New year, new flow, old stuff has got to go!

Nothing like a fresh, new year to do some purging! Did you know that getting rid of the old energy (and things attached), allows new energy (and things attached) to come in to your life? New year, new flow, old stuff has got to go!

Start with your holiday goodies, how many years of wrapping rolls and bows do you have (that you'll never use?) You keep 'saving' them for next year, yet keep buying new stuff anyways... Out with it!

It's also a great time to organize your papers (tax season is coming). Gather what you need for taxes, and purge all the excess paperwork you no longer need. Magazines you already read, coupons you never used, receipts you'll never need again... File what you need and out with the rest!

How about the kitchen, what's hiding in the freezer that is well past its prime? What jars and bottles are in the fridge door that have expired and really should go? toss 'em! What old cans and boxes do you have in cabinets? Time to clear out the expired stuff... How about dishes, containers, stray lids that you just won't use again? Recycle or donate!

Bedroom... old clothes you won't wear... old clothes that does not fit... old sheets you don't use on the bed...

Bathrooms... old cosmetics you never use (but keep because how much you paid for them), they are not doing any good sitting there, out! Near empty lotions that have already been replaced, old perfumes, etc...etc... There's a time to let it go, the time is now!

Garage... how many boxes or tubs do you have, that you've not opened in years? Now is the time to determine if you really need them...

Sometimes it may be difficult to 'let go' of some things, but once you clean up, clear out, and find fresh new space that is tidy and organized, you'll feel fantastical!

Also, know that whatever you have to clean up, is not as big of a mess as NYC after NYE!

(Note, recycle or donate what you can, or even have a garage sale!)

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com

Lists, lists and more lists

I've been known to make lists... shopping lists, to do lists, want lists, store specific lists. Even for work I make lists.  Lists help me to stay organized.  I do have some tips for lists though, as if you write a list the wrong way, it may become one of those lists that never get completed!

Some people do better when they write the BIG things at the top of the list, i.e. the thing they least want to do, as doing it, will make them feel better, and motivate them to do the rest.

While on the other hand, some people feel better knocking out a lot of the little things off the list, feeling they've made progress crossing off multiple things.

Sometimes it's nice to toss a few things on the list you know you are going to do anyways... i.e. get up, take a shower, get dressed... It can be good to mix the things you always do anyways in with the additional things you need to get done...

Are you a list person?  How detailed are you?  Do you make write your grocery list by food category, or the aisle the products are on?  Do you list projects large to small or vice versa?  Do you use highlighters, different color inks or different papers?

Well, checked this one off the list!

Alethea Anderson

MultiMediaMom.com

So I'm doing this new thing with STICKY notes...

I'm organized, I swear...Sometimes TOO organized to the point that it oozes an illusion that I might possibly be *gasp* UNorganized ~ can you relate?

Typically I use a spiral note pad, one with college rule lines. I write each of my 'tasks' and then make a nice little 'square' check off box next to each item. As I complete the tasks, I check each little box and I feel better as more of the boxes are checked off.


Sometimes I use highlighters in a rainbow of colors to signify the importance of each task. (Thinking this somehow will encourage me to tackle certain ones before others.)


However, I often find myself adding new boxes to the end of the list as I think of more 'to do'. Then I have a full page, that looks sloppy, and I re-write the list. Since I never tend to go in order, even with my pretty highlighted squares.



For some reason I tend to tackle the smaller beasties first, as I feel if I can do 5 of the little 'easy things' before I get to the big things, I'll somehow feel more accomplished.



I admit, I am one of 'those people' who says...

"Let me write that down so I don't forget..."

It's like I need a HUGE wall of sicky notes that beep and flash at me or something. You see, when you write your 'to do' list on a pad of paper, it is just to easy to close it up, and store it away. Out of sight, out of mind, right?


Well, I decided to try something new. Sticky notes. My logic on this is, 'if I put stickys all over my desk, they will drive me NUTS and this will force me to accomplish the tasks on the sticky notes so my desk will be clear once again.


I LOVE a clear and tidy desk. I have my main desk which has my lap top, a candle and a calendar and a pretty hand blown glass heart my Mom gave me. (thanks Mom, love it!)


I then have my credenza, that has my PC #2 with external speakers, the telephone and 2 pretty orb-like glass paperweights. Tidy and clear. The drawers have little organizer bins, pencil cups and hanging files. I have everything organized, even a file for my 'to do' list. (organized not anal, honestly)


So anyways, I've decided to give this a go. Now it's not the first time I've relied upon sticky notes. When I used to work full time I was called the 'Sticky Queen' (other stuff too I'm sure) as my computer monitor often was rimmed with sticky notes. I got creative and would write on the note sideways or upside down so it fit on the proper side of my computer monitor.


You know you've done it, you've had the sticky that was on your computer monitor so long that it fell off, you then taped it on there and it fell again. To the point you no longer even notice it and it has become a part of the landscape of your computer... only to realize that in 2009 you had dated the note 2006... (just an example, did not happen, really...)



So yes, I am starting new, sticky notes ON my desk. Right now I have 12. Not too bad! I have 3 on the corner as they are 'done'. One of them I just put there a moment ago, several others were 'emails reminders' that I emailed to myself that I converted to sticky notes. Quite a variety of things 'to do'. Surely I can tackle all these before bed tonite. If not, I may have nightmares of being consumed by some sort if icky sticky monster...

If this does not work, I'll consider other options. Techincally, I could have done several items on my list while writing this blog. However I found writing this blog much more fun than some of the things on my 'sticky list'. I suppose I shall blog on 'procrastination' another time. (ahem)

Alethea Anderson
"Sticky Queen" and Web Marketing Mom
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