The Post Holiday Shuffle - Put Things Away!

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

Okay, it's the past half-way through January. Are you still lighting your Christmas lights? Still have wrapping paper on the table, floor -- ribbons and bows in the corners -- presents that didn't get sent?

No problem. It's okay. And here's why.

1) Gift wrapping stuff still out.

SOLUTION: If it's making you crazy, use my CHIP-N-CHUNK METHOD to sanity! Decide on one pile, one "CHUNK" of holiday cards, decorations, wrapping items, at a time. Schedule just 1/2 hour to 1 hour at a time and start "CHIPPING" away at it. Clean up and put away. They'll get done.

TIP: Stop the neurosis and stress causing ridicule over this right now! Don't criticize yourself before or during this process. Your home is your home. It's your space. No judgment. No big deal!

"But what will people think?" WHO CARES!!!! STOP IT!!!!

Don't despise now what you were so in love with and excited about just a month ago!

2) Gifts not given, sent, mailed, delivered. Might include thank you's from gifts received. Sometimes there are things we want to put into those gifts boxes for which we're still waiting.

SOLUTION: Don't wait to get the "just right" last things into the box. Box and tape it up. Mail it this week. Move it out. You can always send the rest soon after you compile it.

TIP: No apologies for belated anything. Very few people do it all "perfectly". Again, who cares?! I still have two get-togethers for post-Christmas with friends. We actually like it. It's after the compression of the holidays and we can sit and share holiday stories and enjoy our gifts and time together.

3) Lights still blinking? Decorations still up?
I put my 10 inch Christmas tree in its box (its "home") for the year last week. Okay, the box that it's in is still out on my office table "waiting" for a few more things to get put on the top shelf in the closet, but it's closer!

SOLUTION: Again, use my CHIP-N-CHUNK METHOD. Some people need to do it all in one day and get it done. Great! Others do CHUNK'S at time. Whatever works for you. It's in the "just do it" category. Plan out the time and start!

Option 2: Or... leave them up! This year I put up a string of chili pepper lights on my 2nd floor balcony. I light them every night, and, when it's been so terribly cold, I just leave them on 24/7 so I don't have to open the patio door and pull the plug! And since we have the weekly snow fall this year to cover them and make them picture perfect, they're so pretty. I love them. Of course they're not just Christmas lights, they can be used for lots of occasions (I like functional things like this that are middle-of-the-road-all-around-useable) . . . so I've decided I'll leave them up all winter. Hey, they're fun! I'm thinking, I may even leave them up into the "hot pepper" summer and... sure, why not, "chili pepper harvest" fall!! Have fun with your lights!

Bottom line, have fun with your holiday decorations and gift wrapping and all. Don't let yourself be frustrated with it after the fact. Make the whole process one. One of fun and joy.

Happy Undecorating 2007!

©2007 Kim Wolinski, MSW "Dr. DeClutter" Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert
Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

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

GET ORGANIZED TODAY! Inside and Out.
Need help getting your space (house, office, barn, backyard, thoughts, mind, time, schedule, priorities, or life) decluttered and re-organized? My 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

Find my workbook, LETTING GO WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT here too.

New Year's Resolutions? How's It Going So Far?

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

Did you set your New Year's Resolutions again this month? How's your motivation holding up?

It may be January 3rd or 30th when you read this, but what's for sure is that humans tend to follow the "path of least resistance." We too easily fall back into our normal, lifelong routines, habits and patterns (it's the human condition). Goals are put on the back burner, forgotten and joked about. Another year can go by without moving ahead one step toward our dreams and desires.

HABITS DIE HARD
Studies show that it takes 21-days to change a habit. I say, it takes 21-days of conscious effort to realize you even have a habit! Then, if you truly want to change it, the work starts! What is on your dream list? What would you like to change, lose, gain, increase, learn, experience, find, create, build, etc.?

3 STEPS TO YOUR DREAM
We need a few basic components to get and stay motivated and on course to realize our goals and dreams.
1. A plan.
2. Support.
3. New routines.

With just these three pieces of the dream
- machine in place, you'll be
- cranking out those new products
- singing up a storm on your new recording
- going to press with your new book
- starting up the company of your dreams
- starting that new job
- meeting our soul mate
- increasing your income
- moving into your new dream home
- gaining a new body
- spending more time with family, your children or yourself
... whatever you truly want.

BUT, I NEED HELP!
If you are short in the SUPPORT, INFORMATION and MOTIVATION Departments, I would love to help you get there from here, wherever there is.

I offer Personal Life Coaching by telephone and online.

You will get the help, guideance, brainstorming sessions, challenging assignments and exercises to move you out of out-dated routines and patterns and more to see the changes you want in any area of life.

Visit my Personal Coaching webpage to find out more at http://www.drdeclutter.com/personal_coaching.html . I look forward to meeting you and working with you to create your new life choices. If not now, when?

Happy New Year!

Kim

©2007 Kim Wolinski, MSW "Dr. DeClutter" Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

Don't Get Scammed Online or By Phone

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

If you're online, or use the telephone, there are plenty of ways criminals, "to be criminals" and "scammers", hundreds a year, are fishing the consumer (human) waters to engage you, manipulate and scare you into giving up your confidential information and steal your identity.

Here is an example of just one of many phone scams that's been around a while.

JURY DUTY SCAM
Someone calls pretending to be a court official who threateningly says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you didn't show up for jury duty. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo! Your identity has now been stolen.

The scam has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois and Colorado. This (scam) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving Information by pretending they're with the court system. The FBI and the Federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud. Such matters are not handled by telephone. Tell them no, to take you off their list and hang up.

HOW CAN YOU CHECK IF THESE KIND OF SCAMS ARE REAL?
Phone systems, mail and the internet can be used for good or bad, like everything else. Let's concentrate on the good! When you think there's something "fishy" about an ad, call or email (start trusting your "guts" more!) there are several spam buster sites online to check out that you can depend on for the right information.

1. http://www.Snopes.com
For the specific scam above, the link is http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp .
The FBI also has this one pegged, visit http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel05/092805.htm .
2. http://www.korova.com/virus/hoax.htm
Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call.
3. http://www.scam.com/
4. Google "scams" and you'll find other interesting information and sites to help you too.

IN SUMMARY: Don't give out your Social Security#, Credit Card numbers, or other personal confidential information to any caller or invitation online.

©2007 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert
Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

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

GET ORGANIZED TODAY! Inside and Out.
Need help getting your space (house, office, barn, backyard – thoughts, mind, time, schedule, priorities, or life) decluttered and re-organized? My 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

Find my workbook, LETTING GO WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT here too.