Sidestep Holiday Hype for Gifts With Heart

Kim Wolinski, MSW
"Dr. DeClutter"
www.drdeclutter.com

"And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more!"

- Dr. Suess

Tired of holiday hype?

No matter what event or holiday you are celebrating that includes gift giving, you might just want to sit quietly and pick out something from a shopping trip in the "department stores of your mind!"

Even if it's a week before Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, a birthday, wedding or anniversary, think about making your gift instead of buying it at a store, keeping it simple and personal.

Consider the following:
- Bake muffins, a pie, a cake or cookies
- Cook a special meal
- Put together a picnic basket and invite others out for a hike in nature
- Create a scrapbook page of photos from something you did with them, or of their childhood or a special event (more ideas on scrapbooking here: www.scrappincabinet.com )
- Put together a music CD: download or sing songs that you know they like
- Make an ornament significant to them
- Write a song, poem or story for them

There a lots of small and fun ways to give from the heart this year and always.

TIP: Ask the what they really want and like that you could make for them, and do it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Kim

©2006 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

It's NEVER too early, or late, to stop another stressful holiday season from stressing you out! My 43-page content packed and idea-rich ebook, Keep the Holidays Simple will give you the permission and plans to make the changes that will help you stay centered, honor your needs and enjoy everyone, no matter what! Order and/or read more at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/id19.html

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

Resolve to Evolve: Organize Thoughts Toward Inner Peace FIRST

"Our problems, both those we experience externally such as wars, crime and violence and those we experience internally as emotional and psychological suffering will not be solved until we address this underlying neglect of our inner dimension. That is why the great movements of the last hundred years and more--democracy, liberalism, socialism, and Communism--have all failed to deliver the universal benefits they were supposed to provide, despite many wonderful ideas. A revolution is called for, certainly, but not a political, an economic, or a technical revolution. We have had enough experience of these during the past century to know that a purely external approach will not suffice. What I propose is a spiritual revolution."

~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama

7 Steps to Holiday Giving: Gain Balance Over Excessive Sympathy for the Less Fortunate

Kim Wolinski, MSW
“Dr. DeClutter”
www.drdeclutter.com

Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays!

Whatever you celebrate this time of year, it is meant to be a time of gladness, great happiness, togetherness, love and joy... abundance, giving and peace.

America is prosperous. The most prosperous nation in the world. No matter where you live in the world, if you have a roof over your head, a job, money in the bank and your health... you are prosperous!

But, not everyone is prosperous of course. There are street people and poverty stricken, hungry and those who meet misfortune and tragedy this time of year and all year round. Children and people from other nations are starving, live in fear, needy and dying.

Because of the strong contrast between Christmas and light and joy and some people's daily or immediate harsh realities, the hardtimes are especially poignant during the holidays.

How do you deal with this dichotomy?

Here are some tips to help you and "them", whoever "they" are gain balance now and all year round.

1) Make a decision.
Take the time to decide what is true about your ability to contribute humanitarian causes.
2) Choose.
Choose one or more causes each holiday season and give from your ability to give -- money and/or time.
3) Reality check.
You cannot save the world during the holidays or anytime in your life, that's not your job. But, you can make a difference in a very personal and small way somewhere. Make it.
4) Give and let go.
Write your check. Give. Let go. Don't judge yourself or others for the amount of time or money given. Give and let go.
5) Plan for next year.
Pre-plan for next year. Give monthly to one or two chosen causes and stop the guilt that many people feel during the holidays.
6) Or, jump in!
If you want to really get involved in a charity or cause of any kind, then do!

Bottomline: Don't get caught in-between feeling guilty about the roof over your head, food on your table, etc. -- namely, your abundance and prosperity -- and angry because you feel guilty about others' needs and the onslaught of advertisement for donations.

7) Get off mailing and call lists.
Choose your causes of contributions and get off all other lists. This saves them money and time too!

Happy Holidays! Kim

©2006 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

It's NEVER too early, or late, to stop another stressful holiday season from stressing you out! My 43-page content packed and idea-rich ebook, Keep the Holidays Simple will give you the permission and plans to make the changes that will help you stay centered, honor your needs and enjoy everyone, no matter what! Order and/or read more at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/id19.html

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

This Holiday, Enjoy Your Extended vs. "Expended" Family

Kim Wolinski, MSW
“Dr. DeClutter”
www.drdeclutter.com

Do you sometimes feel exhausted when it comes to spending time with your family and extended family? Do you sometimes feel yourself being too extended as in "stretched" to your mental, emotional and sometimes physical limits? Then you feel "expended" - as in tired and used up.

Don't miss out on the joy of the season, of spending time with your precious family. No matter how well, or not, you get along, they are your family!

To "expend" means to spend, to use up, as in "expendable": able or intended to be sacrificed, as in war. Are you expend-able? I hope not!

This holiday season (and everyday) make sure that you are enjoying your extended family... not using them up and certainly, not letting yourself be used up either!

TIP: Remember, "We teach people how to treat us!"

If you teach people to take advantage of you -- of your kindness, of your being responsible and accountable, being fun and happy, being a giver... guess what!... they will! Not because they are bad people, or "users," but because humans are pattern seeking creatures. We like patterns, we depend on patterns of behavior to feel in control, comfortable and safe. Your job is to keep from creating or supporting patterns that keep you or others from being "expended"; to keep your energy and very life from being sacrificed.

That means you may need to kindly say "no" to some things along the way in order to say "yes" to your needs first. Yes, first. You - first.

And, no, others who have been patterned to take advantage of, to be needy, demanding and helpless will not like it... "Oh, well!"

Your challenge here is to figure out what you really want. What you are saying "yes" to so that you can say "no" with gentle and easy confidence. No fight. No resistence. No war.

Stay at-center this holiday season, no matter what happens! This too, it all, will pass!

Happy Holidays! Kim

©2006 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

It's NEVER too early, or late, to stop another stressful holiday season from stressing you out! My 43-page content packed and idea-rich ebook, Keep the Holidays Simple will give you the permission and plans to make the changes that will help you stay centered, honor your needs and enjoy everyone, no matter what! Order and/or read more at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/id19.html

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

How to Organize and Manage Out-Of-Control Paper

Kim Wolinski, MSW
Dr. DeClutter
www.DrDeClutter.com

Paper, paper everywhere… over 80% of the paper most people have is either out-of-date or will never be used again.

THE 4 D’S OF EFFECTIVE PAPER MANAGEMENT
A) Do it
B) Delay it (File it in an action file or archive file)
C) Delegate it
D) Dump it

TIP: OPEN MAIL OVER “FILE 13”
Quickly open daily mail right over the wastebasket, or recycling container. Dump everything unnecessary, then, sort the rest immediately – so it doesn't have a chance to pile up.

If you are in a business environment where files must be shared, the problem of the paper monster is even worse. A great resource for controlling and organizing paper chaos is nationally known speaker and Professional Organizer, Barbara Hemphill, author of best selling books Taming the Paper Tiger at Work, and ... at Home. Find anything in your office in 5 seconds or less. Guaranteed! Click here and go to this site for Barbara's remarkable organizing products.

©2006 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter” Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

To find out more, or to discuss and schedule a "decluttering" appointment call 303-485-5280. Sign up for Dr. DeClutter's free newsletter at http://drdeclutter.com/ezine.html . Need help getting your space (house, office, barn, backyard – thoughts, mind, time, schedule, priorities, or life) decluttered and re- organized? My new video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN and other products at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.