1/18/2022 0 Comments When holiday gifts miss the markAdmit it: We’ve all received a gift that completely missed the mark, maybe from someone we barely know or a close friend or family member. Either way, you are probably facing the dilemma of just what to do with that unintentionally ugly sweater or set of crafting supplies you’ll never use. Those are experiences yanked right out of my Christmases past. And they were all thoughtful but the gift simply did not bring me joy. What do you do?
Marie Kondo, author of the groundbreaking “The Life-Changing Joy of Tidying Up,” encounters this frequently with her clients, and I do too. It’s hard to deal with the guilt of just thinking of discarding it or what to do if the giver asks you how you’re enjoying the present. Here’s the way to address that unwanted gift. First, open it immediately and remove it from the packaging. Then, whenever possible, start using the item. You might find that you get some amount of joy from using that new-fangled garlic press. But, if after using it you find it still doesn’t bring joy, then thank it and bid it farewell with gratitude. It is acceptable to re-gift the item or donate it to an agency or person who might find it a better home. It’s important to remember that a gift is a means to convey feelings to one another. It’s not the item that is the most significant, it is the relationship you have with the person who gave it to you. So, don’t use or wear the gift out of sense of obligation or never use it and resent the space it takes up in your drawer or the guilt you feel every time you see the unused item. Give yourself permission to separate your feelings for the giver from the actual gift. When you do that, then you can genuinely be thankful for the gesture and add it to your decluttering pile. Do you get hung up when it’s an expensive gift or one personally made for you? These are just different forms of guilt. By all means, treat the item with respect when you find a new home for it. And do it right away. Don’t let the gift take up space in your mind or your home any longer. “But wait!,” you say. “What if the person asks about where the gift is or if I’m using it?” If asked, focus on the thoughtfulness and joy of the feelings and relationship, not the item. And, don’t fret – most people don’t ask and some can barely recall what the item was that they gave to you. In the end, as Kondo, the organizing maven says, “The true purpose of a present is to be received.” Consider this your lesson in becoming a thankful recipient by focusing on the joy of the relationship, not the item. It’s okay to let go of the stuff.
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5/26/2020 2 Comments The Secret to a Great MorningThere’s nothing quite like getting my morning off on the right foot! Coffee’s made, the sun’s shining, and everything I need is where it should be. When I’m rushed and forget something, it’s hard to get back on track. My secret to a smooth morning is what I call the Evening 20-20-20, and when it gets done, the whole household runs like clockwork (well, most of the time!). Try this trick for one week, and you’ll be a believer!
The 20-20-20 refers to three 20-minute increments of time. They don’t have to be consecutive, but it works easiest for me if they are in a row. Here’s what we do during those 20 minute segments: 20 minutes – Put away 20 minutes – Prepare for the morning 20 minutes – Peaceful time It sounds really simple, and it is! We’ve been sheltering at home about 10 weeks now. At this point, Working From Home (WFH) is getting messy and it’s beginning to stress me out a bit. Especially when there are papers on the dining room table. Others tell me that they’re at about that point as well because this WFH mode is going on much longer than anticipated. And for many, they also have to play the role of Teacher, too. (Bless you all, teachers and parents!)
When working from home, “maintaining a clear division between your work and your home life will make it easier to show up fully for both,” according to Marie Kondo, the tidying maven. Here are 4 quick tips from Kondo to help you bring a little more order to your space – without committing to a long or comprehensive tidying adventure.
If you try all four steps, you, too, will feel like you can make time! Allow me to explain:
living under one roof with every activity in our lives, to figure out what is really important. I’ve gotten a lot of clarity around what baking tools I really need and what clothes really don’t cut the comfort test to spark joy.
4/20/2020 1 Comment Small Steps for a Big ImpactSpring is a time of new beginnings on large and small scales; one change in your routine can shift your outlook in life-changing ways. I’ve now experienced how one little thing – a microscopic virus – has changed my entire life as I knew it. Changes like these are unsettling, because we don’t have a choice: we never intended to make these changes. You can counter that with something positive in your control: a small, intentional step can be life-changing!
I have learned just how little I really need to have in my day-to-day life, and I have a new appreciation for those things I have. By counting our blessings, we make a conscious choice to be optimistic, to have hope. And while hope is intangible, it is vital to our life during this pandemic. Sometimes, though, that abstract, intellectual exercise just doesn’t connect me to the feeling of hope. I need more tangible ways to really connect that feeling to my daily routine. 4/6/2020 0 Comments 3 More Ways to Stay Motivated.My days were starting to run together last week, and I found I wasn’t even sure if the weekend had arrived. For a highly driven worker bee like me, I need milestones, completed tasks, and some external connections to keep my feet on the ground. Last week I gave you 2 strategies to keep you going, and this week I’m sharing 3 more that really help me.
Here are this week’s self-care strategies: I’m an introvert but even that hasn’t kept me from feeling a bit untethered by the “safer at home” order in my county. I’m used to working from home, but last week I started to lose my sense of accomplishment and direction, with all of my time suddenly unstructured. I’ve got a million things I “should” be doing, but I felt like I wasn’t getting anything done.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the many demands of spending all your time at home – whether you’re alone or with your whole family – I have 2 ways to help relieve your stress and make the most of this time of isolation:
Let me explain how these strategies work. 3/16/2020 1 Comment Hunkered Down? Tidy Up! 6 Steps to KonMari Your Closet when You're Cut Off from the World
If you want a neat and tidy home, don't start by organizing. Organizing is important, but don’t start there if you want lasting results. Use the systematic approach of the KonMari Method™ of tidying. Take the time to think through your strategy with Marie Kondo’s Six Basic Rules of Tidying.
First, make a commitment to tidying up, decluttering, and organizing. It will take time to declutter and you need to be honest about how much time you can regularly devote to the hard work of tidying. Can you devote 4 hours a week? Set yourself up for success by committing to the work. |
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The Reluctant Enthusiast LLC, doing business as Designed 2 Stick, is owned and operated by Mrg Simon, Glen Rose, TX. All images and content are copyrighted, and the property of Mrg Simon and The Reluctant Enthusiast LLC, unless otherwise stated. All header/banner photos are courtesy of Unsplash. The Reluctant Enthusiast claims no right in the registered marks of third parties, including KMI Media and Marie Kondo.. Mrg Simon and The Reluctant Enthusiast LLC are not acting or speaking on behalf of Marie Kondo, KonMari Media Inc., nor are they authorized to do so.
*Designed 2 Stick and Mrg Simon do not offer legal services. Mrs. Simon does not accept legal clients or provide legal advice.
The Reluctant Enthusiast LLC, doing business as Designed 2 Stick, is owned and operated by Mrg Simon, Glen Rose, TX. All images and content are copyrighted, and the property of Mrg Simon and The Reluctant Enthusiast LLC, unless otherwise stated. All header/banner photos are courtesy of Unsplash. The Reluctant Enthusiast claims no right in the registered marks of third parties, including KMI Media and Marie Kondo.. Mrg Simon and The Reluctant Enthusiast LLC are not acting or speaking on behalf of Marie Kondo, KonMari Media Inc., nor are they authorized to do so.
*Designed 2 Stick and Mrg Simon do not offer legal services. Mrs. Simon does not accept legal clients or provide legal advice.