Make Sure Goal is Right for You

With the New Year comes hope for better things in 2011.

That's why it's important to set some goals, or resolutions as some people call them, for the upcoming year. Some of the common ones are loss of weight, saving money, get fit, quit smoking, eat right, etc.

But the odds are against you. According to Wikipedia, recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident with their goals, only 12% actually achieved them.

You probably have a goal in mind. If that's the case, great. If you're not sure though, consider taking a minute to answer the following questions. No one starts out thinking they've selected the wrong goal, but sometimes that's what we realize once we're into it.

You probably know the old carpenter's adage: Measure twice, cut once. Before you start taking action, try to be sure you're pursuing the right goal, with the right plan.

The Correct Goal Test

1. Is this the goal you would pick if you knew you couldn't fail? This is a great place to start to help determine whether you're "settling," or if you've selected a goal that's worthy of the investment of time and energy you will be making.
2. Are you thinking big enough? Have you accepted a compromise that's not really what you want because you don't believe you can achieve what you really want? If so, review some of the information on this page on correct beliefs). There is plenty of evidence that there's very little you can't achieve provided you have a good plan, allow enough time to reach it, consistently take action and maintain your focus.
3. Do you have a clear idea what you want your life to be like in 3-5 years? Does this goal contribute to that vision or outcome? Stephen Covey is widely quoted reminding us to "begin with the end in mind." Being clear about the goal, in whatever area of your life you're considering, is critical to making decisions about where to invest your time and effort today.
4. Are you concerned about "perceived" limitations like available time, your age, or physical or financial limitations? Virtually any important goal had these as obstacles to some degree, but determination, a smart plan and your focused energy over time can overcome these limitations. Don't let these things cause you to forego the goal you really want to pursue. Instead, focus on a plan with achievable, reasonable incremental milestones. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and continuing those steps in the right direction will lead to the results you are seeking.

If you answered "yes" to these questions then you're probably on the right track. But if any of these questions caused you to reconsider for a minute, then maybe it's a good idea to take some time and consider the big picture before you set out on this path.

Dr. Edward C. Barfield of Harvard University concluded that "the long-time perspective is the most accurate single predictor of upward social and economic mobility." Long time perspective is more important than education, family background, intelligence, race, connections or nearly any other factor in determining our success in life and at work. Our attitude about time frame also affects the goals we should select, and will help guide our behavior and the choices we make today.



Organize Your Bedroom for a Good Night's Sleep

Is your bedroom calm and serene, a place where you can relax and get a restful night's sleep? Or is it a chaotic place filled with clutter, clothes, papers and the like? If your bedroom is anything but restful, consider spending some time de-cluttering and organizing it so it becomes a sanctuary to replenish your mind and soul. In addition, organizing your bedroom will make getting dressed each day a simple endeavor rather than a frantic hunt for matching shoes!

Pare down your clothing. Go through your closet, dresser and other piles of clothing and pare down what you don't or won't wear. Be realistic - do you keep passing over a particular shirt or pair of pants because another one is more comfortable or fits better? If so, move it on to a new home - either elsewhere in your home, or to a charity. Once you've moved out what you don't wear, there will be more room to put away the clothes that previously sat in piles because there was no place to put them.

Remove the clutter. It's hard to sleep when piles of laundry, paper, and other assorted is "staring" at you. I wonder how many people suffer from sleep disturbances would get a more restful sleep simply by removing these stress-inducing items. An easy solution is to stop yourself from bringing anything into your bedroom unless you put it away right away. In addition, if it doesn't support the activities you do in your bedroom (sleep, read, get dressed, insert your own fun activity here) it shouldn't be in there. Find another place to store such items - your sleep and your health are too important to ignore this guideline.

Be creative with storage. Consider vertical storage (e.g., hooks on the wall) and under-bed storage (for out of season clothes, seldom worn shoes, extra bedding) for items that won't fit anywhere else. Maybe a nightstand, lingerie cabinet or bookcase can give you the functional storage you need without taking up much space.

Diminish the impact of your work life. If there's no place but your bedroom to work, use furniture to hide your computer and paperwork from sight when you're finished working. A roll-top desk, hide-away-desk or a secretary-style desk can all serve this purpose. If these aren't an option for you, consider covering your desk and computer with a beautiful piece of fabric to take the "work" out of your slumber.

Corral your reading pile. Keep only the books and magazines that you're currently reading in your bedroom, and only those items that you'll actually read there. Get a beautiful container, or use one of your furniture pieces, to attractively store your reading material.

Sustain the serenity. Once you've turned your muddled mess into a serene sanctuary, you'll want to be sure to keep it that way. Get a hamper - and use it! Be sure clothes are coming out (i.e., getting laundered) at a faster rate than they are going in. Make your bed every morning - this simple 2-minute task will quickly transform the look and feel of your room. When you bring in your clean laundry, put it away right away - when your closet and dresser are paired down, it should take no more than 5 minutes to quickly and easily put things away. Since your bedroom is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, be sure to tidy up frequently so you can start and end your day calm and relaxed.

Pleasant dreams!

Keepsakes: How I Turned my Muddled Mess into Meaningful Memories

Are you hanging on to physical reminders of people and events thinking it will be a great way to reminisce or even to honor the people those things represent? Keepsakes can be a challenging area to pare down, especially when you feel forced to do it because you're moving to a home with less storage space.

I knew the time had come to pare down my burgeoning collection of mementos when I tried to stuff just one more greeting card into one of my four keepsake boxes and a cascade of papers came tumbling down - with no lid to hold back the avalanche, I received a very tangible wake-up call that I can't save everything.

Greeting cards, ticket stubs, old toys, and even clothing can bring on all kinds of emotions. However, as I discovered, it might be time to realize that boxes loaded with a disorganized collection of memories may be more overwhelming than comforting. I hope my description of the process I went through to turn my muddled mess into meaningful memories will help you do the same.

1. I took it slowly. I took a deep breath and recognized that getting through even one box was going to take quite a bit of time. So I set aside a half hour per day to work my way through the piles.
2. I stored photos separately. I put all photographs in their own box to be dealt with as a separate project.
3. I sorted by person. I grouped the remaining objects according to the originator. For example, the greeting cards, "something old" handkerchief from my wedding, and letters from my grandmother all went into one pile.
4. I contemplated the significance. For each pile, I considered which items captured the soul of the person or experience and whether letting go of any particular item would have any impact on my memories of, or relationship with, the person they represented. I had some good laughs, shed a few tears, and at times shook my head and wondered why I had saved some of the items.
5. I kept only the gems. I let go of most items without much trouble, recognizing that their importance had diminished over time or that other items were more meaningful keepsakes of the person or event. I kept any items that stirred a twinge of nostalgia, but later photographed many of them and let go of the original article. Throughout the entire process, I reminded myself that the item was not the person or the event and I was not dishonoring anyone by letting go of things.
6. I stored the remainder in a meaningful way. I put a date on all items, and for some, I also included a sticky note with a description of why the item was significant. I placed the sorted keepsakes into a banker's box and used file folders to divide the box into sections by person. My goal was to get everything into a single box - after all, I just wanted to capture the essence of my relationships and life experiences, not every trinket from them. However, I created a second box for things from my kids and husband after realizing that the most important people in my life were worthy of more than just a couple of keepsakes.
7. I'll keep a lid on it. I don't miss any of the items I've discarded, and I'm glad to know I've got some room to spare in my two boxes so I can add meaningful items as they come along. I've vowed that I will not add any additional boxes to accommodate my keepsakes - I'll have to delete an item in order to add one, take a photo, or find some other means to capture the memory without keeping the item.
8. I'll live in the moment. While keepsakes help me reflect on how meaningful the people and occasions in my life have been, making the most of each day is the best way to make sure I fully experience and appreciate the important people and events that enrich my life.

6 Simple Steps to Clear Your Clutter

After a major windstorm a few weeks ago, I faced the significant task of "de-cluttering" my front yard. As I surveyed my yard covered with large branches, I felt overwhelmed and unsure how to start. Then I took a deep breath, chose a place to start, steadily sawed the branches, and deposited them into bags for the garbage collector.

The following tips will help you discover how to tackle the overwhelming task of de-cluttering your space...whether it's your office, kitchen, or garage. The key is breaking down the project into manageable chunks, so you can dig in and complete your project - just like I did with the tree branches.

1. Set realistic expectations. De-cluttering can take a lot of physical and mental energy. It may be unrealistic to conquer your project all at once. Be gentle on yourself and recognize that your project may involve multiple phases.

2. Have the necessary supplies on hand. Once you start organizing, you won't want to interrupt yourself to hunt for supplies. Having everything on hand will make it easier to stay focused. Supplies you might need include:

• boxes for sorting
• cleaning supplies
• trash bags
• file folders
• pens, paper and markers
• water and a healthy snack

3. Determine where to dig first. Even if your entire home or workspace is an organizational disaster, you need to start your organizing crusade somewhere. Here are some helpful questions to ask;

• Which area or room bothers you the most?
• Which area will have the biggest impact on your life?
• What embarrasses you most when a visitor comes to your home or workspace?
• What small area can you start with, so you can get quick results?

4. Avoid meandering as you organize. Break your organizing project into sections - bookshelves, closet, desk, etc. - and focus on organizing each section completely before you move on. If you zigzag around the room, it will be difficult to work systematically and see your progress. Here's a tip: Cover everything (except your current project area) with a bed sheet so you won't be distracted!

5. Chip away at it. If you get tired or lose focus, it's time to take a break. If you've concentrated on one area, it should be easy to pick up where you left off. And don't be afraid to ask for help if someone else can help you quickly wrap up the project.

6. Stick with it. I've found that, like many self-improvement endeavors, people often start off gung-ho with getting organized, but soon other things in life get in the way of completing the project. There's nothing more frustrating than a half-done organizing project! Therefore, consider scheduling weekly organizing sessions on your calendar. This way, you make a commitment to yourself to stick with it and get it done.

It's surprising how much de-cluttering helps you clear not only your physical space, but also your head. Plus, with a clean, organized space, you can navigate life's windstorms with less stress. So choose a place to start and dig in!

View Your Home Through a Buyer's Eyes

Imagine walking into a seller's home and being assailed by overstuffed closets and cabinets, a basement packed floor to ceiling with bins and boxes, and a garage too full for a car to fit. What's so bad about a few full closets, you ask? Well, "full" rooms, closets and cabinets make a home look smaller and short on storage space, make it difficult for a buyer to envision their things in the home, and make the home look unkempt. In contrast, de-cluttered, neat and orderly areas make a great first impression; they make the home appear more spacious with adequate storage for the buyer's belongings, make the home look well cared for, and help improve the value and saleability of the home.

Sellers also benefit from de-cluttering and organizing their homes because it helps them stay ready for showings and minimizes the possibility of packing and moving things they don't need. I advise my clients to de-clutter and organize in this order of priority: entryway, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, garage and basement. I enter their home with them as if we were potential buyers to see what catches our eye and detracts from the attractiveness of their home. To remedy any problem areas, we pare down the excess, pack up items they want to keep but that detract from the appearance of the home, and organize the remaining items neatly and attractively.

The most important step in the process is paring down the excess. This can be especially difficult for homeowners who lived in a home for a long time and view each item in it as a memory of the life they enjoyed there. It can be helpful to have an impartial yet compassionate person guiding the seller through the de-cluttering process. When I fill this role, I let people tell their story and relive the memories their items provide. Then I remind them that it's time to look towards the future to determine what things will enhance the new life upon which they're embarking.

As difficult and overwhelming as de-cluttering and organizing ones home may seem, it's well worth it because it will help command a higher selling price and potentially speed up the sales process. If you find it too challenging to go it along, ask for help from friends, family members or a trained professional.