4 Steps to Declutter Your Life

Day 2 of the 40 bags in 40 Days Challenge... I spent some quality time in my office today and got a full bag of trash out!  I also got rid of a full bag of trash from my basement!
Day 1- 1 full bag of trash
Day 2 full bag of trash

As I start to declutter my life and think of how I want to make changes I found this article on Elephant Journal by Swapna Thomas. Head on over there and check it out!

Bridget

Day 1

Today was the first day of 40 Bags in 40 days ! I am all in! I need to purge and decrapyify my house. There is not enough square footage in my house for the amount of things that are here. Where did all this stuff come from? Why is it so hard to get rid of it? I don't use it. I don't want it. Not even sure what some of it is... Yet it is keeping me from living the life I want and deserve. I suffer from CHAOS... Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. The Fly Lady has an incredible web site with tons of ideas and helpful strategies to keep me on track. 

Day 1: A large trash bag from my back basement.

 I decided to extend this challenge to my office as well, so today I got 3 large piles of paper out and a section of my file cabinet thinned out. I feel lighter already!

Happy Wednesday and keep decluttering!

Bridget

40 Bags in 40 Days

Got junk? I do! and a lot of it! So I am so excited about this challenge... 40 Bags in 40 Days... Ann Marie over at White House Black Shutters posted this challenge and I am all in. 

Are you up for the challenge?? One area a day for 40 days. Sounds simple enough, not overwhelming. I have so much clutter that my family is drowning in it, this is an opportunity for us to take back our house and as Ann Marie says "decrapify" our life!

Are you in? Why not see where this could lead you? Join me on this adventure and together we can fill 40 pounds in 40 days.

Bridget 

Weekly Wishes

Although we know this to be true..... Every now and again we need a reminder.... If it is to be it is up to me!

Ok, let's get ready for a fantastic week..... No excuses.....

Thanks to fellow blogger Kailagh over at Love Always, Freckles  for blogging about Weekly Wishes

1. Plan my work...work my plan....
     Actually use my planner. A paper planner..... I use a medium spiral bound one by PlanAhead -I know there are fabulous apps out there and I have tried and use many of them but there is something about putting pen to paper that forces me to focus. I like this one because it is large enough to write in and small enough to throw in my purse.

2. 15 minutes of picking up at the end of each day.
       Setting the timer and putting things back where they belong.  I need to make this a priority and a habit. Simple changes that make the biggest impact. I look at this as part of my grit test, my opportunity to DO something toward my goal of an organized house.

3. Six things to do...
      Let's be honest..... I am not SuperWoman! My cape can only handle so much. By writing a list of the six things I need to do every night for the next day, I can focus in on what I need to get done and have the satisfaction of success! Anything not crossed off my list moves to the top of the list and are my first priority for the next day.

4. Lead by example....
     Actions speak louder than words....  Quiet confidence.

What are you going to do to make this a great week? Month? Year? Head over to Weekly Wishes and let the world know!

Have a wonderful week!

Bridget

One Little Word...

One little word.... (OLW) One word to guide you... to ground you... to inspire you... to focus you... What word would you chose? The dictionary is full of words (some I can't believe are in there) yet if you were to pick one to be your guide for this year what would it be?

All of my adult life the word Believe has been my beacon. I am an optimistic person. I see the glass as half full. I wear rose colored glasses and I like the view. Don't get me wrong, just like everyone else I have had my share of hardships and heartbreak, but I have always believed that the life I have dreamed about is going to happen. I believe that there will be a happily ever after for me. Whenever life throws me a curve ball, I do my best to deal with it and believe it will get better.

But, there is a problem with my strategy. I can close my eyes and recite the incantation, "I Believe!" till the cows come home but if I don't actually do something than my belief can only get me so far. So Believe is my overarching word and the word I have chosen to be my OWL is Grit!

Now you may asking yourself what kind of word is grit? The dictionary defines it as: courage and resolve, strength of character and fortitude. Perseverance has never been my strongest quality, I can't tell you how many projects I have started and never finished. I have dreams and I do believe they will happen, but this year I am going to concentrate on Grit. The fortitude to put some muscle behind my dreams.

I am not expecting miracles, nor am I expecting my life to instantly change. I have obstacles in my way, one being I have ADHD. I am not using it as an excuse, I am using it to help guide me. Keeping with something is a life-skill that I am not wired with. If I lose interest in a project, I can look at it and believe it will get done, but if I don't do something it won't happen. Enter Grit! I get overwhelmed easily and sometimes am unsure of what my next step is, so I don't make any.

My focus will be on grit. Keep with something a little bit longer than I have in the past. The resolve to do one more thing to get the job done. Not necessarily finish the project but be one step closer. One step closer to my dreams and the life I have imagined.

Maybe I still have my rose colored glasses on, but like I said.... I like the view!

Have a fabulous day !

Bridget

Bucket List

We all have heard the term and am sure if we took a few minutes and thought about it could come up with at least 10 things we have on our Bucket List. So as we say goodbye to 2013 and get ready for 2014, What is on your Bucket List?  What is on mine?? Well in no particular order here is my list that I would like to accomplish this year. Maybe by putting it out into the universe I will be more accountable and make sure that they happen.

Try Scallops

 Kiss someone special on New Year's Eve and have a fabulous 2014

 Be part of a flash mob!

 Stand in a city with a sign that says Free Hugs and see what the response is!

Send a letter to a random address and see if they write back....

 Visit Ground Zero

Learn how to play golf

It is going to be a great year !!!

Make it a marvelous day!

Bridget

Clutter

Who hasn't at one time or another in their life been victim of clutter?? Clutter will take over your life if you let it.... Don't let it !!!  I am trying to get better control over the clutter in my life and mind and came across this great article from Elephant Journal.

It is entitled Transform Your Mind the Clutter-free Way. by Kathrina Jane B. Tiangco. Wonderful suggestions and ideas to help you realize the price you are paying for having too much clutter.

Start where you are and don't be afraid to reclaim your life !

Have a marvelous day !

Bridget