Pearl of Wisdom No.82 - Digital Detoxing

I'm sure you've read, seen or heard about how smart phones, tablets and even too much TV is turning humanity into unsocial techno zombies who can't live with out there devices by their side right? Did you ever consider that it could also be influencing how you identified yourself with the world and the affect that has on your well being and self esteem ?

5 Feel Good Things to Brighten your Day!

It seems November is shaping up to be quite dreary and although the festivities of Christmas are on the horizon there is still another week or so to get through of this month so here are 5 ways that you can instantly feel good about your day...

1. Switch off the TV and run yourself a steamy bubble bath using your favourite bubbles and soak, maybe take a glass of wine and a book/magazine to accompany you?

2. Wear your most expensive, sexy underwear! Doesn't matter where you are going, having some thing that makes you feel good against your skin will give you a boost, whether it's windy, rainy or just chilly!

3. Phone a friend or your mum or anyone who makes you smile, even if its just to talk about nothing, having the chance to talk your cares away always help to unload the stress on your shoulders after a long day!

4. Get moving, whether this is chasing around a toddler, taking the stairs instead of the lift, doing a work out DVD or walking the dog. Managing even 10-15 mins of exercise can do wonders in boosting your mood and making you feel great, dancing round the kitchen in you underwear while making your morning coffee definitely counts too!

5. Have a Christmas movie night in preparation of the up coming season to be jolly! Maybe treat yourself to some chocolates, snuggle under a blanket on the sofa and just relax and get excited about Santa coming! What's your favourite Christmas movie?

Do you have a plan?

I never used to, the OH and I always clash because he is Mr Organised with lists, maps and emergency plans B,C and D! I have always been officially known as Miss fly by the seat of her pants, causally wandering through every chore, task and event in life with a "oh well, it'll get figured out" attitude! But recently I have been looking around and wondering, why aren't I satisfied, why can't I mange to stay on top, get things done, really achieve what I want?

The OH describes me and my way of getting through my day as random! Normally I would just ignore his silly musings but this one struck a chord and left me wondering why this was and what could I do about it? So after admitting that he had a point and wanting to get more out of not just my day, but what I was trying to achieve generally with my life I started look in to this problem and do you know what I found? Successful people who achieve and are satisfied with their lot in life are organised, they actually plan!

So with this in mind I have set about doing something different with my daily "routine" and made a positive change. Now this is no easy task, as adults we have all this learnt behavior and changing our attitudes and habits is tough, it takes energy and commitment and being open minded enough to admit that what you are doing can be done differently and better. But looking at what I wanted to achieve and what my goals for the future are, what I was doing just didn't work.

Over the last couple of weeks or so I have read a few things have helped me a long the way - an article about a busy and dynamic woman who runs her own business and has children, she makes lists, creates spreadsheets and organises her tasks all to keep her home and family life running smoothly. I have also read about other women carrying around notebooks in their bags to write down ideas and things they want to get accomplished, so simple! I used to work for a busy doctor who had shifts all over the place but her family always had a great home cooked meal because very week she planned out a menu, stuck it on the fridge, bought everything she needed in one go! Again so simple and easy!

I for one can get easily distracted and some times wonder from my well intentioned planning or to do list (see being random!) I recently read a blog page about achieving your goals which suggests that instead focusing on the long term goal, get stuck in on how you will get there, for example every week I want to empty my ironing basket, yes I am one of those stupid people who likes to iron clothes, but sometimes I look at the pile and can't be bothered or I get up and think right I'll get it all done today, but things get busy and I can't find the time. So instead I now pledge to myself that I will just make sure LC's stuff gets done or I will find just half an hour and that way something gets done!

My friend gave me a good idea too, she always changes her sheets and shaves her legs on a Sunday, it's now become a habit of mine too, it always gets done! I find dedicating certain time slots really works too, for example Wednesdays I am home alone so I always use that day to recycle, do paper work and clear out the clutter! There are loads of other new ideas I have adopted and I really am committing to forming some new habits because planning, making lists and staying organised is really working out for me, even just by making small changes I feel more in control and that makes me feel great, in fact I am even making a packing list for our holiday, see I am a changed woman!

I use a Chalk Board to keep me organized!

Here are some handy tools and resources to help you on your way to organised greatness!

Fun and cute To Do note pads
http://www.thepresentseason.co.uk/to-do-notes-notepad---with-2-tear-off-pads-1151-p.asp
http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/product/Liberty/NOTEPADS/To-Do-List-Notepad/69188
http://www.johnlewis.com/231541512/Product.aspx

Downloadable and print off To Do lists
http://www.printabletodolist.com
http://www.mommytracked.com/downloads

To Do/Get Organized Apps
http://www.toodledo.com
http://evernote.com (My personal Favorite!)

Feel good, live better.....

I'm always happier when I feel motivated and I'm doing positive things in my life, whether that's painting my toe nails or studying for my degree, taking care of my needs and being true to myself helps me to feel like I am living the best life I can.

So a few weeks ago I decided to do a bit of de-cluttering, my mind was feeling messy and unfocused and I didn't feel like I could really relax and focus at home when I needed to get things done. I looked around and realised that our house had become a bit over run with odds and ends we weren't really using and was zapping all my energies and the OH's as well!

So it was time to take action, we have been in our new house for almost 2 years but never really sorted anything when we moved as LC was only 10 weeks old (never, ever move with a new baby if you can help it!), we were still getting to grips with being parents and my PND was rearing its head a bit, after I had dealt with that I was really starting to enjoy motherhood and couldn't be bothered to sort the house when I could have fun with my baby, soon I was returning to work and when I did I became a working mum and things just got away from me.

Anyway, now I work from home and have so much more time on my hand, LC is much older and can help out a bit too, she loves to pack anything in to bags or containers so it's nice to include her and making it something fun we can do together! So where to start??? Well as the Autumn/Winter season approaches and I'm thinking about my wardrobe (seeing as we haven't seen any flipping sun this summer and my summer clothes are hanging up lonely and rejected in my wardrobe) and dreaming of my new must haves, I decided to make some room as really it's just bulging with unworn and out dated items and so was OH's and LC's.

Operation Clear Out the Closets was born and I went through each of the, although cleansing OH's was harder as he is very sentimental about his clothes??!! So I started with mine and this is how I did it.

1. Pulled out everything I hadn't worn in the last year and decided, honestly if I would ever wear it again, this was hard, kept a few items that were real favourites but most of it went. If I don't love it now I don't think I would again!

2. Then we had a fashion show and I tried on everything to see what was fitting now, thankfully there were only few items that were from my single days left over which I knew I would never, ever get into again!

3. Next I sorted out everything that I used as maternity clothing and really shouldn't be wearing now and stored it away with the rest of my maternity clothes.

4. Now I was left with my capsule wardrobe of clothing I knew I loved wearing and that fitted me, I sorted it in to skirts, trousers, dresses and tops sections and in each section grouped all the colours together as that is what works best for me.

5. Finally I put all my unwanted items into carrier bags and then called my local women's refuge, I had also sorted through LC's closet and had some bits of hers that weren't need any more too and so was able to donate it all to other women and children who may make good use of our unwanted clothing. With OH bits I donated them to the local night shelter.

Now we all have clutter free wardrobes and I can see more easily what needs to be add for the next season, we have a family holiday to Canada coming up in October and we always buy lots of clothes when we go there! Doing this has really helped me to start feeling more focused, even just one area of the house being organised and tidy has made a difference and motivated me to start somewhere else, infancy I have already cleared out a few odds and ends from the kitchen which also went off to the refuge too!

Just some of our junk ready to go to a new home!