Whew — doesn’t that feel better?

Do you have an old bookcase in your house?  Perhaps it’s stuffed with books, papers & magazines.  Perhaps it’s empty, or maybe it’s so full of “shtuff” that you’ve forgotten that it’s even a bookcase! 

A bookcase can be a handy and creative piece of furniture … if you let it.  Sure, you can fill it up with books and magazines, but how about a few of these ideas to get your bookcase glowing with creativity:

1. Use a few of the arm-level shelves as a place to put your keys & wallet/purse when you first come in the front door.  Then, on the shelves just above that, put some framed pictures that make you feel good when you look at them.
2. “Things” in your home that DON’T have a home — can they be beautifully displayed?  How about on your new “display-shelf?”  A bookcase serves as a great place to show off things that would otherwise not have a place to “live”.  Although having too much shtuff is never a good idea, displaying a few meaningful items on an otherwise bland bookcase can turn your room into a much warmer place.
3. Baskets!  Baskets!  Baskets!  Do you have some “ugly” but useful things that clutter up your living room, office or wherever?  Get some cool-looking baskets that fit nicely into your bookshelf and fill them up with things like blankets, remote controls, toys, workout equipment, loose papers and more.  Use your imagination, and you can pretty much think of anything ugly that needs hidden!  One of my favorite things to do is to get baskets that contrast in color to the bookshelf (e.g.  black baskets in a white bookshelf).
4. Mix it up!  Use each of the shelves for something different for an eclectic look.  Try a treasure chest on the bottom, a few books stacked neatly in the middle on the second shelf, some black & white framed photos on the third and some baskets holding “ugly” (or pretty) stuff on the fourth, and so on.  You get the picture.  The key here is that really NOTHING is off limits.  Anything can be made to look great if you get those creative juices flowing.

Bookcases are a great way to store or show off your cherished shtuff.  So here’s to taking advantage of that beautiful piece of furniture today!  I’d also love to hear your comments about the unique ways you’ve used your bookcase.

We are moving to Oregon (from Michigan) in just 4 days.  My boyfriend, Chris, me and our 2 labs.  I’m just glad I get to drive his car while he drives the SUV pulling the 12 X 6 trailer with some of our shtuff.  Those dogs brew some pretty horrendous smells in the back of the SUV.  You see, we are moving from a 3-bedroom house to a small 2-bedroom apartment in Oregon.  We are doing this, temporarily, until we sell this house in Michigan (you know how the market is right now if you live here).  You can probably imagine the chaos in our house right now … and to top it off, we are having a going-away party here tonight.  Aaagh!  Yes, even the Zenplicity Coach freaks out from time to time!  ;)But … fear not … I am taking a deep breath and resorting back to my “happy place” to remind myself that everything does  NOT have to be perfect.  People will understand.  These are out friends, after all.  Aaaah … much better.

If you’ve ever moved, you know the chaos and emotional uproar it entails. 

• You have second thoughts.
• You feel like you’re forgetting something (even though the house or apartment is completely empty … what, did I forget to look under the floor boards?)
• You feel like if your head weren’t attached, you’d accidentally put it in the recycle bin and ship it off to the recycling plant.
• You feel scared (what if I HATE the new place? What if I can’t make new friends? What if the weather is bad?)
• You burden people you love (Can you come over and help me pack? Pleeeeeease??)
• You eat crappy because you don’t want to do any big grocery shopping before you leave.
• You worry about getting your address changed and hope that the mail forwards it on time and doesn’t screw up.
• You spend too much money (gas, moving, utility fees, hotels, food, etc.).
• You bicker because you are ALL on edge. 
• The dogs get worked up and anxious because there’s all this random shtuff lying around, and they are confused.

My point?  It can be one of the most overwhelming experiences of your life.  But there is one small difference for me this time.  My life has been simplified to the point of “everything has its place” and I know what I need, when I need it, and I know where it is.  That makes packing for the “temporary” move to the apartment in Oregon a whole lot easier. 

(BEWARE, A STORY LIES AHEAD …) 

Back ten years ago, when I was 18, I moved to Michigan from Ohio.  I had a lot of shtuff.  A LOT of shtuff.  You could say I was a hoarder of “things”.  I had too many clothes, shoes, 2 sets of unmatching dishes, too much tupperware, junky jewelry, an overabundance of office supplies, old stuff, new stuff … it didn’t matter, I had it.  And when I moved into my Aunt’s house, I lived with all this stuff for a few years.  It got dusty, and I sneezed a lot.  I dreaded cleaning my little 8 X 10 room because I had too much crap.  I liked my crap (I thought), so I kept it even though it was unhealthy having so much packed into a little room.  I also had to put boxes of stuff out in my Aunt’s garage as well as some of her closets in the house.  I was your typical pack rat.  It was sort of like a “closet” pack rat though, because I’ve always been very organized, and I could make a lot of shtuff look good by lining it all up like little soldiers.  “See, look at all my pretty STUFF!”  Only my Aunt really knew the real “me” since I was taking up so much room in her closets, laundry room and garage.  It was almost embarrassing how much stuff I had — I felt like a spoiled brat, really.  It wasn’t good.

I moved again a few years later to a tiny loft apartment which came with friendly centipedes.  I respected them so much that I decided to move out 2 months later to let them have the run of the place.  Then I moved into a friend’s parent’s house.  Then I moved back to my Aunt’s.  All the while, most of my boxes remained in Aunt’s garage & closets.  How rude of me.  Then, I moved out again into another friend’s house.  That friend became my fiance, and we were together for 5 years.  It didn’t work out, and I had accumulated even MORE stuff.  Now, I was moving into a small apartment with a girl friend of mine.  It was at this point that my stuff started bothering me, so I started to pare down, finally.  Little by little, I started throwing stuff out.  It was the most cleansing experience of my life.  It’s like I was throwing away things about my past that I didn’t like.  It felt so good.

Then, I moved in with my boyfriend Chris a couple of years later, and this is where we reside now (Michigan and off to Oregon in 4 days!)  My stuff no longer rules the house, and it no longer rules me.  Once pack rat, now minimalist … it is possible. 

Sometimes The Horrors of Moving (especially 7 times in 10 years) is worth the end result — less stuff and more time, creativity and love.  Just thought I’d share with you the real story behind The Zenplicity Coach.  We all have to start somewhere.

A lot of what I write about is how to streamline your life so it’s easier, minimized & more organized (like, you actually know where stuff is … whoa!), but it’s important that I also make the point that perfection is just as bad as chronic disorganization and excessive materialism.  I have fallen victim to it so many times when doing a purging or organizing project … I’ll start something, and then I won’t quit for HOURS, knowing I need a food & water break or just a mental rest.  That determination is an aspect of perfectionism, and the “need” to get it all done now.  Perfectionism often leads to burnout because you ask yourself, “How could I possibly do that again anytime in the near future — it was exhausting!”  And then you let the project, half-finished, fall to the wayside for days, weeks, months, or you just leave it unfinished.  Where does perfection get you in cases like this?  You got it — nowhere.

So you see … the point of simplifying your life and letting go of materialism little by little is very key to getting to where you want to be (without wanting to jump off the Bay Bridge at night when no one’s looking).  If you tell yourself you’re going to do a huge project all in one weekend, it sets you up for failure.  And you don’t deserve that!  Set yourself up for success every single time by making small promises.  And write those promises down on your calendar or on a list or journal you have designated specifically for your personal journey toward a simpler life.  Everyone has his or her own style on how to keep track of “life” — use what works best for you because that is the only way you’ll make it a life-habit.  Mmmm … how zen-ful does that sound!

Isn’t this exciting!?

So, if you will join me in this fight against perfection, against this compulsion to do everything right now and perfectly, that would just thrill me to pieces!  Tell me your stories about your battles with perfectionism (whether it has to do with simplifying & organizing or not), and if and how you learned to “let go”, even if it’s just a little.  Go ahead and clear off a shelf without dusting (until tomorrow) … if you don’t reach all the corners of your kitchen floor while mopping, SO WHAT!  Baby steps … you’ll get to it at a later date (seriously!)  It’s on your calendar, remember?

PERFECTION HAS EXITED THE BUILDING!  Who needs it?  Not us.  We can get rid of the shtuff-monsters without it!

(Aren’t those Shtuff-Monsters ugly?)

Just do it!  That’s what people have told you in the past … just start small, and just start somewhere!  But perhaps your stuff & junk have become such an epidemic in your household that you are completely overwhelmed.  Oh brother, then where do you start?  Well, there are a variety of ways to get started on your own (and get that family helping too!) 

1. Just Do It.  There is some truth to “Just do it!”  Tasks are rarely as monumental as we make them.  Once you commit to something, whether it’s a small bookcase or the area under the sink, just do it, and see what happens.  Most of the time, you will finish it, and you will be energized enough to find something else to work on.  If not, that’s ok too!  You can always tackle that new area in an hour or two.  The key is, when you feel overwhelmed, take a break and go back to it later.
2. Multitask.  Think of a project that has “waiting time”.  For example, maybe you want to transfer your CD songs into MP3 files to save space.  If you have 10 CD’s, get started.  While everything’s transferring, you can work on something else such as going through each piece of paper on your desk (or inbox, if you have one) and filing.    Listen to some music while you do this to make it more fun.
3. Start Small.  Don’t worry about tackling the entire basement in one day.  That rarely works unless you have the help of a professional (and a team) along with your family & friends.  Tackle one small part of a place that bothers you, such as the basement.  Perhaps it’s the “landing ground” for all shtuff that doesn’t have a home.  Maybe you throw boxes down the steps, knowing you’ll use them later for ebay sales, or something or other.  So, tackle those “boxes”.  Break them down and stack them up against a wall out of eyesight.  There, a small project completed that improves the look of a room by 100%.  The next day, or a couple hours later if you’re REALLY motivated, dust off the treadmill (or remove the clothes that you hung out to dry on it).
4. Quick Purge.  Set the timer for 15 or 20 minutes and just run around your house or apartment throwing things into a medium-sized box (one you can carry from room to room).  These “things” can be garbage or donation-worthy.  Don’t think, though, just put it in the box if you do not Love, Need or Use the Item.  If it’s too big, just start making a pile somewhere that you will go back to at the end of your Quick Purge.  Set a goal for yourself, either spend 15-20 minutes, or find 25 items to throw away or donate, whichever comes first, and then STOP.  At the end, go through the box and separate garbage from donations.  Throw out the garb, and put the donation box in your car so the next time you’re out, you can swing by your favorite charity and drop off the items.
5. Make It Fun.  Invite a friend over, or you and your significant other can set aside an hour or so to do a project (any of the above) together.  Sometimes working with another person is motivation in itself.  Have a light lunch, toast a glass of water and dig in together!  If you still want to do it alone, try putting on some upbeat music to keep you inspired.

I hope these tips will help you get started on any simplification or organizing project you tackle in your home.  The main idea is to just get started, no matter how big or small your project may be.  Getting started is the most important step towards getting any project finished.  For if you don’t start, how can you finish?  Here’s to you tackling your shtuff-monsters!

This past weekend, my boyfriend and I visited a very small town in Ohio that doesn’t have very much going on.  We were visiting his mother in the town where he grew up.  Even with sunny skies for the first couple of days, it was still depressing … the town is old and homes and buildings seem uneven as they slowly deteriorate from the inside-out.  It’s very sad, and it makes me very grateful for what I do have.

A funny thing though … I remembered something about “stuff”.  When someone doesn’t have the means to buy something new “just because”, they have a tendency to hold on to EVERYTHING.  My boyfriend’s mother has a tiny upper flat, maybe 600 square feet, that she shares with her other son, who is 18 years old (who’s in that very angry stage of life!)  ;)  When I walked into her abode, I noticed pictures, ranging from very old to very new, scattered haphazard all around the living room … on walls, on tables, on shelves.  I also noticed buttons from when her 18-year old was in midget football (the kind with the picture in them that you pin on your shirt … the kind that screams “proud mother!”), and she had all of them lined up on her mantle.  And the lamps, oh the lamps…there were so many of them, but none of them matched, and they were never used!  She always used the bright, artificial overhead lights and never touched the lamps.  I didn’t have the heart to ask her why.  This woman takes pride in her belongings, but I noticed how difficult it must be to dust all of that stuff!  The poor thing has to individually lift and dust under so many things that it must be absolutely dreadful everytime she pulls out the cleaning supplies.  But, I can tell that she took comfort in all these things.

With one son grown and successful and another one craving freedom, she is left with a tiny 600 foot space of her own.  So, she surrounds herself with as much stuff as possible to fill the void that aches deep within.  My boyfriend saw an opportunity, though, and we decided to go to Target and get her some well-needed items.  We were going to surprise her with some “fresh” things to brighten up the place.  We got her some fresh white towels, new cream-colored sheets and down comforter, TV trays so she wouldn’t have to eat supper on her lap when she wanted to watch TV during dinner, new silverware, a new white (and bright!) shower curtain and some new lamps so that she’d WANT to use them to brighten up her dim bathroom and living room.

She was thrilled!  And, all of a sudden, she was ready to start throwing some things away — it was amazing. 

Although she will probably continue holding on to mementos and pictures that have far outgrown their use as display items, she learned, if even for a brief moment, that it’s ok to let go of things.  Out went the old curtain-like floral shower covering and old towels.  Funny how we bought her 5 towels and she threw out about 15 old ones.  :)  She got the “bug” for a moment, and it was so fun to watch!

 Now … if I could just get her to throw away all those hotel trial-sized, half-filled bath products …

Have you ever taken a look at someone’s keychain and wondered, “How does she find her keys?”  Or perhaps you are one of them … you have so many mini store discount cards & charms on your key ring that your keys are like fleas partying beneath the fur of an Alaskan Malamute.  Where have all the keys gone?

The Keychain Method is a good little experiment to do.  It may indicate a lot about your simplification personality and where you’re starting point will be.  Do you keep charms or keychains on your ring until they are worn and ragged and no longer distinguishable (is that a piece of leather or a dirty sock?), or perhaps you have discount cards from a grocery store that doesn’t even exist anymore.  Whatever it may be, take it off if it:

1. Stinks.
2. Resembles a sock of any kind.
3. Doesn’t serve a purpose (this would really be all keychains other than the one holding your keys … and if you believe that these keychains define your personality … well, come on, think about it — you are FAR more than what your keychain says about you … right?  RIGHT!?)  Besides, how refreshing to go on vacation and enter a gift shop KNOWING you don’t need a key chain … narrows down a lot of stuff, doesn’t it?  And saves you more time for the beach. 
4. Has bulk and/or weight and adds pounds to your already too-heavy purse.
5. Isn’t a key. 

Have fun purging your old keychain items.  Say goodbye to stinky, old things that serve no purpose other than to annoy you every time you search for the key you need.  This is such a small step, but it is an important one and can give you a pleasant sigh so many times a day when you get ready to leave/come home/enter your office, etc.  Now, don’t you deserve that much?

Have a beautiful Sunday.

PEACE.