Peace of Mind Organizing

My new love: the Kindle Paperwhite

10 January 2013

I read a lot. I probably read several books a month, most of them fiction, but some non-fiction. I almost always get my books from the St. Louis Public Library, so I don’t have a lot of book clutter, which is nice.

Recently, I purchased a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader. I bought it as a little end-of-the-year present to myself. It arrived on December 31, which means that I’ve been using it for 11 days. And I’m besotted.

Before I list the reasons I love it so, I want to mention that I’d long resisted the Kindle. My husband has one and when it arrived, it felt so flimsy and unsubstantial and, well, plastic compared with my iPad. But then I borrowed it when I took a couple of trips last year and the concept started to grow on me. I appreciated how light weight it was. I loved how I could slip it into my purse and not even notice it was there. I liked that I could carry multiple books with virtually no additional weight.

The Kindle Paperwhite is an improvement over my husband’s older Kindle in that it has a light source. And it’s a nice, even light source with adjustable brightness. Also, the screen is as big as the older one, but the device itself is smaller, thanks to the touch screen.

I’m in love with it. And here are some of the reasons.

• I can make the type big, so I don’t have to use my reading glasses.
• I don’t have to hold the book open.
• I don’t have to fiddle with a bookmark.
• It fits in my bathrobe pocket.
• I can have reading with me when I’m out and about. (I don’t even notice it when it’s in my purse.)
• I can read large books, like the biography of Steve Jobs I’m currently reading, in bed. I couldn’t do that with the hardcover library version I was reading.
• I can look up the definition of words with a touch of the screen
• My library has books available for the Kindle (though admittedly not a huge number of titles).
• Since I have Amazon Prime, I can use the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library to get free books
• I can fall asleep reading and not worry about losing my place.
• The battery charge lasts a long, long time.

Several friends have asked why I’d buy a Kindle when I have an iPad. The relative lightness of the Kindle is the big difference. I found my iPad too heavy to read in bed. And since I got my iPhone, I’ve stopped carrying my iPad around with me and I don’t travel with it. (In fact, I’ve pretty much stopped using it.)

Another friend wanted to know whether I miss the experience of reading a traditional paper book. Surprisingly, the answer is no, for all the reasons listed above.

I am so tickled by this purchase I can barely stand it.

Storage solutions from my recycle bin

8 January 2013

My underwear drawer was out of control. The problem was all my tights, which had crowded out my bras. It made it hard to put away my bras and result was there were tights and bras on top of my dresser too often. (I hope that’s not TMI!)

This weekend, I decided to do something about it. I gave it some thought and decided that a basket on top of my dresser that could hold at least some of might tights (or my bras) would be the answer. I happened to find a nice-looking basket at the grocery store, of all places.

After I brought it home, I started thinking about how I could store the tights within the basket. I wanted to make them easy to access and I wanted to avoid their becoming a jumbled mess (which is so easy for tights to do). I also didn’t want them snagging on the wicker of the basket.

As I was thinking about it, a glance into the recycling bin produced a revelation. Yogurt containers! My husband and I enjoy Chobani Greek yogurt and there were a number of empty container nestled in the recycling bin.

I pulled them out, set them the basket and realized they were a great size for both the tights and the basket. I can fit nine in this particular basket.

So I washed them and arranged them in the basket. I selected the tights to store within the basket (the ones I wear most). And voila! A storage solution:

Now I have plenty of room for bras. (I don’t have many.) And the tights are easy to access. It feels great.

Worth repeating: The magic of linking new routines to old

4 January 2013

Two years ago, I created a life-enhancing habit. At the time, I wrote a blog post about how I went about doing it. I’m happy to say that my poop-scooping routine is going strong, so I thought (especially at this time of year), it was worth repeating that post. The magic of linking new routines to old works on any habit, not just poop scooping. I invite you to give a thought to how you might apply it in your life!

On New Year’s Eve day, the weather was unseasonably warm here in St. Louis (so warm we had a tornado!). At the risk of being indelicate, I’ll share that I spent some pre-storm time picking up the dog poop in our back yard. The snow had melted, revealing many piles.

As I performed this unsavory task, I vowed not to let so much time elapse between clean-up sessions. This is truly the kind of task made worse by volume. My problem was that I would be reminded to do it when I was walking to the garage to get in the car. I never seemed to think of doing it when I actually had time for the task.

But then inspiration hit. I thought about the other tasks I do daily that have made my life easier. I empty the dishwasher each morning as I’m making coffee. I wipe down the fixtures in the bathroom after I finish flossing daily. Maybe I could link poop scooping with another daily task. Then I wouldn’t forget to do it.

I came up with a brilliant plan (if I do say so myself). I walk my dog, Kirby, every morning. And I take poop bags with me. So I decided to link the daily walk with the yard clean up. Now, we come home from a walk and while I still have my coat on, I go right to the back yard and scoop. It’s just one days worth of waste so it takes almost no time. I go out the back gate to the dumpster in the alley, throw away the bag, and I’m done.

I upped the ante a little by adding scooping the litter box to the mix. On my way through the house to the back yard, I stop at the Joe’s litter box and empty the compartment into a poop bag (we have a Littermaid litter box that automatically rakes itself into a compartment that should be emptied daily). I proceed with the cat waste to the back yard, add dog waste and throw it away.

It takes less than five minutes. Today is Day Six and I haven’t forgotten yet. If I keep it up I’ll never have to face the nasty task I faced on December 31.

I think this technique of linking a new routine to something you’re already doing daily can be really effective. Add accountability (I created a habitforge chain for this task, for extra satisfaction), and it can be very powerful.

If you have a New Year’s Resolution that involves daily activity, perhaps you can see if you can link it something you do every day anyway. Let me know if it works!

On my reading list

2 January 2013

I’ve accumulated a few books I keep meaning to read and write about here. But even though I had loads of indoor time over the holidays, I still haven’t cracked them. It’s not for lack of interest, I promise.

I thought if I listed them here it might provide some accountability while letting you know what’s on the horizon.

There’s Not Enough Time . . . and other lies we tell ourselves, by Jill Farmer. Jill is a life coach who lives in St. Louis and I’ve had the pleasure of giving talks with her on several occasions. I’ve heard her message about time management and it’s a good one. I can’t wait to read how she expands on the message in this book. I purchased a copy and Jill was kind enough to give me one as well, so I’ll be doing a giveaway. In the next couple of weeks, I’ll post a review and a chance to win a free copy.

Still Procrastinating: The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done, by Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D. I heard Dr. Ferrari speak at this fall’s Institute for Challenging Disorganization conference. His talk made me want to buy the book, but I’ve procrastinated when it comes to reading it. But that will happen soon and I promise there will be great insights to share.

Life at Home in the Twenty-first Century: 32 Families Open their Doors. Based on a nine-year UCLA project, this is a relatively academic book in a coffee-table-book format. I’m looking forward to peeking into these homes and reading the scholarly comments!

How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn How to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia and Genealogy Records, by Denise May Levenick, of the Family Curator blog. I’m anxious to review this book for both this blog and for my genealogy blog, Organize Your Family History. It gives step-by-step guidance on preserving inherited items and on organizing genealogy files and paperwork.

The new year is here and it’s time for me to keep reading. Keep an eye out for reviews of these books (and perhaps others) in the coming weeks!

Highlight Reel for 2012

31 December 2012

It’s the last day of the year and I’m putting the finishing touches on my goals for 2013. A big part of the goal-setting process for me is reviewing accomplishments of the past year. It can be easy to focus on what one didn’t accomplish last year (a side effect of setting high goals), but it’s smart to take into account the good things.

There were a number of highlights of 2012 for me and for my business. Here are some of the highlights:

An abundance of time. 2012 was so much easier on me, mentally and physically, than 2011 because my schedule became much lighter. I retired from two boards I’d served on (the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and the St. Louis chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers) and I no longer had the part-time job I’d held in 2010 and 2011. In short, I had breathing space in 2012. That was huge for me.

My rebooted genealogy research and a new blog. Because my schedule was so much less cluttered, I had time in 2012 to pursue a hobby I enjoy a great deal, family history research. In June, I started a blog that I’d been itching to do for some time, one that ties together two of my passions, genealogy and organizing. It’s called Organize Your Family History. This blog acknowledges how it easy it is to get overwhelmed by family history research and recounts how I get past that overwhelmed feeling. It also discusses how I organize my family research, my discoveries along the way and anything else that I feel like talking about. If you haven’t already, please check it out!

Leading organizing teams. I love leading organizing teams to create large-scale change for my clients. In 2012, I set out to do more of those and I succeeded (mostly by rewriting my website to emphasize this service). I hope to do even more in 2013. (If this interests you, please check out the Team Organizing page on my website.)

My intern. I was approached by an enterprising Saint Louis University student, Kate Koberna, to consider letting her be my intern. I’d never had an intern and was a little wary. But Kate, an entrepreneurship major who plans to start an organizing business after she graduates, was fabulous. She has crazy mad organizing skills and was very helpful in client sessions. And she helped me with social media and research projects. Getting to know her was a definite highlight of the year!

My involvement in Rubbermaid’s Professional Organizer Squad. I was so honored to be one of five professional organizers invited by Rubbermaid to blog regularly for them and answer questions from consumers. And I love the superhero logo that represents us!

Working on two hoarding TV shows. In 2012, I had the good fortune to be invited to work on episodes of both A&E’s Hoarders and TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive. These shows have allowed me to meet people would have otherwise never known, people who have enriched my life. It is a privilege to get to know them and to help them.

My iPhone. When I finally got an iPhone, I figured I’d like it. I didn’t realize I’d want to marry it. This little device has been so productivity enhancing, I can hardly imagine living without it. (I have an iPhone 4S with no plans to upgrade until this baby bites the dust.)

A real vacation. I never take true vacations. But this year I went to Barbados with my college buddies to celebrate our 50th birthdays. Finally, I see what the fuss is about, with regard to vacations, the Caribbean, beaches, you name it. I plan to take at least one real vacation in 2013.

Enjoying down time. After working so hard the past couple of years, I let myself take days off on occasion this year. Usually at least one day off per week, sometimes two. That opportunity to recharge my batteries, guilt-free, was very valuable. And it’s something I intend to keep doing.

I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and for the great freedom I have in my life. As I look at the promise of a new year unfolding ahead of me, I intend to make 2012’s accomplishments a springboard for more accomplishments in the coming year. I hope you do the same!

Your moment of cuteness

28 December 2012

I was working on a longish post today, but I’ve decided to work on it a little longer and post it on Monday. Instead, I’m going to post this photo of a little teddy bear that I knit last weekend (while watching the excellent sci fi series Firefly).

It just makes me smile to look at it and I wanted to put a smile on your face too.

(My friend, the talented Sally Brown of Roll Over Rover Threads embroidered the little face for me.)

What's your word for 2013?

26 December 2012

I receive coach Christine Kane’s weekly e-zine and from time to time I read an article that I think is so good I reprint it here (with permission, of course). I read the article I’m reprinting today early this morning and it proved to be really thought provoking. I downloaded the Word of the Year Discovery Tool and quickly honed in on a word that I think will be my driving force in 2013. (More on that in a future post.) I hope you have as much fun with this tool as I have!

— Janine

Resolutions? Yawn! Here’s a Better Way to Start Your Year…

Written by Christine Kane

The regulars at the gym are already joking about it.

“Have a good workout now,” they say. “Cuz next week, it’ll be lame in here.”

That’s because all the folks who have – yet again – made their New Year’s Resolutions will show up. They’ll stick around for a while. Then, around Valentine’s Day, the regulars get to have their old gym back.

I happened to catch a radio talk show a few years ago where the hosts were discussing the most common New Year’s Resolutions and the average success rate. Among the most common were Get Organized, Be More Spiritual, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, and Spend More time with the Family.

(Yawn.)

I don’t know about you, but this kind of To-Do List approach to life transformation does little to inspire me. And it doesn’t surprise me at all that the success rates were pretty depressing.

Why Resolutions Don’t Work

The reason most resolutions don’t work is that they address only one level of your life. The DO level. It’s the DO-HAVE-BE model.

“I will DO this thing.” (i.e., Lose weight)

“…so I can HAVE this other thing” (Self-Esteem)

“…and I can BE this thing.” (Confident.)

The average New Year’s Resolution doesn’t address the core of the issue – the “BE” level.

The best order for creating positive changes in your life is the BE-DO-HAVE model. This means you start from the BE level. When you begin changing on the BE level of your life, then the DO level and the HAVE level follow more easily.

When you start only on the DO level, then all the blocks on the BE level will often become the obstacles you can’t overcome.

A Better New Year’s Ritual

Many years ago, I decided that, instead of making resolutions, I would pick a word that would guide me throughout the year. It would be my touchstone. It would remind me of living my life at the BE level.

This didn’t mean that I didn’t take action. It meant that our actions were inspired from the BE level. In fact, I took more action than ever with this new approach! (My words have even led me to hit the million-dollar mark in my business!) I share all about that in my Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool.)

How to Choose Your Word-of-the-Year for 2013

If you want to get some serious clarity around your word to really accelerate your 2013… click here to download my free Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool. It will walk you through my complete ritual and guide you into a higher level of intention for creating your year.

Here’s the gist of it:

Get quiet over the next few days. And pick a word for the year.

Then, hold that word in your mind throughout the year, and let your word guide you to take action.

For instance, let’s say you are one of the many people who would normally choose Get Organized as a resolution. You look around to see clutter and crap all over your life. You’re tired of the chaos. So, you think, “I need to get organized. That should be my Resolution this year.”

But then you read this article. You decide to try it.

You sit with your clutter. You spend a few days pondering words that will inspire you. You realize in an “Ah-Ha!” moment that you tend to cling to lots of things. You’re scared to let go. So you choose the word “Release” because it inspires you in a bigger way than “Get organized.”

So, every time you approach your clutter you remind yourself of that word. “Release,” you say softly. You start to let the clutter go.

Eventually, you realize that you’re still holding on to lots more than just physical clutter. You realize that you hold onto resentment at old relationships. “Release,” you remind yourself.

You realize that holding on is affecting your diet and health. “Release” applies to some of the extra weight you’ve gained as well.

Throughout the year, you can see clearly how much you hold on. “Release” is your touchstone. It grows you throughout the year. It becomes your guiding force, not your harsh standard.

Your clutter became your teacher simply because you shifted your intent towards it. This wouldn’t have happened if you’d opted only to “Get Organized.”

What word to choose?

Many people know immediately which word resonates with them. For others, a little contemplation is required.

My Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool contains a complete list of words to inspire you. You can download it here.

My biggest advice is to sit with it. When a word is the right word, it will keep showing up in your mind until you nod and say, “Ah. That’s the one.”

Download my Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool. It’s free (and it’s cool!)

Happy New Year everybody!

Christine Kane is the Mentor to People Who are Changing the World. She helps women and men Uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly Uplevel You eZine goes out to over 20,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://christinekane.com.