When did you last make a major change in your home or office?

Having lived in our current home for 4 years this month, we finally solved a space problem by taking a somewhat radical step. It’s worked out GREAT!

Why didn’t we do it before? I think because the idea was too “out of the box”, at least our box.

In it’s briefest telling - what we did was shrink our living room and music room/dining room into one room, making the living room which had been seldom used into our bedroom and making our bedroom into my office. Voila! A) No more renting office space, B) We are relaxing more on the sofa in the living room because it is now central, and C) We love our new bedroom!

From our bed we can look out into the trees instead of at the house next door and the French doors to the porch make the bedroom feel quite luxurious whereas we hardly saw them when they were “living room” doors.

Why am I telling you all this?… Because, I want to encourage you to consider your current use of space. Is there a way to rearrange things to create a space you’ve been wanting? Whose rules are you following? And whose home is it anyway?

Do send news about any radical space changes you make! OKAY?

p.s. Questions? Ask away!

This is definitely a question that comes up often in my work.
A while back a sweet young Mom asked me HOW MUCH STUFF was the
right amount for her daughter.

At that time her daughter (I’ll call her Sara) was 4. Toys,craft
materials, and children’s books were taking over the kitchen and
living room as well as Sara’s bedroom and it was making the whole
family miserable. These young parents wanted to provide as much
opportunity as possible but knew that something wasn’t working.

We talked about it for a while and I finally asked,”How much can
she (Sara - not the Mom! ) manage well. What I meant was — what can SHE cope with/use and then put away so it isn’t all over the place and what does she REALLY love?”

The answer to that was simpler than either of us expected and working with that as our measuring stick we were able to figure out how much should be available for daily use, what should be tucked away, and what was way too much for any little girl (and her parents) to have to manage.

The question of manageability has continued to be one of the key concepts in helping folks make their spaces work for them.

***

Then last week a long time friend and I stayed at a lovely monastery for a
brief retreat. During lunch one of the monks asked what I do and we
were instantly into a discussion about clutter - yes, even monks!

Asked for my most important piece of advice, I said, ” If you are
doing what you want to do and clutter isn’t causing problems, then
don’t worry about it. After a few seconds I added, “and less is more.”

There are so MANY helpful strategies. I keep a running list of them to
share with you over time, but bottom line, you have my most crucial
advice right here:

1)If you are doing what you want to do and clutter isn’t causing
problems, then don’t worry about it
and

2)Ask yourself: How much (of _______ ) can I manage well?

Give it a try… and let me know what you discover.

Today MY office needs a professional organizer — I am seriously thinking of calling one of my colleagues and asking her to come help me - there are so many things that I REALLY want to be doing and my office has gotten out of hand. That is the reality.

But at this moment — I am going to write, surrounded by my chaos, because this seems a higher priority.
Below is part of an email sent out by http://political.moveon.org/ . I quote them here and hope that you can and will take the time to go to the youtube link and hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His speech could be given TODAY — just replace one word: “Vietnam”
*******
40 years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and this nation lost one of the greatest leaders for peace and justice that we have ever known.

All morning, the staff here at MoveOn have been sending each other his quotes and speeches - words that, decades later, still inspire new generations of folks to action.

We were so moved that we really wanted to share some of them with you, as a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy and a reminder that his words are as important today as they were 40 years ago.

* * *

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”

* * *

I was reminded of one strategy by a lovely woman visiting from New
York who stopped by our neighborhood yard sale last Fall. She and I
got to talking about clutter (imagine that!)and how space is at a
premium living in the city. She said she was pretty good at
keeping her small space livable. For the fun of it, I gave her a
copy of my Decluttering 101.

A few days later she emailed to tell me something she’d been doing
for quite a while with treasures that didn’t really fit in her life
any more. Photographs were her solution! She’d made a “Treasure
Album.” When she wanted to pass a treasure on BUT didn’t want to
forget it, she wrote a brief note, took a couple of photos and
could then appreciate that piece of her past without having to pay
for and/or search for it in storage.

There’s a similar solution for any sort of cloth item that is no longer
useable (t-shirts, sweatshirts, tablecloths, whatever) - a “Memory
Quilt.” Keep a small part of the cloth, perhaps a logo or a part of a
sleeve and sew the pieces into a quilt. However,if you are unlikely to
ever make a quilt, a photo could work here too.

It makes sense to me to figure out one way or another to actively see
and enjoy those things you consider treasures!

Here’s a proposal- send me a strategy that has worked well for you -
I’ll send you a complimentary copy of Decluttering 101. http://www.breathing-space.com/decluttering101.htm

Joanna

Happy New Year!

I’ve been wanting you to start off the New Year with a sense of comfort and possibility about the spaces you occupy.
There’ll be plenty of “what to do” organizing tips coming your way in 2008 … starting with the one I was about to send, but right now, as the New Year begins, take a long deep breath in/out …ahhhhhhhh - and then another, and one more. Yay!

Now, think about one space you wish was working better for you. If you can spare 15 minutes now to mull over the questions below - great. If not- make note of the space you want to think about when you have a tad more time.

Here are a few questions that will help as you consider your space.
Depending on your usual thought process and your current mood some will work better for you than others. See which one(s)speak to you!

* What is the purpose of this space? Has the purpose changed? And if so- does the physical lay out and the stuff in it still fit?

* How would I most like to use the space? Can I make a shift in that direction?

*What do I really NOT like in this space?

*What do I NEED to have in the space?

*Is there something I would like to feature? A piece of art or a plant or something else?

*If I had a magic wand how would the space feel and look?

Answers to any of these questions will help you envision changes in your surroundings that will give you a boost as the year unfolds.

As always, I’d love to hear — either by email, phone, or, comment here on what you discover, and what happens after that.

Dear Reader,

There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot as 190 countries gather in Bali for the UN Conference on Climate Change, re-gifting and making it a GREAT thing to do for your loved ones AND the planet.

I’ve just finished reading a wonderful book - THREE CUPS OF TEA, about Greg Mortensen, an American high peak climber who turned his efforts to building schools in Pakistan… building peace, one school at a time. A client had read it, didn’t plan to read it again, and enthusiastically passed it on to me.

It turns out that this book is on my mother-in-law’s AAUW book group reading list for 2008 and I drew her name for Christmas. I KNOW that in the “old days” giving her this well read copy might have been considered cheapskate - a lesser present than a brand new copy. BUT I propose rethinking this viewpoint. WHY is a brand new copy better?

I’ve now taken more time to look at http: http://www.storyofstuff.com . In my opinion it gets better with multiple viewings. The animation includes these statistics:The US has 5% of the world’s population but uses 30% of the world’s resources and produces 30% of the world’s waste. The video is worth watching as it gives easy to comprehend information about HOW we got here and what we can do. Perhaps watch it with your family and friends.

But in the meantime, how GREEN can you be this holiday? What in your space HAVE you cherished but no longer really see or use? Who in your life would love it? In what ways can you express your love by regifting or giving a gift of service or shared time instead of stuff?

Wishing you GREEN and loving holidays! Joanna

A friend just sent me the link to this “Story of Stuff” ! It isn’t how I usually communicate but it certainly is valid and I
wanted to make it available to you.

A 20-minute, fact-filled look at our production and consumption patterns with some solutions offered at the end. Worth a watch before going “holiday shopping .”

All the stuff in our lives, from its extraction through sale, use and disposal, affects the environment and communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The “Story of Stuff “ looks at the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Have a wonderful and stuff-free holiday!

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

–

As the world of shopping swirls around you in the weeks ahead take
a moment out, take a deep breath, and think back to one gift you
received. One which, when remembered, still warms your heart or
makes you smile. Remember what it was?

When you are looking at the ads - and thinking about the frenzy of
rushing around to buy things. Pause. For sure the ads want us to go
for bigger, better and more.

But what do you remember loving? Maybe talk about this with folks
over dinner -or tea or while going somewhere in the car. What do
your friends or family members recall?

My friend Max says that guys remember food gifts and that Moms
love framed photographs. True for you? My husband likes an
“AT YOUR SERVICE DAY”coupon which he can cash in any time in the
year. I love cut flowers always … and when they are done they go
into the compost to feed more flowers.

My perspective may well be a bit skewed as I spend so much time
helping people get rid of stuff that doesn’t bring them joy. But
that’s who I am. How bout you?
Wishing you a wonderful and peaceful December…

I’ve been thinking that for most of us, the weeks ahead only get
busier. So here’s my proposal

THIS WEEK - Take time with friends and family to chat together
about their and your true priorities. Try discussing which of your
traditions are the most meaningful to you; which activities give
you the most joy. Think about what would you like to do
more of or less of THIS year.

What do you really want to share together in December 2007?

Let it be an experiment… Your decisions can be for just this one
year. Try something different. See how it feels.

Let us know what happens!

With all best wishes, Joanna

p.s. I’ve decided to try posting my tips on my Breathing Space blog as
well as sending them directly to subscribers. That way you can easily share your commments and questions and get ideas from fellow declutterers. Of course you are always welcome to contact me directly.

If you would prefer to receive tips directly in your inbox feel free to subscribe at http://www.breathing-space.com/

I am writing at the moment about SURVIVORS- yes the show. For me this IS a question that relates to the world of stuff and balance and sanity. Thought I would post it here - after a long time of not writing. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions…

This is my question.

In the midst of a master mind session the other day I got on the topic of REAL struggles and how it’s a long time wish of mine that the SURVIVORS show would give their teams challenges which if solved would make a difference in the world!

It drives me crazy (when I put my attention there) that all that money and energy are not channelled to solve something like some problem in Bangladesh or Sudan or where-ever. What if the teams were given real world problems — to solve. The same million dollar reward for the winner but at least a struggle that NEEDS to be resolved.

Decided to see if any of you have connections which would help my idea along. - as in - who do you know who knows someone who knows someone who might catch hold of the idea.

???