August Challenge: Simplify... Organize

Simplify... Organize... Lighten the Load

This has been the tagline, and my mantra, for Organizing Resources since 1994. First simplify, then organize to lighten the load.

The first week in August is National Simplify Your Life Week. What does that mean to you?

For me, it is seven days to make a difference in my life. It is the perfect time to reduce the stress associated with over commitments, over abundance, over spending. It is a week to think about goals and how to move forward to accomplishment. It is a time to focus on an abundant life where my needs are met.

Read on for more information as I break down this statement and see how it all comes together.

SIMPLIFY... Simply put, the less you own, the easier it is to care for everything. Why? Because life if full of choices, more choices today than ever before, and more opportunities to create havoc and chaos in your life.

Too Many Choices:
> Where to work
> Where to live
> What to wear
> What to eat
> Where to travel
> What to buy for our household
and so many more...

In today's fast-paced world, there is too much to do, too many demands, an overload of information and way too little time. And, there are opportunities every day to add more to our lives. With each new addition we lose some space - environmental, physical, emotional and mental space.

Ask yourself:
> When was the last time I used this item?
> Under what circumstances would I need it again?
> Does it add beauty and joy to my life?
> Is it a treasure that warms my heart?
> Does it augment my life's purpose, or is it simply a status of my lifestyle?

Avoid playing mind games with the belief that the unused, yet perfectly good items, maybe useful to you someday. Be aware of words like someday, maybe, should, somewhere, somehow? Such thoughts only add more pressure to keep those items that add little value to your life's purpose.

The objective of 'Simplify' is to move out of the house all items that are not serving you, no matter how useful they may be. They are just taking up precious space -- prime real estate. Consider it hoarding if you keep something that you are not using. There are others out there looking for that useful item. Start sharing!

ORGANIZE... Now that you have purged the broken, unloved and unwanted items, it is time to look around and identify what is left. The process of organizing will be much easier when you let go of the unnecessary items. You control clutter only when you have less of everything. In other words, less is truly more.

Organizing means to find a home for everything, a home that is logical, cost-effective and appropriate. This is not a step that simply puts things into storage. It is about retrieval - easy access. The ultimate goal is to be able to find what you want when you want it. Remember, abundant living is having enough, not too much, having what you need and needing what you have.

Start the organizing project by planning...
> What area needs attention?
> What benefits will you gain by getting organized?
> How much time will it take? Don't underestimate!
> Schedule an appointment with yourself to accomplish each area or zone.
> Align your goals with your priorities?

LIGHTEN THE LOAD... A place for EVERYTHING, and EVERYTHING in its place!

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." ~ Confucius

Judith Kirk, Professional Organizer/Personal Coach/Simplification Specialist. Read more at https://judithkirk.com/contact-info/

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