Melissa Harris 2/26/16 Melissa Harris 2/26/16

Learn To Let Go & Get Rid of What You Don't Need

Oh, the art of letting go. Letting go is easier for some than others. Some people can easily throw away things (and people for that matter). While others hold on more tightly. Whether you like to hold onto things or let them go, each habit serves the purpose of comforting you. It’s outside our comfort zone where we can find the freedom of letting go.

Why It’s Necessary to Learn to Let Go?

When it comes to clutter (and sometimes people but that’s another post), letting go of things that no longer serve you is freedom. It gives you the choice to focus on moments instead of things.

Although you may have collected many possessions that remind you of happy times, those same things can cause frustration when it starts to take over the place you call home. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to revisit a memory or fit back into an old skirt. But if it begins to prevent you from eating comfortably at the dining room table because there’s papers everywhere, or makes getting dressed in the morning a dreadful challenge because you can’t find anything that compliments you, that’s when it becomes a problem.

How to Let Go

This is the hardest part for many people because it’s all about decisions. And people DO NOT like making decisions. I teach my clients how to make purposeful decisions to empower them as they maintain organization in their home. Building new habits and making decisions is the bulk of creating a space you enjoy living in. When deciding on what to keep and what to let go, here are 3 questions that will help making decisions easier:

1. Do I love it?

2. When’s the last time I used it?

3. What purpose is it serving me currently?

If you love something, then you use it and take care of it. If you’ve never used it or it’s been ages since you have, more than likely you have no purpose for it.

How to Re-purpose Your Attachment

Once you’ve decided on items to let go it doesn’t HAVE to become a member of the trash society. It’s difficult to throw away something you’ve spent money on or have had for a long time. There are multiple things you can do instead:

1. Give it away:

You may know of someone who can make better use of it than you. Family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers are a good place to start.

2. Donate:

There are TONS of good causes in the community that are looking for what you have. (Need a list of places to donate? Fill out the form below)

3. Craft it away:

If you can find a new purpose for that item right then and there then get your crafts on!

I was over this scarf, but it went really well with my bathroom decor. I wrapped a dull bathroom tray with the scarf and WHALA!

Your future will find you if you let go of your past

Our past should not hinder us from enjoying our present. Each new moment will soon become old. Do not limit the possibilities of your present by holding onto memories of the past. Do not fill your life with things when you could be filling them with moments.

Feel Free,

Mel

Melissa Harris 2/17/16 Melissa Harris 2/17/16

4 Ways to Focus & Take Control of Your Time

The ability to focus is a skill. How in the world do people stay on task with anything these days? It's scary how easily we are distracted. A random thought or noise and off we go into a world unrelated to our priorities. As an entrepreneur, staying focused is crucial to my productivity. If I'm not careful, hours can easily pass me by with the spark of the slightest distraction. (I'm also a huge scaredy-cat. If I hear a noise, I either believe spirits are in my presence or someone is trying to kill me.) Nevertheless, learning ways to stay on task is a vital skill that I aim to master each and every day.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO STAY FOCUSED

It's the way our brains are programmed. It's how we tune-in to novelty. We need to be aware of when something changes or is out of the ordinary in our surroundings. There's no telling your brain not to pay attention to distractions no matter how minute it is. You can try, but it's like putting cookies in front of a 5 year-old and telling him not to eat it. Good luck.

WHY IS STAYING FOCUSED SO IMPORTANT?

If you're reading this, you probably understand that if you could stay focused then you can get more of what you want to do (or need to do) done. But here's a reason you may not have thought about.

Self-control and decision making require a lot of energy. Although these aren't physical tasks, they require an abundance of mental resources to be carried out successfully. When you're switching from task to task, you're draining your mental resources. When it comes time to focus, you find that you're less patient, more irritable, and can't remember things as well. Not only aren't you able to get a substantial amount of work done, your personal life suffers as well. Once you get home exhausted and drained, providing your undivided attention to those you love is out of the question. You simply don't have the energy for it. You do what you need to do to get by, but your heart isn't in it, and it shows.

HOW TO STAY FOCUSED

Like I said before, you can’t tell your brain not to notice distractions. You can’t choose to only be distracted when it benefits you. Like if a spirit was in the room or someone was actually trying to kill you. The answer is easy:

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

Like most things, it’s easier said than done. Don’t fret, here are

4 SIMPLE WAYS TO FOCUS WHEN YOU NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE:

1. Take care of your personal needs: Go pee, grab something to eat, bring a glass of water to the party, make sure you're in comfortable clothes. When our basic needs aren't met, it's pretty hard to ignore them even when you're deep in a project. You never want to break the zone once you're in it, so be mindful of what you need ahead of time.

Comfort is super important. But don't get too comfortable. You're not trying to go to sleep. Random fact: I gave up on matching socks years ago. Best decision I ever made.

2. Clear your area: You may think a cluttered room is doing you no harm but sadly my dear, you're wrong. The anxiety that's slowly building up because you know you need to tidy up the living room, hinders your creativity, critical thinking skills and the ability to relax.

If it's a small mess (clothes on the floor, dishes on the counter) take a couple of minutes to straighten up. If the mess is too large and will take more than 15 minutes to clean, you may just need a professional organizer ( call me). 3rd option, you can take 2 minutes and gather everything to one area and commit to cleaning-up after your productive period is over. Miraculously, this settles the mind because you've made a decision and committed to it by taking the first step

3. Turn off communications devices AKA your cell phone (because who has a house phone or a pager anymore): If I had it my way, we would all go back to the days where we had house phones, answer machines, and people didn't expect to hear from you for another day or two. Unfortunately, I don't rule the world, so all cell phones are safe for now. But make no mistake, they are your enemy when trying to complete a task that requires deep thought or stepping into a flow or rhythm. Do yourself a favor. Silence your device. Set a timer for an hour and place your phone out of sight. You'll thank me later. You're Welcome.

4. Manage What You Focus On:
This is all about mindfulness. If you're past the age of teenage brain and you consider yourself a real adult then listen up. Being aware of where your thoughts go is important to staying focused. Once we go down a path of something that's negative or unproductive it's really hard to get back. The longer you take to say, Come back andRefocus, the more likely you will find yourself 5 pages deep on Instagram not remembering what you've been doing for the past 30 minutes. As soon as you notice you're getting off track take hold of your thoughts and remind yourself of what's important. This does take practice but it's totally worth it.

Taking control of how you spend your time gives you freedom over your life. Don't ever take your freedom for granted.

Feel free,
Mel

***If you live in the Atlanta area and are interested in getting your home organized I invite you to contact me.

** Did you enjoy this post? If so, share with your friends so they can increase their productivity!

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Melissa Harris 2/10/16 Melissa Harris 2/10/16

5 Ways to Bring More Love into Your Home and Life

Valentine’s Day. The day that singles look for a way to feel less single, and where couples look for a way to feel more in love. Regardless, the day is about highlighting love. It’s often related to the romantic kind of love, but truthfully there’s no difference in the love you have for your friends, family, your kids, or yourself. No one should feel anything less than an abundance of love on this very special day. If you surround yourself with those who love you and focus on what you love, you'll realize there's no lack in love when you pay attention.

One Valentine’s Day my sister and I took our mom out for dinner. Clearly we were all single at the time, but it that didn’t cross our minds that night. We tried Indian food for the first time, got each other roses, and spent all night laughing. I felt more love this Valentine’s Day than I had on previous occasions where I was in a relationship, but the love had faded. The fact is, no one has a lack of love in their life if they look in the right places. You can choose to shine light on what’s beautiful and feels good or you can stand in the shadows waiting for someone to shine the light on you.

In my business, it’s important for me to help my clients feel good about themselves and their surroundings. Yes we declutter and create a space that’s functional and aesthetically pleasing, but we also focus on the inner mental clutter that’s causing the disorganization. This is to build new habits and create a surrounding that’s refreshing.

In light of Valentine’s Day, here are

5 Ways to Bring More Love into Your Home and Life:

1. ADD BRIGHTER, MORE COMPLIMENTARY LIGHT:

Lighting is everything! You want light that welcomes your presence at the flick of a switch. Great lighting easily gives a room life. Try buying a new lamp or even better, a new lamp shade. Go for something that reveals more light, either a wider lampshade or a taller lamp. On a budget? No worries, experiment with moving your existing light in different areas of the room. You could easily be shining light in all the wrong places.

2. PUT PICTURES INTO FRAMES:

You have hundreds, probably thousands of unforgettable moments in your phone. Relive those feelings by putting those pictures in a visible place. The hallway, living room or bedroom or great examples.

First year as a mom has been filled with moments that I would love to relive..

3. PAINT A CONTAINER YOUR FAVORITE COLOR AND MAKE IT A CENTERPIECE:

Your favorite colors will always bring you good vibes. Centerpieces have an amazing way of giving a room personality. And what better personality than your own. Grab a sample paint and a couple of brushes from Home Depot and let your 5 year old self come out to play.

I've had this pot forever, and it's always looked out of place. Instead of getting rid of it, I painted it a soft lavender and placed it in front of the living room. This project was fun and a tad bit messy, but what's a good time without a little mess ;-)

4. ORGANIZE BOOKS BY COLOR:

Love books? Give yourself a reason to talk about the stories that have changed your life. Guests will be intrigued by your color coordinated bookshelf, then BAM you hit them with the most incredible book you’re reading. #winning

5. GET STATIONARY SET YOU LOVE:

There’s nothing more pleasurable than cute, fun reminders. Take a trip to your local Target and grab a stationary set for you to write down affirmations, quotes, or to-do lists. The possibilities are endless.

Everything in this picture was under $3 from Target and Ross. Super cute and easy on the pockets.

There you have it. Easy, fun, affordable ways to add love into your home and your life. Incorporate more of what you love in every way you can so every day is another Valentine’s Day.