Clutter Busting

Clutter Busting: Mental House Cleaning

October 10, 2015 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

Negative thoughts seem to follow the path of least resistance. When our minds go into neutral, they automatically tend to flow toward our normal thinking patterns, whether negative or positive. If we try to stop thinking about something, it creates a space and our minds go right back to what we were just thinking about. It seems like there is no escape.

But you can choose to do some mental house cleaning. And your brain is also the solution. You can’t simply try to stop thinking about negative people or situations…you have to replace those thoughts. You have to consciously choose other things to fill your mind with. At first the negative thoughts will try to creep back in because they have been there for so long. But when that happens you can turn that into a trigger to again fill your mind with truth.

Yet trying to think of new response when you are in the middle of an emotion is like putting the cart before the horse. You have to begin by thinking through the process before the emotion hits you.

Here are some tips for changing your thinking: [Read more…] about Clutter Busting: Mental House Cleaning

Clutter Busting: It’s Your Choice

October 3, 2015 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

Choice/chois/ (noun)

An act or instance of choosing; selection:
The right, power, or opportunity to choose; option:
The person or thing chosen or eligible to be chosen:
An alternative
An abundance or variety from which to choose:
Something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something:
A carefully selected supply

Whether you are clearing clutter from your mind, body or space it’s about the choices you make on daily basis. You may think that there are outside forces that prevent you from being positive, achieving a healthy weight or decluttering your stuff. But clutter busting is mostly an inside job.

I personally have been on a journey of fitness over that last several months. And someone just asked me how I was able to achieve some significant changes in my body shape. After thinking about it the answer is simple…choice.

Choice is about understanding that you have an option or alternative and it’s about your priorities.

So whether it’s making changes in body, mind or spirit you can conquer chaos and create harmony…just make the choice.

Clutter Busting: Back to School Routines

September 26, 2015 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

We are just a couple weeks into the school year, and if you haven’t done so yet, there is still time to create routines for the school year.

Here are suggestions for creating a routine not only for you but also for your child:

Get prepared the night before.

Check the school schedule for the next day with your child to determine what supplies are needed at school, gather and put in one location by the door.
Layout uniform or outfit.
Pack lunches.
Check that all homework is completed.
Sign any paperwork.
Pack school bag.
Pick up the house.

Clutter Busting: Organizing Healthy Snacks for Young Athletes

September 19, 2015 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

Keep young athletes strong and fit with healthy half-time and after game snacks that help them refuel (and taste good too). Children need different nutrients at different times, so plan snacks, meals, and treats that give your child’s body what it needs.

These half-time snacks should satisfy kids’ need for nutrients and their taste buds.

During a game, it’s most important to stay hydrated. And if kids need a half-time snack, make it something easy to grab, eat, and digest. Avoid salty foods, since they dehydrate instead of re-hydrating. The best half-time snack choice is fresh fruit, since it contains lots of water and nutrients, and also has kid appeal!

Here are some healthy half-time snack suggestions:

Bananas (cut in half for younger kids so they can peel and eat more quickly)
Orange slices or clementines (be prepared to help little ones peel)
Grapes
Small slices or chunks of melon
Apple or pear wedges (to prevent browning brush with orange juice)
Berries (avoid cherries, since the pits will make a mess)

Help your child make it to half-time feeling strong by fueling muscles with carbohydrates one to two hours before a game or practice.

Grains, such as pasta or crackers, are good choices if children will be playing for 60 minutes or less. Be sure to choose whole-grains whenever possible.

For a longer game or practice, add some protein or fiber to help slow digestion and sustain energy. Good choices include fruit or low-fat protein options such as milk, turkey, or yogurt.

Pre-game snack suggestions are:

Whole-grain bread, crackers, tortillas, or pretzels
Cereal (as long as it’s not high in sugar)
Enriched pasta or brown rice
Plain popcorn
Low-fat cheese, milk, yogurt, or pudding
Turkey, chicken
Apples, bananas, pears, oranges
Carrots, sugar snap peas, cucumbers

Clutter Busting: Organize for Success in College

September 12, 2015 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

Being organized is key to achieving student success in college — so here are a few organization tips to help you get started or for you to help your student be successful.

Manage your time. One of the most valuable skills you can develop is time management. Start by setting long-term goals and then break them down into short-term goals. Prioritize the short-term goals into action steps and list them on your calendar to keep yourself on track.
Create routines. Schedule yourself to get up and going to bed around the same time each day. Also try to maintain a standard study time every day where you typically find yourself being the most productive. Don’t forget to include pleasurable activities in this schedule such as exercising or time with friends. Once you have figured out the time of day when your mind is sharpest, then make sure to set that time aside for studying and working on projects.
Organize your workspace. Make sure your study zone is set up so you can easily find what you need.
Maintain a “knowledge vault”. Save your work so you can easily access it from one semester to the next along with important ideas, resources and data
Use online tool to keep you organized. There are a variety of online tools that you can access on your computer or any mobile device to help you stay organized and connect with instructors and fellow students any time and from any location. A few useful tools include: Questia, Brainify, inClass, iCyte or Toodledo.

These helpful organization tips should allow you to get a jump start on organization to prevent end-of-semester chaos from getting the better of you.

What tips do you know for staying organized and achieving student success?