Yep I’m serious. There’s a way to stop ‘procrastinating’.

How? Well, I’m going to suggest there’s no such thing as procrastination. I mean yes, there’s a word and a set of associations that go with it.

But I’m suggesting that by treating it as a meaningful phenomenon like it’s some deep-seated childhood trauma or pervasive psycho-sexual dysfunction, we give it more power than it deserves.

I’m suggesting that the idea of a problem beneath the label doesn’t serve you.

The Procrastination Label

Let’s say there’s something you want to do.

You want to start on a project. Work on a task. Declutter your house. Organize your office. Clean out your closet.

Well, why don’t you?

Oh I really struggle with procrastination.

Oh I have so many goals but my problem is procrastination.

Oh my life would be so different if I could just break through this procrastination.

Here’s the real why. It’s actually way less complicated than that whole procrastination palaver.

Procrastination And Physics

You don’t start because starting is hard.

In fact starting is so hard, it’s a law of science:

An object at rest continues at rest unless acted upon by a force. 

You are that object and to move from rest to motion takes work.

Interestingly, as we all know from our own experience, once you start, continuing is not so bad. Or to add on the second part of Newton’s First Law:

An object in motion remains in motion unless acted upon by a force.

Once you’ve started, it’s easy to keep going. Often you wonder why you waited so long to begin.

Never ‘Procrastinate’ Again

I try to avoid labels*. Like many labels, procrastination doesn’t serve you. It gives a simple reality a complicated mythology. It allows for endless navel-gazing and psycho(over)analysis, when all you really need may be to acknowledge that, you know what? Starting is hard.

*Except the ones I make with my label maker. I LOVE those.

So here’s my suggestion. Don’t use the procrastination label. Don’t imbue your simple, natural resistance to starting with mystical powers. Make like MC Hammer and break it down to the basic reality: the fact that starting is hard.

When you strip it down to this level, you’re left with two simple options:

1. Decide that starting is too hard right now, and make the choice to postpone. Don’t beat yourself up – just recognize that you’re making a choice and take responsibility for it. You’re no longer procrastinating; you’re now making a decision. Own it, baby.
2. Decide that starting is worth the effort, and begin. Feel great about the fact that starting is hard, much of the time and for most people, and yet you’ve pushed through. Yay!

The Label Can Make You Feel Like A Victim

By seeing your choices this way, you’ll never ‘procrastinate’ again.

By abandoning the very idea of procrastination you’ll reduce every choice to this: starting is hard - will I start?

You’ll be no worse off than when you called it procrastination, but you’ll be free of self-serving stories and justifications. You’ll no longer be a victim of some perverse affliction. You’ll be empowered to make a simple choice.

And when you look at it that simply, when your choice is that clear – you may choose differently.

Are You Ready To Abandon ‘Procrastination’ Forever?

What do you think?

Will you try abandoning the procrastination label?

Let me know if it makes a difference!

This month my word of the month is discipline.

Not the scary, willpower-y kind of discipline. I’ve never been good at that. Anything enforced immediately brings out the rebellious child in me.

I can’t diet because as soon as there’s something I can’t have it’s the thing I want most in the world. Even if I had zero interest in it before. White chocolate mud cake that I’ve spat out on previous occasions? Don’t mind if I do.

I recently gave up Coke Zero but can only stick to this by keeping a bottle in my fridge at all times and allowing myself to have it if I really want it (which ends up being about once every 3 or 4 weeks).

I find it impossible to do what I must, should, have to.

But I love this way of looking at discipline:

Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most. 

This perspective takes the harsh, perfectionistic charge out of self-control. It lets me step away from the whip and gives me a choice. It makes the decision all about things I want, rather than things I can’t have.

So I’m using this concept of discipline to help me with my goals this month.

Instead of forcing myself or trying to use willpower, I’m going to compare what I want now with what I want more.

Sometimes the chocolate or super-late night will win. That’s human nature. Or at least it’s mine.

But, when there’s this freedom of choice, often the things I want more will win.

How About You?

Do you like this way of thinking about discipline?

What’s your word for this month?

Feeling confident helps us to do more, be more, and give more to others. 

The following 7 simple strategies can help you to feel better about yourself – and that can help make you more productive, motivated, and effective.

So why not pick at least one strategy that you can use today…

1. Dress Your Best

Sure your appearance can affect how others perceive you, but what about the way you perceive yourself?

You needn’t dress up, but do dress well.

Each morning, choose clothes that look and feel good and that help to bring out the best you. Not the you that wants to lounge around in sweat pants eating chocolate all day.

2. Watch Your Posture

It’s difficult to feel good with hunched shoulders, a hanging head, and a lazy stride.

In contrast, a good posture lets the air into your lungs and the confidence into your life.

To boost your sense of confidence, remember to:

• Stand tall
• Sit up straight
• Walk briskly.

And add a smile to put the icing on your confidence cake.

3. Tell The Truth

Whatever your moral perspective, avoiding fibs helps you to avoid feeling guilty and acting shifty – both barriers to a healthy self-respect.

Instead, aim for honesty and directness when you deal with people.

You’ll enjoy the emotional perks.

4. Look People In The Eye

There’s a lovely feeling you get when you make a genuine connection and look someone in the eye. That sense of shared humanity is a real self-esteem booster.

But um, if people look scared, you may need to dial it down a notch.

5. Be Brave About Saying No

If you don’t like it, don’t want to do it, or don’t want to be there, find a kind way to say so.

Wussy avoidance tactics can leave you feeling – well, wussy.

Choose to feel better and say a gentle no. You’ll both like you better.

6. Keep Your Breath Minty Fresh

It’s staggeringly difficult to thrust yourself forth into the world with confidence and self-respect if flowers wilt at the opening of your mouth.

Practice good oral hygiene and make judicious use of gum or breath mints. It will help you feel good about speaking up without fear of people passing out.

7. Use Your Time Doing Something That Matters To You

Do meaningful work.

Or, if you find your work trivial, then volunteer, begin a project, or start a movement.

However you do it, have something that matters somewhere in your life. It’s difficult to feel happy and confident without it.

What Are Your Confidence Tips?

Do you have any strategies for feeling more confident?

Please share them!

A version of this article originally appeared in my Get Organized newsletter.

More than 1200 people are signed up and completing the 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge.

It’s exciting to read the comments and see the pictures as people make small changes that can have a big impact on their lives. 

Here are some of the discoveries so far that people have found surprising:

1. Knowing where to start is often the hardest part. That’s right – not doing the hard thing, but knowing where to begin in doing the hard thing. Days #3, #4, #7, #8.
2. Perfectionism steals our time and our minds. We can think it’s a cute trait but it’s really a life killer, bogging us down in things that don’t matter and – much worse – keeping us away from things that do. Day #5
3. We don’t always spend our time on what we say we truly care about. We have to keep reminding ourselves about what our true priorities are, or they get overrun by the everyday. Day #2
4. We often have psychological blocks that stand in the way of getting rid of clutter. Facing the blocks and dealing with the truth can free us to let stuff go. Day #6
5. The less mental clutter coming into our lives, the better we feel. And this clutter is easy to remove. Day #11
6. Getting rid of our stuff is nothing compared to dealing with Other People’s Stuff (OPS). If what we’ve been saying or doing hasn’t worked, then we need to try other strategies. Day #9
7. Doing something little every day – whether a decision made or a task completed – can add up to a transformed attitude over time. 

And we’re only up to day 12!

There are many people going at their own pace. It’s not too late to join us and simplify your own life. 

Hello to my wonderful Premium Subscribers!

I wanted to update you on a few things…

21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge

The 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge is off to a fabulous start! So far we’ve been decluttering, organizing chores, sorting priorities, and dealing with perfectionism. I’m especially loving people’s photos. Not bad for just a few days!

As a Premium Subscriber this challenge is included for you, so make sure you take advantage of it if you’d like a simpler life. Many people are going at their own pace so it’s not too late to join in. Kylie (our lovely community manager) and I will be keeping an eye out for new people.

Decluttering, Organizing, Planning

Many people in the challenge are mentioning their difficulty with particular areas. Organizing hot spots include the closet and the home office – and your subscription includes specific programs for each:

• 14 Days To An Organized Closet
• 7 Days to An Organized Home Office.

Remember also that you have access to our popular packs of planning worksheets and checklists for Time Management, Life Management, Home Organization, and Business & Marketing. These are a great way to get those swirling thoughts and goals and plans down on paper. 

Your ‘My Account’ Page

You can access all your programs and products from your My Account page.

And as we add new programs and bonuses they’ll automatically be added here for you. 

Your Value Keeps Increasing

Lastly, I wanted to reassure you that as an existing subscriber your subscription rate is locked in at the rate that applied when you joined. You may have noticed that we’ve increased the price of the Premium Subscription - but this will not affect you. Even as we add more programs and the value and subscription rate increase, your subscription rate will remain the same. 

Oh and one more thing – next month I have an exclusive bonus just for you guys. So watch this space…

UPDATE: The $2 offer has now closed.

If you:

• Feel overwhelmed
• Have too much stuff in your life
• Have too little time
• Don’t have your priorities in order
• Are drowning in chaos
• Find it hard to think straight because there’s too much on your mind…

Then the 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge is for you!

Each day I’ll give you a challenge – perhaps a decision to make or a task to complete – designed to help you simplify your life.

Day by day these challenges will help you untangle complications, feel less stressed, and gain a greater sense of calm and order. The minimum version of each day’s challenge will take about 10 to 15 minutes – but as always, you’ll be able to do more if you choose to.

The 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge begins Saturday 11 May (US time).

How To Get The Challenge For Only $2.

Yep you read that right – just $2! All you have to do is like my Facebook page, and you can complete the challenge with me and our wonderful community for this crazy price.

Why? Because I honestly can’t think of a more helpful strategy for feeling happier, less stressed, and more focused than to simplify.

Check out the program page to read more about the 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge.

And when you’re ready, click here to sign up. But be quick – this offer is for a strictly limited time.

Click here to join now for $2!

UPDATE: The $2 offer has now closed.

Then take a lovely, long breath – we’re on our way to a simpler, calmer, happier life…

NOTE: Premium Subscribers get access to all our decluttering, organizing, and productivity programs, including this one. It's fantastic value! Access your programs from your My Account page. Learn more about Premium Subscription.

If you’re surrounded by clutter then it’s likely you’ve fallen for some sneaky little myths.

Banish them!

Here’s a healthy dose of reality to help with your myth-busting.

Myth #1: I Need Storage Systems So I Can Declutter

Reality

Storage systems and containers can be a trap. Because they’re related to organizing, they trick you into feeling virtuous while actually adding to the quantity of stuff in your life. They’re often ugly, generally add work by collecting dust, and almost always mask the fact that you have way more stuff than you need. Only now it’s located in dusty, ugly containers. Just get rid of the stuff and save your money.

Myth #2: I Can’t Get Rid Of Anything I May Need One Day

Reality

Yes you might declutter something and then later want it – that part is true. But the implied myth is that you’ll somehow fall apart if that happens. Guess what – you won’t. You’ll have to buy it again – a small expense compared to the sanity of getting rid of chaos and clutter. Or you’ll do without it – again, a minor inconvenience compared to a clutter-free life. Either way, you’ll be absolutely fine.

Myth #3: All My Clutter Must Go To The Perfect Place

Reality

If you’re drowning in stuff and it’s costing you happy relationships and mental and physical health, then the perfect place for your clutter is anywhere outside your life. If your stuff is worth money, and you can be bothered listing it online or organizing a garage sale, then do that. (I can’t be bothered so this is never an option for me.) If your stuff is in good condition then take it to your local charity store. But if you’re struggling and all you can manage is to toss it out, then do that. Next time you’ll do better.

Myth #4: One Day I’ll Fix It/Fit Into It/Want To Use It

Reality

Life is busy and you’ll probably never fix it. If you lose weight you can treat yourself to cute new outfits that are fresh and modern. If you haven’t wanted to use it for ages then you’ve likely moved on. And anyway, see Myth #2 above. Seriously, life it short. Let it all go, be happy, move on. You’ll be glad you did.

Myth #5: I Have To Keep It Because It Was A Gift

Reality

For most givers it’s the giving, not the gift, that matters. People give you a thing to represent that they like you. Appreciate the liking, but don’t feel pressured to keep the thing. If you don’t love it and won’t wear/use/enjoy it, then let go of unloved gifts.

Myth #6: I Need It To Stay Connected To The Past

Reality

For the mementos and keepsakes that have most meaning, or best represent your memories, create memory boxes. Their limited size means you’ll have to keep curating the most precious items if you want to add more. For other stuff, recognize that you may be letting your past crowd out your present. Choose to embrace today and let the past have a special, but not overwhelming, place in your ilife.

Myth #7: I Need To Be Organized Before I Can Declutter

Reality

It’s far easier to get organized and stay organized when you have less stuff. Decluttering is always the first action step (though there are sometimes mindset steps that come before) in my home organizing programs. One you’ve gotten rid of what you don’t need, you have more space for organizing the things you decide to keep. And more space makes organizing more enjoyable and easy.

Are You Ready To Bust Your Myths And Declutter Your Life?

Which of these myths have kept you stuck in clutter?

Are you ready to bust them and get rid of clutter?

Not sure where to start? Start here.

UPDATE: Start any time! Join now…

Do you wish your life were simpler?

This May I’ll be running a 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge. Each day I’ll give you a challenge – perhaps a decision to make or a task to complete - designed to help you simplify your life.

Day by day these challenges will help you to untangle complications, feel less stressed, and gain a greater sense of calm and order. The minimum version of each day’s challenge will take about 10 to 15 minutes – but as always, you’ll be able to do more if you choose to.

So that I can cover the areas that trouble you most, I’d love to know where you’d like greater simplicity in your life. Please let me know in the comments.

I’ll open the challenge for sign-ups early next week. And I’ll have a very special offer (you’re gonna love it I promise!) for my newsletter subscribers and Facebook community.

So let me know what you’d like covered, and stay tuned.

We kick off the challenge on May 11 (US time)!

Sometimes life’s little tantrums make it hard to keep your cool. You get sick, you face one problem after another, your goals stall, your relationships struggle…

You can start to feel disorganized, frustrated, in a rut…

So what can you do to keep yourself afloat?

I suggest a daily checklist that will help you feel as though you’re hanging in there and doing okay.

Keep the checklist simple and achievable. It shouldn’t add to your sense of falling behind.

Here’s my personal checklist of things I aim to do every single day. I’m not perfect at doing everything every day, but simply having the checklist helps me focus on what I should do when I’m not sure what to do with myself.

Use mine, or create your own.

1. Make Your Bed

Don’t underestimate the sabotaging power of an unmade bed. It sends a negative message to your subconscious.

Make your bed daily and you’ll form a habit of doing it fast (mine takes me about 3 minutes).

It will mark the threshold into starting the day well, and offer a welcoming sanctuary when the day is over.

2. Deal With The Urgent

Every day, scan your emails, mail, noticeboard, phone messages, etc, for anything that demands prompt attention.

Stuff like school notices, renewals, and bills due for payment can become time-consuming or expensive problems later.

Avoid those problems by dealing with the urgent today.

3. Get Some Exercise

Take a gym class, go for a walk, lift tins of soup, lunge* around your house while on the phone – do anything that gets you moving.

And if you have a sedentary life, get as much micro-exercise as you can.

Stop making excuses (no one is listening) and just do it.

*Um no, not lounge – I said lunge.

4. Have Something To Look Forward To

Plan to do something that makes you happy every single day.

I can’t wait to get out of bed every morning because I love drinking coffee and doing the crossword. And I love reading in bed at night, so that’s a minor indulgence I have every day.

Your daily treats could be playing Angry Birds, taking a bath, making your favourite tea after dinner, listening to tunes – anything you enjoy and look forward to.

5. Eat Vegetables

They help you stay slim and healthy, so eat them!

If, like me, you self-medicate with junk food when you’re feeling down, getting some veggies every day can help you compensate.

Add salad or vegetables to your meals wherever you can.

6. Do Something Nice For Someone Else

This is a lovely habit to get into. Can you give someone a genuine compliment? Offer encouragement or compassion? Give a gift or do a favor?

The important thing here is to choose things you can do lovingly – don’t choose big or difficult gestures that feel like a burden.

If your good deeds come from love rather than obligation then both you and the other person will will great.

Find something nice to do every day.

7. Achieve Something Productive Or Meaningful

Can you make progress on an important project, take time with a loved one, take action toward a goal?

Something small that matters is better than something big that’s not truly important to you.

So forget busywork and instead focus on achieving something every day that gives you a sense of meaning and/or achievement.

8. Tidy Up At Night

Spending 10 minutes every night doing a quick tidy will make all the difference to the way you feel as you head to bed, and especially to the way you feel when you start the next day.

Keep it simple. Even if all you do is wash the dishes, toss toys in a toy bin and clothes in a basket, and use a hand-vac to scoop up the day’s crumbs, you’ll feel pretty pleased with yourself.

9. Feel Grateful

Happiness research has shown that counting your blessings boosts your happiness. So make it a ritual to reflect on the good things in your life every day.

Do it as you eat breakfast in the morning or while you brush your teeth at night – but make it a habit.

Got all your limbs? Have a nice house, good friends, or mad skills in ikebana? Lucky you!

10. Make A List For Tomorrow

Before you head to bed, make a quick list of things to do and remember tomorrow.

This will get them out of your head so you sleep better, feel organized, and have a map for the next day.

Make Your Checklist

Ready to start using your daily checklist? Write or type yours out and put it somewhere you’ll see it when you wake tomorrow.

Got good ideas for your personal happiness and personal organization prescription? Please share them!

Note: A version of this article originally appeared in my Get Organized newsletter.

I’ve been slow getting geared up for this quarter, which is now somehow nearly one-third over. Hey, how did that happen?

But I’ve finally put together my list of things I want to get done by the end of June. That still gives me two solid months.

My theme for this quarter is back to basics.

Like most (recovering) perfectionists, I can sometimes* overcomplicate things and get bogged down in unnecessary detail. (*sometimes = always, pathologically, without fail)

So in each area of my life I’ve tried to simplify, to concentrate on what matters most, and to let the rest look after itself.

To help me stay focused and motivated, I’ve written up a checklist of items on my office whiteboard. I can’t wait to start marking them off as I complete them – that’s the best part!!

My Back-To-Basics Goals

The areas I’ll be working on between now and the end of June are:

Get Organized Wizard

• Adding one or two new programs – including a 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge, inspired by this quarter’s theme
• Making some site changes
• Continuing to write regular blog posts and a weekly newsletter

52 Weight Loss Missions

• Relaunching the weight loss program with a new name (thanks for the feedback everyone!)
• Making some site changes

iPhone/iPad/Android Apps

• Working on new app ideas

New Writing Site

• Launching my new site about writing – I’m super-excited about this one!

Health & Fitness

• Getting back to my regular weight (since giving up Coke Zero I’ve gone up a size and no longer fit into my clothes )

Personal

• Continuing to learn to sing
• Working on being more direct and honest, rather than ‘nice’
• Streamlining my Facebook profile and organizing my friends lists.

How About You?

So that’s what I’ll be up to – how about you?

What would you like to focus on achieving by the end of June?

What will your theme be?

The way you feel about yourself is a tricky thing.

No one wants to be egotistical or overconfident. But most us are more likely to err in the opposite direction – to be unsure, self-doubting, lacking in self-esteem.

A library of self-help books and/or years of therapy can maybe help.

But for a simpler approach, you might like to try these ideas.

1. Be Responsible-ish With Money

It’s hard to think well of yourself if you don’t take basic care of you. And taking care of your finances is a big part of self-care.

Prioritize your spending so that bills and essentials get covered before indulgences – at least much of the time.

Observing yourself as you manage your money well is sure to help you feel better about yourself.

2. Practice Self-Reliance

Few things are more helpful to your self-esteem than knowing you can survive on your own.

By all means enjoy, love, and spend time with people you care about. But also take time for just you.

Get to know yourself and become comfortable with your own company. The sense that you’re with people because you want to be, not because you have to be, is comforting.

3. Start A New Chapter

If your past has been difficult then it’s easy to get stuck in those old memories and feelings. Working through them can take a long time.

But right now, today, you can think of yourself as starting a new chapter. Of course this doesn’t mean the past is erased, and there may still be emotional work to do to heal it.

Still, you can turn the page and let yourself focus on the next phase of your story. And make sure you are the hero.

4. Look Your Best

There’s much more to who you are than how you look. Having said that, making an effort to present yourself well is almost certain to lift your mood and help you like yourself more.

Get a good haircut, buy a cute outfit, ask a stylish friend how to improve your personal presentation.

Then, every day, take the time to put on clothes that suit you, do something with your hair, and give yourself a little zhuzh.

5. Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Doing something that’s somewhat radical for you can expand the way you see yourself.

Even if you’re terrible at it, the mere act of trying something new can help you to feel brave, and to open up your self-concept.

Go ballroom dancing, join the gym, start a tantric yoga class – whatevs. Just experiment with parts of you that you haven’t yet met.

You might really like them.

Earlier this month a took a week off.

I went away for my previous vacation and didn’t particularly enjoy it, so this time I decided to make it a staycation.

And I’m glad I did!

I spent most of my week catching up with friends, watching DVDs, reading, and generally lounging around. It was wonderfully relaxing.

If you’re considering a staycation next time you have time off, here are 3 of the benefits.

1. No Packing – Or Unpacking

No miniature toiletries. No outfit planning. No crumpled clothes.

No wishing you’d brought a warmer sweater or different novel or richer moisturizer.

And – bliss! – nothing to unpack on your return home.

2. No Travel Traumas

When you staycation you avoid travel-related woes.

Delayed flights, missed connections, airport security, lost luggage, airline meals – all get neatly avoided.

You just wake up – and you’re there.

3. More Money For Other Stuff

In general it’s far more expensive to travel than to stay home. Flights, transfers, and accommodation all add up.

Instead, you can allocate your vacation budget to cool and interesting activities in your home town – maybe fancy restaurants, art museums, or adventures (for instance you can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in my city).

Or you can treat yourself to stuff that makes staying home more fun – like a new TV, games console, or luxurious new bed linen.

A change of scenery can be a great way to refresh your body and mind. And visiting other countries is stimulating and exciting.

But for a simple break with cool benefits, a staycation can be a great stay-at-home holiday.

What Else?

Have you ever taken a staycation?

What other benefits did you enjoy?

Here are some common frustrations I hear from people who are trying to declutter their lives and organize their homes:

My husband is a hoarder – he still has college notes from the 80s.

My wife’s hobbies have taken over the entire house.

My kids have too much stuff and won’t get rid of anything.

If you relate, here are some ideas that might help.

Family Declutter – DON’Ts

Here are some things that won’t work.

1. Don’t Nag

Anything uttered in a whiny or irritated tone or said repeatedly will get tuned out.

Don’t waste your breath or undermine your respect. Don’t be that person.

2. Don’t Expect Them To Do What You Won’t

Exhortations to clean their rooms when yours is a primordial soup are unlikely to be effective.

Kids especially take in the whole message via your words and your actions.

3. Don’t Expect Their Standards To Match Yours

If your kids or spouse make an effort to declutter or get organized, then appreciate that as a step in the right direction.

Avoid making them feel like a failure for not doing it your way, or they’ll decide it’s too hard and give up.

So that’s what won’t work. What will?

Family Declutter – DOs

These strategies are your best bet for getting the family involved in your declutter vision.

1. Inspire Them

The secret about decluttering and getting organized that you already know is that it feels awesome. When you’re free of the dross and chaos you’re lighter and happier – and it shows.

Get your own act together and declutter your closet, organize your home office, streamline your home – and let your results inspire your family. They’ll want what you’re having.

2. Show Them

It’s possible that your family is resistant to attacking their own clutter because they don’t know how to approach a declutter project.

Offer to spend a small amount of time doing it together – that way they won’t feel trapped into hours of potential torment. And if you can, tie it to something they already want.

You could say something like,

I know you’d like new clothes for your birthday – do you want to spend an hour on Saturday going through your closet to make room for new stuff?

Once they see how it’s done, it won’t seem so scary. And you’ll have taught them a neat life skill.

3. Negotiate With Them

If inspiration and instruction don’t work, you can always try bribery negotiation.

For example, you could:

• Give your kids a higher allowance, but tie it to keeping their rooms uncluttered. It’s not a good idea to put a new restriction on an old benefit, but increasing their pocket money will give them something positive to go with the change.
• Identify the main currency your kids value – screen time? later curfew? Let them earn rewards for various acts of decluttering or organizing, such as keeping their rooms neat or completing assigned household chores.
• Give your kids a bonus for every, say, 5 items of old clothing/toys/games they put in the ready-for-donation basket.
• Negotiate with your partner that you’ll go ballroom dancing/get them a new XBox/let them choose the family holiday if they’ll declutter the garage/get rid of their vintage doily collection/organize their closet. 

In every relationship there are things they want that you can give – why not give something to get what you want? You’re more likely to achieve your organized outcome, and to make each other happy in the process.

How Will You Get Your Family To Declutter And Get Organized?

Will you use any of these strategies?

Do you have more suggestions to share?

It’s the end of the first quarter of 2013, plus I’ve just run 7 Days To An Organized Home Office. Which makes it an excellent time to take a week off!

I’ve recently learned that going away is not necessarily the best way to unwind, at least not for me. So I’ll be taking a staycation – staying home and doing fun, relaxing things. Or as I’ve been calling it – a YAYcation!

Here’s what’s on my list of staycation activities so far:

• Read Wolf Hall
• Peruse this month’s fashion magazines
• Watch Game Of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire
• Get a massage and facial
• Visit local art galleries and museums
• Have coffee with friends
• Avoid my computer (I’m not very good at that).

I’m very excited!

During the week Kylie Browne, our community manager, will be looking after the Facebook page and our fabulous BEFORE and AFTER Pinterest boards. If you ‘see’ her do say hi!

Well I guess I’d better go pack. No wait – that’s another staycation benefit.

Have a wonderful week everybody!

PS Have you ever taken a staycation? What did you do? I’d love to hear your ideas!

You know that lovely feeling you get when you’ve just organized your shoes, decluttered the filing cabinet, or streamlined your vintage doily collection?

*insert plaintive voice* Why does it never last? Why does the chaos always return? Why can’t I stay ahead of clutter and disorganization?

The answers, respectively, are that it can, it doesn’t have to, and there is a way.

In other words, backsliding is not inevitable. You can prevent clutter creep.

By using my simple ‘OCI-OGO‘ formula, you can preserve all the gains you make any time you declutter or organize anything.

Even if you have yet to declutter, you can still use OCI-OGO. It will stop current clutter from getting worse, which will make the job easier when you get around to it.

Warning:
This strategy is life changing. Once you know it, there’s no turning back. So decide now if you want to read on. Because once you do, you’ll owe it to yourself to use OCI-OGO.

Ready?

OCI-OGO - How To Stay Clutter-Free For Life

OCI-OGO stands for One Comes In – One Goes Out. It’s pronounced oh-see-oh-go.

OCI-OGO means that every time something new comes into your home, car, handbag, briefcase, closet, or life – something old goes out.

Here are some examples:

• When you buy a new item of clothing, you donate or discard an old one from your closet.
  TIP: Only have enough hangers for your existing clothes – that way you’ll have to get rid of old things to make room for new ones.
• When you buy new shoes, you donate or discard an old pair.
• When the kids receive a new toy, they give an old one to a child who doesn’t have as much as they do (an excellent habit to teach them).
  TIP: Have a donation basket for kids’ clothes and toys and encourage the kids to make regular contributions.
• When you receive the latest magazine in your subscription, you automatically put the previous one in the recycle bin.
  TIP: If you think, ‘But I haven’t read it yet!’, ask yourself whether you want to feel pressured to read everything, or to be happy and calm. Let it go.
• When you buy a new book, DVD, or CD, you donate an old one to the library.
  TIP: If you buy a lot of books, DVDs, or CDs, then have a dedicated library donation box.
• When you file your latest statements or papers, you discard, archive, or shred out-of-date papers from your files.
  TIP: File papers in reverse chronological order so you can easily remove the oldest ones from the back.
• When you buy a new cosmetic, you toss out an old one.
  TIP: Make-up has a shelf life. Use it, and then be happy to lose it.
• When you receive a gift, you find something you no longer use or love and give that away.
  TIP: Or re-gift it to stay OCI-OGO-neutral.
• When you buy a kitchen gadget or utensil, you donate or discard at least one old one.
  TIP: Having fewer, but more useful, utensils will make it easier to find what you need and use what you have.
• When the kids get a new backpack, drink bottle, game, or whatever, they discard or donate an old one.

You get the idea.

And the idea is simple: the net amount of stuff in your life never grows.

How cool is that! You get to enjoy new things but without any increase in disorganization or clutter. You keep stuff flowing through your life rather than letting your space become a quagmire of crapola.

Will You Adopt OCI-OGO?

Now doesn’t OCI-OGO sound like a good way to live? Will you decide to become an OCI-OGO-er today?

Leave a comment and make a commitment!

Note: A version of this article originally appeared in Get Organized Newsletter.

With a change of season upon us, now’s a great time for a spot of spring cleaning.

But instead of focussing on the external environment, let’s start with ourselves.

By tidying up mental habits and self-talk on the inside, we can make life a lot more happy and ordered on the outside too.

Here are 7 simple but powerful ways to spring clean your mind.

1. Raise Your Offense Threshold

You can free up a lot of energy by choosing not to get offended by things people do or say.

Most of the time, people don’t mean to be rude – they simply choose the wrong words, or are distracted, or are having a bad day.

And on the rare occasion that someone does intend to be mean, then that comes from their own pain, not you. Happy people aren’t nasty!

You’ll save yourself a good deal of energy and distress by choosing not to take offense.

That’s more energy for achieving your goals. 

2. Go On A Complaining Diet

This one is challenging, but well worth the effort.

Unhappy about the way things are? Then do something to fix it, or ask for what you want - but don’t complain.

Your friends having an ain’t-it-awful party? Then change the subject, or offer a different perspective - but don’t join in.

Take the energy you would normally sink into complaining and take action instead.

You’re more likely to get what you want, to feel empowered, and to be more fun to be around.

3. Tell Everyone – Including Yourself – That You’re Organized

If you’re always telling everyone how chaotic your life is, it’s time to try singing a different song.

Pretend you’re organized. Tell yourself you’re organized. If in doubt, ask yourself what an organized person would do. You’ll know the answer!

When you tell yourself how disorganized your life is, you give yourself a narrow range of options for handling your life.

Instead, add the (for now, possibly fake) idea that you’re actually pretty organized, and you’ll get to pick from a wider range of choices.

If you’re going to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, might as well choose one that works for you.

4. Install a Worry Switch

If you’re a worrier, then you’ll love this.

The thing about worry is that it sucks you into an endless loop. You can’t solve the problem with worry, but you also can’t stop worrying without a solution. So you stay stuck in pointless rumination.

As long as you’re engaging with unproductive thoughts, there’s no way out. You have to short-circuit the conversation.

One cool trick is to picture a worry switch in your mind. When you find yourself repeatedly re-hashing old worries, simply the flick the switch to the off position.

It sounds simple, but because it avoids words it can be extremely effective. Try it!

5. Only Splurge If It’s Really Worth It

This goes for time, calories, money – everything.

Only go all out for things that really matter to you. Say a gentle but firm no to everything else.

Don’t buy things you don’t need or love. Don’t overeat desserts you could take or leave. Don’t commit to time-consuming projects you aren’t passionate about.

Put your time, money, energy, and life where it matters to you.

6. Give Everything An Extra 10%

Let the change of season be a signal to raise your game.

Give an extra 10% to your work, your family, your exercise program, your decluttering project – everything you do!

You will not collapse from exhaustion or shatter into little pieces.

If you adopt the preceding five strategies, then you’re sure to gain a lot more energy and motivation.

And chances are that giving a little more across your life will free up even more reserves. 

You’ll see what you’re capable of, and it will spur you even further.

7. Do Something You Enjoy Every Day

If you aren’t already doing something that makes you happy each day, then add that to your agenda right now.

It could be a crossword puzzle with your morning coffee (a favourite of mine), a fun playlist to listen to on the way home, a bubble bath or glass of wine at the end of the day, time to read in bed before sleep.

Choose something that refreshes you, or just makes you happier, and do it every day.

A happy, relaxed you will be a better partner, parent, and friend, and a more productive worker – so don’t begrudge yourself this one.

What’s On Your ‘Spring Clean Your Mind’ List?

Decide which of these seven strategies you want to implement, and get ready for a new season.

Let’s start clearing those cobwebs!

Note: A version of this article originally appeared in Get Organized Newsletter.

Whether or not you’re doing the program, I think you’ll like these inspiring home offices…

This is one of several rather high-tech home office spaces.

Here you’ll find some colorful home offices such as this one.

For a range of modern designs check these out.

There are some simple beauties like this one in this slideshow.

As well as this, from 55 popular Pinterest boards for home office decor.

Which one is your favorite?

The Um, Joy of Happiness

Did you know that happiness is associated with all kinds of cool benefits?

They include:

• Physical & mental health
• Coping skills
• Resilience
• Work satisfaction
• Good relationships – with colleagues, friends, and loved ones
• Long life
• Immune system strength
• Liking yourself
• Altruism
• Liking others
• Effective conflict management.

That means happiness isn’t selfish. In fact, these benefits show that a happy person brings advantages to the family, workplace, economy, and society. You can feel great about making happiness your goal.

So given that happiness is a worthwhile pursuit, how exactly do you pursue it?

How To Be Happier

Let’s take a quick look at the dominant theory of happiness in psychology literature. It says that three factors contribute to your level of happiness:

1. Circumstances & demographics – things like health, finances, and marital status
2. Personality & genes – the ‘innate’ aspects of a person
3. Intentional factors – deliberate actions you take, like pursuing a goal.

Now let’s look at how each of these affects your happiness level.

1. Circumstances And Demographics

The conditions of your life matter, but much less than you might think. Want to guess how much?

Only around 10 – 12% in total.

That’s right: the things most people chase wildly in search of happiness – money, marriage, material stuff – together make up only around a tenth of their happiness level.

And the story gets worse for this factor.

Changing your circumstances tends to make only a short-term difference to your happiness. A phenomenon called the hedonic treadmill means we quickly adjust to changes in our life circumstances – even big ones like winning the lottery or losing a limb – and return to our previous happiness levels.

You might want to remind yourself of this next time you think a sports car or awesome new boots* will change your life.

*Awesome new boots will change my life.

2. Personality And Genes

This factor makes a pretty big difference to happiness. In fact about half of your happiness level is related to genes and personality.

The thing is, there’s not much we can do about this factor.

So let’s look at what we can do.

3. Intentional Factors

Now we come to the good news. In fact, three pieces of good news.

1. Unlike life conditions, intentional factors make a sizable contribution to your happiness – up to 40%
2. Unlike genes, intentional factors are under your control
3. The happiness benefits of intentional factors are longer lasting.

So what are these mystical intentional factors we speak of?

Not so mystical. Here are some examples of intentional factors that are linked to greater happiness:

• Cognitive or thinking activities such as
  • Counting blessings
  • Noticing good things
  • Consciously feeling gratitude
• Behavioral or doing activities such as
  • Exercising regularly
  • Engaging in a hobby
• Volitional activities such as
  • Striving for a goal
  • Working on a skill.

I was thrilled when, while researching and writing my thesis on happiness, I learned that we can all be happier. Even high-neuroticism, low-extraversion personality types like me. We can do it by focusing more on intentional factors and paying less attention to the other stuff.

It changed how I make decisions and made me a happier person. Most of the time. If I’ve had my coffee.

And it lead me to start this website and create my organizing programs, which basically help people to focus more on intentional factors in their lives.

If you want to enjoy more of the benefits of happiness – for others as well as for yourself – then think about adding more of these intentional factors into your own life.

You’ll be glad (haha) you did.

References

How To Be Happier – References

What’s your biggest home office challenge?

When I asked this question on Facebook I didn’t expect 200 replies from people frustrated with towering paper piles, ineffective filing systems, and unsatisfactory habits for dealing with all the clutter spoiling their home office spaces.

So I’m super-excited to announce my brand-spanking-new program: 7 Days To An Organized Home Office.

7 Days To An Organized Home Office

Over the 7 days we’ll cover:

• How to reclaim your office space
• How to sort your piles of paper
• How to create a usable, simple filing system
• How to make the best use of your space
• How to organize your desk
• The quest for paperlessness – how far should you go?
• How to deal with mail
• What to do about receipts
• How to deal with magazines
• How to stop paper piles from forming in future
• When to discard, when to keep, when to archive
• What to do about hobby and craft paraphernalia
• How to create – and maintain – a clear desk
• What to do with course and seminar notes
• Lots more!!

FREE For Premium Subscribers

If you’re a Premium Subscriber* of course you get the program included in your subscription. Cool, huh!

Learn more about 7 Days To An Organized Home Office.

* Premium Subscribers get access to all our decluttering, organizing, and productivity programs. It's fantastic value! Access your programs from your My Account page. Learn more about Premium Subscription.

This is a 5-minute organizing task from the Organize-In-5 Diary.

How To Make Up Memory Boxes For Your Family’s Mementos And Keepsakes – In Just 5 Minutes!

1. Find or buy some attractive boxes – one for each family member.
2. Kids might like to cover theirs in re-cycled wrapping paper.
3. Label them with the person’s name. A sharpie or texta will do, or make a nice label if you want to spend extra time.
4. Place them in each person’s room, or a family room, or the study – wherever is most tidy and appealing.

And you’re done!

Now you can have somewhere neat and handy to put kids’ paintings, wedding keepsakes and other items you can’t yet bring yourself to throw away.

Remember:

• Move fast.
• Don’t overthink.
• Feel great about getting organized!

Start the 5-minute timer now.

Learn more about the Organize-In-5 Diary.