Can Being More Organized Give Me a Balanced Life?
Being organized does not give you the kind of balance you see in movies or these new age yoga enthusiasts having. The kind of balance I'm talking about is the kind that allows you to not be easily frustrated when something unexpected comes up. The kind where your child spills something and you don't get outraged by how their curious, tiny hands could cause such a mess. The kind that allows you to feel at ease while you simply do one thing, and not stress over a million others.
The simple answer? YES. (Closes blog post, back to Facebook feed or Instagram feed or Snapchat feed- I love me some Snapchat @feelfreeclub.)
For those of you who want to learn how being more organized can give you a balanced life and identify the areas you're living low , continue reading...
Being organized does not give you the kind of balance you see in movies or these new age yoga enthusiasts having. The kind of balance I'm talking about is the kind that allows you to not be easily frustrated when something unexpected comes up. The kind where your child spills something and you don't get outraged by how their curious, tiny hands could cause such a mess. The kind that allows you to feel at ease while you simply do one thing, and not stress over a million others. That kind of balance is necessary in our ever changing lives. There's no room for frigidness or perfection. Life is messy, nerve wrecking, ever changing and tricky at times. It's about how you manage all life has to offer. And don't expect it to ever run out of offerings.
how ORGANIZATION CREATES FREEDOM
"What you have control over you feel better about."
When areas of your life are organized that means you have a handle on it. You control it. You have a good idea of how that area effects you. This practice allows you freedom. Continuously avoiding areas you fear are too overwhelming to address is doing more harm than good. Ultimately it will need to be acknowledged. You can either be forced due to life circumstances or done willingly with you in the driver's seat.
Being self-employed, I spend a lot of time at home. There were days I found myself doing A WHOLE LOT of nothing. I would do things but none of which I needed to do. I had to make myself a weekly schedule detailing what I do each day between each hour. I'm flexible of course, but my schedule allows me to be. It creates way more structure in my day and that allows me to make time for family and friends, catch an event, or more importantly a nap. (This also made me realize I have a lot more time on my hands than I thought, and I wasn't using it wisely.)
Being organized is about having a say on how you spend your time and the things that affect you on a regular basis. What areas in your life do you feel are out of control?
Out of frustration, I quickly scribbled this schedule one morning. Since then, I've digitized it :-)
It's my mission ( is mission too much?) it's my hope to share tips and resources with you that will help you achieve the kind of life where overwhelm, high anxiety and stress is not your bestie. Where motherhood doesn't consume every waking moment of your time and energy. Because before we were mothers, we were women. Women with hopes, dreams and aspirations far beyond raising a family. This woman still exists and deserves to be nurtured. This new mother role also deserves to be developed. You can wing a lot of things when there's only you to worry about. But there's no winging lunch time for your toddler (unless your child loves squeeze pouches which is every mom's saving grace). Motherhood is surprisingly fun with episodes of disasters in between. Being organized allows you to enjoy the surprises and make it through the disasters that much better.
DETERMINE WHAT BALANCE IS FOR YOU
The first step to creating more balance is to determine what balance looks like for you and you alone.
How would you like to spend your time?
What kind of environment would you like to live in?
What would you like to say you've done this month, this year?
Asking yourself these questions will force you to acknowledge what is important to you and encourage you to seek it out. When an opportunity presents itself to increase balance in your your life, it will be difficult to pass it up. Explore how you're currently spending your time. Are you pleased with it? Look up. What do you like about your home? And your home is where you live, whether that's a house, an apartment, or a bedroom at your parents. Acknowledge what you like and what you would like to change, then do something about it. What would make this month great? Write it down. See how each week you can make that thing possible. As long as the things that are important to you are part of your life on a regular bases, unexpected occurrences sting less. Life has shifted to where your time, space, and accomplishments are aligned. Life is filled with the things that matter to you most. And that's beautiful balance.
THERE NO SUCH THING AS LOVING EACH CHILD EQUALLY
I always jokingly mention how I will probably love IV more than the rest of my future children. Of course this is probably not true (probably) but it's hard to imagine loving something or someone else as much... until you do.
Everything doesn't need the same amount of attention or time. My mother always says she loves my sister and I equally but differently. Determining which areas of your life needs organizing is crucial. There will be some areas that are more organized than others and that's because you interact differently with separate areas of your life. We all do. If you'd like to identify those areas and make alterations to managing it better check out "Organize Where You're Living Low"
We can't improve what we aren't aware of ;-). I address how to organize many common areas people are living low on Feel Free TV. Subscribe now if you'd like some help along your journey to more balance. Until next time...
Feel Free,
Mel
WHY YOU WANT AN ORGANIZER + HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU
A Professional Organizer is classified as someone who helps you maximize interior spaces within your home or office through systems that creates efficiency. In laymen's terms, an Organizer is a modern-day genie. With one request you can have all your residential dreams come true.
What is a Professional Organizer and what can one do for you?
A Professional Organizer is classified as someone who helps you maximize interior spaces within your home or office through systems that creates efficiency. In laymen's terms, an Organizer is a modern-day genie. With one request you can have all your residential dreams come true.
“I wish getting dressed in the morning was quick and simple. Every outfit I put together looked amazing on me!”
“I wish my laundry would never get out of hand again. Laundry day actually makes me happy instead of sad.”
“I wish I could wake up tomorrow and my baby’s nursery was completely done without me lifting a finger.”
Once you hire an organizer:
Organizers easily and systematically help you create the home you’ve always wanted. The home you’ve been trying to put together ever since you moved there. The home that functions smoothly and doesn’t make you feel like you have 1001 things to do.
An organizer will assess and address your area of struggle, then implement the best solution for your situation.
Benefits of a Professional Organizer
The benefits of working with an Organizer are truly endless, but here’s my Top 5:
1. DIRECTION:
You can count on an organizer allowing you to sit back and relax as they provide a simple process to maintain the system that has been implemented. Some clients like to be hands-on during the process, while others are scared of dealing with the chaos they’ve been avoiding month after month, year after year. Either way, once your organizer walks out the door, you’ll feel confident about the way your home looks, feels, and how to keep it that way.
2. CLARITY:
Physical clutter is the manifestation of the chaos going on within. Whenever I work with a client we go over the blocks that’s preventing them from being organized. Realization of what’s triggering you, blocking or stopping you from being more organized is the first step to changing it.
3. VISION IS NOW A REALITY:
All that planning to turn that room into a home office, guest bedroom or walk-in closet is finally out of planning stage and into action stage. Your dream home is actually much closer than you think.
4. EFFICIENCY:
We all want a home that is comfortable and beautiful, but it also has to meet the needs in your life. When you don’t take the time to plan out how your home can serve your lifestyle, it quickly becomes an environment that frustrating and overwhelming. The goal is a beautiful well-oiled haven of order.
5. BEAUTY AND ENERGY:
The most valuable aspect of being organized is its functionality. But let’s admit, the second greatest thing about something being organized is the way it looks. Organization brings peace to the process. If you’re getting dressed in an organized room with an organized closet you have the room to feel optimistic about your day and focus on what is ahead instead of being distracted because you can’t find your favorite blazer and you can only locate one earring instead of two.
What You Learn about Yourself when Working with an Organizer
Working with an Organizer is truly a form of therapy. When going through all your personal items (many of which you haven't seen in a while) a lot of past emotions and stories come up. You’re forced to deal with the things you haven’t had the strength to let go of before. You get to take an honest look at what you’ve been allowing in your life (and home) and determine if this is still what you want or you're ready to move on.
How to Find the Right One for You
SEARCH THE NAPO WEBSITE
The NAPO website is a great place to start to find a Professional Organizer in your area. You can be sure the ones you find are serious about their craft and are ready to provide the value you’re looking for. Each state also has a local chapter. Google “NAPO (your state) chapter” you’ll go directly to the source. ** Find an Organizer in Georgia**
HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ONE
If you’re reading this you actually don’t have to look any further! I’m available for any questions you may have. Don’t hesitate to take book a free consultation. From the conversation, I’ll know the best way to serve you whether that’s offering my services or referring you to someone that better fits your needs. You’ll also get all your questions answered and know if you want to hire me as your Organizer.
Even if you can't hire an organizer right now don't miss out on the power to organization. I post 2 minute tips every Thursday to organize your life. Always start where you are with what you have, to create the life you want.
Feel Free,
Mel
How to Organize Your Bills + Free Bill Organizer Template
When 2016 started I made a commitment to myself that I would be more aware of my finances- how much I was spending and what I was spending it on, old medical bills I hadn’t addressed, my investments I was contributing to each month but had no idea how much was in it. It’s like all these things were gently haunting me and I couldn’t avoid it anymore.
When 2016 started I made a commitment to myself that I would be more aware of my finances- how much I was spending and what I was spending it on, old medical bills I hadn’t addressed, my investments I was contributing to each month but had no idea how much was in it. It’s like all these things were gently haunting me and I couldn’t avoid it anymore. Kind of like when I graduated from college and didn’t have a job yet, but the government delivered a weekly reminder to give them their money back.
BECOME AWARE OF YOUR EXPENSES: MAKE A LIST
One of the first things I did was look at everything that I needed to pay each month and everything I had avoided. Then I made a list. For the expenses I avoided, I wrote down the number to customer service. I figured taking responsibility for my negligence would increase my adult rating. I called them up, asked what I owed and set up payment plans. It actually went a lot better than I thought it would.
Things are never as bad as we make it seem
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR BILLS
1. List each bill, amount and due date
2. Determine which bills will be paid with each check
3. Pay bills on payday
It’s pretty simple. You do all the work up front so when pay day comes you know what needs to be paid, how much and when.
Don’t worry, I’ve created a simple template with step by step instructions.
No one likes talking about money. For some reason it’s uncomfortable to look at our finances. Maybe it’s a reminder of how much more we need to live comfortably. Maybe it's because we realize we spend way too much money on Zaxby's. No matter if you have hundreds, thousands or millions of dollars, being aware of where your money is going is one of the most beneficial skills to acquiring fortune. The thought process is the same no matter the amount. If you can't manage a little, managing a lot will be nearly impossible. Set your finances free.
** ENJOYED THIS POST? LIKE, SHARE OR COMMENT BELOW ON WHAT YOU SPEND WAY TOO MUCH ON . DON'T FORGET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD!
Feel Free,
Mel
Mom's Favorite Organizer