Control freaks and their stuff

One of the largest obstacles to effectively organizing a room or a stack of information is the decision to let go of something. Whether you decide to throw it away, donate it or send it to the recycling center, the temptation always remains to hold onto that appliance that is gathering dust or the unopened gift from two Christmases ago.

I have thought about this dilemma for a while. The one major objection I get while working with clients is, “I might need this someday”. It took me a little while to understand the reasons behind someone being so uncertain about parting with an item they had neither used nor needed for an extended period of time. I have come to realize that the underlying issue is control.

We naturally are compelled to control our lives. Many individuals feel being prepared for every circumstance that comes their way will put them in full control of their lives and surroundings. However, there is simply no way to predict and plan for every situation that could come up in your life.

Therefore, holding onto “things” is not an effective way to control one’s life. Let them go, and you will be far more fulfilled with a clutter free space rather then a slave to potential circumstances.

Be OK with a shift in focus

Ever feel as if your day is spinning out of your control? In spite of well intentioned plans, your prioritized check list and methodical execution, situations arise that demand immediate attention and cannot be put on low priority. Today was one of those days. We know the rule of priorities: save for later what can wait. Focus on the important tasks that take you to your goals. But today the importance of the curve balls could not be ignored. And it was frustrating. As the day dragged on I cast a mournful eye over my list of tasks for the day and despaired over the fact that every issue under the sun seemed to be keeping me from accomplishing what I had set out to do. I could feel myself growing irritated, becoming more and more agitated every time something came up. Then I remembered no one dies if my checklist goes unmarked. Yes it was inconvenient but I needed to adjust my FOCUS. I took a deep breath. I gave myself permission to accept the fact that unplanned issues had to be attended to. I then looked at my list and identified the few tasks that absolutely could not wait until tomorrow and proceeded to work on them. Satisfaction began to re-emerge. When you are occasionally faced with a last minute, unavoidable amendment to your plans, take a deep breath. Focus on the issue at hand and resolve it as quickly as possible but don’t beat yourself up for having to address it. Then take a step back and reorder your priorities for the day and work to complete that pared down list. Suddenly the day doesn’t seem so lost!

Homework simplified

Homework is as important to your child’s academic success as the class room time. To insure your child has a productive and efficient homework session here are some tips you can put into place: 1. Make sure your child has a folder for all homework papers. He/she can easily grab homework from the teacher and simply slip it into the folder and then in the backpack. That way there is no question about where the papers are when the time comes to work on them! 2. Older kids should always record homework due dates in a planner. However, it can be difficult to keep track of dates in a planner when the page turns. Consider having your child paste a one month print out of the current month in their folder to keep track of due dates for the entire month. 3. Consider where your child prefers to do homework. If he/she prefers to be at the kitchen or dining room table, use a plastic box with a handle to store all their homework supplies. This makes clean up a breeze and homework portable. Be sure that the child returns the box to its proper home after every use. 4. If your child has a desk where homework can be done, be sure it is set up to accommodate their needs. Help them choose appropriate homes for all their supplies and purchase any desk organizers they might need if drawers are at a premium. Check out your local stores for great back to school sales!