CLUTTER, CLUTTER EVERYWHERE

CLUTTER, CLUTTER EVERYWHERE

(A WAY TO GET YOUR TIME BACK) 

When I think, what will others think about my clutter? It really does bother me, even though for the most part I have given up worrying about what others think. It is more about my mental wellness because I am the one who must live in it. Actually, for the most part, I would not want to have a picture-perfect home. A comfortable, lived-in home looks and feels much more natural. What I would like is to have is everything in a designated place. There is no need to have clutter and mess everywhere. We lose things and therefore waste time searching for items that, if they had a designated place, we would not have to search for. We can organize in small steps to accomplish this. Example: When we come in from the garage, there is a special basket to put our keys in. No need to pass the basket up and toss them someplace in the kitchen.  

Getting organized brings us freedom. Wasting time searching around for misplaced items: Who needs that? It is also a time to stop shaming ourselves about our mess and clutter. Stop asking ourselves what is wrong with us. Begin small. Start with a junk drawer that most of us have in the kitchen. Take everything out and make a pile for what needs to be tossed, what needs to be donated, what needs to go to a designated special area, and what should stay. If it is not needed, then off to the trash can, especially if it has never been used and never will be.

Physical clutter creates mental clutter. Organizing is about making our lives easier. Chaos and clutter do not make us feel calm and confident. Organization is a form of self-care. Mental clarity is what we need, not our energy drained.

The best part is that we must not think this is a one-and-done deal. It is not done in a day. Take 30 minutes to an hour. Break it up into small tasks. Remember that the definition of clutter is items that don't have a designated home or an organized system. Sort of like the 80/20 rule of thumb. The good news is that it does not cost money. 

So many of us say that we don't have time. Organized people are just too lazy to look for things because they want things where they belong. They don't want to be searching. Things like the daily mail pile up. Most of the time, we know by the envelope whether it goes in the trash; if not, have a special place to look at it when we have a moment. (such as a basket with a folder labeled, 'MAIL') Glasses, charging units, keys...all things that we waste time searching for should have a designated space. Create systems that work for you and others living in the house.

If we believe that we are too busy with kids, school activities, pets, our own workload, then it is time to realize that organization can take things off of our plates. It is just a small investment. It removes a burden. If 5 people live in the home, then all 5 must put their shoes where they belong instead of where they take them off. Here is how the 80/20 rule works. Put them on the staircase to take up next time a trip is made up the stairs. Everything should have a place.

Have you ever gone to someone's home, or perhaps it is your own home, and it is hard to get a drink of water because the sink is filled with dirty dishes? They can't put it in the dishwasher because the dishwasher is full of dishes (or they could be clean, just not put away yet?) Or maybe there is nowhere on the bar or countertop because there is clutter from end to end. Sometimes, even the barstools are loaded with clutter?

If we find ourselves always looking for things, then we have time to organize. Find places where items can all live. Don't fight the tide. Keep it simple. Hooks for kids' backpacks, a rolling 3-4 tier cart for special items like lunchboxes, a basket to put items in, which is cleaned weekly, and what needs to go to its designated spot, then send it on its way. (or trash it) The rule of: do we need it - do we use it - do we love it? If all are yes answers, then it deserves a special place.

If it is something sentimental, then it can be difficult. I find that I must ask myself: am I keeping the item out of obligation? If the item is not displayed, then it may not be of use. China and crystal are good examples. How many sets of grandmothers' and great-grandmothers' china can one person hold on to? I must decide if I need the items or the space. How many mugs from special places can I drink out of? Tidying up is temporary. Organizing is creating the space where items belong. 

DON'T WORRY! BE HAPPY!

 DON'T WORRY!

BE HAPPY!

The words above, just like the song that has the same exact lyrics, are easier said than done. Let's be honest. Worrying is a natural response to caring about important things. It becomes problematic when it attaches to uncontrollable factors like other people's choices or unpredictable events.

By reading several articles about the subject of worrying and anxiety, I summarized them to help me with self-care. Maybe it will help you, too? 

Start by asking what I am really afraid of. Is it failure, loss, rejection...whatever the fear is, it is important to NAME it. Then move on to whether you have any control to impact the outcome. We know that we cannot control the past or random events - only our choices. The last important question to ask is this: Is worrying taking away from my life and happiness? Examples would be losing sleep, snapping at people, or just trying to stay focused.

By naming the fear and focusing on what we can control, we can redirect worry into productive action. Saying no to things we can't control is a form of self-care that preserves our own energy.

Worrying about things we can't control is a common but unproductive cycle. Strategies to help stop this cycle include:

• Acceptance of the uncontrollable
• Focusing on what we can control
• Reframing our thoughts
• Setting our boundaries
• Practicing mindfulness or gratitude

Worrying is a frequent companion for those who live with anxiety day in and day out. Things like always asking the question 'what if' or imagining the worst-case scenarios. Worry exists because we care about our own health and those we love. It is rarely about the surface situation and will not calm down before we engage in what really matters. 

Worry is more than a thought, and it can't be stopped with commands to just stop worrying, let it go, or calm down. These commands don't work coming from others or from our own thoughts; not because we are weak but because worry is more than a thought. It is an emotional response to fear, not our enemy. It exists because we care.

Good news: 

It keeps our attention on what matters

It helps us prioritize

It motivates us to prepare and take action

The trouble comes when we attach worry to things we can't actually influence. It loops and has nowhere to go except to escalate and run us down.

Get control of it by asking three core questions, recognizing it as it happens, and identifying what our worry is really all about. If the thoughts keep repeating themselves and the situations that trigger them cause actual physical sensations that show up in our bodies, then we have recognized the worry. We know that by identifying them specifically, it is not a surface situation. For example:

~ a loved one is traveling but underneath that fact is the fear of losing them

~ a comment from someone that made us somehow feel incompetent

~ a medical test, but underneath it is the fear of our life changing in ways we can't control.

We need a clear sense of what matters most to ourselves. Maybe therapy would be helpful to be able to interpret what our worry is signaling. That is when it becomes more information rather than the enemy.

We need to sort through what we can and cannot control. The Serenity Prayer comes to my mind. If we make a list, writing on one side what we can control and on the other side what cannot be controlled.  The can control side will shift into thinking about concrete action steps, while the cannot side will demonstrate the need to shift our energies to our own choices.

Determining the action step could be planning a calm conversation with someone who would help clarify needs and set boundaries in a relationship. If it is about health issues, schedule an appointment and follow through with recommendations and adjust at least one daily habit.

Taking action rarely quiets down before you actually take action. It settles once we engage with what really matters. 

Work with worry - Not against it.

It helps us reclaim our own strength and courage even in the presence of uncertainty.

• Several articles and authors all agreed on these strategies, which I have summarized in this blog.

THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS

Even with the HEAT DOME surrounding where I live and stretching to the north and south of us, as well as across the Atlantic to Europe, we all still need some of that sunshine. Our bodies crave sunlight. 

Just for me and many others, it won't be in the middle of the day. I try to get out early in the morning and again in the late afternoon. It is a fact that morning light helps to set our circadian rhythm for a better and more sound sleep. Research shows more time in the sun is associated with lower blood pressure for those dealing with hypertension. More time in the sun is associated with boosting our moods, even. In this heat, it is not for an extended amount of time. Just enough to get a brief walk, run some water in the pool, take off the dead roses so more will blossom, and the never-ending job of keeping the yard clear of the "dogs' business. Sitting out under the umbrella, putting on sunscreen and floating in the pool will have to wait until it cools down a bit.

The pool is like bathwater. Am I picky? I guess you could say so. There was a time when Steve and I wanted to float in the pool even on very hot days. To help cool things down, he went out to get bags of ice just to throw in the pool. It did help out some. 

Join the caravan of those who have turned their faces to the sun.

Our bodies really do need some of that sunshine.

Another subject? Beauty! Both inside and outside! "Beauty matters. It is not just a subjective thing but a universal need of human beings."  ~  Scherzo di Follio (1861)

It is important to notice beauty in unexpected places. It helps to nurture our souls. We can find it in our own homes -  it is all around us. We really can't ignore that a calming order in our homes or at work, can actually bring a sense of calmness to our souls. When my own desk becomes cluttered, it is a fact that I can find whatever I need in the mess. Yet, when I take the time to straighten up and put everything where it belongs, I can feel the stress leaving my body. I didn't even realize that I was holding that stress. It was there. As I let out the sigh of relief and pride, I could feel stress leaving my body.

Just doing little things for ourselves helps us feel special. Such as taking the time to make a great dinner (even if it is takeout), setting the table just for ourselves. Why? Because we can and should.

Noticing beauty and making beauty in some unexpected places are simple ways to help nurture our souls. In ourselves, it can be all about how we carry ourselves. Stand straight and tall with your hearts open, our necks elongated, as if we are growing taller. It can help inspire us and make us feel capable of taking on the world. (even if it is just our little part of the world)!

Indeed, our brains are always in the business of predicting patterns; usually fear is involved. When we see what we expect to see, all is well with the world. Chaos will be thrown into the picture when unpredictability comes into play. In all that is happening in our country and world, there seems to be a lot of chaos. We all need to find ways to help calm the chaos.

My way is to not watch the news. I get what I need by scanning headlines. I have a friend who started watching horror movies just to avoid the news. We all can find our own way to adjust to the chaos. Let me add to this that we should not judge others in their attempts to find their own calmness.

"The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life." — Dalai Lama

TURNING YOUR BRAIN OFF FOR A GOOD SLEEP!

 TURNING YOUR BRAIN OFF FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

Have you ever found yourself like Snoopy or Woodstock, as in the picture above? Just as you snuggle into your comfy bed for a good night's sleep, you find your brain swirling in a frenzy and refusing to settle in for a good night's sleep.

Research has shown that there are steps we can take to help us settle in for a good night's sleep. It actually is a matter of having a talk with yourself and letting your overactive brain know what is going on. It is okay to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in our lives and in our world! Repeating to yourself that it is OK helps. Letting our brains know that we can manage this. It is not a matter of solving any problem right at this moment. 

Be kind to yourself and tell yourself that you did your best today. If you feel that all you could give was 40%, then you gave it your all. That is ok! Tomorrow is going to be a good day. Closing your eyes and thinking in a positive mode is extremely helpful. 

Acknowledging that where you are mentally is ok. It is a normal response. Simply mind over matter is a great way to deal with those swirling problems and spiraling negative thoughts. Repeating that you don't need to solve is right this minute. Taking a mental vacation by telling your brain that you can manage it tomorrow after a good night's sleep. As for today, you did the best that you could do at that time. 

Tomorrow will be a better day. Sometimes, if your brain is hard-headed, it may require you to actually make a list of what you did not get to today and wake up with a fresh start. Relax your brain. Putting it down in writing lets you know it will be there tomorrow.

PS - WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

 JUST A LITTLE PS TO CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS

There are ways to help you stay more connected. Send a text when you think of a person. Or actually schedule a monthly phone call, especially to those long distance friends.

Stop with excuses such as, "I have nothing to wear or I need some ME time." Of course, we all need some ME time. Just schedule some social time for yourself too.

There really are three pillars of health - physical, mental AND social. People who feel more supported seem to get ill less often. Getting hugs helps to release chemicals within us that fight off stress. We all underestimate ourselves. Look for meaningful and mutual. If a friend suddenly seems distant, don't take it personally. Let them know that you care.

Put yourself out there. We all want and need more friends. 

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

 WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

Adult friendship can be hard. There are ways to make it easier because we all need our social health. Connection is essential - not optional. All of us deserve friends in our lives.

The author, Kasley Killam, of The Art and Science of Connection, bases her work on research at The University of Pennsylvania and an award-winning initiative at Stanford University that promotes kindness and empathy. It is all about why social health is the missing key to living longer, healthier, and happier.

Strong friendships lower your risk for chronic disease, give your life more meaning, and make you happier.

She has named the four different kinds of friends. One is not better than another - they just help in knowing more about your friends and how they react. It also helps in knowing what kind of friend you are to others.

Think about which one may be a description of yourself. The first one is the butterfly. They like to flit around, as butterflies do from flower to flower and pollinate. Usually enjoys having lots of friends. They like to talk to anyone about anything. Lots of deep interactions.

Secondly, there is the evergreen. They tend to like frequent, DEEP interactions with basically close friends - not just anyone. They do like a lot of interactions, though, with their close friends, and they want them to be deep.

The next type is the firefly. They like less frequent interactions because they need some time alone to recharge, but they do like deep interactions. They are someone who prefers less frequent interactions and sometimes finds it hard to pin down for a coffee or a lunch date - just to get out of the house. Once they do get out they are enjoy being out with their friends.

Then there is the wallflower. They prefer less frequent interactions that are also more casual. They tend to enjoy sitting back and watching or listening before joining in for interactions. They are much more casual.

NEVER LOSE YOUR SPARKLE

 NEVER LOSE YOUR SPARKLE

In this blog, I just wanted to share the reason why I sort of suddenly disappeared from the radar screen. No daily mantras even on my Facebook page. The reason is full of some good news but also a bit of bad news about what has been going on in my life. It all concerns my health. The good news is that I am responding to my meds and treatments and continue to improve each day. The bad news is that it is not going to happen overnight. This all started on March 4th. Today it is April 6th. During this time frame, I have been admitted to the hospital twice and then to a Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center. Now, I have Home Care PT and will continue doing it on my own from what I learn in the Rehab Center. Between all of this kind of support, I see good news ahead. In fact, I see good news on a daily basis.

Sometimes, as Dolly Parton stated concerning her own health issues, she says just to think of her like a classic car. Once restored, it can be better than ever!

Looking under the hood of that classic car, the doctors decided that new parts were needed, such as a new engine, a transmission, etc.

Something very important to this whole process was that the spark plugs needed to be changed. Like Dolly, I refuse to lose my spark! "Spark" was my Word of the Year that I chose instead of making New Year's Resolutions, so this is very near and dear to my heart.

My daughter and my youngest son were my advocates while in the hospital, rehab, and even now at home. I have wonderful neighbors and a son-in-law who help to drive me to my appointments when they are not able to. I am not able to drive yet. My daughter, with her wicked sense of humor, asked if one of the tests involved my mental health. She always comes up with something to make me smile and move away from any frustration in progress.

Some things are out of whack, but I KNOW that I will be myself again. As everyone tells me, I am still the real me. I just mean that I want to be able to do all the things that I did before this health issue.

They say that a happy heart is good medicine. It is so very important to always be positive. Many of my prior blogs are even about this very subject. If you are interested, just check out the titles in the monthly archives on my blog page.