Declutter Your Desktop

                

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Decluttering’ has become the new buzzword recently but it is usually talked about in the domestic sense. It is also important for an efficient office to be clutter free. Is your desk hiding beneath your paperwork? Do you have a pile of business cards are propping up your monitor? Are your invoices mixed in with your receipts? Are you wasting time because you can’t find that all important piece of paper when you need it?

Sound familiar... it is relatively quick and easy to declutter your desk space or indeed your whole office if necessary.

Firstly set aside some time, a couple of hours if things are really bad, preferably a time when you will be bright and fresh – so if you are a morning person get onto this task as soon as you arrive at the office. You need to ensure that you will have no distractions and this means no calls, visits or emails. See this time as an investment in your business, if the working environment is clutter free it will help you focus when you are at your desk. You know what they say ‘a clear desk means a clear mind.’

Where to start? Now this is the hardest part. Set up a shredder nearby or a bin for shredding if you have one. A black bin bag or recycling bin will also be necessary for rubbish and of course you need some space for the ‘to keep/file’ pile. Whether you choose to file as you go along is totally up to you and may depend on the state of your desk. If you have a business card holder then put all of the business cards in it, if you don’t have one but have a pile of cards then buy a special card holder and file them immediately. You may decide to tackle the ‘to keep’ pile after you’ve finished sorting the desk, just make sure you do it straight away.

A great idea if you have a scanner is to scan all the paperwork you need to keep and then pack the originals away for archiving or you could add them to your rubbish pile if you don’t need to retain original documents. Setting up an electronic filing system is very simple and you will also be able to back it up or you could burn it to CD. You will be happy in the knowledge you can retrieve the information quickly but you are also cutting down on the amount of paper stored in your office.

Okay now that you have three piles it should be easy to make some real progress – rubbish (hopefully you are recycling paper), shredding and important paperwork to keep. Don’t be afraid to throw things away, if you haven’t used something for a few months then the likelihood is that it isn’t essential for your day to day work. As you start to progress you will notice you gain momentum. This is great news and why no interruptions are so important. Now look at your lovely clear desk and smile, isn’t it great to be able to see it again? The challenge is keeping it clutter free, implement a daily declutter at the end of each day and you’ll be amazed how easy it is.

Samantha Cannell is the Director of Versatile Assistant, a Virtual Assistant and Freelance PA business providing PA support to busy professionals particularly those working in the financial services industry. To find out how a virtual assistant can help you transform your business visit http://www.versatileassistant.co.uk

3 Ways to Declutter a House

                

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There are many of us that would love to realize the happiness that can come with organized living but we tend to live in homes that are simply overcome with clutter. If you have the problem of hanging onto things more than you should, and if piles of unknown objects and forgotten memorabilia are overwhelming your home then here are 3 practical ways to declutter a house.

Pick a spot and start your declutter system. I often start at the entrance to a room when I go about starting to declutter a room. Then I work my way around the room in a wave, not going back and not jumping forward. This has two nice effects, it helps you to be organized about your organizing, and if you need some motivation to keep going you can look at what is already done.

Timing is everything when trying to declutter a house. Many of us start to declutter a room and we get so deep into the mess that when it is suddenly time to stop we are left with a bigger mess, and no motivation to jump back in. It is better if you were to set a clock for a designated time and then to work at top speed until that clock went off. That way you accomplish the most in the time allotted and you don't get overwhelmed with doing just one more thing before you quit.

Search and destroy is the method that many people use when the are going to declutter a house. Take a couple boxes with you, one for anything that you are going to get rid of and the other for things that you are unsure what you are going to do about. When you are done, or when the second box gets full then go back through it and look at each item objectively to see if you really need to keep it. If you don't then put it into the other box.

If you find that clutter is taking over your life and your home it's time to remove the mess and take control again. Download our Special Report at http://www.how-to-declutter.info/

How to Declutter an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Declutter Your Home - Just Rubbish Disposal Or A Feel-Good Technique

                

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I have recently been hearing more and more people mention the word “declutter” and wondered what all the fuss was about. Is this just a fad, a bit of rubbish disposal, a reaction to our modern excesses or a necessary remedy to make our lives more enjoyable and livable? Being interested in doing a bit of “decluttering” myself, I decided to carry out some research and found there is a ground-swell of anti-clutter thinking building up across the country. In the UK there is even a trade body called the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers! So what is all the fuss about? It seems that we now have larger amounts of disposable income and a distinct lack of time to use it. The result of these two factors is that we purchase lots of unnecessary items and have no time to either use them or throw them away. Another factor is our innate tendency to hoard things. Our reluctance to throw things away, even if we rarely or never use them, results in a build up of rubbish that slowly but surely consumes our living space until we reach that breaking point when the declutter urge begins to nag!

Everyone has a different declutter urge threshold, with some people unable to cope with even a small pile of old newspapers, whereas others will reach the point where they can hardly move from room-to-room before the urge to take action kicks in. It seems that there are various locations that merit a bout of decluttering and there are a range of drivers that spur the declutterer into action. Let’s deal with the locations first of all. The normal location is the family home. Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and garages are the usual culprits. For bedrooms, clothing is the main clutter contributor. For those of use who can’t resist a little retail therapy, there can easily be a rapid build-up of unworn clothing, but garments are one of the easiest items to clear out. Whatever you do, unless your old clothes are worn-out, damaged or dirty, don’t throw them away. You have a perfect opportunity to donate your clothes to charity during your decluttering. Many people recommend using the “one year” rule – if you haven’t worn an item of clothing during the last 12 months then you are highly unlikely to wear it again – just clear it out! If you have children, then toys can also start to take over a room if not kept under control. If you don’t keep your toy-count in check, your children will soon have too many toys to be able to find their own favourites. Another opportunity to recycle beckons, so whatever you do don’t just throw them away. Donate them to friends with younger children, sell them at a car-boot sale or even on Ebay. In the kitchen, old utensils can be thrown away for hygiene reasons and in the garage, throw out all those old tins of paint and rubbish that you moved out from the house last year.

If you have mountains of rubbish, it may be worthwhile hiring a skip to make the job easier. Another location that really benefits from a good clear-out is the office – either your desk at work or your home-office. You’ll be amazed at how much paperwork people can accumulate over a short period of time. I’ve known companies that have had periodic office reorganisations, purely to make people have a regular clear out of their work space. So what are the benefits of all this decluttering? If you have tried it even once you’ll know exactly what I mean by the sense of satisfaction and achievement that can be attained from all of this. If you haven’t ever set aside time for a spot of decluttering, then I can only suggest that you try a small test run. Plan to spend just one hour, in one room and see how far you get – and see how good you feel!Another favourite technique is the 15-3 sprint. Take a rubbish bag and for the next 3 minutes, try to fill it with 5 items to throw away each every minute. If you reach 15 in the allotted time you’ve done well and just see how good that feels. You may even be tempted to repeat the exercise every day. You may have a few guilty feelings about being wasteful and disposing of perfectly good things, but these will be more than compensated for by your sense of achievement, your satisfaction in being able to let go and the cleaner, lighter space you have created. You’ll feel more relaxed in your home, you’ll be able to find things more easily and you’ll know exactly what you have. In fact the fewer things you have, the more you will cherish and use them. So go on, have a good old clear out today.

Marcus Brooks is a writer and publisher of home improvement and property advice. His constructive advice, commentary and time saving tools cover a wide range of subjects. His latest initiative on skip hire can be found at http://www.skiphiredirect.co.uk

Get Rid Of Your Stuff - Declutter Your Life

                

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How much stuff do you have in your house that you don’t really need or use?

It’s probably taking up more than physical space, how does it make you feel emotionally – overwhelmed, frustrated, disorganised, even lethargic.

Step 1 – Get Ready.

Create a List. Go through each room in your home and make a list of all the areas, drawers, cupboards that need clearing. Sort this into small, medium and large. Pin it up where you can see it.

Step 2 – Get Set.

Get four boxes label them – Rubbish, Charity, Sell, Undecided.

Step 3 – Get Clearing…

Go through each room – take just 15-30 minutes and tackle the small areas first, then when you have time the medium and large areas.

Work on one area each day and tick them off your list. Either put things away where they belong or place them in one of the four boxes. Place the Undecided box in a cupboard, attic or basement and come back to it in six months. If you haven’t needed anything in it in that time – throw it away.

Clothing – when did you last wear it, does it fit, do you absolutely love it? Anything you haven’t worn for two years – put in a bag and take to your local charity shop. Only buy things that make you look good as you are now – not when you lose those few pounds.

Paperwork “handle it only once” or in reality twice. First when it comes through the door. Is it for action/junk or filing? Action –deal with it immediately or put it an ‘action’ folder/tray and deal with it in the next 2-3 days. Filing – tackle this on a weekly basis. Junk – straight into the bin.

Reduce the junk mail you receive – ALWAYS tick the box on any form to opt out. Sign up with the mailing preference service to opt out of unsolicited mail http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/.

Magazines – how often do you read them all. Tear out and keep any articles that are of particular interest. Read them as soon as you can. Cancel subscriptions for those you no longer read or value.

Things you no longer use – gadgets, sports equipment, etc., unwanted gifts, impulse buys - things you bought but don’t like or don’t use. Either sell them, pass them on or give them away.

Decluttering questions to ask: Do you love it? Do you use it? Does it make you feel good? Learn to say no, so you don’t clutter up your life with things that aren’t important to you.

Get into the habit of setting aside a few minutes each day or a block of time each week to keep areas tidy and clutter free.

To avoid clutter accumulating – when you buy something think first – do you really need it? If you find it hard to let go, each time you buy something new, get rid of something so at least it’s not increasing.

Notice how you feel after you’ve cleared out an area – whether large or small. You should feel a sense of achievement, satisfaction, relief and/or a burst of energy.

Step 4 – Reward Yourself.

Create small rewards for your effort as you go through the process, i.e. buy yourself a new item of clothing for clearing your wardrobe out,

See what you can do to create your own clutter-free existence and see what it brings in for you.

Why not join me for a Free Integrity Day to help get rid of your clutter.

Clare works with individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively. Learn how to prioritise, plan and delegate, organise your perfect life, organise it effectively and enjoy the process. Spend your time doing what matters and stop worrying about the things that don't.

Sign-up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.clareevans.co.uk or send an email to claresnews@aweber.com and receive free tips on managing your time.

Clutter: Declutter Your Life By Keeping It All Simple

                

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*Feeling overwhelmed?
*Too much to do at work?
*Too much to do at home?
*Projects piling up?
*Too many social functions to attend?
*Paperwork piling up?
 

Then this “simple” concept is for you.

Simple to say, simple to talk about, not so simple to do.

Henry David Thoreau said it this way –

“Simplicity! Simplicity! Simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.”

 

Beautiful!

If you have never felt the sense of release that comes from decluttering, then you must take steps now to do just that! I have written articles and coached people on how to declutter and organize their physical space. I like to start my coaching with a new client by having them experience the huge benefit of physical decluttering. It is a tangible demonstration of the benefits that come by decluttering other parts of your life.

Once you experience the benefit of lightening your material load, it's time to focus on lightening your other loads.

Everything in your life takes up a certain amount of energy. The more you have packed your schedule, the more commitments and obligations you have, the more work projects you have taken on – the less energy reserve you will have to deal with unexpected crises, and the less time you will have for those unexpected, inviting opportunities.

Many people have the mistaken idea that a super busy, overbooked schedule is a sign of a successful person. What that person is missing, is the time to look up, look around and see key opportunities. This alone should be incentive for you to become very selective about how you invest your time and energy.

Successful people plan reserves into their schedule and into their lives. It reduces pressure and stress, and allows for you to available when God presents the truly best opportunities to you.

Put some “legs” on this concept right now.

List 10 areas in your life that are currently overwhelming.

Now, list 10 ways you can simplify your life.

Now - pick your first action from the list and do it.

Start experienicing the freedom that comes with keeping it all simple.

Visit LifeHouse Coaching to sign up for "Blueprints for a Dream Life" and receive Edi Sowers' f*r*e*e* weekly articles, coaching tips, and special offers. Edi works with women business owners who work at home and face the arduous challenge of balancing their personal and professional priorities in order to build their dream life.

Declutter Your Mind And Free Yourself

                

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We are constantly rushing around and our 'to do' list gets longer and longer. It is like a running commentary in our heads. That long list of jobs is never ending, the pressure is mounting and we begin to feel like our heads are going to explode because it is all too much sometimes.

When this happens you really do need to stop and take a step back and think carefully about what you are doing and why you are doing it. There is a lot of talk out there now about decluttering our homes to make our lives more simple. Of course, it is true that if you get rid of clutter you begin to feel more in control of your life.

But what about your mind?

You see, how can we begin to sort our homes out if we have so much going on in our heads that is holding us back and slowing us down? It comes down to the same thing. It's all about clearing your head so you can spend more valuable time on more important things.

At times the weeks go by and we have so very much on our minds that we can never really focus on anything. Then we feel like we have 'lost' time, this time will never come back. So we need to take action and reclaim some of that precious time for us.

So, how do we go about decluttering our mind?

1. Write a diary

I know we don't all like to write, or feel we have no time to write but if you do have lots of anxieties or worries, then writing them down can help you put everything into some sort of perspective. It clears up space in your mind so you can then use it for more satisfying things. Try to set aside some time each day to write a few bits down. It will help in the future when you look back at when you did certain things.

2. Make a list

Declutter your mind by writing things in a list rather than keeping everything stored in your head. This way you won't have to remember everything all the time.

3. Let Go Of Negative Thinking

This is very easy to do and it is a bad habit! It is draining. Not just for you but for everyone around you. Some events in your life can cause you to think negatively and it can take a lot of time and hard work to change your outlook.

It is you and you alone who is in charge of what goes through your mind. However, we still allow ourselves at times to become so engrossed in negative thoughts. You need to try very hard to let go of these negative thoughts whenever possible as it will relieve your mind of too much stress.

4. Just Say 'No'

If you already have a lot going on then don't be tempted to add to it. Some of us just can't say 'no'. If someone asks something of you just ask yourself if you can really take this on now. Saying 'yes' all the time does become a habit and then you are stuck with doing it so start to train yourself to say 'no'.

5. Get On With It!

Did you know that it is amazing how quickly you can do something once you finally commit to doing it? Believe me, thinking about doing something often uses up much more energy than actually doing it!

6. Avoid Interruptions

At times we feel like we are getting nowhere because we are constantly being interrupted. We all have cell phones these days so we are accessible 24 hours a day! Why? What on earth did we do before they came along? Our mind will overload in no time at all so try very hard to avoid where possible.

These are the main tips that we can try to use daily. Every little bit helps. Remember also to take breaks now and then. We all deserve a break. No one is going to give us a medal for working ourselves to the ground. Taking even a few minutes 'time out' from a task will help you to clear your thoughts and then you can come back more refreshed and ready.

By following simple tips like these your head will no longer be full of clutter and too much information. By writing things down and taking action as soon as you can, you can declutter your mind and then you will have more opportunity to think about much more productive and enjoyable things.

Ayla lives in London, UK. She is a Primary School teacher and author of 'Your Unique Guide On How To Organize,Declutter & Simplify Your Life', where she examines the emotional side of clutter as well as many great tips on how to get your home and family sorted once and for all.

Visit http://www.organize-declutter.com and sign up for her free declutter tips newsletter.

Declutter Your Home in 11 Easy Steps

                

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Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start on a smaller scale instead and it will be a whole lot easier.

For example, instead of starting with the entire house, commit to starting with one room.

Follow these 11 steps, and you're well on your way to an organized home:

1. PICK A ROOM -- ANY ROOM. Decide on what room to start on. Write it at the top of an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper. This will be your Action Sheet. Example: BEDROOM A

2. CHOOSE AN ENTICING REWARD. Designate an appropriate reward to give yourself on the Dumping portion of the job. The reward concept serves as your motivation, so be sure to choose something that you'd really enjoy! Write this reward on your Action Sheet. Example: Treat yourself to a massage or go out for a nice dinner -- whatever it is that you love to do. Write it on your Action Sheet.

3. SET A DEADLINE. Set a specific Dumping Completion Deadline for this one room. Write it on your Action Sheet. Example: DUMPING DEADLINE: APRIL 30

4. SCHEDULE TIME TO DUMP. Schedule 3 specific dumping dates (one hour for each). Hopefully this will be enough to complete the dumping portion of the job. Write it on your Action Sheet. Then, post the Action Sheet in a prominent place where you are certain to see it every day, like your bathroom mirror. It will serve as a reminder of your goal, deadline and pending reward. Example: DUMPING DATES: APRIL 18 from 8-9A, APRIL 21 from 8-9A, APRIL 24 from 8-9A

5. KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT. When the 1st dumping day arrives, keep that appointment, just as you would any other important appointment. Bring a bunch of large garbage bags. Play your favorite music in the background.

6. TIME IT. Set a timer for 1 Hour -- one that sounds off when the hour is up.

7. SORT THROUGH IT. Pick up one item at a time, and start dumping. (If you come across items you want to give to charity, designate a special bag for those items) Whatever you are going to keep, just put to one side of the room.

8. DO IT UNTIL THE TIME IS UP. Continue doing this until the timer goes off. If you prefer to continue, keep going. Otherwise, stop and follow the same procedures for your next two scheduled dates. Don't let the garbage bags sit there. Make sure they are thrown out now (or donated), or on Garbage Day at the latest.

9. CELEBRATE. Once you've managed to dump everything you don't want or need in that one room, it's time to celebrate. Take advantage of that reward you designated.

10. KEEPING IT ORGANIZED. Now that everything in that room that you wanted dumped is gone, you're ready to begin putting everything you are keeping back in an organized manner. Be very careful not to put anything else in this room that you don't want.

11. REPEAT. Repeat this process for each of the other rooms in your house.

Get Organized Now!

FREE Idea-Pak and E-zine filled with tips, ideas, articles and more to help you organize your home, your office and your life at the Get Organized Now! Web site!

Maria Gracia, owner of http://www.getorganizednow.com and author of the book, 'Finally Organized, Finally Free' can help you organize your home, your office and your life. Visit her Web site at: http://www.getorganizednow.com

getorgnow@wi.rr.com

Decluttering Christmas

                

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It has been said that less is more. This holiday season in the spirit of generally simplifying my life I thought I'd see if that's true. So what better way than to declutter what for most Americans is the jam-packed pinnacle of all holidays? Christmas.

Christmas in particular can use a lot of decluttering. Two thousand years after the blessed event we celebrate, we've managed to turn the season into the Olympics of gifting, baking, mailing, decorating and travel. We've made it a month-long sprint of parties, shopping and shipping deadlines. We even kill trees for it. I for one can live without fruitcake, egg nog, and a fresh evergreen in my living room once a year.

Decluttering the holidays means decluttering your life by eliminating excessive or unnecessary holiday activities you have been conditioned to do, and taking more time instead to celebrate the holidays as your heart desires.

But I admit, decluttering Christmas came for me this year out of necessity rather than reflection. Due to a cluster of December business trips - for both my husband and myself - further complicated by a mid-December weekend cruise we're taking (I just won it and it's a "use it now or lose it" deal), capped off by the fact that we'd be spending the entire week of Christmas and New Year's with my husband's family in a foreign country, I knew back in November there simply would not be time to accomplish all the Christmas and holiday rituals I usually undertake. All told, out of December's thirty-one days, I would be home for fourteen. And did I mention we have a ten year old daughter (who still believes in Santa) and a dog?

So when contemplating how I would "get it all done", I quickly realized the limited options available:

1)Don't sleep and go crazy from sleep deprivation 2)Cut back on sleep, thereby resulting in greatly increased crankiness and diminished holiday enjoyment 3)Try to get it all done but don't. Feel frustrated and guilty. 4)Do only the holiday things I enjoy and that are important to me, skip or short-cut all the rest, and damn the consequences.

Not liking options one through three, I sanely selected number four. No sooner had I made my choice for happiness over obligation than the universe conspired to help me at every turn. In fact, it conspired so well in my favor that this has been one of the most enjoyable holiday seasons I can remember. Even with limited time I have had enough space to do what I love and enjoy, and then some. And that, more than altruistic intentions or principles, is the main reason I'll stick with this approach for years to come and am inspired to share it with you.

So here's what got kicked to the curb, what didn't, and some tips for how you can do the same:

1.Gift Shopping. I love playing Santa with my own kid and giving presents to the other children in my life. Since I'm not very crafty, this necessitates shopping.

Online ordering from Amazon and other established Internet retailers made this season's shopping easy if not effortless. Better yet, this year due to the economic downturn retailers aggressively couponed and discounted merchandise pre-holiday, so while I did make one four-hour jaunt to the local mall (and paid the price with a killer migraine by the end of it) the 50% off coupons, free $10 gift cards, and other assorted perks made it worth the trip. The take-away: plan ahead and get it all done in as few visits as possible.

Here's another idea: A few years back my siblings and I - all grown, married adults - decided to do away with our annual "Secret Santa" gift exchange. After all, how many more electronic gadgets, designer handbags and home d?cor items did we need? Instead, every Christmas we contribute a minimum of $100 per couple toward a charity of choice. We take turns selecting the worthy cause of the year.

2.Decorating. Since we knew we'd be celebrating Christmas elsewhere, this year we agreed (with our daughter's blessing) not to put up our artificial tree. As a result, I placed about half the normal decorations I usually do around the house. Without the usual complement of d?cor and the tree, our home feels much airier and my husband, himself a minimalist, comments daily on how he likes having fewer Christmas decorations around.

And best of all, instead of taking up an entire weekend, the holiday decorating (including putting up outdoor lights for a two-story home) took four hours total. The focal point of the few decorations we did put out is the nativity scene. How nice to truly have Jesus at the center of Christmas instead of an ornamented tree. The fewer decorations somehow are more subtle and valuable reminders of the holiday.

Declutter Christmas at your home by actually decluttering your home of its usual holiday d?cor. Instead, if you have quite a bit of stuff, rotate what you display from one year to the next. Then every year it will seem like you have something new.

3.Baking. Usually I enjoy baking at this time of year. I like going to cookie exchanges and making my favorite recipes, many of which were my mother's. Yet this year due to schedule conflicts I couldn't attend the events I was invited to and certainly wouldn't be having any visitors. So why bake? Precisely.

Yet one still craves Christmas cookies, so what to do? Here's a great short-cut that will give you the best of both worlds. The grocery stores are loaded with pre-made Christmas cookies they normally don't carry at any other time of the year. BUY a few of your favorite varieties. Add to your selections one or two Nestle or Pillsbury "break and bake" cookie packages and pop those in the oven for 15 minutes. There you go, plenty of variety, fresh-baked goodness, and minimal time spent in the kitchen. That's a treat if you ask me.

4. Christmas Cards & The Inevitable Holiday Newsletter. I love having sent holiday cards, but hate the process of doing them. Luckily I have above average computer and administrative skills which have come in handy for automating this somewhat dreaded task. I've essentially reduced this into a labeling and envelope-stuffing process by computerizing the Christmas card address list, then computer-printing all return and address labels. I personally sign the cards, but of course you could order pre-printed ones to streamline things further.

Yet in being faithful to doing only what I love, I didn't want to skip the cards this year. They're the chance to reach out and touch the many friends and family I seldom have the opportunity to see. It was important to let them know they're in my thoughts even though they're not in my ZIP Code.

In the age of the Internet and digital photography, automating Christmas greetings has never been easier. If you want a completely hands-free process, computerize your list, then upload it and your favorite family photos to the Kodak, PhotoWorks or Snapfish Web sites and they'll do the mailing for you. Or save some trees and send free email greetings from Hallmark.com.

5. Visitors and Visiting. This one's easy. Visitors? Don't have any. If you must, ask them which hotel they'll be staying at while they're in town. Or instead, go to them. Better yet, if budgets allow meet in the middle but keep it fun. The more fun you make the destination, the simpler all the other Christmas rituals will be. As an alternative to busy city winter travels or sleeping in twin beds in the guest room, plan a family vacation to a favorite surf or ski locale. This approach minimizes gift craziness as well since it's difficult to haul everything around. Think about it, no one has to cook either, and you might be left with a tan or a massage rather than stress and dishes to wash.

Decluttering Christmas has not only been an incredible gift to myself, it has also taught me that less is absolutely more at holiday time. When I don't buy into all the "should do's" dictated by modern society and reinforced by the consumerism of Christmas, I am able to enjoy the celebration at a deeper level. Correction: I am able to enjoy the celebration, period.

This year we'll be with my husband's family in Mexico, and although I'll miss seeing my own family in the states, I'll be spending the holiday with people I love dearly in simple, uncomplicated relaxation. We'll be at a family home out in the middle of nowhere, away from television, cell phones and the Internet. Best of all, we'll be far away from the hyper-commercialization of Christmas in the US. If that's not a gift, I don't know what is.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Karen Talavera is a keen observer, critical thinker and aspiring book author with a passion for writing, learning and teaching. She lives in South Florida and sounds off frequently on her blog of the same name, Sound Off. Read more of Karen's writing at http://worldwidesoundoff.blogspot.com .

5 Tips on De-cluttering for Success

                

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If we are surrounded by clutter and disorganization in our lives it makes an excellent breeding ground for negativity, negativity is what brings about feelings of low self-worth and low self-esteem which hinders us in life and is the basis for us being unsuccessful in what we choose to do. It is essential therefore if we want to succeed and make the most out of life that we de-clutter from time to time and remove any excess obstacles and belongings from our path, keeping our lives open and free flowing. Here are some simple points to remember to keep your home and life clutter free.

1 Replace old with new

This applies to anything which you bring into your home be it clothing, utensils, furniture or any other item, if you continually buy and bring new items into your home then very quickly you are going to be over run with items which usually end up being packed in cartons and put in the basement. Even if you pack items and put them in the basement it is still clutter, clutter that you could do without so get into the habit of throwing things away or giving them to charity when you buy new.

2 Don?t keep unnecessary things

In order to keep your home clutter free it is essential that you don?t keep anything which is not essential, items belonging in this category include junk mail which appears through your letterbox, flyers, old newspapers, magazines, letters or trash from your car. Letters that you don?t need can be shredded immediately, the same for junk mail, while any trash from your car should be collected daily and disposed of immediately. It is surprising if you get into the habit how much junk you can eliminate building up in your home on a daily basis just by taking care with items such as this.

3 Throw anything away that you don?t like

Never hang onto items simply because you were given them as presents, while this may sound harsh it leads to unnecessary clutter, if you don?t like something then don?t keep it, give it away to someone who likes it or sell it but don?t hang onto it.

4 Have a goal

When looking around your home have a goal in mind when de-cluttering, for example treat each room separately and say to yourself ?I aim to de-clutter this room by 25%?. If you start out with a clear goal in mind you will feel more in control, organized and feel you are accomplishing something. You should divide the clutter into three piles, those items you can sell, the ones which are trash and those that you wish to give to charity, starting out with a clear plan and goal in mind makes de-cluttering your life so much easier.

5 Never procrastinate

Be harsh with yourself and don?t feel guilty about throwing something away or giving it away, once you start de-cluttering don?t give it a second thought and remove something from a pile and change your mind about getting rid out of sentiment. If we stop and think about every item in this way it sows the seeds of doubt and negativity that leads to disorganization and a home full of items we don?t need.

Alan Kintel is a writer that concentrates on helping people better themselves, for cutting edge information you NEED to know about yourself before you try to change your life check out his website at http://someofthebest.info

The Secret to Decluttering Your Space

                

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Is there really a secret to getting decluttered? Is there hope for the piles that lie in every corner of my home? Can I dare dream that I will open my closet one day and not have the contents fall on my head? I believe that there IS a secret to organization and decluttering and I?m willing to share it with you?anxious to share it with you, because it can change the look of your home, the atmosphere of your space, and the stress level in your life.

I propose that it all comes down to one main concept: whatever you?ve got, it needs a spot. Now don?t be deceived. While it may sound way too simple, there?s a lot of punch in that little statement. What were you looking for?an algebraic formula? What you need is a simplified idea that you can apply to every single aspect of cleaning, organizing and decluttering your home or space (it could be an office or apartment). The simpler, the better. It?s like a mantra that you chant as you wander through your halls, rooms, and closets. Start applying it little by little, and you will see miracles happening right under your nose. The sweetest payoff is that the more little piles that you clean, the more motivated you are to keep cleaning. This little phrase will dramatically change the way you feel about your home, it will energize you to do countless other projects, it will decrease your stress level, and it will change your home from a tornado to an oasis.

Just waking up and looking at the piles in our homes begins a day with stress. It creates feelings of unfinished business, endless projects and chore lists a mile long. This is depressing, discouraging and downright disheartening. I believe that you have all of the tools that you need to break down these stress-builders in your home.

Pick one room at a time, one pile at a time. Start slowly and I promise that you will gain momentum?probably sooner than you think. As you attack your first pile, remember the motto: whatever you?ve got, it needs a spot. Designate ONE pile as your goal for that day (or evening) and concentrate on completing that one task. Don?t make your goal too lofty. You will be encouraged when you accomplish what you set out to do.

Never underestimate the power of an empty spot. You will be absolutely amazed at how energizing it is to step back and gaze upon the now EMPTY spot in your room that you just cleared. By simply emptying ONE spot, you will be motivated to clean about ten more. But be careful, keep your goals attainable.

Invite a friend over for tea and tips. What you need is a second set of eyes and a discerning mind that isn?t your own. You need a friend who you trust to spend an hour or two with you, sip a cup of joe, and help you decide what to move, what to keep, what to give away, what to sell and what to do with what?s left. The power of another?s suggestion is very strong. It keeps you focused, keeps you motivated, and keeps you on task. A friend can also offer arbitrary advice that is invaluable when it comes to getting rid of our ?stuff?.

Embrace the nitty gritty. Alright, get ready to dig in with both feet. You will be handling everything from big pieces of furniture to tiny scraps of paper. And sometimes the smallest item can of greatest value! Understand that your piles may have a whole bunch of nothing that can be thrown out, or that you may unearth something of buried importance. Either way, your determination and full focus (inspired by visions of huge amounts of space) are of vital importance.

Complete one small task that makes a big difference. This concept has saved my sanity time after time. Here are my two main examples. One, if your bed is made, your room looks clean. There can be piles of clothing here or there, but if your bed is made, your room looks clean and neat. There is a feeling of order and structure to the room. Two, if your kitchen counters are clear, your kitchen feels clean. There can be dishes in the sink, coats hanging on the bar chairs, and last night?s dinner casserole still sitting on the stove. But if your counters are clear, there is a sense of space, order and cleanliness. My kitchen counters are the bane of my household cleaning, because they collect EVERYthing. It is my constant battle to keep those cleared. But, when I do, I immediately feel less stressed and able to handle other chores or projects. Find the spot in your room that makes the biggest difference and keep it clean!

Okay, let?s get practical. Here?s what this really looks like. I have a pile of papers on my desk that are a thorn in my side. So I set aside one hour to dedicate to this menacing pile. Here is my plan of attack:

1. Go through each piece of paper and separate it into piles?things that I need to keep and should be filed, trash, papers that I need to respond to by either phone or mail, papers or coupons that go directly into my purse, and miscellaneous. I now have 5 smaller piles, and it?s only been 10 minutes! Okay!
2. Throw away the trash?down to 4 piles!
3. File the papers that I already have a file for, and make a new file for the rest. (This assumes, of course, that you have a file system and office supplies for additional files.)
4. Put the papers that go in my purse IN my purse (see how easy that was?)
5. Place the remaining pile on my workstation/desk area.

Okay, I still have that last remaining pile on my desk. But the whole task only took me 20 minutes and I set aside 60! I have time to have a cup of coffee, read a magazine and STILL respond to some or all of those silly papers. Everything is now in its spot! And you should see my desk! It?s beautiful!!! I?m ready for the next pile?

Here are some other practical tips on creating ?spots? for everything else. In your bedroom, you need bins and boxes and baskets for your closet and under your bed. You have to create a spot for things like clothes that don?t fit anymore, clothes that need to be ironed, hats, shoes, sundries, ?things? on your nightstand, etc. If you have a designated spot for anything that you find in this room, all it takes is for you to put it in the spot. The key is creating a spot?a bin under the bed, a shelf in the closet, a coat tree in the corner, an extra dresser or lingerie chest if necessary.

In your kitchen, get a recipe box; put your bread baskets in a corner of a closet; clear the top of the refrigerator; invest in Tupperware! In your bathroom, get cute baskets at WalMart or Target for your hair stuff; hang your hairdryer on a wall hook; purchase a small shelving unit with a door for extra storage. In your garage, there?s only one answer?BINS AND SHELVES! This involves a small investment, but it is well worth it to walk into your garage and see all of your stuff labeled and in bins. Are you getting the picture? Whatever you?ve got, it needs a spot!

In order to avoid clutter, you also need to have space between your pieces of furniture. Don?t line it up like ducks in a row. Have a piece or two and then some space. This also applies to your kitchen counter and backsplash. The day I learned this amazing concept was the day that space came alive on my kitchen counters. You don?t have to fill every single corner or wall or counter! Get rid of superfluous furniture, appliances and knick-knacks. You will be amazed at how clutter-free your home will feel. Space is directly related to levels of stress. The more space you have, the less stress you have. Don?t get me wrong, a house should feel like home and have warm touches and personal flair. Just find the balance between a museum and a zoo!

Does this all seem too simple? The best ideas are simple ones. If it was too complicated, we wouldn?t feel capable of completing it. You CAN organize and declutter your home, as long as you take one small bite at a time. For additional ideas on getting your home under your control, check out www.domesticqueens.com. This is my personal website, and it is a resource for women who want to have a home that is a haven of rest, not a source of stress. Have fun decluttering and destressing!

Pam Keller is the author and designer of http://www.domesticqueens.com, a website dedicated to women who run their homes. The website serves as a resource for motivation, tips and suggestions for organizing and decluttering your home. It also covers menu planning, effective list-making, internet shopping and cleaning tips.

DeCluttering Blueprint: Step 5 - Organizing Your Bedrooms

                

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If you?ve been following the DeCluttering Blueprint series, you?ve noticed the process for eliminating clutter is the same regardless of the room or space you?re working on. In short, you always begin by defining the purpose of your room and then follow-up by identifying the major categories to be kept in the space, sorting all things into those major categories, and finally, editing each major category of item down to what you love and what you use.

The next part of the organizing process is to put your room back together and that?s where the real problem solving comes in. Thus, the remaining articles in this series will be devoted to smart, space saving solutions to help you arrange, contain, and organize your rooms and belongings?starting with your bedrooms.

Create a restful, organized bedroom using a combination of the materials and ideas that follow:

1. Your Closet ? Make dressing fast, convenient and pleasing.
• Closet organizing kit ? This type of unit will maximize your space plus it can be customized for your organizational needs. Before you purchase such a kit, measure your closet area and count the number of suits, pants, shirts, dresses, sweaters, shoes, and purses you want to keep in your closet. Go to a home improvement store?look at the finishes and components and buy the one that best fits your needs.
• Closet rod doubler ? This little device will double your hanging space for short items and it?s a breeze to install.
• Under-shelf basket ? This is a plastic coated wire basket that slips onto a shelf to provide additional storage.
• Shelf divider ? This gadget slides over the front edge of a shelf to support stacked items and prevent the piles from spilling over onto each other. It?s great for sweaters.
• Stacking shelf ? A great solution for those places where you don?t want to add permanent shelving. Buy one or more units to add storage and make the most of your vertical space.
• Over the door multi-pocket unit ? A great way to stash shoes, hosiery, belts, jewelry and scarves. Pick one with clear plastic pockets and you can readily identify the contents.
• Hanging canvas shelves ? This tool attaches to your closet rod and adds multiple shelves for sweaters, t-shirts, jeans, etc. They?re also great in kid?s closets for organizing various sports gear or clothing for each day of the week.
• Pegs ? Adding a couple pegs or a peg board to your closet will make it simple to keep your bedroom tidy. Just slip your pj?s, robe and other frequently used items on them and off you go.
• Hamper ? Every bedroom needs a laundry hamper. If you have space in your closet, hang a canvas bag on the rod or on a hook to make it convenient to toss dirty clothes in the appropriate place.
• Lighting ? Good lighting helps insure you won?t pick up one brown shoe and one that?s black. It also makes it easier to assemble an outfit. You can add lighting without wiring by attaching Stick and Click lights which require only 3 small batteries.
• Stool ? If you have ample closet space, try adding a stool so you can reach upper shelves and sit down and put your shoes on. Even better, go for a stool that does double duty: get one that has storage plus seating.
• Hangers ? Wooden hangers not only look great in your closet--they hold the shape of your clothes better. Consider the type with a ribbed bar to hold pants as this arrangement prevents slippage.
2. Your Bed ? Make your bed the focal point of your room and use it for storage if you?re space challenged.
• Position ? Place your bed so that you have clear sight of the door; at the same time avoid placing it directly opposite the door or on the same wall as the door.
• Linens ? Use the best quality materials you can afford and coordinate them with a soothing wall color.
• Platform - If your room is small consider investing in a platform bed with drawers or cubbies and baskets. You can get a lot of small items in these compartments.
• Risers ? Another option for the space challenged bedroom is to put your bed on risers and utilize plastic under-bed containers with a lid and wheels for shoes, linens, out of season clothing, etc. If you opt for this solution be sure to use a bed skirt to keep your storage out-of-sight.
3. Your Media ? Go ahead?watch TV in the bedroom but hide it when you don?t care to see it.
• Deluxe solutions ? Conceal your TV in a pop-up cabinet placed at the foot of your bed. Or, splurge on the latest invention?a custom cabinet that rotates your TV 180 degrees so when not in use you only see bookshelves. (The hardware for this solution is called Reversica Gyre and holds up to 600 lbs.)
• Armoire ? Tuck your TV inside this type chest and you won?t have to look at it unless you want to. If you?re working with a small budget consider an unfinished armoire and paint it yourself; it makes matching your d?cor easy. Armoires also offer additional storage for folded clothing.
• Dresser ? If purchasing one of the aforementioned items is not in your budget look around your house for an unused dresser. Set the TV on top, build a box around it, and then add doors on the front.
4. Your Nightstand ? This item needs to be utilitarian, i.e. it should hold an alarm clock, book, and glass of water.
• Light ? Instead of putting a light on your nightstand, look for lighting that mounts on the wall?newer options mount like a picture.
• Common household items ? Your nightstand need not be traditional?you can use a chair, bench, end table, small dresser or shelf mounted to the wall. If you want a nightstand on each side of the bed, keep in mind that they do not have to be identical.

At the end of the day?all that matters is that you feel your room is cozy and practical. Ready for more organizing inspiration?watch for the next edition of the Decluttering Blueprint?coming soon.

Pam N. Woods is co-author of a bestselling book, Create the Business Breakthrough You Want: Secrets and Strategies from the World's Greatest Mentors; endorsed by Ken Blanchard & Dr. Stephen Covey. She is a respected authority on personal effectiveness who has mentored hundreds of executives, managers and professionals over the last three decades. Now, through her business, Smart WorkLife Solutions, she is helping individuals at home and at work to declutter their space, their schedules and their lives.

Pam?s website is a resource with information and services to help a diverse population of individuals organize their office, home and life. If you want to save time, boost productivity and reduce stress visit the Smart WorkLife Solutions website today.

See http://www.worklifecoach.com or these specific pages: Free how-to articles or Organize your office, home or life.

Conquering Your Inner Clutterbug: 7 Tips for Decluttering Your Life

                

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If you're feeling overwhelmed by the stuff in your home, you're not alone. Here are seven tried and true tips for cutting the clutter and getting your life back.

1. Clean out the closets. Most people actually wear only 20% of the clothes they own. That means that 80% of what's clogging up your closet and dresser is stuff you never wear anyway. Set aside 4 hours one weekend to take everything out of your closet, try it on, and toss anything that doesn't fit well or flatter you, and stuff you haven't worn in the last year. The only items that goes back in the closet are the ones you truly like. As for the rest of it, take it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army for a hefty tax deduction.
2. Ditch the dailies. Do you really read that newspaper every day? Reduce your subscription to Sundays only, and just watch that pile of unread papers disappear.
3. Stop maxing out on magazines. It's hard to say no to a 4-year subscription when it costs approximately 11 cents, but it's only a good deal if you're actually going to read the magazines when they come. Pick one or two mags you really love and cancel the rest. Then, gather up all of your back issues and drop them off at the local hospital. Their patients and visitors will thank you.
4. Love your local library. While you're on a roll with reducing your reading materials, paw through those paperbacks gathering dust on your bookshelf and donate them to your library. You'll get back your shelf space while helping a chronically underfunded public institution -- and bringing home another tax deduction.
5. Nix the knickknacks. Think of it this way: The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to dust. If you don't like those candlesticks Aunt Maeve gave you, take them to Goodwill. Running out of space for picture frames? Pick just a few favorite photos to leave out, put the rest into albums, and Freecycle the leftover frames. Got a thing for porcelain figurines? Unless you have a nice china closet for them, probably best to pack them up for protection -- and to clear some breathing room.
6. Master your mail. I know you're tired at the end of the day, but fight the urge to just drop the mail on the counter and sigh, "I'll deal with it tomorrow." That stuff piles up fast, and the bigger the pile, the harder to sit down and deal with it. From now on, as soon as you get through the door, sort the mail into three piles: Trash, Shredder, and Keep. Then, open all of the Keep items and toss the empty envelopes and inserts away with the Trash. When the tottering mound of junk turns into a neat little stack of paper, you'll feel a lot better about what you find in your mailbox.
7. Tame the toys. And don't think you're exempt from this one if you don't have kids. Pet toys, electronics, and personal care products (do you really use those fancy hot rollers enough to leave them on the bathroom counter all the time?) take up a lot of space. Head over to Ikea for a couple of those snazzy woven baskets to stash Fido's bone. Lose the dozen remote controls and get a universal remote that handles everything. Simplify by either storing, donating, or Freecycling stuff you just don't use that often.

With a little bit of determination and just a few hours, you can turn your stressed-out space into a peaceful clutter-free zone. Ahh, now doesn't that feel better?

Kristen King is a freelance writer-editor and consultant from Northern Virginia, and the host of b5media's http://www.LivelyWomen.com, a daily blog dedicated to helping women live whole, healthy lives. Visit Kristen online at Lively Women or at her professional website, http://www.kristenkingfreelancing.com

Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

                

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One simple way to get a increased sense of well-being is to declutter your life. What that means is just to remove all those things that you don?t really need.

Since clutter and procrastination is closely tied together I?ve started using the Make a small deal with yourself-technique. Here?s what you do:

Promise yourself that you?ll work on something for just 5 minutes. After those 5 minutes you can do something else if you want to. But make a note on your schedule when you will come back to the task and work another 5 minutes with it. Not matter how unpleasant a task may be, you can often talk yourself into working 5 minutes on it.

And the thing is, you often don?t have to schedule another 5 minutes that day. Decluttering often takes just 5-15 minutes. And when you have done your first 5 minutes you?ll most likely feel that you should just get it all done. The important thing is to get going. Often it starts to feel good going through all that old junk and cleaning it out. If not, then break it down into 5 minute parts.

If there is a lot of clutter everywhere don?t get overwhelmed and fall into procrastination-mode. Do 5 minutes in one room a day. Or start by doing one small task a day. Declutter your old receipts or your old magazines. Do it every day and pretty soon it?s all decluttered.

I?ve found it helpful to put all the stuff you want to get rid of on the floor in the middle of the room. I put it all in piles and start going through it. The messiness of it all makes it easier. You just want to get rid of that annoying pile.

Get a couple of boxes or bags. Put the things you want to save in one of them, the stuff you want to sell/give in another and get a trashcan for the junk.

Use your trashcan liberally. If you?re unsure if you should throw something away, think about how much you have used it in the past. Then think about how much use you?ll have from it in the future. Then you?ll probably want to throw it away.

Declutter your workspace
I find it very satisfying to remove old coffee-cups from my desk, sort my stuff and throw out what I don?t need. A decluttered and ordered workspace brings clarity and order to the mind. Avoid putting post-its all over your screen and desk. Use a program that collects all those thoughts and reminders. I use My Life Organized (use a quick Google-search to find it and other programs referred to in this article).

Using 5 minutes a day to keep your workspace clutterfree not only makes you happier and more efficient. According to a series of interviews that Brian Tracy cites 50 out of 52 managers would not promote a person with a messy desk. Even if the person was doing a good job. They couldn?t trust a position of responsibility to someone who couldn?t keep himself organized. Take a look at you workspace and see what it might reflect about you as a person.

You might want to look into the Getting Things Done-system (often refered to as GTD). It will keep you better organized and reduce the clutter in both your physical workspace and your inbox. The book you want to get is called ?Getting Things Done? and is written by David Allen. The GTD-system can also be used to increase productivity and reduce stress in the rest of your life.

Declutter your home
One way to have a more clutterfree home is to bring less stuff into the house. If you buy a lot of things on impulse and then just use it one time you might want to reconsider that habit. Pause and think before you put something in your shopping-cart.

Don?t bring junk-mail into your home. I?ve started to move that kind of mail directly from the mailbox to the nearest garbage can.

Give away all the stuff you don?t need. Or to take a couple of minutes to check Ebay. Whatever things you?ve collected throughout the years could actually be something people are willing to pay a surprising amount of money for. Got old furniture no one uses? Put an ad in the paper for it.

Take 5 minutes to do the dishes, take 5 minutes to fold the laundry and put it where it?s supposed to be. Don?t let these things pile up. Getting those small tasks done will bring you a sense of relief.

Use boxes to store magazines, toys and other random things that otherwise just lies around. If you have a system with written or mental labels then it will be easier to keep things organized and in their right place.

Declutter your computer and online habits
Declutter your RSS-feed. Just keep the ones that really gives you value. Remove the rest.

Declutter your bookmarks. Go through it and remove bookmarks you never use. Organize the rest into categories. It will make it a lot easier to find what you are looking for.

Remove bookmarks that you click impulsively but really doesn?t provide much value. These can be real time-hogs and easily break your concentration countless times each day. If you use FireFox I recommend downloading PageAddict. It tracks how much time you spend on different sites. It might not be something you want to know, but in the long run it might be very helpful to know.

Shut of your Instant Messengers to avoid interruptions.

Don?t put of answering emails for days or you might forget them. Clean out the ones you don?t need.

Defragment your computer, remove the programs you never use, use a program like Ad-aware to remove spyware. And clean up your desktop, delete what you don?t need and organize what you need in folders.

Declutter your life
TiVO your favourite TV-shows and fast-forward through the commercials. Limit the number of shows you watch and only watch the ones you?ve decided on in advance. Cancel subscriptions of magazines that you never get around to reading anyway.

Always carry a pen and paper. Write down every important thought. Getting it out of your head not only frees your mind to think about more important things. It also reassures you that none of those excellent ideas and must-dos are forgotten. Consider transfering your notes to a program like My Life Organized to keep all your thoughts in one place.

Time is one of your most valuable resources. Don?t do something or keep something just out of old habit. What value does this thing or habit hold for you today? What would the impact in the future be if you did it/kept it? If the habit or thing doesn?t hold much value or won?t have an important effect on your future then consider removing it from your life. And fill that space and time in your life with something better.

Learn to say no. If you constantly say yes you?ll be out of spare time before you know it. Much of your time will be spent doing things for others that you may not really want to do. And stress and unhappiness will ensue. Think about a suggestion and before you say yes ask yourself; do I really want to do this? What is the value in doing this? Do I really have the time to do it? Sometimes you have to do it anyway, but not always. You might want to be kind and helpful to people. But being overstressed and eventually burning out will not help you or anyone else.

Ask for help. See what advice your friends and co-workers have to give. If you know or meet someone who keeps their workspace, home or other part of their life clutterfree ask how they do it. Try their advice and see if it works for you too.

Making decluttering a, for the most of the time, small but significant habit doesn?t just increase your productivity.

A couple of minutes a day let?s you rediscover those pieces of interesting stuff you forgot in the piles of junk. It can make you money. It allows you experience the joy of giving and others the joy of receiving. It helps you shed layers of confusion.

And as your outer world influences your inner world your mind becomes calm and clear.

Check out Henrik Edberg's blog called Personal Development with The Positivity Blog. It covers topics such as social skills, productivity, wealth, health and how you can live a happier and more positive life.

Take Time to Declutter Your Life

                

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When you think of clutter, do you think of stuff or disorganization around your home? That is certainly one definition of clutter, but clutter is so much more than that. Clutter can be unfinished projects that are hanging over your head, or tolerations that you put up with in life. Clutter is unhealthy relationships, bad habits, negative thoughts and destructive emotional states. Basically, clutter is anything that interferes with living your best life and being your best self.

Why care about the clutter? Clutter is an instant energy drain. Whether it's messy closets, a bad attitude, a job you don't like, or unpaid taxes, they all interfere with living a joyful and fulfilling life. When you get rid of the clutter, you love yourself enough to grow and be your best. You know the old saying, "Out with the old and in with the new". Addressing the clutter in your life opens the door for new and exciting things to happen. Every time I say goodbye to something that is no longer aligned with my best life, a new opportunity magically appears.

There are four major areas of our lives that clutter tends to accumulate. Let's address each of these areas individually.

Physical Environment
Your physical environment consists of your home, office, and automobile. Decluttering your environments includes tossing out the junk and organizing what you wish to keep. When you walk into your space, are you nurtured by it? Is it clean and decorated in a way that brings you peace and happiness? Decluttering your environment means that everything in it is in good working order. Right now, my vehicle needs several repairs and it affects me. My air conditioner doesn't work. The driver side's window doesn't open, the electric locks make a loud grinding noise, and the fuel injector pump is going out. Does my car run and get me around? It does, but it's annoying to have these loose ends not taken care of. I don't enjoy driving my car. How are your environments? Do they enable you to live healthily and happily?

Health and Emotional Balance
Your physical and emotional health is all about you. Decluttering yourself physically and emotionally means you are taking the steps to eat right, exercise regularly and take care of your mind and body. You are addressing any health concerns and keeping regular checks ups with your doctor. Decluttering forces you to address stress in your life and do whatever it takes to live a peaceful existence. Maintaining emotional balance includes managing your thought and emotional life - doing your best to keep your mind positive. It means you are intellectually stimulating your brain, fostering creativity, and avoiding the things that are damaging to your mental state, like overworking or watching too much TV. When you've decluttered yourself, you look and feel good.

Money
Decluttering in the area of money requires us to maintain healthy financial habits. What is a healthy money manager? A healthy money manager has addressed all her emotional issues with money. She is comfortable handling money, and uses her money wisely. Decluttering requires you to address overspending or living in the dark when it comes to your financial picture. Having healthy financial habits means you are saving money for both short term and long term needs. You have a will that addresses all your assets, including your children. People in a healthy financial state understand the value of giving and not holding too tightly to money. Bills are paid on time, and debt is non-existent, with the exception of a mortgage. A healthy money manager is educated in wise investments or has a reliable and trusted financial advisor. Money is a tool that is necessary for you to live life in the way that is important to you.

Relationships
Relationships in your life include your family, friends, co-workers, and boss. Decluttering in the area of relationships means you are addressing any relationship problems and that you generally get along well with the people in your life. You have removed the relationships from your life that regularly drag you down or damage you. Keeping healthy relationships requires us to keep in touch with people by in person, phone or email visits. To declutter your relationships, you need to forgive everyone who has hurt you and put full closure to the relationships that are no longer in your life. Doing your part to maintain healthy relationships requires you to speak truthfully, avoid gossiping, and steer clear of criticizing and judging others. When we've delucttered our relationships, they provide the love and support we need on this journey through life.

Take an honest look at your life. In what areas could you use a little decluttering? What needs to change to help you live your best life and be your best self? Our pastor shared a thought that is worth hanging on to: "If I want my life to change, I must change." I'll take it one step further. "If I want to grow and live my best life, I must grow and be my best self."

Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach, speaker and author for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter and the special report ?155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children?, please visit her website at http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

How I Decided To Unclutter My Life

                

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Having returned recently from a trip to Israel I realized that what I wanted in life was really so simple.

My mother in law offered to pay for my sister in law and myself to take a trip to Israel. Well, I certainly wasn't going to say no to that! I have travelled quite extensively, that was - until I married and had children. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and kids but life was simpler way back when. That was when I remembered who I was and before I sort of got lost in the whirl wind of life.

When I was younger I loved to travel, see the world and experience new cultures and world views. Now I had the opportunity to get back on track and renew some of my life goals- one of them being to see as much of the world as possible.

I was deeply moved in so many ways through this trip but at the same time deeply disappointed. I wanted to see for myself where Jesus had walked and let all those Bible stories come to life. Disappointment number one was so many of those places, in reality, where now replaced by over decorated, ornate, dingy, incense filled churches. To make matters worse, at the entrance or exit - or both - there were people asking for collections or entrance fees to get into a place of worship. This was in both Christian and Jewish houses of Worship. In my culture - this is totally unacceptable.

I don't have the space to write down all else that I experienced but what I came away with from this amazing trip was this. Simply my life and especially my faith. True religion is having a relationship with God and not having to impress him with all that gold and incense. It is so true that the best things in life are free. Surely it 's all about what Jesus taught - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your might and love your neighbour as yourself".

Gina Hamlyn has always enjoyed researching and experiencing other cultures.

Guide to Organizing Closets - Organizing and Dealing with Clutter

                

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If your closet is in such a mess that you feel like throwing everything in the trashcan, then it is critical to get a guide to organizing closets, ASAP! Closets may harbor clutter and disarray if left untended. To save yourself from the hassles of finding lost things, you need a guide to organizing closets. It is time to move on from utter chaos to an organized state.

Parting with your old stuff could be a melodramatic experience. You have all these belongings that remind you of graduation, marriage, first baby... Wait! Enough of this! You have to put your foot down once and for all! When it's time to throw out unnecessary things, it's time to throw out!

If you are a pack rat and would like to keep your closets' contents, this guide to organizing closets will show you how to choose which to throw, which to keep, and what to do when you decide to throw them out.

Guide to Organizing Closets: To throw or not to throw? That is the question.

Some people toss everything out when they clean up. When they realize that they actually need an item, they realize that they have already thrown them out. You do not need to be a victim of ?oh-I-threw-it-out!-itis?. You just have to be wise and careful with your sorting. You also have to think about the importance of the thing you are considering throwing. Below are some questions you may want to ask yourself, in sorting out which to throw or keep:

- Is it still important to you?

- Is it still usable?

- Do you want it?

- Does it have sentimental value?

If you answered ?yes? to any of the above 4 questions, then keep it.

- Was it from an ex?

- Does it carry bad memories?

- Is it ugly?

- Do you abhor it?

If you answered ?yes? to any of the above 4 questions, then toss it!

It is important to throw out items tied with bad memories. You have to move on too, and not to mention your goal of cleaning out your closet. It's a win-win situation. You get to toss out bad memory reminders (this is actually symbolic), and you'll have less clutter to cram your closet with at the same time.

Guide to Organizing Closets: You don't really have to toss it to the trash...

The stuff you decide to toss, if they are still usable, can go to a good cause. If you have so much stuff to get rid of, have a garage sale. You'll not only get rid of your stuff, you?ll also earn extra cash. You can also donate your stuff to charity. Or, if you're feeling creative and extra Scrooge-ish, you can recycle your stuff as gifts. Just make sure that they're still in good condition; and if you can, you may modify the look of the stuff so that the recipients of your gifts won't recognize them.

So did you have to enlist the help of the dumpster to clean out and organize your closets? You didn't? What a miracle! And Oprah didn't even get in the picture, except maybe as an inspiration. Either way, I hope you've benefited from this guide to organizing closets!

Michael Lee has dramatically changed countless lives with his powerful self-improvement advice. Get free self-help success secrets and audios now at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/articlelist.html and be the next big success story!

Declutter Your Life

                

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De-cluttering your physical space can have an amazingly uplifting effect on your mood. Feng Shui experts claim that buildings and furniture store the memories of events in the form of energy, and that by de-cluttering you can clear the energy of historic traumatic events. Whether or not you put any store in that kind of theory, nobody who has ever de-cluttered a space could deny the positive benefits of increasing the physical space in their environment.

However, physical de-cluttering can also have a cathartic effect on people emotionally. When we let go of things we?ve been hoarding for a long time, we often let go of emotional memories we?ve been hanging onto along with them (albeit unconsciously), and so by clearing physical clutter you can clear space in your head and in your heart as well as your home.

Clutter though is not only physical. We can also have mental and emotional clutter blocking the flow of energy in our lives, and clearing this out is guaranteed to help improve our emotional wellbeing. Examples include undone/unfinished tasks; people/activities that drain you of energy; remaining angry at people; busyness - filling up your schedule with activities you feel duty-bound to do, and leaving no time to nourish your soul and refresh your body.

Some tips for clearing your physical clutter:

? Look at your home and identify the areas that need decluttering. Break it down into small tasks that can be tackled over a period of time, rather than one big project to be done in a day. Start small with everyday areas like the kitchen table and build momentum towards the areas you avoid because the idea of tackling them is just overwhelming.

? Go through your stuff and for each item ask yourself Do I love it? Do I need it? Do I use it? If you can answer yes to any of them, it stays. If it?s no to all, then it goes.

? Divide everything into four piles: Keep, Recycle, Donate and Dump. As soon as you?re done, remove the items that aren?t staying straight away and deliver them to their new destination.

? Once your big clear out is done, avoid a new build up by clearing out little and often.

Tips for clearing your Mental/Emotional Clutter:

? Make a list of anything you?ve been procrastinating over, and ask yourself why you have been putting it off. What can you tackle and what can you let go of? When you?re clear on what you definitely has to be done, make a plan and get to it.

? Stop worrying. There is nothing constructive about worrying ? it won?t help you avoid the outcome you?re worrying about and it?ll destroy your ability to enjoy the present. When a worrying thought arises, quash it straight away and sing along with me ?Everything?s gonna be alright, everything?s gonna be alright?? Focus your energy on what you?d like to happen instead.

? Follow through on promises and commitments. When you?ve said you?ll do something but you keep putting it on the long finger, it drains you of energy. If you can?t or don?t want to see them through, then be upfront about it and withdraw your promise.

? Let go of anger and forgive. When somebody hurts you badly, it?s a normal response to feel anger, and to not want to forgive. But anger is bad for your health, both physical and emotional, so it?s actually in your interests to let it go and forgive the other person. Forgiving them doesn?t mean you have to welcome them back into your life with open arms, it just means letting go of the memory of what they?ve done to you and the feelings that go with it. Maybe the other person doesn?t deserve forgiveness, but don?t you deserve to move on and leave the pain behind?

? Say no to people and activities that drag you down. Instead, surround yourself with people who uplift you and do things that make you feel great!

As with your physical clear out, don?t make this a once-off project or an irregular purge. Develop clutter free habits in every aspect of your life, and you will enjoy an easier flow through life on a continuous basis.

Life Coach Hilda Carroll specialises in helping clients to enjoy the journey, realising the ability to BE happy now rather than postponing it till they achieve their goals or life improves. For a copy of her free ebook, The Steps to True Inner Happiness visit http://www.thehappinessbusiness.com

Decluttering Your Playroom - Ideas For Playroom Storage

                

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A designated playroom is a great way to give your child plenty of room to play, but playroom storage that looks attractive and still allows easy access to toys can be hard to find. The best playroom storage options offer simple ways to organize toys so your child can easily find what he is looking for without pulling out a million other toys. Ideal playroom storage also makes it easy for your child to return toys to their proper place so the playroom doesn't have to hide behind closed doors!

There are a lot of creative ideas for functional and versatile playroom storage. Many playroom storage ideas are also creative decorating ideas! A simple section of garden trellis can be refinished in any color or design. Add wooden pegs or drawer pulls before hanging it on the wall. This is a perfect storage area for dress up clothes, especially purses and hats. A few simple hanging coat racks can serve the same purpose.

The right playroom storage for small toys is usually a very difficult decision. A simple divided bookshelf is perfect for storing much more than books! Separate the shelves into a variety of different sizes and use colorful and unique containers to store small toys, like doll accessories, toy cars, or blocks. Remember to label toy containers with pictures and words to make it easier for your child to clean up.

Hanging shoe holders make great playroom storage tools! These versatile holders can hang over the door and work well on the outside of closet doors, or may hang on a nail anywhere on the wall, depending on the selected style. Shoe holders can be used to store small doll accessories, collections of race cars or small stuffed toys, or even arts and crafts supplies.

You can create a special area just for arts and crafts and use the table as storage for the supplies. Hang fabric that matches your playroom around the edges of the table, reaching to the floor. Keep your supplies in plastic containers and stash them under the table for a simple and attractive playroom storage option.

Try storing bigger toys in homemade playroom storage boxes. Let your child decorate sturdy, oversized cardboard boxes with paints, markers, wrapping paper scraps, stencils, etc. When the boxes are finished, use them in the playroom as toy boxes for dolls, stuffed animals, or big cars and trucks.

Stuffed animal collections often grow quickly and are usually rarely played with, yet it is hard to give away cherished teddy bears from the infant years. There are several playroom storage ideas to keep stuffed animals out of the way. Mesh laundry baskets can hold several stuffed toys and can be hung from a peg on the wall to keep them out of the way. Toy hammocks that attach to the corner of the wall are also a cute way to store stuffed toys. Outgrown cribs, toddler beds, or playpens can become home to all these beloved friends as well.

Gary Clay is an expert on Playroom Storage and owner of stylish kids store MonkeyShine a retailer of quality toybox, bookshelves, clothes hooks and more.

Five Easy Steps to De-Clutter Cords and Cables

                

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After the holidays, cables and wires are often a site for sore eyes amidst the influx of new high-tech toys, gadgets, and accessories. Thankfully, homeowners can utilize a few quick steps to restore function and design to their living rooms and home offices.

Supplies:

• Cable Ties(also known as Wire Ties)
• Cable Tie Installation Tool
• Electrical Tape or Heat Shrink Tubing
• Adhesive Back Mounting Bases
• Surge Protector

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Start by unplugging and detangling all of the cables and cords.
2. Apply electrical tape or heat shrink tubing to any frayed cords and pull the cables together to a single meeting point.
3. Use the cable tie installation tool to fit a cable tie around the meeting point.
4. Every four to six inches, fit cable ties or wire ties to ensure the cords stay together. Using adhesive back mounting bases can help hide the bundle by attaching it to inconspicuous nooks in the desk, shelf, or entertainment center.
5. Plug the cords into the surge protector.

Plastic and nylon cable ties wire ties and are available in a variety of size and color options. Try a sleek black cable tie for an entertainment center and a fun, fluorescent color to clean up the cables from the computer in a child?s bedroom. With all the options available, homeowners can create an organized and inviting room in a matter of minutes.
CableTiesPlus offers a wide variety of cable tie products ranging from miniature to extra heavy duty types. The ties are available in lengths from 4 inches to 48 inches in various colors. Cable Tie installation tools are available for lightweight and standard applications.

Rick Ferguson
Cable Ties
http://www.cabletiesplus.com

New Year?s Resolution: "De-cluttering" Our Lives

                

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If I have to pinpoint the most important resolution to make for the New Year -- it would be this-finding ways to de-clutter my life. Stress as we know it does not only come in the form of mental anguish. Much of it is experienced through the clutter we have in our daily lives: unnecessary commitments that are standing in the way of doing what we really want to do. What we need to learn is how to de-clutter our lives so that the road to what we really want becomes clear.

Most of us have a vague notion of what we want; but being able to define it clearly is another matter entirely. Do we want money, fame, achievement? Do we want to create something that we feel proud of, a legacy that we can leave behind as the one ultimate creative act we can strive towards and materialize?

And even if we have our goal defined, we are often side-tracked from it by the countless details in our lives. A goal or project demands time, uncluttered time and this is the most significant aspect of creating. You need space and time. Private space and private time. If there is a dream or vision you are re-visiting on a regular basis, then it is time to make this dream a reality. This means it is time to de-clutter your life, give yourself the private time you need to make that goal possible.

How do we de-clutter our lives? Get rid of things and activities that do not a) create a bond between you and your family b) encourage or enhance your private space( which includes the space your have cultivated in your relationship with God/Spirit.) It is also important to understand that creation of any kind affirms our relationship with our Creator. And whatever it is that you wish to create, be it money, fame, achievement or the one ultimate creative act, your work will be that much more meaningful when you place it within the grace of the Creator.

Now the elimination of clutter becomes easy. What can we identify as clutter? Do you need to make another trip to the mall? What about the nightly hour before the television set? Taking on extra hours or extra responsibilities to please the boss? The less than necessary party invitation?

There are responsibilities we cannot eliminate, however. The children's hockey games and music lessons. But there is a way to "renovate" this clutter as well. How about bringing your project to the hockey rink and creating private space there? Bringing your project to the waiting room of doctor's offices, music lessons and making private time there? It was the time I had during my son's weekly music studies in Toronto that allowed me the private space to complete a book.

The most debilitating excuse we can have is that we have no time to pursue our dream. We hear that often enough. But if we put our mind to the task, we can find some precious private moments in the clutter. And if we give thanks for these moments, they will be appear more frequently in our lives.

A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://greatbodyproteinpower.com

New Year's Resolution: "De-cluttering" Our Lives

                

>>  Download Your Copy Now <<

 

If I have to pinpoint the most important resolution to make for the New Year -- it would be this-finding ways to de-clutter my life. Stress as we know it does not only come in the form of mental anguish. Much of it is experienced through the clutter we have in our daily lives: unnecessary commitments that are standing in the way of doing what we really want to do. What we need to learn is how to de-clutter our lives so that the road to what we really want becomes clear.

Most of us have a vague notion of what we want; but being able to define it clearly is another matter entirely. Do we want money, fame, achievement? Do we want to create something that we feel proud of, a legacy that we can leave behind as the one ultimate creative act we can strive towards and materialize?

And even if we have our goal defined, we are often side-tracked from it by the countless details in our lives. A goal or project demands time, uncluttered time and this is the most significant aspect of creating. You need space and time. Private space and private time. If there is a dream or vision you are re-visiting on a regular basis, then it is time to make this dream a reality. This means it is time to de-clutter your life, give yourself the private time you need to make that goal possible.

How do we de-clutter our lives? Get rid of things and activities that do not a) create a bond between you and your family b) encourage or enhance your private space( which includes the space your have cultivated in your relationship with God/Spirit.) It is also important to understand that creation of any kind affirms our relationship with our Creator. And whatever it is that you wish to create, be it money, fame, achievement or the one ultimate creative act, your work will be that much more meaningful when you place it within the grace of the Creator.

Now the elimination of clutter becomes easy. What can we identify as clutter? Do you need to make another trip to the mall? What about the nightly hour before the television set? Taking on extra hours or extra responsibilities to please the boss? The less than necessary party invitation?

There are responsibilities we cannot eliminate, however. The children's hockey games and music lessons. But there is a way to "renovate" this clutter as well. How about bringing your project to the hockey rink and creating private space there? Bringing your project to the waiting room of doctor's offices, music lessons and making private time there? It was the time I had during my son's weekly music studies in Toronto that allowed me the private space to complete a book.

The most debilitating excuse we can have is that we have no time to pursue our dream. We hear that often enough. But if we put our mind to the task, we can find some precious private moments in the clutter. And if we give thanks for these moments, they will be appear more frequently in our lives.

A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://greatbodyproteinpower.com

How to Get Out from Under All that Clutter

                

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Clutter is one of the most irritating words in the English language. It's synonymous with stress, because just looking at it can give you agita. The physical clutter soon becomes mental clutter.

The problem is getting rid of it. It's a huge job, so you keep putting it off. But the more you put it off the more clutter you accumulate, making it an even more humongous task to face. Here are some tips, excerpted from my new book "400 Ways to Stop Stress Now...and Forever!," that will help you break the cycle.

Throw something out every day.

You've got too much stuff in your house. Office. Garage. Attic. Useless clutter that's weighing you down, getting in the way, obscuring the things you really need. Be realistic. If you're not going to use it, lose it. Every day, find one thing you don't need and toss it. Or give it away. Or sell it at a consignment shop. In time, the clutter will begin to vanish and space and order will magically appear in your home...and your life. Stick with this. It really works.

Take ten minutes a day to neaten up.

Here's another effective do-it-by-degrees strategy. Supplement your regularly scheduled cleaning by spending a short time each day neatening your home. Use those few minutes to clear a cluttered surface, tidy a child's room, clean out a drawer, dust a long forgotten place, put something away...or whatever obvious need is staring you in the face. You'll be amazed at how much this small attention to neatness can accomplish over time. And how organized and productive you'll become. And when you do get around to more intense cleaning, the job will be that much easier. You're probably awake at least 16 hours each day. Take just ten minutes of that time to tidy up.

Store things out of the way.

Take an extra moment or two to put things back where they belong. Why? Because you can bet that wherever you put them temporarily, they will soon be annoyingly in the way. So you end up moving the item two or three times, when you only had to do it once! More than that, things left out tend to reproduce (I swear they do) and multiply to the point where work surfaces and living space soon disappear. Nip those stragglers in the bud and haul them out of sight.

Don't buy what you already have.

This may sound obvious, but there are probably several duplicated items in your home right now...and you don?t even know it. Or you do know it, because it was easier to find it in the supermarket than fish it out of your cluttered house. So before you go shopping, check to see that you don?t already have what you think you need (the rear of the refrigerator, cabinets and closets are good places to start). Make a list of infrequently used possessions and where they're kept. Over time you can save a lot of money, and spare yourself a lot of clutter, just by keeping track of what you've already got.

Clean out your closet.

Why start each day on a sour note by having to confront an overstuffed, messy closet? How can you possibly figure out what to wear if all your clothes are crammed in and piled up like that? Free yourself of this stifling encumbrance. Go to your local home center and get closet organizers, racks and shelves that'll help you make the most of your space. Give away what you no longer need. Enjoy the convenience of having everything sorted and easy to locate. Wake up each day feeling relaxed, organized and in control.

These should put you well on the way to a clutter-free, stress-free home. For more ideas, go to pickmeupbooks.com where you can get a free stress tip each day.

G. Gaynor McTigue is a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA). His sixth book "400 Ways to Stop Stress Now...and Forever!" has just been published. To learn more contact 203-254-7789, jerrym321@aol.com or visit http://www.pickmeupbooks.com

How To Get Out From Under All That Clutter!

                

>>  Download Your Copy Now <<

 

Clutter is one of the most irritating words in the English language. It's synonymous with stress, because just looking at it can give you agita. The physical clutter soon becomes mental clutter.

The problem is getting rid of it. It's a huge job, so you keep putting it off. But the more you put it off the more clutter you accumulate, making it an even more humongous task to face. Here are some tips, excerpted from my new book "400 Ways to Stop Stress Now...and Forever!," that will help you break the cycle.

Throw something out every day.

You've got too much stuff in your house. Office. Garage. Attic. Useless clutter that's weighing you down, getting in the way, obscuring the things you really need. Be realistic. If you're not going to use it, lose it. Every day, find one thing you don't need and toss it. Or give it away. Or sell it at a consignment shop. In time, the clutter will begin to vanish and space and order will magically appear in your home...and your life. Stick with this. It really works.

Take ten minutes a day to neaten up.

Here's another effective do-it-by-degrees strategy. Supplement your regularly scheduled cleaning by spending a short time each day neatening your home. Use those few minutes to clear a cluttered surface, tidy a child's room, clean out a drawer, dust a long forgotten place, put something away...or whatever obvious need is staring you in the face. You'll be amazed at how much this small attention to neatness can accomplish over time. And how organized and productive you'll become. And when you do get around to more intense cleaning, the job will be that much easier. You're probably awake at least 16 hours each day. Take just ten minutes of that time to tidy up.

Store things out of the way.

Take an extra moment or two to put things back where they belong. Why? Because you can bet that wherever you put them temporarily, they will soon be annoyingly in the way. So you end up moving the item two or three times, when you only had to do it once! More than that, things left out tend to reproduce (I swear they do) and multiply to the point where work surfaces and living space soon disappear. Nip those stragglers in the bud and haul them out of sight.

Don't buy what you already have.

This may sound obvious, but there are probably several duplicated items in your home right now...and you don?t even know it. Or you do know it, because it was easier to find it in the supermarket than fish it out of your cluttered house. So before you go shopping, check to see that you don?t already have what you think you need (the rear of the refrigerator, cabinets and closets are good places to start). Make a list of infrequently used possessions and where they're kept. Over time you can save a lot of money, and spare yourself a lot of clutter, just by keeping track of what you've already got.

Clean out your closet.

Why start each day on a sour note by having to confront an overstuffed, messy closet? How can you possibly figure out what to wear if all your clothes are crammed in and piled up like that? Free yourself of this stifling encumbrance. Go to your local home center and get closet organizers, racks and shelves that'll help you make the most of your space. Give away what you no longer need. Enjoy the convenience of having everything sorted and easy to locate. Wake up each day feeling relaxed, organized and in control.

These should put you well on the way to a clutter-free, stress-free home. For more ideas, go to pickmeupbooks.com where you can get a free stress tip each day.

G. Gaynor McTigue is a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA). His sixth book "400 Ways to Stop Stress Now...and Forever!" has just been published. To learn more contact 203-254-7789, jerrym321@aol.com or visit www.pickmeupbooks.com