By: Janet L. Hall
The function of the bedroom is primarily used to sleep in; however, many of
us use our bedrooms for a variety of other activities.
How does your bedroom function? What other activities are performed in
you boudoir other then sleeping?
Sewing, exercising, paying bills, watching TV, listening to music, reading,
working on the computer, mediating...........
How can your bedroom space be utilized to its fullest?
How would you like it to look?
Is your bedroom functioning as your bedroom or a catch all room?
Is it usefully arranged?
Stand in the doorway and imagine the perfect room in which to rest your body,
mind, and spirit.
With pen and paper, look around your bedroom, starting on a wall and working
your way around the room, take inventory: (please print this page out so you
won't waste time rewriting the exercise or trying to remember the questions).
What needs to be organized?
What needs to be straightened up?
What needs to be moved or rearranged?
What colors would rock you to sleep at night and soothe you upon waking?
Look at each wall area.
What’s there?
A pile of clothes: clean, dirty, folded,
unfolded?
Newspapers, magazines, books, papers?
Hats, ties, shoes, socks,
stockings?
Toys?
Snacks, dishes, silverware, cups, or glasses?
Does that stuff belong there?
Where do you want that stuff to * live *?
Where does that stuff belong?
What shouldn’t be * living * there?
Make a list of each "seeable" item.
Do this for all four-wall areas in your bedroom.
Now, look at your surfaces: your dresser, bureau, make-up table, TV stand,
trunks, bed, sitting area, and nightstands.
What’s there?
Unopened mail,
bills, receipts, unfinished projects?
Presents?
Perfume bottles, jewelry, make-up?
Ties, coins, money?
Pens, paper, notes, books?
CD’s, videos, audio
tapes, remote controls?
Some of the same stuff you found on the floor?
Does that stuff belong there?
Where do you want that stuff to * live *?
Where does that stuff belong?
What shouldn’t be * living * there?
Make a list of each "seeable" item.
Do this for all surface areas in your bedroom.
Is your bedroom environment organized for sleeping and relaxing or is it full
of clutter, chaos and dysfunction?
What is to be kept, stored, and housed in your private, and yes, scared
place?
Where can you store or place like items so you will remember where they are,
and you can put your hands on the items when needed?
Above all else, remember, life isn't like a magazine picture! It takes
a team of people, and many hours to make up those pretty pictures we see on the
glossy pages of our magazines or on the screen of our TV.
Get real and be realistic about your bedroom. Let me know if this
exercise has helped you by writing to
me.
Copyright (c) 2004 - 2010 OverHall Consulting Janet, The Person/Place Energy Mover,
can help you regain control of your life, your time, your
stuff, and your environment. FREE newsletter, OverHall IT! at
http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm
By: Janet L. Hall
Waking up to chaos and clutter can instantly drain you of
your energy and put your spirit in a foul mood, even causing
you to become depressed.
As a professional organizer, I’m often asked, * Where do I
start? * I always suggest one of two areas, your bedroom or
your important home or office files.
Many have disagreed, stating that they would prefer to start
with a room that others may see when visiting.
But I’m here to tell you, don’t worry about those areas… yet.
My saying is, * you can drop by anytime to visit me but if you
want to visit my house to see how clean it is, make an
appointment! * (there is a difference between clean, neat,
and organized, but that’s another article <g>).
Organizing and cleaning those areas will only make your
Spirit soar temporarily. Those areas will NOT feed your
Spirit in the way it needs to be feed in the morning, BEFORE
you get out of bed! (unless you sleep in one of those areas
<g>).
So why not start decluttering and * OverHalling * the room in
which you awake every morning? Take care of you boudoir
first! It’s the first room you see in the morning and the last
room you see at night.
Your bedroom can set the stage for your day and how your
Spirit will feel, react, and cope throughout the rest of the day.
EDITORS TIP: After reading this article, place it next to your
bed with a pencil and before you get out of bed reread and
answer the following:
Now, look around you. What do you see? Chaos and clutter
or calm and organization?
What beauty can a new morning bring you? What is your
vision of your day?
Listen. What do you hear? Bickering, * Can’t find….*, or
laughter and a birds song?
Start this new day by listening to nature outside your
window. Sing, whistle, hum, or play music that lifts your
spirit and refreshes. (I sing to myself, * You’ve got to wake
up every morning with a smile on your face and show the
world all the love in your heart…Carole King)
What do you smell? Dirty socks, moldy * stuff * or a fresh
cut lawn, sun dried sheets, or the fragrance of flowers?
Inhale and infuse yourself with power for the day with fresh
clean scents around you. A scented candle, fresh flowers on
your nightstand, scented soaps, lotions, or oils.
What do you feel? Overwhelmed, depressed, drained, or
rejuvenated and renewed?
Renew and elevate your Spirit by embracing the day upon
waking, take a big stretch, read an affirmation, your spiritual
book, or a daily inspiration. Pray or meditate.
Write down what you would like to see, hear, smell, and feel
when you first awake. What do you have to do to feed your
senses and your Spirit?
When you start clearing the clutter out of your senses, you
will begin to become open and aware to receiving those
things that can feed your body, soul, and spirit.
If you feed your spirit and your mind upon waking, you’ll day
will run smoother. You’ll become more aware of what’s
going on around you and within you.
Alan Cohen, author of A Deep Breath of Life, writes in one of
his daily inspirations for heart-centered living:
*…Each day is like a life unto itself, and so the first minutes
of each day are the formative minutes. We must take
special care to sound the keynote that will set the tone for
our entire day. How do you begin your day? Do you spend
it with God, in peace, in attunement with yourself? Or do
you pop out of bed and immediately dive into the busy-ness
of the day, postponing your soul’s needs in favor of lesser
activities? *
He goes on to say, * Take at least the first 20 minutes of
your day to meditate, pray, read an inspiring book, practice
yoga or tai chi, walk in the woods, sing, dance, or engage in
any practice that links you to a higher power. Establish your
center, and the day that follows will reflect clarity, strength,
and love. Any time you spend with Spirit will be returned
throughout the day. Even a few seconds of closing your
eyes and remembering the presence of love will make a big
difference. At the end of your day, be with God before
entering sleep. The formative minutes will build the
consciousness that makes a productive life. *
If you’d like to learn to mediate or need help in this area,
John Edward, author of Understanding Your Angels and
Meeting Your Guides, has a wonderful audio tape with some
amazing exercises.
I love the mediating exercise in which Mr. Edwards teaches;
how to * breath in Universal positive energy and force out
any negative energy you are holding in your body. Giving
your body permission to surrender your negative energy.
I’d like to give you permission to rid yourself of all the
negative clutter and stuff in your bedroom.
If something reminds you of how much weight you’ve
gained, get rid of it!
If something makes you sad or unhappy, get rid of it!
If something brings back bad memories, get rid of it!
If something makes you feel dated, get rid of it!
If something is broken (you’ll never use it again or will cost
more to fix then replace), or irreparable, get rid of it!
If something from your past would embarrass your loved
ones after you gone, get rid of it!
If something doesn’t mean anything to you any longer, get
rid of it!
Wall by wall, inch by inch, surface area by surface area, all the
clutter and stuff that you’ve STUFFED into the one place you should be
able to go to to relax, reflect, make love, sleep, and meet your Spirit
in the morning can be sorted through using my TEASER technique.
Nine Additional Steps to Get Started:
1. Decide how much time you have or are willing to
dedicate to creating your own personal paradise.
2. Set a timer for the length of time you have set aside to
declutter.
3. Take the phone off the hook.
4. Turn off the computer and TV.
5. Don’t answer the door.
6. If you have children, make sure they have an activity to
do or have someone watch over or play with them (or maybe
they can help <g>).
7. Stay focused by NOT leaving the room.
8. Do NOT bring anything else into the room you’re
decluttering that doesn’t belong there.
9. Do NOT run out and buy storage items until AFTER you
have sorted through your stuff!
Remember it’s not about being neat; anyone can straighten
or tidy up. It’s about utilizing your bedroom and space for
what it’s meant to do – a place to rest the soul and Spirit.
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life or life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of
Your existence:
The bliss of growth;
The glory of action;
The splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every
Yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
--Kalidasa (Translated from the Sanskrit)
Look for ways the Universe spoils you today and everyday.
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Copyright (c) 2004 - 2010 OverHall Consulting Janet, The Person/Place Energy Mover,
can help you regain control of your life, your time, your
stuff, and your environment. FREE newsletter, OverHall IT! at
http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm
By: Janet L. Hall
I never really finished last seasons "switch over"
(winter to summer) of changing around my wardrobe. Generally I will take the
winter clothes out of my drawers, storing those items in a big plastic bin,
and out of my closet, storing those items in my spare bedroom closet, and
move my spring/summer clothes in. For some reason I never quite completed
the project. And I’ll bet this has happened to you at some time.
Anyway, my drawers were stuffed, and my side of the
closet was slowing pinning my husbands’ clothes up against the wall. And
since I didn’t take the time to complete the switch over, I had run out of
drawer and closet space.
Now I’m not sure where this next thing I'm about to
reveal to you came from. Maybe because:
=>I wasn’t sure if I was coming or going.
=>I had to endure several surgeries throughout the year.
=>I was overworked.
=>I was tired.
=>I was being neglectful.
=>I just didn’t care.
Now I could continue to analyze this situation I
did to myself, this predicament I had gotten myself into but I’m sure you
are dying to know my secret….right?
Well, here it is, confession of a professional
organizer…I started putting my clean folded clothes in a pile on the floor,
in front of the closet!!! And saying to myself each time I put clothes in
that pile, “I’ve got to redo my closet and drawers.” I’ve said that
since end of winter through the end of summer -- SIX MONTHS! And it's now
the winter season again.
Not until two weeks ago, when I went to Penney’s
and purchased four new pairs of pajamas, did I finally decide to finish the
"switch over." Not until two weeks ago did I shake off whatever had attached
its self to me did I plunge all gong-oh to remove everything in my closet
that wasn’t for winter, everything that was too small; if the button didn’t
button and the zipper wouldn’t zip up without "sucking in" – IT WAS OUT OF
THERE!
All summer clothes were sorted through with the
same zill! Besides being too tight or uncomfortable, out went: things I
didn’t wear last year, once loved colors or prints, anything itchy, that
didn’t fit properly, or I just decided I didn’t care for any longer also got
added to the pile that had now grown into a mound!
I even called my husband in, before he went off
fishing, to quickly eyeball his clothes for anything he might not have a
need for or want to donate to my “cause” He has less clothing, no pj’s or
all the other under clothes and accessories us females own. With little
effort, boom, boom, boom, he was finished.
Downward to my shoes, knowing I had pairs of high
heels I had not wore in ages (remember, I’m human just like you), and I
never would wear again because I don’t want to wear high spiky heels EVER
again were tossed onto the mound. Any shoes that: gave me a blister,
tightened like a beaver trap towards the end of the day, on days when it was
very hot or when my feet would swell from whatever reason. OUT, OUT, OUT
they went! Any shoe or boot, if they had EVER caused my feet, legs, or back
to ache after wearing, they were outa’ my closet, my space, and my life.
As I changed the music CD to “Born To Be Wild” and
poured myself a “fake” glass of wine into a beautiful wineglass, I was
back to tackle my drawers. I had one large drawer with beautiful, expensive,
“tiny” lingerie. Oh what memories! And who was I kidding – I hadn’t been
able to wriggle into some of those beautiful silk and lacy memories in years
– time to finally let go – I was finally READY!
On to my sock drawer which held white socks, black
socks, and a variety of colored socks. Hey, 95% of the time I always wear
black socks! SO with that reality and honesty I tossed over to my pile all
the colored socks except the black pairs and a few white pairs.
I also had a slip, camisole, and scarf drawer. Now
I very seldom wear a dress anymore, so how many slips did I need?! I kept a
long on, two short ones, one black and one white, one long half slip, one
white and one black camisole, and added the rest to the HEAP along with all
the scarves that I had told myself I’d wear one day.
With two drawers left – the old flop them in and
bind them up – bra drawer - and my pajama drawer that also contained some
long john shirts and pants and those warm, booty sock things with traction
thingies on the bottom of the feet – and some had holes!
Any bra that was too small, too tight, or the
straps slipped off my shoulders – so annoying – or that contained wire was
out of the drawer and into the trash!
Last but not least the item of clothing that
started this ruthless no if, ands, or buts about it, won’t stop till I’m
finished, it’s all going TODAY – it was time to step up and take control of
this “getting out of hand” clothes piles – the Pajama Drawer. The
instigator, the motivator, the reason for this mountain of clothes on my
bed. I had wanted some new pajamas and Penney’s was having a sale. I brought
four new beautiful pairs of pajamas, and there was no place or space to put
these divine items. Now they have a home and check this out...I was so
ruthless that all my summer casual clothes now fit in one SPARE drawer
instead of my plastic bin!
If you would like more help, check out our ebook,
Get Honest About Your Bedroom Clutter and FINALLY Get Organized! It's
loaded with more clothes and bedroom organizing tips at
http://www.bedroom-clutter.com/organizing_ebooks.htm
