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The Recycling Corner:
Holiday Gifts
I know - you don't want your cousin to know that you never, ever, EVER plan to use the ...(insert the unwanted gift name here) he gave you this Christmas. You love him for trying, but it's just not your color, size, style, or whatever.
This is why gift receipts were invented! If a gifter was kind enough to include one with your gift, they know that it might not be perfect, and they're okay with you returning it for something you want or that fits or that will work for you.
Even if they didn't include a receipt, it's okay to pass on a gift that doesn't work for you. It's not doing you or anybody any good stacked in the back of your closet, and in fact it becomes a chore to deal with every time you try to figure out what to do with it! That's not what your cousin wanted for you!
Put it back out into the world where it can be used by someone else. Sell it, donate it, return it, recycle it. Someone else might enjoy it, and you get that piece of space back in your closet!
But first, send a really nice thank you note. After all, it IS the thought that counts! |
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More Time for You
Come join me on January 12 & 26 to help plan your schedule for a wonderful new year! Go to the Sandwich Community Schools website at www.scslearn.org for more details.
Other upcoming speaking engagements:
- ABWA, Hyannis, Jan. 11, 6 pm. How to present yourself in public
- Speechcraft class on public speaking Sandwich Community Schools, Jan. 20-Feb. 10
- Toastmasters Leadership Institute, Boston, Jan. 13
- Toastmasters Leadership Institute, Bourne, Jan 22
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Looking for a motivational speaker for your group?
Please visit my website for more information on my speech topics and workshops. To schedule me to speak to your group, or for more information, please email me at mmdwk@peoplepc.com, or call 508 292-6706. |
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Questions? Suggestions?
As always, your feedback is important to me. Please let me know what topics you are interested in so that I can address your questions and comments in future editions. |
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Dear ,
Happy New Year! The start of a new year provides a great opportunity to start some new habits fresh, and make your life work this year better than ever! If you've made some resolutions, check below for some tips to ensure they have the best chance to succeed. I've also included a couple of important suggestions for habits to develop in the new year in order to reduce your clutter and find more time in your life. Give them a try, and let me know how they work for you!
- Maryann Murphy
Your Personal Organizing Expert
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1 IN - 1 OUT Rule
In order to keep your space from getting cluttered (or to stop the growth of clutter in your space), start living by this rule:
Whenever you get something new,
get rid of something old. You'll be amazed at the difference this one habit will make in the amount of stuff in your life! This is the habit that most distinguishes those with clutter problems from those without because it is the only realistic way to keep your "stuff" under control. And this is the most important time of year to start implementing it, when most of us bring in lots of new things (mostly in the form of gifts, but also in some of the impulse shopping we did for ourselves while we were out holiday shopping)!  If you didn't have enough room for all your things before the holidays, it only makes sense that bringing in something new (no matter how small, or cute, or practical) will only add to the clutter UNLESS you remove something of at least equal size at the same time, right? So if you got 5 new shirts for Christmas, this is the perfect time to look through your wardrobe and donate or recycle 5 (or even better - 6) of your old shirts. Same thing with books, DVDs, toys, or electronic gadgets.For example, did you get a new computer or laptop? Do transfer the old information that you still need onto the new one before getting rid of it, but don't hang on to it thinking maybe you'll use it again someday. Donate it to someone who can use it or use the parts! Face it - you've never re-used any of the old computers, printers or cell phones once you got new ones, have you? This time won't be any different, so take care of it right away and you won't have to waste time trying to find space for storing a new piece of clutter. IMPORTANT TIP: If you don't want to get rid of the old because you prefer it to the new, maybe the new gift wasn't the right match for you. See if you can return it for cash, a store credit, or the style/color/size you DO want. I see SO MUCH clutter in people's homes that consists of gifts someone gave them that they never really wanted but feel guilty about giving away! See "The Recycling Corner" for more about this. FINAL TIP, don't just put all the new stuff away and think you'll take care of the old stuff "when you get around to it". Make this part of your "putting away" process - Return, recycle, donate, sell or trash one thing for every new thing you bring in to your home. Set a target date (how about next Monday, January 10th?) to have all the stuff that has been replaced by new out the door, and start the new year fresh! |
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Resolutions that Work!
Most of us make resolutions to improve our lives at this time of year, and most of us struggle to keep them. Two major strategies have been shown to improve our odds of succeeding, whether the resolution is about getting more organized, managing our time better, losing weight, or being "nicer":
- Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-oriented). A general goal like "Get more organized" is a fine start, but it's not likely to translate into real change until you pick a really specific set of actions that you will do in a specific time period, and with a result that you can measure. It needs to be realistic as well - you probably won't clean out the entire basement, garage or "junk room" in a day or two. Pick one section at a time, and get enough help. If it took years to get it into that shape, it is going to take some time to get it back to the shape you want it. Don't set yourself up for discouragement by being unrealistic about how quickly change can happen.
- Make a COMMITMENT. They are called resolutions for a reason. If you really want to make a difference in your life, your goals should not be stated as wishes, or hopes, or "I'd like to's". You need to be resolved that you will make those changes in your schedule or your habits. Make a choice and make a decision if you want to make it happen! A 4-step process can be helpful here:
- First, make a list of the wishes, hopes and dreams you'd like to achieve in the next year (lose 25 pounds, spend more time with my family, start a new business).
- Next, identify how much you want each of those things, and how much you're willing to give up in order to get them (exercise at least 1/2 hour every day, give up one of your other outside activities to be able to spend time with your family, get up an hour earlier every day to work on the new business, etc.). Notice that some of these goals may be incompatible with each other unless you can find a way to combine them (exercise more by playing sports with your family, rent your new office next door to a gym so you can work out easily every day).
- Now pick the one or two goals you are really willing to commit to, and write them as SMART goals. These are your Resolutions! Keep the other wishes in mind throughout the year, and find ways to work on them when possible, but don't call them Resolutions if you're not able to or willing to commit to achieving them this year. Save them for 6 months from now or next year, and bring the full force of your COMMITMENT to your real RESOLUTIONS.
- Get Help! Make your commitment public. Get a friend or coach you can check in with every week to hold you accountable. Ask for help getting started, staying on track, or with the parts you can't do yourself. Don't try to do everything alone! People are more successful when they work on their resolutions together. That's why AA, Weight Watchers, GamAnon, and other groups are so successful. There's power in a shared and public commitment, even if it's just to one other person. Get a partner or join a group and share your COMMITMENT to making this change in your life.
Let me know if I can help, and good luck with making this the year your resolutions really do come true!
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 Please call me at 508 292-6706 if you need additional help organizing your home, your office, or your schedule. I can come to your home or office and help you there, or do coaching by phone.
My business relies on referrals, so please forward this to anyone you think might benefit from it. Thanks, and I hope to talk with you soon! |
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Sincerely,
Maryann Murphy, MSW
Professional Organizer, Speaker, Trainer
(508) 292-6706
Chronic Disorganization Specialist, NSGCD
Member, National Speakers Association (NSA)
Director of Professional Development, NAPO-NE
Division F Governor, Toastmasters International District 31
Please join my network on LinkedIn  or follow me on Twitter @MMurphyMSW  |
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