Serene Journey

Put Some Spring in Your Spring Cleaning Step

Sherri — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:05:43 +0000

This post was originally published in March 2010

Yay it’s that time of year again – spring! Even though we awoke to a couple of inches of snow on the ground this morning I’m willing to over look it and continue on with all things spring; and that includes spring cleaning.

At just a mention of spring cleaning there seems to be a collective groan of disappointment. The pure dread of scrubbing and moving and washing and dusting and purging and organizing the list seems pretty endless.

Spring cleaning can be fun if you decide ahead of time that it will be.

Here are some ideas I have on how to make this years annual spring cleaning marathon a lot more enjoyable.

1. Talk with your family and plan. Talk with your spouse, children and anyone else you may recruit into helping you get the job done. Discuss what you would like done, lay out your expectations and be ready for some serious negotiating. Remember not everyone is as pumped about this as you are … err I am.

2. Make a list of responsibilities. Write a list of all the things you need done and take turns choosing what responsibilities you’ll each take on board. You’re more likely to get a bigger buy in when you let people choose where they will help you as opposed to strict delegation.

3. Have everything you need. There is nothing more annoying than just getting started only to find you’ve run out of all purpose cleaner, vinegar or sponges. Double and triple check that you have everything you need and the right quantities (let’s just say three people cleaning and only one sponge, not ideal). Start the week before so you’re ready to hit the ground running.

4. Spread it out. Don’t try to accomplish everything in one day or in one weekend. Spread it out over a couple or a few weekends so nobody is burning out. When people start getting annoyed, tired or sore it’s time to stop.

5. Have a reward. We all like working towards and end goal and a sink you can see your face in isn’t a reward to everybody. Consider taking the family out for dinner or all cooking your favorite meal together at the end of a busy day. Let the kids stay up a bit later, watch a movie, go for a walk or just relax outside.

6. Gratitude. They are your family, they do live there too but don’t miss an opportunity to show how grateful you are for their help. A simple “thank you”, “the yard looks fabulous” or “look at how much more room you have, awesome!” goes a long way.

Other ways to make spring cleaning fun:

play music – L O U D
use a kitchen timer and clean in 5 minute bursts with a water break or dance party break in between
make it a competition to see who can get their chores done first (still need to have a quality clean though
put on some funky cleaning clothes and bedazzle your rubber gloves and apron

Whatever you can do to make this a fun and energetic time is awesome. Time will fly and before you know it you’ll have your whole place looking like new and be able to eat off the floors.

What ideas do you have for making spring cleaning fun?

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I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know about a new program Leo (from Zen Habits) and I are offering through Zen Family Habits. It’s called the Ultimate Family Bootcamp. It’s designed to help and inspire families of all shapes and sizes to regroup, reconnect, feel happier and move forward in their right direction.

This is a 10 week multi-media bootcamp with 10 modules discussing topics like creating your ideal family, getting on solid financial ground, time management for real people, organizing and decluttering, mastering the art of self-renewal and much more. These modules consist of a combination of weekly videos, articles, workbooks, printables as well as expert interviews.

If you would like more information please check out the course page here. Leo and I look forward to you joining us this April for a bootcamp – family style.

See also:

House Maintenance: Spring

Spring Cleaning Food: Use Up The Old, Make Way For The Fresh

Quick Clean Your Home In Under 20 Minutes

When Life Gives You Lemons…Use Them!

Photo courtesy of: daveaustria . com

Put Some Spring in Your Spring Cleaning Step is a post from: Serene Journey

The Power Of Observation

Sherri — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:52:08 +0000

How many of you are charging through life like a bull in a china shop? Clumsily making your way through each day never taking the time to notice or be aware of what just happened.

I’m guilty of this most days myself.

There are times when I feel anxious, nervous, scared, annoyed, and angry and if someone were to ask me why, I simply may not know exactly.

Observation, reflection, introspection … whatever you want to call it is, I think, an under used power. Observing why you’re feeling the way you do, what about a particular situation is causing you to get all worked up, what is happening right now around you to cause certain feelings is a very valuable tool to get you to be more mindful as you make your way through your day.

Maybe you feel anxious but can’t quite put your finger on it. Is it that your relatives are coming for the weekend, the roof is leaking, there’s a mess to be cleaned up in the kitchen or is the dog in need of a vet checkup?

Figuring yourself out can only be done by understanding what’s really going on. It doesn’t mean you have to fix the problem right now but it gives you insight into what may be causing feelings of discomfort. Alternatively, it may make you see that what you thought was the source of your discomfort really has very little to do with it.

It’s only through observing your thoughts and your environment that you can gain a deeper understanding of what you’re going through and why.

Try it this weekend. If you feel yourself getting worked up in some way and can’t quite put your finger on why, observe. Ask yourself:

What’s happening right now?
What am I thinking about?
What is different about today?
What is going on around me?

Sometimes the most obvious answers aren’t the answers at all.

Do you take time to observe in order to gain a better understanding of what’s going on with you? Has it helped?

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Just a reminder that the big e-book sale ends TODAY March 25 at 2pm EST. You can get more information about the sale here.

Photo courtesy of: kisses are a better fate than wisdom

The Power Of Observation is a post from: Serene Journey

HUGE e-book Sale To Help You Simplify Your Family Life

Sherri — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:12:09 +0000

For 4 days only I have joined forces with some pretty fantastic people from around the web to bring you the biggest e-book sale on Simple Family Living. I want to give a special shout out to Mandi of life.yourway.com and Corey of SimpleMarriage.com for taking the initiative to make this happen.

There are 30 amazing e-books available in this package and it has a retail value of $463.17. Where it gets really good …. for the next four days you can get this e-book library for nearly 90% off the retail price. These 30 books for just $47!

The sale starts at 2pm EST TODAY – Monday March 21!

Here is a complete list of the 30 books you will get with your purchase:

Work at Home

Smalltopia by Tammy Strobel @ Rowdy Kittens ($27)

Click here to purchase your collection today!

Important things to note:
This collection is only available from 2 p.m. on March 21st to 2 p.m. on March 24th. There will be no late sales offered.

A portion of each sale will also be donated to The Mentoring Project, which seeks to rewrite the story of the fatherless generation.

HUGE e-book Sale To Help You Simplify Your Family Life is a post from: Serene Journey

Caught In A Rip

Sherri — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:38:30 +0000

“Rip currents are a source of danger for people in ocean and lake surf. They can be extremely dangerous, dragging swimmers away from the beach. Death by drowning comes following exhaustion while fighting the river or ocean current.” – Wikipedia

It’s an interesting way to think about life sometimes.

There are times we feel we’re being dragged away from something we thought we wanted or needed. Fighting it and trying to claw your way back isn’t always the answer.

Go with it. Gently float out to sea and wait for the current to subside.

To free yourself, like escaping a rip current pulling you away from what you think you want or where you think you need to go; you need to do just that – Relax and go with it. Fighting it is tiresome and more often than not you’ll be worse off.

Have faith that the current will taper off. Have faith that you will eventually find your way back to shore. You just may be a little further down the beach to where you thought you needed to be. Thing is … it’s probably where you needed to be all along.

Click here to view more details

Photo courtesy of: nathangibbs

Caught In A Rip is a post from: Serene Journey

Why Do You Do What You Do?

Sherri — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:03:26 +0000

Why do you do what you do?

It’s a serious question and one you’re likely not asked all that often.

Take a look at what you do each day and ask yourself “why am I doing this?”

On a typical day I’m up with my kids, playing with them, tending to them, teaching them. Why do I do it? Because I love them, I want them to have our values, I want to teach them and I want to experience what it’s like to be a mom. I could choose to go back to a job outside of the home and earn a fairly good income, but I choose to stay home because it just feels like the right thing to do … for me. I realize that this isn’t a luxury a lot of people have despite wanting it and believe me when I say I am grateful for being able to stay home with my kids.

I write. Why? Because it allows me to get in touch with my creative side, something I didn’t get to do too often when I was heavily embedded in the sciences. Writing helps me gather and focus my thoughts. It allows me to

I coach/consult people. Why? Because it allows me to work in a way that I’m passionate about, I am able to contribute financially to my family, and it’s helping me get closer to my goal of personally funding 2 children’s wishes for the Children’s Wish Foundation. Since one of my son’s is a wish kid this is near and dear to me and at $20K a wish I have a VERY long way to go. But I don’t doubt I’ll get there in my lifetime.

These are just a few examples of what I do and why I do them. They may not sit well with everyone but I do what I do in these respects with purpose and reason.

I could also mention that I watch TV from time to time. If you asked me why I do it, I wouldn’t have a very good answer – to curb boredom, to relax and just sit at the end of the day. There are a lot of better things I could be doing with my time but occasionally TV is okay.

I think doing things without purpose, a plan or the bigger picture in mind can be fun but it may be wasting your time, effort, energy, talents and skills.

So what are you doing and why are you doing it?

Take inventory of what you’re doing in major life areas and try to understand why you’re doing them.

Does what you do play to your strengths? Do you get great joy out of doing it? Is it helping you get closer to a goal or a dream you have?

If you spend too much of your time focusing on things that don’t really matter, that don’t really excite you and you don’t have a reason for doing what you’re doing you could be missing out on a lot of great things.

Think of all the opportunities you could be missing out on if you’re tied up in activities that don’t matter to you. Wouldn’t you hate to realize one day that what you wanted all along passed you by because you were too busy doing other things. Menial things.

So my question remains: What are you doing and why do you do it?

Photo courtesy of: * Zara

Why Do You Do What You Do? is a post from: Serene Journey

Why We Tend To Feel So Crappy

Sherri — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:00:26 +0000

The world’s going to hell. At least that’s what anyone would think if all they did was focus on the news lately.

Global warming, epic flooding, horrible snow storms, terrorism, collapsing economy, unemployment and the list seems to go on and on.

I don’t want to minimize any of these things. It’s important to get a dialog going around them and they are indeed real issues. But reading about it or listening to it day, after day, after day can leave you wondering what’s the point?

Now if we let ourselves get caught up in the urgency and drama that the media creates, there’s no wonder many of us foresee doom and gloom. A lot of people take this on board, internalize it and it can really start to affect them. They start to feel really crappy.

While I think it’s important to be aware of current events and what’s going on locally, nationally and internationally I think we also need to limit what we take on board.

Circle of Influence and Circle of Concern.

If you’re one of the people I described above who really lets the news get to them, who worries and is consumed by things that are really outside of your control, there is hope. You don’t have to feel crappy! With a few simple choices you can turn yourself around.

In Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the very first habit he writes about is being proactive. According to Covey’s definition people can be classified into two generic groups: reactive people and proactive people.

Reactive people tend to focus on things that are outside of their control, things like world hunger, the weather or terrorism.

Proactive people, on the other hand, tend to focus their attention on things over which they have some degree of influence, such as their job, their diet, and exercise.

The key difference is worrying and getting down about things you can’t personally change vs. “minding your own business” (for the lack of a better phrase) and focusing on things you have a direct influence over.

So what can I do?

If you’re a reactive type of person and are tired of feeling crappy, try focusing your attention instead on things you can actually do something about. World hunger might be something you care deeply about, and that’s great, but I don’t know that one person will be able to solve all of the hunger problems in the world.

Instead of worrying about it and fretting over it consider volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter and start helping people locally. If that’s not enough look for a national organization that is doing work in this same area and see if there is a position right for you to focus your efforts on a larger scale.

Moping about things over which you have no control does nothing except make you feel bad, dis-empowered and perhaps hopeless. Take a good look at where you spend your energy and time thinking. Is it making you happy or sucking the life right out of you?

You don’t have to feel crappy because of all the bad that seems to be going on in the world. Focus on the right things and you can still make a difference and feel great about it.

Move.

How To Kill Your Disappointment

Photo courtesy of: Zara

Why We Tend To Feel So Crappy is a post from: Serene Journey

Are You Looking For Financial Freedom?

Sherri — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:25:01 +0000

The Super Charged Guide To Financial Freedom is the e-book by Jeff Nickles of My Super Charged Life and it’s out today!

Jeff was kind enough to send me a copy to review and in my opinion it’s a great handbook.

The Super Charged Guide To Financial Freedom is full of practical advice and tips on how to get control over your finances.

The 69 page book is organized into 4 chapters:

1. Changing Financial Habits
2. Get Your Budget Running
3. Solutions to Common Issues
4. Steps Towards Freedom

I particularly enjoyed Chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 2, Get Your Budget Running, walks you through 8 steps on how to actually set up your budget. It’s full of practical things you can actually do to get your budget up and running and working for you.

Chapter 3, Solutions to Common Issues, has a section on dealing with an uncooperative spouse. Thankfully my husband and I don’t have to deal with this in our relationship but I know it’s a reality for a lot of couples. Handling the financial irresponsibility of someone else can be a delicate task. I think Jeff does a great job in walking us though how to handle an irresponsible spouse with tact and keep us from being a pushover.

Over all this book is a great read and really has me inspired to refocus and inject a bit more life into our own budget.

If you want to read more about this great book and start getting a better handle on your finances check out The Super Charged Guide To Financial Freedom today!

Are You Looking For Financial Freedom? is a post from: Serene Journey

Sometimes Things Are Just Hard

Sherri — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:11:44 +0000

There are usually two main things that keep us from starting anything new, fear of the unknown and the fact that we think it’s going to be hard.

We often look at the new adventure before us with great excitement at first. After about 10 minutes we’ve all but talked ourself out of it because it’s going to be “hard“.

Sure it is. Everything you try for the first time is going to be hard. Maybe even too hard. But it doesn’t mean you should give up.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

This elephant metaphor is a common way to explain the idea of taking huge tasks, breaking them down and making them easier, more manageable. We look at a new job, task or adventure as we would look at the elephant. Huge, intimidating and insurmountable.

It’s only when we breakdown the adventure before us that it actually starts to look do-able. Everything is hard when we don’t have experience, guidance or information.

If you look back at anything that’s ever been hard initially you’ll quickly discover that the difficulty rating soon wanes. Did you give up? Well maybe on some of them, but I guarantee not on all of them.

If you’ve learned to write, walk, talk, skate, if you’ve ever written a test, started your own company, or organized a space that seemed impossible you’ve overcome “hard” and have succeeded.

Things start off hard and then get easier. The majority of life is just like that.

Things get easier the more we learn about them, the more talk about them and the more we do them.

Next time something stops you dead in your tracks because it’s going to be “hard”, stop, relax, think back, break it down and carry on. Nothing is ever too hard if you want it bad enough.

How do you overcome the paralysis of “it’s too hard”?

Photo courtesy of: Marvin (PA)

Sometimes Things Are Just Hard is a post from: Serene Journey

Are You Ready To Take Back Control?

Sherri — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:01:23 +0000

On Monday I talked about balance and how I was using it to guide my actions this year. With the word balance plastered all around me it will be difficult for me to forget it!

I have always loved helping people. It never occurred to me that that was my passion, my actual purpose in life, until this past year.

This year however, I’m going for it. I’m going out on a limb and doing what I know I was meant to do, what I’m good at.

Today I’m letting you all know about my consulting business here on Serene Journey and giving you a feel for what you can expect when you work with me. I’ve done this unofficially for years and I’m now putting some lines around the whole process and taking it live.

Are you ready to take back control?

I’ve worked with a lot of smart, motivated people who simply want to live a simpler, less-stressful, more positive life but don’t know how or where to start. I’ve also work with passionate people who have started projects but are now stuck and need motivation, inspiration and strategies to get them going again and get it done.

Most commonly discussed topics in my consulting sessions:

Strategies for getting organized at home (meal planning, daily routines, time management and simplifying) and striking a balance between work and home life.
Create action plans to effectively minimize, simplify and declutter home or office space.
Overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed by too many tasks or ideas and get focused on setting priorities to get things done.
Reconciling what you do with who you are or who you want to be. Working through specific strategies to get you feeling better and being happier in your own skin than ever before.
Developing contingency plans to get back on track when we inevitably fall off the wagon.
Becoming un-stuck. We all get in ruts (exercise, eating, boredom etc …) and it can be really difficult to break free.
and more which you can read about here.

We will work together to get you un-stuck, motivated and excited about taking your life in a new direction.

What is consulting?

Firstly, let me tell you what it’s not. My consulting is not therapy and I don’t delve into your past except where it helps us to go forward. It’s not a bunch of happy talk or fluff and it’s not generic one-size fits all advice.

My consulting is to-the-point with no nonsense and it won’t waste your time. My consulting is results oriented and I focus on the here and now as well as the future to get you to a place you’re happier with. My consulting is customized to you. I will work with you to develop plans and tools that are right for you.

Let me be your mentor, your cheerleader, or your sounding board to help you achieve success in your personal life.

What now?

If you’re interested, YAY! I can’t wait to meet you and start working together!, please click here for more information, including packages and pricing.

If this isn’t something you’re interested in right now no worries at all and as always thank you for reading! If at some point in the future you do feel you could use a little nudge you know where to find me!

The way I am introduced to clients is through word of mouth, so if any of the things I’ve described above sound like it could benefit someone you know please let them know where to find me.

Here’s to your success, happiness and a simpler life in 2011!

Photo courtesy of: AmirK

Are You Ready To Take Back Control? is a post from: Serene Journey

Brought To You By The Letter B

Sherri — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:04:01 +0000

Hello! I can’t believe the holidays are over already and we’re well back into our day to day.

In the past I’ve been described as a bit of a pit bull. Now this can be a great thing in certain circumstances, but not all the time. I have a tendency to become so focused on something that I’ll grab onto it, go full tilt and say to hell with anything else. As I said in certain circumstances this can be very useful but in general it leads to complete imbalance!

When I look back over 2010, in a general sense, it’s clear to me now that my time was not very balanced at all.

I’ve spent way too much time focusing on my online ventures that I haven’t spent nearly as much effort on my health or my “real world” relationships. If I evaluate the time I spent online a lot of it was doing stuff that was perhaps less productive than I would have liked. Not complete time wasters, but I know I could have spent my time a little more wisely. If I had done so I could have logged off far earlier in the day and done other things, more important things.

So armed with this knowledge my word for the year is:

Balance

What does this mean?

This year is about establishing balance. Finding a spot that allows me to enjoy all the things I love. This includes spending time with family and friends, reading, creating (sewing, crafting, photography etc …), exercising, simplifying, writing, developing a business on and off line and helping people.

This sounds like an awful lot of stuff to commit to and juggle and indeed it is. It will take work, especially for me, to do each of these things in moderation and keep everything in balance. I also think it will come down to being mindful and deliberate with where I spend my time and for how long.

Why am I choosing balance?

As I said above, there are a lot of things that I’ve become out of touch with. Things I thoroughly enjoy I’ve not been doing and things I want to do I haven’t done because I’ve been “too busy” doing other stuff.

I’m trying to have more fun this year, trying to making a living both on and off-line (for people who think blogging is a way to become wealthy …. um … for most people (myself included), no! ). I’m trying to increase the richness in my life and in the lives of my kids and in the relationship I have with my hubs.

So that’s my general plan for the year. I hope by choosing this word I’ll be able to set goals or directions (long and short term) with the spirit of balance in mind.

Now that we’re into the 2nd week of the new year, what word would you choose, or have you chosen, to set your theme for the year?
I’d love to know your advice for creating balance in your life.

Photo courtesy of: Vvillamon

Brought To You By The Letter B is a post from: Serene Journey