New Intentions

I suppose you are thinking that the New Year is over and that resolutions are said and gone and most likely already broken, especially the diet .   The problem with resolutions are that they are not done appropriately.  For example: I will lose weight or I will be more cheerful and have more patience with my family.  The problem is you probably forgot the HOW.  So with yesterday being the Chinese New Year and a new moon, what  better time to start anew with new intentions done the correct way?

We have been talking about de-cluttering and some of you have still said to me:  when I have the time, or I know I need to do that….  So why the wait?   And it is NOT too over-bearing if you make a plan.  The plan is the key and a do-able plan is what is needed.

Let’s take an example of someone who might want to de-clutter their library; just too many books.  But, there is a large pile and just too daunting. So your plan might be:

• Day 1:  decide what your piles of books will be (give away to friends, donate, sell, keep, unsure – as long as they don’t all end up here) and designate a place for each pile (this corner, chair, sofa, wherever)
• Day 2 – end:  Go through 2-5 books a day (you choose) and put into the appropriate pile.
• When done sorting: now you have the piles – put the ones you want to keep back on the shelves
• Next day – take the books to donate to the library or a place of your choice
• Etc….
• Now what to do with the ones to sell – you need to research where you can sell them – take a day just to do this (FaceBook, craigslist, consignment shops…)
• You get the idea.   When we look at a large project, it becomes overwhelming.   If miss a day (do your best not to), but keep the daily activities to something you can do like 2 books a day.

Might this process take a month?  Sure.  But just how long have those books been sitting there already?

This same process can be used with clothes, things in the closet, papers in piles or files, anything…..    The piles may be different.  For paper you would have a throw out pile, a to be filed pile, etc….   just remember the question:  How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.  And by the next full moon, you can celebrate because this project will be done and the next one ready to be tackled.

Quick note:  back to the resolution to lose weight.   Start with 5 minutes a day of something you enjoy and can do.  You can keep that up much longer than 45 minutes 3 times a week.  And listen to your body!  That is a whole other blog.

So enjoy your de-cluttering and I expect to read some awesome comments about how you are getting along this week.

Copyright Material Vallee Rose 2016