4 Small Habits with Big Impact

Instead of typical resolutions for 2015, I decided to introduce small habits into my everyday life to improve my overall well-being.  My goal is to integrate all of these practices to the point where they become a part of my core character.  Success means that I practice these habits more often than I did last year (trust me, there is a huge grading curve).  So without further ado, here is a list of 5 seemingly small habits that would make a big impact on our lives.

1. Ask perceptive questions

Setbacks are inevitable.  Instead of negative talk, try to understand more about what happened.  Where was the point of weakness? What can be done to improve the situation?  How can this problem be prevented in the future? When is the next opportunity?  The answers to these types of questions will clear a better path to our goals, and impart some valuable lessons along the way.

2. Take care of yourself

When we take care of ourselves, we are able to function at optimal levels.  Without adequate rest, our performance drops.  A healthy diet and exercise rejuvenates our energy levels.  Meditation improves our focus. Journaling clarifies our thoughts.  Okay, so maybe this isn’t a “small” habit in itself, but we can do small things everyday to make sure we have our own backs.  

3. Introduce challenges everyday

Do one thing each day that pushes the boundaries of our comfort zones.  Maybe it is increasing the heaviness of the weights during a workout or striking up a conversation with a stranger.  On a bigger scale, it could be heading up a new project or trying a new activity.  Growth happens when we stretch out into the unknown and test our limits.

4. Be grateful

There is always something for which we can be grateful.  Instead of letting resentment, anger, frustration, or discontent take over our mindset, let us direct our energy toward the things we are glad to have in our lives.  When we practice gratefulness, our problems become less significant and we get closer to learning the art of contentment.

5. Clear the clutter

Both physical and mental spaces can become congested with clutter - our homes, our offices, our thoughts, our finances, our schedules, our relationships.  It is important to increase our awareness of what we allow into those spaces for the sake of sanity.  Taking the time to purge the extra and unnecessary leaves us room to enjoy and focus on our priorities.


What small habits have made a big impact on your life?

Organizing Essentials: Controlling the Influx of STUFF

It happens, life that is.  We make an effort to find a place for everything and maintain order, but sometimes we suffer a loss with the constant battle with stuff coming through our doors.  Here are some strategies that can reverse the outcome and leave our organization in tact!

Consider a minimalist mindset

We can begin by eliminating the unnecessary and 'just-in-case' so that we are left with only things that we use and bring absolute joy to our lives.  If we continuously edit and are mindful of what comes into our homes, the clutter no longer becomes a problem.

No more aimless shopping

Be purposeful with spending and try not to shop just for the sake of shopping.  Unsubscribe from retail store emails and catalogs.  Take time away from the numerous screens disguised as sneaky sirens calling us to buy more stuff to satisfy an imagined void.  (Those marketing agencies are great at their jobs!)  Cultivate the ability to distinguish needs from wants and essentials from luxuries.

Implement (and stick with) a one in/one out policy

To keep balance in your space and life, remove an item every time you bring a new one home.  This strategy works well with scheduling too - when we realize our time is precious, we get better at filling it with things that matter to us.  When we say 'yes' to something, we ultimately say 'no' to something else.

Leave (some) room to grow

There are times when expansion is necessary - think new child, new business, new hobby - so manage the corresponding space accordingly.  However, these types of systems are tricky to maintain without generating more clutter, so keep close tabs on what finds its way into those empty storage areas.  Be intentional with how those spaces are used.

Invest in multi-taskers

Declutter by replacing single task items with those that can perform many tasks.  This principle is key for kitchens and closets, especially.  Do not get suckered into buying single-use tools in the name of convenience unless it will be heavily used.  For example, a coffee maker can be a good single tasker, but not an avocado slicer - just get a good knife and expand your knife skills!  Buy the best quality little black dress (or suit) possible and use it to generate many outfits instead of buying an outfit per event.  Get those creative juices flowing!

Request experiences for gifts

Ask for a museum membership, theater tickets, spa treatments, charity donations, and other adventures in lieu of physical items.  These gifts reward us with new things to explore and enjoy without the need to find places to store more stuff.

Create a system for paperwork

Paper begets paper - we've seen evidence of this on our kitchen counters with ever-growing piles of mail, school documents and projects, magazines, etc.  It is absolutely necessary to set up a system to minimize the chaos and maintain sanity.  Convert to paperless statements, create electronic files and databases, and opt-out of catalog mailings and pre-screened offers to keep as much paper out as possible.

I hope at least one of these strategies can help you deal with the influx of stuff.  Granted, these ideas are all easier said than done, especially when more than one person is involved. Keep in mind it takes time to create and keep good habits, but the return on investment definitely outweighs the sacrifice!

Here's to staying organized!

Organizing Essentials: How to STAY organized

Whenever we find ourselves in one of those rare (and beautiful) organizing modes, we purge and arrange everything until we have achieved the "perfect" system.  Flash forward a week or month or year, we are distraught over how we got so disorganized again.  It becomes harder to find things, clutter creeps back and takes over our surfaces, and we are left with the mess we fought so hard to keep away.  Why is it so hard to stay organized?

It all begins with our habits, both the good and the bad.  If we neglect the steps to maintain our efforts, getting organized and finding a place for everything is all for naught.  Yes, it is important to start with an organizational system that will work well for you, but even the most optimal systems will fail if they are not maintained.  So here are a few simple ideas that once turned into habit will keep almost anyone organized:

1.  No task is complete until everything is put back into its place.  This is the most difficult habit to form because we are creatures of (bad) habit and prefer convenience above all else.  Following this rule is especially difficult when multiple creatures abide in the same abode!  But as I mentioned before, this idea is the entire basis for keeping our stuff organized.  The faster one masters this habit, the easier staying organized will be.

2.  A few minutes a day keeps the clutter away.   As a part of a morning or evening routine, taking time to put things back in their place helps to maintain organization.  Clear surfaces, put dirty clothes in the hamper, unload the dishwasher, sort the mail, recycle items, quickly purge a drawer or cabinet, etc.  If done regularly, 15 minutes can be ample time to get all things back in order.  For some, it works if they think of organizing maintenance as a household chore - something that isn't necessarily pleasant, but definitely necessary.  Note, the more often you put stuff back in the first place, the less time this routine takes (see number 1).  On a bigger scale, set aside time to periodically declutter closets, drawers, cabinets, and so on before they get out of hand.

3.  Find a system for the inevitable.  There is one thing that can sneak up on even the most organized person - PAPERWORK.  This includes mail, bills, magazines, flyers, invitations, memos, and so forth.  Maybe it's football/soccer/basketball season and laundry will increase exponentially, or an upcoming work deadline will require longer days at the office, so dinner will need to be planned ahead.  Whatever the inevitable is for you, take the time to setup a routine for dealing with it  - that way, when the time comes, you will have a greater chance of staying organized.  

4.  Change the system.  Sometimes the first attempt at organization isn't 'perfect.'  That's ok.  Just reevaluate and try again.  Sometimes we set something up for how we want to be and not our actual tendencies.  For instance, we create a system that requires a lot of folding when we actually hate folding clothes.  We all go through different stages of life, and our organizing systems need to adapt to us, not the other way around.

5.  Be mindful of what comes into a space.  Often we absent-mindedly bring items into our spaces that we do not need or use.  Always ask if an item adds value to your life before bringing it into your home - diligently guard your efficiency.  The more aware we are regarding our stuff, the easier it becomes to keep ourselves organized and clutter at bay.

There were not a lot of 'how-to' tips in this post and that was on purpose.  The key is to give you the reasoning behind organization and apply it to your life.  There are plenty of ideas on how to organize a closet or kitchen or garage out available to you - but here, I want to show you how to think like an organized person, whether you are in an office, dorm room, apartment, loft, small home or dream home.  The principles stay the same wherever you are!  And remember, regardless of one's method of maintenance, it is worth mentioning that the less you have, the easier it is to maintain.

Here's to staying organized!

As I think, I am

Goals are important.  They are not just aspirations to attain, but also the generator of habits.  This principle was revealed to me this year, as I tried a different approach to my goal-making.  This past January, I set one goal for various aspects of my life that I wanted to improve - physical health, nutrition/diet, spiritual walk, education - and wrote them on a piece of paper that I posted above my desk.  Each day, I forced myself to see them and as a result, act upon them.  At the end of each month, I took a few minutes to reflect on the progress I made toward the goals, good or bad, and prepared the goal set for February.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  

After reviewing my progress from August, I realized that my goals were doing more than getting me to a milestone, they were creating new routines in my life.  Many of my goals were to be better than I was the previous month, however 'better' was quantified.  My goals uncovered an underlying mission - to be the best person I can be.  Despite its simplicity, this was a great 'ah-ha' moment for me.  I know what kind of person I want to be.  All that is standing in the way of me actually becoming that person is a decision, or a set of decisions, that propel me in that direction.  Those decisions ultimately create habits that work in my favor.

Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, concludes that once an individual can master their habits, they can accomplish anything.  (**Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to understand the mechanics of habits and how to change them.**)  For instance, if you want to become more organized, it's going to take more than a cursory decluttering session and purchasing plastic bins or baskets.  You have to identify the habits that make you dis-organized and change them to ones that maintain organization.  Willpower is a skill that must be exercised. Likewise, discipline is learned and will not come easily.

It's also important to remember there is not one single formula to change all habits - some are easy to change and others are difficult.  (I am mainly speaking to the 21-day routine, which has failed me on numerous occasions.)  The saying "old habits die hard" testifies to our resistance to change.  It's all about making conscious decisions to override the unconscious ones.  And no matter how minute, our choices dictate so much of our lives.  

To make those choices easier, it helps to have a mission.  As we determine the main purpose(s) for our lives, careers, roles and more, we are better able to set goals and procure habits that propel us toward it.  Think back to all those new year's resolutions, those goals to lose/gain/stop/improve whatever was highlighted at the moment.  But life is messy and unpredictable, despite our best laid plans.  Priorities switch, obligations shift, emotions flare up, and motivation tested.  The nature of these unknowns is why many businesses craft a mission statement: as markets and trends change, a company should always know its purpose.  In the midst of all that uncertainty, a mission statement gives DIRECTION and reminds us of why we do what we do.  So, when those inevitable challenges come, we can revise our goals so that we are able to stay on target.  

Decartes famously wrote "I think, therefore I am." But I would amend his quote to this:  "As I think, so I am." Not only do my thoughts confirm my existence, they dictate the parameters of it.  Thoughts become Actions. Actions become Habits. Habits become Character. Character determines who you are.