This time of year I always receive requests from thoughtful givers interested in purchasing gift certificates for a loved one.

When I get these requests, my first question is always whether they are sure the gift will be appreciated. Has the gift recipient expressed interest in working with an organizer?  Or in getting organized, or one of the Netflix organizing shows (Marie Kondo or The Home Edit). 

We never want the gift to be an insult to their home management or given in a season where decision making would be too overwhelming, so if this is not a conversation that has been bridged, I always encourage the giver to carefully put out those feelers before moving ahead.

If I’m assured that the gift is wanted, I gladly provide a gift ANNOUNCEMENT. It is not a "certificate", in that I don’t accept payment until the client calls for the appointment. It's one thing when a voucher donated to a charity and won at a silent auction is never redeemed, but something else for someone to invest in a gift where someone never calls.

Especially in the case of a multi-session package, I want the client to be sure we are a good fit working together, and that our first session was a GREAT experience, before the full package is paid for, as well!

So if you’d like to give an Organized Treasure gift certificate, feel free to check out my pricing here, and then contact me. You can give me the preliminary information, and I’ll provide you with a pdf of the gift announcement to print out and give your loved one, detailing your gift.  I can reach out to them after the exchange (many who desire my services have a hard time taking that first step, and making the call, so if it's okay for me to initiate, I am always willing to do that!).  We have a phone consultation and schedule that first visit, and hopefully that will be the beginning of a gift that they will TREASURE for a long time to come!

Check out Redfin’s latest article: “Organize Your Home Like Never Before With These 12 Tips," including a tip from me!
 
Having an organized home is something we all desire, but may not always be a reality. With our busy lives and their shifting seasons, it is often difficult to find the time to organize, or even to know where to start. Sometimes you need a little inspiration, or some guidance, and we’ve got you covered.  There is no better time than now to start organizing!
 
To help get you started, I, along with other experts from across the country, shared some of our best tips and tricks with Redfin. Check out what I had to say!
 
Organize Your Home Like Never Before With These 12 Tips

It’s Earth Day, and a great time to talk about how to responsibly handle your decluttered items!  It is important to everyone to avoid waste and give items the longest life possible. Finding the most appropriate location can trip many people up when their possessions are overwhelming them, which is why I include hauling away most donations, and even E-Cycling as part of my professional organizing service.  But let’s explore the options and then do a deep dive on "Aspirational Recycling"!

Selling:
E-bay, Craigs List, Facebook Marketplace, Consignment Shops, Yard Sales – so many possibilities for getting some money back for your valuable stuff!  If you are overwhelmed by stuff, this is not the option I recommend, as there is great value in letting it leave immediately and not using your valuable energy and free time re-homing your things individually (do some more decluttering instead!)  If you know you will be tempted to “try again” or keep items if they don’t fetch a price you are hoping for, I also recommend another route – in our low cost manufacturing economy, the resale value of most items doesn’t come anywhere near the “What I paid for it” objection, and that can be very discouraging, rekindling feelings of guilt.  Why overcome THAT mental hurdle a second time?

Focus on giving it a second life and on the joy of generosity:  If I haven’t used it in the last year, how good would it feel to give it to someone who WOULD? Can I mentally picture a person just like myself, 20 years ago when my resources were fewer, being blessed by receiving this item?  How great would it feel to know it was because of my generosity?  Embrace that feeling of open hands, of giving, of knowing you will not hoard the items, but will meet the needs of others, and that if you have a time of need, others will meet YOUR needs.
 
If you are just doing a quick pass through, letting go of children’s items on a regular basis, or in no danger of the selling process stalling you out and causing items to linger in a NEW spot in your home, by all means, sell away!

Thrift Store/Church Donation:
This is a great spot for your nice items!  Rule of thumb: They have to be nice enough that you would stand behind a table a yard sale (where people you KNOW will come by) and unashamedly ask for money for them!  This means torn, dirty, smelly, moldy, broken, grossly out of date, non-functional, dusty, and heavily used items should NOT go in the box.  It also means if you aren’t willing to spend the time to clean it, it doesn’t make the cut.  “Out of Date” means different things for different objects – with unopened food or beauty products it is non-negotiable with the best by date, with textbooks and electronics, there is about a 5 year window, with toys, kids clothes and wooden furniture, that window grows a good bit!  Thrift stores spend a large part of their budget on trash services (which is why some of them at times seem so over the top picky!), but you are not looking for your donation to cost them money, right?

Clothing Donation Boxes:
Make sure the box is not earmarked for local resale, but MOST clothing boxes (like Planet Aid, etc.) actually are reselling to textile recycling.  This keeps textiles (including bedding, towels and curtains) out of the landfill and means that even stained, torn, frayed, or worn out (and even socks and underwear!) are welcomed in this box.  They still should be washed, clean, and not damp or moldy.  This is the ONE category where I think people err on the side of discard when they COULD recycle.

E-Cycling:
Electronics older than 5 years (I’m looking at you, tube TVs and VCRs) just DON’T belong in your donation pile.  They also are unlikely to be taken in your trash (they cannot be in York, PA)  If you can give them away to someone who can reuse them for a child or parts, that’s great (but again, if this step will slow your progress, jump ahead to…)  E-cycle them! 

I want to share the process in York, PA, because it is absolutely FREE and relatively painless, but a little intimidating your first time: you are headed to York County Solid Waste Authority (www.ycswa.com) on BlackBridge Rd (also known locally as “the incinerator”).  You will drive up to the weigh station, and pull on to the scale.  “Oh no,” you will think, “Are they going to charge me for this?”  You will tell the attendant that you are here for E-Cycling.  She will hand you a large paper “E”.  You will follow the signs (I think it is VERY well marked), pull into the residential area, and be directed to the recycling side where the skids full of electronics are easy to spot.  Usually someone will help you unload and properly sort the electronics for you.  You drive back around, back onto the scale house, turn in your big “E”, and you are done!  Easy Peasy! 

(Just a note: If you do have a load of large items for trash, it is just $20 for up to 600 lbs (or $65/ton).  I have filled the entire back of my minivan with relatively massive items from customers, and have never exceeded the $20 mark.  Also, tossing broken items into the “pit” is very cathartic!)
 
ACCEPTED ITEMS: • Computer - Devices PCs   * Printing Devices *Laptops/Servers *Receivers• Monitors/ Televisions  • Communication Devices• Networking Devices
• Power Supplies

Recycling vs. Wish-Cycling:
Why We Wish-Cycle  - we all want to “do our part” to help the environment and keep items out of the landfills.  We have been encouraged by plenty of PSAs to recycle EVERYTHING we can!  Unfortunately, these best intentions without all the information, have caused a global recycling crisis.
 
The Rules May Have Changed: China
Until 2016, two-thirds of the world's plastic waste was bought by China. In July 2017, the country, announced it would ban the import of 24 materials, including mixed plastics recycling, largely because the goods we sent them were too contaminated.  The single stream recycling programs (which allow you to mix all recycling in the same bin, without sorting paper from plastic and metal for example) helped haulers collect even more, but made it all too easy. We got lazy, sloppy, junky, including too much trash in our recyclables.  Up to 25%  (or 500 lbs of every 2000 lb ton of the recycling collected is actually trash, and on average 20% of every processed bale headed for China was non-recyclable trash.  The new Chinese policy reduced the contamination threshold to .5% of each bale, or just 10 lbs/ton.  That was unattainable – Waste Management’s website gives us a great visual: “That’s like taking something the size of a grizzly bear and shrinking it down to a small puppy.”
 
This policy went into effect on January 1, 2018, collapsing the global supply chain, and sending shockwaves through the recycling industry. In Pennsylvania, a state law that prohibits the disposal of recyclable materials as trash without a clear system for exemptions left months of palleted recyclables in warehouses with nowhere to go, and no one to buy it. Penn Waste spokesperson Amanda Davison pointed out its value was only going down, “it can only sit outside for so long before it becomes a safety hazard because of rain deterioration and vermin.”

Many Recyclers rolled out a Back to Basics approach – severely reducing the items once accepted.  So, double check the current regulations in YOUR area!

Considerations with Wish-Cycling 

1. Contamination – adds significantly to the costs and reduces the items that can ultimately be recycled. (Again fully 25% of items in the recycling shouldn’t be there!)
 “This garbage ranges from recyclables that are too dirty to process—mayonnaise jars still coated in a thick layer of eggy goo, for example—to items that just shouldn’t be there in the first place,” says Brent Bell, vice president of recycling operations at Waste Management.  It can make ALL the contents useless.
 
2. Machinery - Items are sorted by machine (in a really amazing process designed to separate plastics, paper, aluminum, and other recyclables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7YVLV4oDpY ) Items that don’t belong could end up jamming the complex machine at the recycling center, and even injuring a worker. Even a small item like a bottle cap could cause damage. “Tanglers” (like thin plastic bags, extension cords, Christmas lights, plastic and metal strapping, VHS tapes, clothing, and hoses) get wrapped in the moving parts, bringing processing to a standstill for hours each day as team members climb into the machinery to cut them away.
 
3. One Bad Apple Spoils the WHOLE BUNCH –so you can see that your good intentions in recycling do more harm than good if you include items that contaminate the batch, preventing the recycling center from selling it, making it ALL trash instead of recyclables.  You’ve now created more waste.  Greasy Pizza Boxes are a serious issue among the paper recyclables, as are wet papers.
 
4. Reduce and Reuse before Recycle - reduce the single-use items you bring into your home, try to reuse them, or donate them to a place where they can be used. Recycling comes last in that list, so consider recycling a final option, not a catch-all for all the single-use items you bring home.

5. When in Doubt Throw It Out (DON’T Default to Aspirational Recycling!)
Each Municipality is different, and changing!  Many are drastically reducing what they accept, so review the rules for YOUR materials recovery facility (MRF), as they may be “Back to Basics” in order to package purer recyclables they are actually able to sell.

Here are the current rules for York, PA, which have definitely scaled back in the last year: (https://www.pennwaste.com/recycling/all-about-residential-recycling/ )
 
CARDBOARD - Corrugated Cardboard and Shipping Boxes Only (Note this is not cereal boxes, etc., as in the past.
PAPER - Newspapers Only (Note this is not mail and other office paper materials)
PLASTIC BOTTLES - Plastic Water, Juice & Soda Bottles, Plastic Containers & Bottles #1, #2 & #5: (shampoo bottles, liquid detergent containers, condiment bottles). The neck of the bottle should be smaller than the base.
METAL & ALUMINUM - Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans and Food Containers
CARTONS - Cartons are defined as a type of packaging that food and beverage products come in that you can purchase at the store. Includes juice, milk, soy milk, soup and broth, wine, cream and egg substitute cartons.
GLASS - Food & Beverage Glass Only - Clear, brown, blue and green glass food and beverage containers.
Tips To Prepare Your Items for Pickup
 CARDBOARD and PAPER:
    Remove all packaging inside the box (such as packing peanuts, bubble wrap, etc)
    Flatten ALL boxes
   Cover loose papers with heavier items in the container to prevent them from blowing away
    Check the weather. If the weather calls for high winds or rain, keep your recycling inside until the following week, if possible. Wet products are more difficult to process.
CONTAINERS:
    Make sure the carton is empty and rinsed thoroughly to remove any residue
    Remove any plastic caps, tops, or lids
    Labels and neck rings do not need to be removed from containers
    Be sure to remove straws.
    Cartons may be placed in your bin along with all other recyclables.
 
UNACCEPTABLE MATERIALS
The following items are NOT recyclable: Food-Soiled Materials, Soaked and/or Wet Papers or Cardboard, Waxy Cardboard, Shredded Paper, Plastic Food Wrappers, Plastic Tableware (Knives, Forks, etc.),    Plastic Bags (Including Grocery Bags), Needles and Medical Waste, Broken Glass, Windows, Mirrors, Ceramics, Drinking Glasses, Aluminum Foil, Scrap Metal, Solvents, Oil and/or Chemical Containers, Used Paper Towels or Tissues, Christmas Lights, Hoses, Propane Tanks, Plastic Toys, Disposable Diapers

 Great success is achievable if you line up your priorities and put all of your energy into accomplishing the most important thing.  Highly successful people line up their priorities each day and decide where to start, creating a domino effect of extraordinary results.

Part 1 introduces the Lies that seem true, but derail our success:
1. Everything Matters Equally
When everything feels urgent and important everything seems equal. We stay constantly busy, but with items that do not move us toward success.Achievers work from a clear sense of priority, focused on the essential and let the less important things go. He encourages “Success Lists” over To-do lists – whittling the could-do's down to the most important should dos.Citing the Pareto (20/80) Principle, where a minority of items and efforts yield the majority of results and rewards, he suggests taking it to an extreme and identifying the ONE most important item on the list. Takeaways: Productivity over busyness, identify the one core activity for the TOP of your list, Say no to the less important and Don’t get so excited to “check items off” that you abandon the big things for the little things that don’t matter. Doing the most important thing (even if it’s the only thing you do), is the most important thing.

2. Multitasking
Multitasking is NOT effective, it reduces our focus and prevents us from doing either thing well.The act of refocusing after distractions, interruptions, or as our brain jumps between our “multi” tasks (task switching), costs us more time than we know. (up to 28% of an average work day is lost to multitasking ineffectiveness and chronic multitaskers overestimate the time it takes to complete tasks due to this poor use of time). Takeaways: Reduce distractions, but they will still happen, don’t let multitasking take its toll, or undermine what matters most – give that your undivided attention!

3. A Disciplined Life
“Success is actually a short race – a sprint fueled by discipline just long enough for habit to kick in and take over” – he seems to be drawing a distinction between “habits” as natural, easy to maintain routines and “discipline” as white knuckling through unpleasant tasks against the odds. Habits require less effort to maintain than to begin, and once a habit, the hard stuff is easy. If you aim your discipline at creating the right habit (which takes about 66 days), it no longer requires discipline and you can be less disciplined in other areas. You are what you repeatedly do!

4. Willpower is Always On Will-Call
We don’t always have willpower, even to get what we want. He cites “The Marshmallow Experiment” and the tactics the toddlers used to delay their gratification and get 2 marshmallows later by not eating the ONE marshmallow now. Years later, those with the willpower to hold out for the additional reward were much more successful in life. Because we don’t ALWAYS have it, we need to manage it – WHEN there’s a will there’s a way. It is a limited resource that decreases throughout the day and as our willpower and cognition are drained. Willpower is based in the prefrontal cortex with focus, short term memory, and executive function – this area requires a lot of fuel – so feed your mind with foods that regulate your blood sugar evenly over long periods. This would add into decision fatigue and causes us to resort to our defaults when our willpower is low. Do your ONE important thing early before your willpower is sapped by the day, keep your brain fed. Use your willpower first on what matters!
5. A Balanced Life
Balance is a noun that as a concept doesn’t really exist, rather we are constantly balancing, and counterbalancing. Be clear about your most important work and personal priorities, create boundaries, work when you are supposed to be working, play when you are supposed to play, be all there in each one.
6. Big Is Bad
Don’t limit yourself. Don’t fear failure – it is the road to success. Don’t limit yourself to the available options – invent a new path. Think big, Aim big, Live big.

Part 2
Here we get into the solutions.  Keller encourages us to ask the focusing question:
What’s the One thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?

It will aim you at the essential (the big picture), force you to make a decision – the best action to do now to drive you to what matters (the small focus for right now) – the first domino that starts the effect.

Use this in all areas of life – say the category, the question, add a time frame, finish the question. Eg.: For my key relationships, what’s the one thing I can do to show my appreciation to my parents this year that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?
In finding a great answer, there are 3 possibilities: Doable, Stretch, and Possibility.  Doable looks at conventional answer already in our experience, it doesn’t require much change.  Stretch may be at the farthest end of our range, take some research, extending ourselves to our limits, potentially achievable and probable if you give effort. With Possibility answers, you first research and study high achievers (this is basically your “Stretch answer”), then establish that as benchmark to see if you can spot what’s “trending” and coming NEXT to beat the current performers.

Part 3
This section deals with defining Purpose, which drives Priorities, which drives true Productivity (which in a business drives Profit).  Purpose is a big idea, the driving force to happiness. Lasting happiness happens when you make your life about something bigger, when you bring meaning and purpose to your everyday actions.  Why you are excited with your life, the thing you like to accomplish. Purpose tells you where you want to go.  Priority tells you what to do to get there.  Productivity is doing the next thing required to get there (not just staying busy).

Goal setting to the Now involves working backward from a distant goal, starting with the end in mind, defining where you need to be 5 years from now,  1 year from now, what needs to happen this month, week, and now today.
Time Blocking involves setting an appointment with yourself (4 hours suggested) where you will reduce distractions and focus on the most important thing.
 
Extraordinary results require 3 commitments:  Path of MASTERY, Purposefully finding the best ways of doing things, and Accountability.  4 Thieves of success are: The inability to say no, the fear of chaos when minor things don’t get done, poor health habits, and an environment that doesn’t support your goals.

Live your life with no regrets, with purpose, on the priority that matters most, and success and extraordinary life become possible!

break.  It is super simple, but reaps a lot of benefits in managing your time, securing your focus, and learning the actual amount of time certain tasks require.

Often we underestimate how long creative tasks take. Perhaps we get “in the zone” or begin to lean toward perfectionism.  The Parkinson Principle teaches that a task will expand to fill the amount of time available to it – and in these days of Stay at Home Orders, with very little on our calendars “in ink”, we can easily find ourselves busy “at” something without really accomplishing a lot.  The Pomodoro Technique can help keep your brain on task and help you visualize the passing of time in chunks.  To me at times, it is almost like a race or contest – how much can I accomplish in this 25 minute period? 

 On the other hand, many OVERestimate the time required to perform a task.  We are so used to multitasking and distractions, and the consequent loss of productivity as the brain constantly refocuses, that we don’t realize how much of that writing time actually involves checking email, scrolling facebook, and other non-relevant activities.

My favorite time of day for Creative time and Pomodoros is in the morning from 9-12.  It is a nice time block of energy and productivity.  Often in Time Management, we talk about the Eisenhower Matrix, where most of us live in the quadrant of completing tasks that are “Important and URGENT”.  But many priorities in our lives never make themselves “urgent” – think of the inspiring author who dreams of writing a book – there is no contract, she has no external “deadlines”  holding her to due dates, she must make this priority rise to the top on her own.  There are many occupational advancement projects that would fit this category.  But even on a personal level:  time with the kids, healthy cooking, exercise, home improvement projects and maintenance – these are items that allow us to neglect them and rarely rise to level of urgent emergencies, “fires” that need to be put out.  So setting aside that time block for YOUR priorities – making that standing appointment with YOURSELF and not allowing distractions, is an AMAZING way to live in the quadrant of Important but NOT urgent!!

Because I love to “race the clock”, I also enjoy Pomodoros with more mundane tasks – tidying up, putting away a basket of laundry, prepping dinner – I like to see how much I can accomplish in a short period, and it helps me stay on task as I compete to match the time I have estimated!

You really have to experience the technique to see its power in:

• enhancing your focus
• harnessing your awareness of the distractions around you
• improving your ability to cut down on the interruptions
• increasing your skill to estimate the timetable for all kinds of tasks – your planning over time!

 
And it’s kind of like Othello – a minute to learn.  A lifetime to master.  The technique is just a few simple steps, but mastering our energy to focus is an ongoing process!

1.  Choose your task – big, small, priority, mundane – but if it is worth your time, it is worth your undivided attention!

Write it down to define it better.  Estimate how many pomodoros (25 minute sessions) you expect it to take and write that down as well.  If it is more than about 5 pomodoros, you want to break down into smaller tasks.  If it is just a 2 minute email, you want to batch into a full pomodoro (work in my inbox to respond to multiple emails, in this example).   Here you are, actively choosing what you will accomplish in the next ½ hour, and making a list of what is most important to you today!!  In fact, you may want to schedule a PLANNING Pomodoro, where you use a session to plan your day, week, month, and do some serious goal setting!!

2. Set the timer for 25 minutes.
Make an oath with yourself to spend the next 25 minutes focused on this task, without allowing interruptions. (You can do anything for 25 minutes!)
 
There are lots of free apps out there for your phone or PC. It should show you a visible countdown, alarm after the time is up, AND should make a ticking sound.  This might sound super irritating or stress inducing – but here’s one of the reasons you have to give it a chance for a couple of days!!  It tends to create a calm energy, and like Pavlov’s dogs, provides a mental signal that it is time to FOCUS!
 
The suggested duration is 30 minutes long (25 minutes of working with a 5 minute break), but anywhere from 25-40 minutes for both the work interval and the break could work. Because it is also a tool to LEARN focus: focusing for an entire 25 minutes straight may be the GOAL for you, and that’s okay – Define THAT as the goal and embrace it!!  You may want to start with a smaller timeframe, and that’s okay too – IMPROVING FOCUS is the name of the game and a huge benefit! 

3.  PROTECT the Pomodoro!!

To accomplish the Pomodoro and reward yourself with that check mark, you have to stay focused and complete the whole 25 minutes.  You can’t quit halfway through to take a phone call, or check email and still take credit.  So, you only want to allow interruption for very important items. And you want to realize that it is in your power to CHOOSE what is valid or not.
 
If you have mental, internal interruptions:  WRITE THEM DOWN, don’t require your mind to hold them.  You want your task to stay front and center of your brain, and allow your focus to stay on task. Writing it down also helps you visually TRACK the distractions – how frequently are you interrupting yourself – this is one of the ways you learn to improve!  You will review them after you are finished your time block of Pomodoros, and you may well discover very few of the distractions were urgent.

For external distractions and interruptions from others: note and refocus.  Start to realize how much is just an internal compulsion to respond immediately, take the call, reply to the text, and which “emergencies” can wait for 30 minutes, or 3 hours.  Ask yourself whether this could wait until your 5 minute break.  Many items are just not that pressing, and some may resolve themselves before you get around to dealing with them!  Pretend you are with a client – would you pick up the phone then? (you have made an appointment with yourself and should respect your priority to a similar level).  If you at least need to acknowledge the person, you Inform, negotiate and follow up.  Let them know that you are currently busy, not in a position to respond… or get those around you used the phrase “I’m in the middle of a Pomodoro”!  Ask if you can call back at a specific time in the future (set an alarm if needed) and follow up then.  Now, log the distraction and get back to work! 

If it is an emergency, or you opt to stop the Pomodoro, then you consciously CHOOSE to abandon the Pomodoro.  You don’t log that one.  And you start a new Pomodoro when you are able to focus again, and aim for the next one to go better!

4. When the Pomodoro rings, STOP!, Submit the Pomodoro!! (You did it!)  And TAKE A BREAK!!

I have mixed feelings on this:  when I am working on something creative, I often find myself in “flow” and I am just not going to interrupt that state to actually stop what I am doing.  At times I will take the break, but other times, I freely admit, I just keep on rolling.  Often, I just x out the 5 minute break timer and move straight into the next Pomodoro.  And I’m okay with that as well – When I’m on a roll and not burning out, I am EMBRACING that positive energy!! Maybe the Pomodoro answer is to set slightly longer work intervals, and that is something I am going to experiment with!

On the other hand, the rule is STOP – you are going to want to tell yourself “but I will be DONE in 4 minutes!!  I should just finish.”  Remember, we are bad at estimating time and you may be lying to yourself.  You may be ready to just keep going.  Part of the reason for the break is to value rest, and a truly focused brain needs some downtime, and needs to conserve energy for multiple pomodoros.  Open your Breathing App, use the restroom, grab a cup of coffee, go for a short walk or do some jumping jacks.  I think catching up on another small task that uses less brainpower is also allowed – fold some laundry, wipe the counters, empty the dishwasher, delete some emails.

So don’t reject breaks on principle - they are essential to building your focus endurance and improve quality productivity. So give them a chance and let them work for you!
 
5.  Now we start a new Pomodoro!
Don’t let break time suck you in… you want to be able to enjoy that short break, rest your brain, but then get right back to it, that is part of the pacing of the Pomodoro!

6. After 4 Pomodoros, take a longer break. (Default is usually 15-30 minutes)
This is a more restorative break.  Give your mind a chance to process your thoughts and rest so that you can give the next set full attention!  Take a walk (your dog will thank you), close your eyes for 20 minutes, clean the kitchen.

See if this method works to both immediately improve your focus on tasks at hand, AND to improve your Focusing Endurance in the long term!  If it is worth doing, it is worth your full attention!

As a productivity consultant and a homeschooling mom, I am well versed in the challenges of being at home all day with the kids.  The adjustment to life at home can be really hard - not having adult conversation, not receiving the external "appreciation" of a paycheck, and learning to self-motivate can be daunting, discouraging, and even depressing at first.  And by "at first," I mean 20 years of adjusting later, and I still have my moments.  And some of those moments last for weeks! 

And that is on a normal week, free from social distancing and closings, and health concerns.  Homeschoolers often laugh about the fact that we get asked about whether our kids get "socialization".  It is a very common question, because from the outside, it might appear that the current circumstances are everyday life for us.  But most homeschoolers are heavily involved in Co-op classes, sports, clubs, field trips, drama, choir, and other activities.  So, this time is a shock to our systems as well.

Which is why I am going to START with the encouragement rather than the advice (I thought I was going to do it the other way around, but this needs said up front!):

1.  BE KIND TO YOURSELF: This is a hard adjustment and it is likely you neither chose it or had time to plan for it.  If you have unproductive days, do NOT beat yourself up.  Say something kind to yourself right now!

3.  ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRESS - It has hit me a few times in the last few weeks just how stressful the world is right now.  The unknown creates so much fear, and here we have a novel virus which by definition even the experts know nothing about.  And the actions taken are changing everyday, so there is no real end in sight.  Not having a need for a calendar for the foreseeable future is extremely disconcerting!  Health, finances, employment, loved ones, toilet paper - these are items that may be affecting us more than we realize.

I had to stop scrolling Facebook when schools started closing. 

A trip to the grocery store is not just the normal amount of physical exhaustion in collecting the needs of 5 people - to the cart, the belt, the cart, the car, the house, and FINALLY the freezer, fridge, pantry, and other storage zones... but a palpable emotional exhaustion from seeing the empty shelves, and the anxious faces of others. 

Everyday symptoms are that much more stressful - as an essential employee, should what you believe is a normal spring allergy to include post-nasal drip and mucus clearing cough keep you home to protect coworkers (and possibly a population you serve) or is it worse to call out for something minor when there is pressure from your employer to take on extra shifts?  Many teens work in stores and restaurants, so guiding them is a huge responsibility! 

Caring for at-risk family members, entering hospitals, a trip to the pharmacy - things that were so normal a week ago can take a very different toll at this time. Tune in to your mind and body and note the stress points in your life.  Recognizing the stress and the damage it might be causing you is a huge step!

So, moving on to some "Advice from OUR Homeschool Home": (realizing every family is unique  - take what you like and leave what will not contribute to your family's rhythm):

1. WAKE UP AND GET READY FOR YOUR DAY  - There is likely no need for an alarm, but it serves the family to keep to a daily cadence - a general wake up hour and bed time.  When we stray too far from that daily circadian cycle, we start to feel "off" and sluggish.  One day sleeping in can feel luxurious, but we are in this for the long haul, and need to find a productive normal in these weeks at home.  Maintaining a healthy sleeping schedule is important!

Waking up doesn't count if you don't get out of bed, break your fast, greet the other people in the house, and do your morning chores.  This can happen at a leisurely pace - we take 1-2 hours to ease into our mornings, and include time for reading or watching a quick show, my son sometimes gets in a quick 1/2 marathon (not my cup of tea, but... oh yes!!  Linger over that hot tea or coffee!)  No bus to catch or traffic to factor in, so don't rush it!!  Find your own favorite routines and tempo, but DO get ready for the day!!

I have always found it best when there is a set time (often just 10 minutes!) when EVERYONE pitches in - a speed drill of sorts.  We assign rooms, or number of objects, or small tasks.  There is a visible success at the end.  Everyone is in it together.  Coupling a habit like this to another part of your schedule (like a meal time, a walk, or a TV time slot) creates a structure that everyone can expect each day.  When my kids were much younger, "downstairs clean up" happened every day before "Screen Time".  I NEVER had to announce it - Screen time started at 2, and by 1:45, "Downstairs Clean up"  had been heralded by one of them and they were all off to the races!

We want to stay extra cleanly right now, so wiping down door knobs, light switches, faucets, remotes, devices, and toilets might be good tasks - even the youngest can help with this!  So, plan ahead for the extra "living", and enlist all hands on deck to help with the extra cleaning!

We have some "big rocks" in our day - mostly meal times - that tend to have a start time attached to them (our bodies seem to like to eat regularly!) and in between them we have general goals of what needs to get done, and we just flow from task to task until the next big rock.

Tasks might repeat daily or weekly.  They might be flexible or clearly assigned.  They might be for relaxation or personal enrichment or actual "school".  But they will leave you feeling better than another week binge watching Netflix or Disney Plus (again, one weekend bingeing a show is a fun diversion... a month is depressing)!

5. SUBJECTS and TASKS - ideas for what you might want to add into the flow of your family's days to leave you feeling accomplished:
*Most people focus best in the morning and focus wanes later in the day, so it is probably best to incorporate the most intellectual projects for the morning "sessions" with active, crafty, and downtime sessions in the afternoon.
*Goal Setting - Everyone take some space to dream about 1 month, 5 year, and 10 year goals.  Brainstorm things to do this month that further each person's big picture.  You might be surprised how the kids want to fill their own time!
*Reading - Lead by example here and choose some great books - fun, educational, a favorite from your childhood.  It's easy to find books for the Kindle app and that works on iphones too!  We also love Scribd.com for a selection of digital and audiobooks.

*Puzzles and Games - Sodoku, Kakuro, cards, chess, learn something new!
*Educational TV  can be great downtime in the afternoons but get you thinking! (Documentaries, History TV, Classic movies or musicals, you can find almost any subject you love to learn more about!)
*Crafty - Bath Bombs, Painting, Origami, Learn Crochet, Sew Face masks for medical professionals you love, Bake, Make Friendship Bracelets, make a hilarious dog video, create a photobook on Shutterfly.

*Think of others - What could your family do for others?  Bake for a neighbor? Call grandma?  FaceTime someone who could use a smile?  Post a funny video on Facebook?

*Declutter - hey, it's always a good time to go through a closet, the playroom, the kitchen and create some space!

I know I hope we will have some positive memories from this slower time together.  I hope that someday we will say:
Remember during the Coronavirus when...

We're all familiar with the children's book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff, in which our furry friend is offered a cookie, and asks for milk, a straw, and a napkin.  He then needs to check the mirror for a milk mustache, which reminds him his hair needs a trim.  The stray hairs on the floor means he needs to sweep.  EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE. AND THEN MOP THEM.  He is worn out, so he heads for a nap and a bedtime story.  The pictures inspire an ART PROJECT.  And, the reason it is a personal favorite, because I love a story that circles around to the beginning... hanging his drawing on the fridge reminds him he's thirsty, so he asks for a glass of milk... "And chances are, if he asks you for a glass of milk, he's going to want a cookie to go with it."

But who among us can't relate to this use of an afternoon?  You start out with one main thing to do, and get sidetracked by all of these other things that may need doing, but weren't the goal of your day.  Your goal was to sit down and enjoy a cookie.  Now you have trimmed your hair, scrubbed all the floors in the house, completed a creative DIY home project, and are overwhelmed and exhausted.

That can be the thing with clutter and disorganization - it robs us of our peace.  We need calm surroundings to decompress from our busy weeks and days.  And our brains have a HARD time doing that when our surroundings are a mess and keep our brains wondering what we "should" be getting done.  We don't have the energy to complete the tasks we come up with, so we stay put on the couch, but we aren't relaxed, we are frustrated with ourselves, and we can even get discouraged or depressed. 

I love the David Allen quote, "If you go on a vacation to relax, and you don’t relax, that’s an unproductive vacation.  Productivity simply just means producing some desired outcome."  So, we do need to create those places in our homes where our minds and bodies can rest, even if at first, it is just a small corner!  And we need to really be intentional about finding our rejuvenating activities - Note to self: scrolling social media is usually NOT the answer!  We need to be "productive" in our relaxing moments by actually RELAXING!

So, to create those spaces, we need to do some decluttering and re-homing chores.  Here's the moment when we are MOST in danger of the "Give a Mouse a Cookie" distractions.  We pick something up, move it to another area, find 10 more tasks waiting there, and never make it back to the original space, never finish that original project. 

Here's an email I wrote to a friend 6 years ago (I've been thinking about this phenomenon a good while now!) empathizing with the frustration by sharing a recent "episode":

(I still feel the same way about the end of winter and days of sunshine, but we won't go down THAT mouse-trail here!!)

I have some clients who have been through the ringer on this, and recognize this tendency in themselves.  When we are working together, sometimes I catch them self-correcting as we move around a room, "I'm getting distracted here, but I'm focusing on the closet." 

Sometimes I get credit for the reason they are able to stay on track during our sessions, and I DO think having someone working in the same space (you can't just wander off and leave them alone) who doubles as an accountability partner (accountability always helps keep us on track during tasks we are prone to put off) are both HUGE plusses!  BUT, I think some other items come into play: 

1. We have defined the project, which makes it easier to stay focused.  We are working on a closet, decluttering, and will have it back in order before I leave.  So, decide what you will work on and BE SPECIFIC.  Say it out loud.  Make a list of what you will accomplish and KEEP IT WITH YOU.  Check off items for today as you complete them.  As you think of items that need done, that you would usually run off to "do real quick", write them down instead.  Now your brain knows it has back up and can go back to focusing on the area at hand.  One of my classic distractions is when I find something I need to order.  "On AMAZON".  "Real quick."  Don't hop on the computer to place that quick order.  Write it down instead!! 

2. We have defined the length of our session.  Knowing that we will be stopping at a specific point helps two ways I think:  First, you know the end is coming, you know you can find the energy to power through for this defined amount of time.  Second, you are under the buzzer, it has to get done in this amount of time.  I pace us through 3 hour client sessions, and clean up starts about 15-30 minutes before the time is over.  I do the same at home thought, with timers - I especially love Pomodoro 25 minute timers for many tasks, that quietly tick to keep that tiny sense of urgency and focus!

3.  When they correct themselves, they are saying it OUT LOUD - this is totally natural of course, with me in the room, but say it to your child, your dog, in a prayer or song, or just to yourself.  Talking to yourself is just NOT that weird!!   Acknowledge you are getting pulled away and are CHOOSING to come back to the task at hand!  You're the best, and you make great choices, and this space is going to feel better by the time that buzzer goes off!

When You Give a Mouse a Cookie Brain - it's one of my favorite, universal tendencies to laugh about.  So, be kind to yourself!  Giggle when you recognize it when you're working.  Let it tickle you when your brain is supposed to be on "Cookie Break".  And find solutions that work for you to stay focused on your task, or, even better, your mental vacation!! 

I am all about transparency, and am a super open person. If you talk to me one-on- one, you know I am all about relating 100% to the difficulties of staying organized!! (The Struggles are REAL!)  I would never want what I put on social media to be mistaken for anything other than encouragement that hits home to ME!!  Because I need to hear it, and do it, and I spend a lot of time thinking about it!  And now I love sharing the encouragement!

But, like I told my husband yesterday: Close the garage door behind us, because my organizing detritus (Donation bags, shred piles, moving boxes, Closet and Garage Samples, and other organizer supplies) is NOT "ON BRAND".  😊  My garage is suddenly doing quadruple duty at the same time my "free time" to run donation errands is reduced!  Some weeks it is down right scary.

We are a growing family, so our routines, systems, and storage needs are constantly changing and need to update nearly every season.  We have been through some difficult times, where rolling with the changes and making tweaks and improvements was just not possible, and we found ourselves just holding on, making  it through and taking care of the basic necessities.  Whether it is an extended period of health emergency, crazy schedules for work or sports, the need to travel to care for a loved one, there are periods where it is hard to keep up, much less CATCH up.  (This is what started my journey to become a professional organizer - I totally relate to the feeling of overwhelm and difficulty of digging out when there is finally room to breath.)

So, my quotes and advice NEVER come from a place of  having "achieved perfection", or a need to "preach it" to the rest of the world!  I actually think the people who most love reading books about organization, and are most drawn to the inspiration quotes I love and share,  tend to be VERY organized people!  I love to hear from others about the ups and downs of organizing in their lives.  I love when someone confides a "deep dark secret" of their disorganization and I can assure them how very NON-dark and totally NORMAL it is! 

That title "professional organizer" makes perfection sound like a prerequisite, and can be very intimidating to others at first glance!  Turns out, a big part of the job is personal cheerleader - cheering each "team" on as they pull together, achieve small victories, build their decluttering muscles, and practice, practice, practice!

I love to immerse in words and images that set an encouraging tone, that inspire us to take the next step and make our homes and lives more peaceful and intentional!  But that NEVER means I have it all together - just that I trust in our ability to find solutions, tackle problems that come our way, make great progress one baby step at a time!  The hardest part is often getting started, and that is often easier when you focus on the positive!

After Timmy was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes five years ago, we participated in Boscov’s Halloween Candy Trade In Program – they offered kids with juvenile diabetes the option to trade in a bag of candy for a modest gift card – it was about $10, which was enough to get a small toy.  While T1D children can have carbs and sugar (they just need to count, and cover with insulin), it is better in moderation, so this was a really positive initiative, offering an incentive to reduce that carb load!

What a great idea!

In our house, Halloween candy (especially the less desirables) can stay around until Easter, tucked away in a drawer or corner of a closet.  I have tried some options to discourage this candy hoard, but most have been “sticks” rather than carrots  - whatever is not eaten by Thanksgiving comes down to the kitchen and is up for grabs for anyone.  This seems fair, but is always met with groans, and since my kids stick pretty well to family guidelines for number of treats a day, it always seems to sneak up on them and is received as a NEGATIVE.

This year I’m trying the Halloween Buy Back – they will have 24 hours to set aside those items they really don’t want and get cold hard cash in return.  This has been received positively – they can see the value of cash – and will incentivize letting go up front of those varieties that they just don’t love.  This is a skill I want them to develop, and using incentives to instill good habits is useful for all of us!

I think we will go with 5 pieces of candy for $1 this year.  You could make the buy back anything you want, but I think the sweet spot would end up between a dime and a quarter/candy.  Stating it in terms of how many /dollar both makes it more valuable (A dollar still buys you something good) and gives you more flexibility in not having to land on an even number of cents (7/$1 makes more sense than 14c/candy).  My kids love IceBreakers gum (me too!), and you don’t get a lot of good gum at Trick or Treat (maybe some Double Bubble here and there), so I know Megan is already mentally reminding herself that she is essentially trading for gum, which is what she would have chosen from a “Pick Two” bowl anyway!

Buy back candy can be shared with mom and dad, put out at a party, or donated (buyer’s choice).

I have heard of others who add in the mystery of the Halloween Fairy who accepts the donations and leaves toys or money in their place.  That’s a fun twist as well!!

If your focus is to reduce carbs in your home, you may want to use a higher buy back. 
 
If your focus is to encourage open hands and hearts, you may want to forego the money all together and take the time to “Reverse Trick or Treat” in an senior community that doesn’t get trick or treaters – dress up again, fill your bags with give away candy, and spend an afternoon opening the bags at each door for older residents to pick two of THEIR favorites!!  Dressing up is half the fun, and what a surprise for a homeowner to open their door to your little cuties and their sweet offerings!!

May you find your own variations that help you reduce the sugar load and the secret stashes and encourage your kids to share from their abundance!!  Have a safe and fun night of costumes, exercise, friends, and neighbors! 

If you have an interest in decluttering and organizing and have read how-to books and articles, you have likely been introduced to the concept of Minimalism. In this post, we'll discuss some common misconceptions of Minimalism, and next month, I'll offer my favorite definitions by favorite minimalist thinkers. We'll also come back - a lot - to my favorite definition: Intentional.  If it were up to me, we would call it the Intentionality Movement and probably reduce a lot of the misconceptions surrounding "Minimalism"!

As with so many things, Minimalism looks different for each person as they embrace its concepts with their personalities, values, interests, styles, and unique selves!! But when many people hear the term Minimalism, they instantly conjure up some mental images, generalizations that do not have to be part of what Minimalism looks like on YOU!

Myth #1: Minimalist houses are sparse and WHITE.

This is my first mental image, and there may be a definition of minimal interior design that makes this true. But the minimalist movement has moved beyond that interior design aspect. Minimalists can be collectors, love color, love sentimental objects, and surround themselves with warm comfy throws! But they will be intentional: curate their collections, choose great pops of color, limit sentimental objects to favorite memories on display, and get great use out of their decorative throws.  What good are treasures in a box in the basement?

My house would scream minimalist to exactly NO ONE. But every time I sweep through with fresh eyes, or paint a room and decide what deserves to go back up on my walls, I seem to find another item that isn't earning its keep. If it isn't making me smile every time I walk past, it at least needs to be reassessed and reconsidered. I am continually amazed at the truth of the phrase: "less is more"!

Myth #2: Minimalists don't believe in fashion.

This might conjure the mental image of Steve Jobs: daily "uniform," black turtleneck, an almost empty wardrobe full of neutrals. Minimalists are unlikely to have closets stuffed to the gills with clothes they haven't worn in ages - whether because the clothes are the wrong size, poor-fitting, ugly splurge purchases, no longer in style, etc. They are very likely to be in tune with THEIR style rather than swayed by every newest trend. But plenty love fashion, and dress in colors and shapes that flatter their complexions and bodies.

I am no fashionista, but I am learning to be intentional with my purchases, only buying what makes me feel great, rather than what is on sale. I am learning to let go of the extras in my wardrobe that just aren't me, and give them away.  To focus on the fact I  have learned something about my style rather than just having lost money. I think the most surprising change for me is that I am slowly paring my neutrals down to black (rather than browns and grays and blues and blacks). It is my favorite neutral and looks great with the bright, bold colors I enjoy. And I don't feel I have to give up jeans - I'll keep wearing the dark wash I've always gravitated to.

Myth #3: They hate books, too.

<--Here's my mental image - the strong reaction of book lovers to Marie Kondo.  Would the minimalist movement, or your favorite organizer, encourage you to reconsider your relationship with physical books, as you would other things? Probably so. Does this mean they don't read and disdain the pursuit of knowledge? Or that no minimalist home needs bookshelves? Probably not. But let's face it - sometimes we keep books on our shelves that we haven't even read because we like what they say about who we are. Sometimes we keep references we will never refer to or novels we will never revisit. And, in my mind, sharing is caring. Most book lovers are excited to share the books they truly love - loaning with open hearts - even while knowing they may have to repurchase the next time they want to "loan". I think it is with the books we haven't read that we have the strangest, or most unhealthy, relationship.

I think for me, this added some new questions to my arsenal. As I think about my intention to make my home a place of comfort and welcome, I often remind myself that libraries, museums, and gardens hold items for everyone to share and enjoy. When I look at books that have sat on my shelves for years, I ask: Will this add to the next "chapter" of my life? Is this something I would buy in the store if I saw it today?  Might this serve a *better* purpose in someone else's home, temporarily, or permanently? And now we are back to being book lovers, sharing our treasures with open arms!

Myth #4: Minimalists count the number of items in their closet or home.

You will read books and Challenges referring to numbers of items. I picture Minimalists humble bragging about how few things they own, or into what tiny suitcase they can squeeze all their worldly possessions. Minimalism could be defined as a process of figuring out the "minimum" you need to be content.  I think some personalities strongly identify with a challenge and taking the more extreme route. But the minimalist movement is more about being intentional about what we own and allow in our lives than keeping tallies and should never be about comparison or judgment!

I can't imagine trying to hit artificially chosen "number of items" goals in my home, in a room, in my "capsule wardrobe". But the concepts of figuring out what I can do without, what is the least I need, what others would benefit from more, really inspire me at times. We are so accustomed to our society of overabundance that these ideas go against conventional thinking!

Myth #5: Minimalism happens overnight, is all or nothing.

The image is: You either ARE a minimalist and fit within a particular box (perhaps the myths above), or you are NOT a minimalist. Again, some personalities are more extreme, more all in, more inspired by challenges than others. But Minimalism is a mindset and a journey, and the path looks different for everyone.

My sister and I have played with the idea of writing an organizing book together in the future. She jokes that she will share the extreme view - her side of the book will be called the Spartan Method. I will share the slower, more patient view - I may call it the "What turns your Heart on" Method. People process differently, and it is okay to grow in stages.  I have always been amazed to watch the "GROWTH SPURTS" God fashioned for babies and children, and I don't think they only apply to the physical.  So be gentle with yourself as you make intentional decisions about how to fashion your life and surroundings! Maybe you can join me in being an "intentionalist" who also aspires to Minimalism!

Myth #6: Minimalists are all backpacking the world or living in tiny RVs - crunchy, vegan, millennial free spirits avoiding all responsibility.

I think many Minimalists started with a significant life change, but here we are, back to the all or nothing box! Your priorities might not have anything to do with travel: you may spend your newfound free time serving the elderly, or your extra finances (from more thoughtful purchasing habits) supporting a battered women's shelter. Perhaps you will use the additional space in your easier-to-maintain-home to host neighbors, coworkers, and family regularly, investing in relationships. It's about taking FULL responsibility for the choices that shape your reality and realizing we don't have to walk the same hamster wheel.

This myth makes me laugh because this description may be the antithesis of me.  Still, the concepts of Minimalism and the definitions we will explore in the next post inspire me to really consider my big picture. And watching people make dramatic choices on their journeys, no matter how different from mine, is encouraging too!