more tax tips

Why do we hate income tax season so much?

I was visiting my hometown on the weekend, and it just so happened that a friend of mine has also been working on her income tax. She moaned about how much she disliked it, so I pumped her with questions, trying to figure out why. Since she's self-employed like I am, I figured she might also have strategies I wasn't aware of.

I discovered that she's already pretty organized: She files her receipts regularly, and keeps them in an order that makes submitting everything to her accountant pretty straightforward. After some probing I realized that what she hates is the amount of time it takes to find, sort, and itemize everything. What's surprising is that she's already doing everything possible to keep the information she needs sorted and in one place.

She uses a well-labeled accordion file for her receipts, and each year she simply has to itemize them. Sometimes she (or her husband) periodically itemizes things during the year, so it's not so much of a chore at tax time.

(Yet she still hates it.)

I love her idea of using the accordion file, and I think I'm going to try it myself this coming year. The system she uses is portable, but you can also find expanding files that will fit in your filing cabinet drawer. Check out staples.ca for details.

Her labels are alphabetical - an older version of the Statement of Business Activities list I mentioned in my previous post. She got it from a past copy of Personal Tax Planning, which is published by the Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario. (It's also available online.) Needless to say, this will only help you if you file income tax in Ontario.

It's a good idea to read through publications like this every now and then - my friend told me she discovered an eligible deduction this year that's going to save her a bit more money.

I don't recommend you do what I do, which is file your own return without an accountant's input. I like the control and challenge of doing it myself, but I may be costing myself money in unclaimed deductions. Get a professional's opinion!

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

it's tax time

For too many weeks now, I've been putting off the inevitable. I need to start working on my 2006 income tax return.

(Yes, even organizers can procrastinate - although you will notice it's still only the middle of March. Some procrastination, eh?)

For me (and others who are self-employed), the biggest chore is keeping track of my expenses. I have no trouble saving receipts - everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) gets cleaned out of my wallet every day or two, and stashed in a file in one of my filing cabinets. If the purchases on individual receipts are not clearly itemized, I try to make notes directly on the receipts before I put things away, so that I'll remember the purchases later.

Periodically (ideally once a month, when I reconcile my bank statements), I weed through the receipts and pull out anything that pertains to my businesses. I then sort them by category, intentionally mirroring Revenue Canada's Statement of Business Activities. This makes it easier to fill out the form at tax time.

As I mentioned above, I put everything in a file in a filing cabinet. I know people who have also had a lot of success with a memo spike (see the image at the beginning of this post) - it keeps the receipts in reverse chronological order, and prevents them from slipping and sliding around.

And don't laugh, but the proverbial shoe box is also a great alternative, especially if you have a lot of receipts that would take up too much room in a file. There are plenty of organizing boxes on the market - pretty photo or video storage boxes, or various plastic boxes with lids. You might even want to keep two boxes: one for receipts as you get them, and another for receipts that have already been itemized.

At tax time, I double-check each receipt against its expense list (I keep a separate spreadsheet for each category), and then tabulate them all in another spreadsheet I've created that's laid out exactly like the Statement of Business Activities.

Am I too organized for my own good, or what?

So why do I procrastinate? It's still a chore. And sometimes life intervenes, and I don't get the spreadsheets completed every month. That means inputting several months' receipts all at once, which can take a couple of hours.

(And then yesterday night the mouse on my old computer, where I keep all my financial records, froze. I'm starting to input everything into the new computer - which is another several hours' work.

Need I say more?)

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

more home-staging tips

I was talking to my sister on the phone last night, and she reminded me of some more home-staging tips I want to share.

In your kitchen, clear everything - magnets, photos, memos, kids' art - off the refrigerator. My sister did this on her own without being told, and even she (who loves a fridge covered with her family's stuff) admits the fridge looks better without all the clutter.

Clean off the top of the fridge while you're at it; you'll improve its efficiency (by allowing air to flow around the top and back of it) at the same time.

This next tip is something my sister heard about years ago: When you're showing your house, always keep a couple of large, empty Rubbermaid-type bins handy. Just before a showing, do a quick sweep of the entire house, putting all stray items into the bins. Then close the lids and stash them someplace inconspicuous.

After the showing you can return everything to its rightful place. Keep the bins empty until the next time you need them.

Be aware of your house's smell. Ask a good friend or family member about it if you're not sure what your home really smells like. If you have pets (especially dogs), make sure you take care of any strong odours. You might be inclined to bring out a bunch of artificial air fresheners, but be considerate of those who have chemical sensitivities. Better to stick a tray of Pillsbury Ready To Bake! cookies in the oven half an hour before a scheduled showing. Nothing says "home" like the aroma of fresh baked goods.

Don't be afraid to repaint your rooms and replace worn or outdated elements such as flooring. I once cleaned for a family who were trying to sell their house. The walls were painted with a sponge finish in a very dated peach colour, and the floor in their eat-in kitchen was a dingy and scruffy brown vinyl from the 70s.

The house was on the market for months without any serious offers until they repainted everything in a soft, clean white, and replaced the vinyl flooring with a neutral, contemporary pattern. After they de-cluttered, and addressed a strong dog odour in the house, the home looked immaculate and sold quickly.

Ask your realtor for advice about tweaking your home. He or she should know what to do to improve a home's value and selling price. Realtors can also refer you to established home stagers if you require more in-depth assistance.

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

introduction to home staging

My sister and her husband are building a new house, and they'll soon be putting their current home on the market.

I want to help her out (being a good sister and a professional organizer and all), so I recently sent her a home-staging checklist.

If you're unfamiliar with home staging, it's a marketing strategy created by American real estate agent Barb Schwarz in the 1970s. Schwarz was tired of selling cluttered, unkempt houses for less than top dollar, so she convinced her sellers to invest time and energy (and occasionally money) in presenting their products - their homes - in the best possible light.

Here's a definition from Wikipedia:

Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence prior to its going up for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it welcoming, appealing, and attractive to the largest generic audience of potential homebuyers. Staging often raises the value of a property by way of repairs, re-decorating, renovations, and landscaping. For vacant homes, rental furniture will accent very nicely. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws.

Home staging involves seeing your house through the eyes of the buyer. Schwarz emphasizes that once you put the home on the market, it is not really yours anymore. You are trying to convince potential buyers that it is their home.

If you are interested in the subject of home staging, check out Schwarz's book, Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House For More Money.

Here's the checklist I sent to my sister:

1. This may sound like a no-brainer, but make sure the house is clean. And not just a quick vacuuming - make sure there are no marks/smudges on the walls, doors, and door frames; address any stains on carpets or furniture, and make sure that everything is in good repair (i.e. replace burnt-out light bulbs, patch walls, etc.).
   
2. De-cluttering is the big thing. Reduce knick-knacks everywhere to a minimum. A few well-placed things are much better than a jumble. Pack and store everything else.
   
3. In the kitchen, make sure the counters are as clear as possible. Put away any appliances you normally keep on the counter (toaster, coffee maker). Clean out all the cupboards (including pantry), and keep only the necessities. This is the place to start packing; people will look through cupboards and closets to see how much room there is, and you want things to look spacious. Make the buyer believe that there is more storage space than anyone could ever need.
   
4. In the laundry area, keep the machines clear and clean, and have only the bare minimum of detergents/fabric softeners on the shelves. Everything else should be out of there.
   
5. In the bathrooms, keep the counters absolutely clear (as in the kitchen). A soap dispenser and a towel or two are okay, but everything else should be out of sight (even in the kids' bathroom - and BTW, hide the bath toys, and keep the shampoo to one or two bottles, max). If there are things in the cupboards that you don't often use, pack them up and store them elsewhere.
   
6. In the family room, make sure the kids' toys are out of sight, and don't clutter the mantel.
   
7. In the living room, be careful about cluttering the tables with knick-knacks, candles or photographs. In fact, put away all family photographs (everywhere in the house) that aren't hung on the walls. It's important that people viewing the house be able to imagine themselves in the space, and family photos detract from this.
   
8. Purge the front hall closet and/or mud room. Keep only the coats and shoes or boots that you are using right now. You could have a basket or two on shelves for hats, gloves, and scarves, but that's it.
   
9. The dining room will probably be one of your nightmares (only because I know you depend on it to hide all the overflow). Clear it out, leaving only the table, chairs, and hutch. Clear off the top of the hutch, leave only a few items (like a candle or two). Make sure that the things behind glass doors are neatly arranged. Pack up anything else that's clutter inside the hutch.
   
10. I don't know what to suggest about the basement, but basically have it as tidy and as clear as possible. If it's unfinished you can't hide that fact, but you can make it look warm and appealing.
    
11. In the kids' rooms, empty their closets of any clothes they're not wearing right now, and then use the extra space to put their toys neatly. In the rooms themselves, there should be NO clutter (especially on the dressers and floor). This may be tough for the kids, but tell them it's only temporary.
    
12. In your room, try to purge your closet, or at least pack up a lot of your stuff and store it elsewhere. Again, people will be looking in the closets, and you want to give the impression of abundant space. If you can, have all the hangers the same, or grouped by type. And hang your clothes neatly, by type or by colour (so that they look appealing). In the room itself, get rid of all knick-knacks and photos. Have only a few well-chosen things on the dressers and bedside tables. If you can find inexpensive, bright/pretty throw cushions to match the bedding, do it.
    
13. It might get costly if your house is on the market very long, but try to have fresh flowers strategically placed in the family room, kitchen, and master bedroom.

The big thing is, the place shouldn't look like your home anymore. And that will be tough, because you still have to live there until it sells. But pretend it's a really beautiful holiday rental - everything impersonal, clean, and simple. You want buyers to forget that anyone else has ever owned this house.

I visited my sister this past weekend, and she did pretty well. Her house is usually uncluttered, so it wasn't a nightmare to purge; the weakest areas are the children's rooms and the basement, where there are still too many toys scattered everywhere. And she still has too many family photos on the dressers in her bedroom. Her walk-in master bedroom closet also needs tweaking.

They're calling a realtor this morning. May they sell well!

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

the difficult stuff

I don't have to tell you that organizing gets difficult, sometimes. (Maybe all the time?)

When you're in the middle of a righteous mess, and you don't know where to start or what to do next, it can be a challenge to stick with it and not give up.

What sees us through the rough patches?

Having a larger vision for your life can help, which is why I've been spending so much time on the subject of clarifying passions and dreams.

When we know what we value and want for our lives, we can make better choices about what we do with our time - choices that hopefully align with the aforementioned dreams and passions.

Even master organizers can get bogged down in the middle of a sort. It's hardest for me when I'm dealing with my own stuff. I remember my move last fall; after two or three days of unpacking I was ready to call it quits - and I was still only half done!

If you want to begin an organizing project, keep it simple. Don't imagine that you can fix your entire life in one headlong, all-out blitz of a weekend. Those TV organizing shows are great, but they're not an accurate representation of real life. Very few of us can afford to hire the legions of helpers needed to successfully complete such a huge project so quickly.

Think instead of one area that - if it was organized - would make a big impact on your emotional well-being. This is very personal - it will be different for every individual. Some organizers suggest that you begin organizing the core or hub of your house and work outwards, but maybe for you it's more important to have a restful haven where you can renew yourself at the end of the day - in which case, it might make more sense to start with your bedroom.

What isn't working in your life? Where do things begin to fall apart? If you want a serene bedroom retreat, and instead find yourself constantly surrounded by the clutter of your clothes - scattered on the floor, piled on every surface, spilling out of the closet - try to identify the real problem.

Do you have too many clothes for your space? Maybe you just don't like to put things away. Maybe you hate laundry and can't follow through with all the steps involved (picking up your clothes, taking them to the laundry area, washing and drying the clothes, folding them, bringing them back to your room, putting them away). Maybe you feel you don't have enough time to take care of household tasks. Maybe you can't afford to hire somebody else to clean your bedroom for you.

What is the real reason? Maybe you resent the amount of work you have to do, and a messy bedroom is your way of rebelling. Maybe you're a shopaholic. Maybe you can't let go of gifts, clothes that no longer fit you, or clothes that are out of style. Maybe it comforts you to have a full-to-bursting closet.

Maybe you don't need to organize your bedroom after all. But wait - you said you wanted a serene space to unwind at the end of the day!

Which is more important: Your reason for having clutter, or your desire to have clear space?

(It's okay to decide on the former, by the way. We don't have to organize everything. I want to write a separate post about this soon: Knowing when to organize, and when to leave it be.)

Let's say you want the serene bedroom more than the clutter. Once you've figured out why you have the clutter, you can address the root of the problem and make changes.

If you have too many clothes for your space, get rid of the ones you no longer wear. You'd be amazed at how little of your wardrobe you actually use on a regular basis. Without all the excess, you might find you have plenty of room for everything, and when you have a dedicated place for each item, you'll enjoy putting things where they belong.

If you don't like doing laundry, find a way to get somebody else to do it, or figure out how to make the job more appealing.

If you're being passive-aggressive about the cleaning, or realize you're a shopaholic, invest some time and energy into healing your issues. (You may want to seek out counselling, too.)

If you feel obligated to keep things that other people give you, or you just don't have the heart to let go of clothing mementos (your wedding dress; the suit you wore on your first date) or clothing dreams (those size six pants that you want to wear again someday; that great party frock that would look amazing on the red carpet - except you never go out) take a reality check.

Keeping a few key mementos (provided you have the space) is one thing; hanging onto everything is self-defeating. Clutter is stagnant energy, and many people find they get "stuck" in all parts of their lives when they can't let go of things and allow the natural flow of energy.

When you finally decide to act, set a realistic pace. I never recommend working more than two or three hours at a time on any organizing project. Even an hour once a week is fine. Resolve to get rid of ten items of clothing. Bag it up and get it out of the house. Repeat until you're done.

And get help - from family, friends, professionals - if you need it.

Finally, reward yourself for everything you do that brings you closer to your dreams. This step is important. We're more likely to enjoy - and keep doing - activities that are positively reinforced. It doesn't have to be a big thing.

Just show yourself that you care...

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

the power of dreams

Sometimes we get stuck in self-defeating ruts where we can't see that something different is possible for our lives.

My boyfriend made a comment to me last night that blew me away. He said, "Just think, if you hadn't met me, you would still be cleaning houses in London."

The power of dreams: They can change everything.

I was happy in London. I had a satisfying business, and I loved my clients dearly. They were (and are - I still write them regularly to let them know how I'm doing) like family to me. But I was struggling with the physical side-effects of a labour-intensive job; I had almost constant back pain and knee pain, and repetitive strain injuries in my wrists and hands.

If you had told me a year ago that I would find a new boyfriend, move to a new city, start the Alexander Technique training program (www.alexandertechnique.ca), heal my body, and begin rewarding new businesses as a professional organizer and freelance writer, I would have laughed at you. I didn't know my own strengths and resourcefulness. Just think what might have (not) happened if I hadn't dared to dream!

I get many daily inspirational e-mails in my inbox, and a few days ago I received a gem from Debra Lynn Dadd:

Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way.

~ Eileen Caddy

Life is too short to be anything other than your best self. Get started on it today...

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

remember to play

I've been working too hard lately - writing proposals for new business, tending to all my volunteer commitments - and when I fall into bed at night, I'm exhausted.

(Oh, wait - I'm also fasting. No wonder I'm so tired!)

I love what I do (organize, write, and study the Alexander Technique), but sometimes I forget to take a breather and really play.

Tonight I was busy at the sewing machine, making some dress-up clothes for my niece for her fifth birthday. She's a princess, and she loves to dance around in the things I create. I can't wait to give her these gifts: two capes sewn from silky lining material, and a wedding veil I made from some old tulle I had lying around.

Sewing is not really playing for me - I have a Home Economics degree, and sitting at the machine feels like more work - but my imagination is delighted by the colours and textures of the fabric. As I picked through my stash tonight looking for something to give Meghan, I felt like a kid again. I, too, loved to play dress-up as a child; wrapping myself in luxurious fabrics, I was a fairytale heroine.

These days when I want to play, I colour - like a kid - with crayons. Among the million other things I do, I'm also a trained artist, but - as with sewing - trying too hard to make "art" feels like too much work. So I give myself license to be entirely free with the crayons, and I'm often amazed at what I make when I'm not really trying to do anything.

Don't forget to play. When you're organizing your life, make room for your own grown-up equivalent of dress-up clothes and crayons. And then lose yourself in the playing...

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

know thyself

I'm still fasting. This may be the longest 19 days of my life.

One of the silver linings, however, is that I am continually forced to face my own habits. I can't run from what I am feeling in the moment.

I never realized how much I used food and drink as an anesthetic. Whenever I am feeling uncomfortable, the first thing I want to do is put something in my mouth. Now that I can't put something in my mouth, I truly have to deal with my discomfort.

(And I am - kind of. I've also found a new anesthetic: sleep. Naps are good. I'm having no difficulty rationalizing them, either, because I need lots of sleep now that I'm weak from not eating during daylight hours, right?)

Many of my posts over the last month have dealt with recognizing our dreams and visions for ourselves. Once we know what moves and inspires us, we can begin to think about taking action to create more fulfilling lives.

It's also important to know yourself. Know your habits. Know what makes you tick, know how you habitually react, know your common defenses, know how you sabotage yourself. If you don't know, you can't change.

Many spiritual disciplines (especially eastern ones) speak of developing your ability to witness your own life. That's what meditation is for, at its core: becoming aware of what is. Other disciplines (I'm thinking specifically of the Toltec path, www.miguelruiz.com) encourage us to become hunters or trackers of our own minds. If you're tracking an animal, you need to have intimate knowledge of the animal's habits. In a similar fashion, it can be valuable to know your own habits.

Try tracking your energy cycles. When do you have the most energy? When do you have the least?

I know that I have a lot of energy in the morning. I seem to wake up more easily than many people, and I enjoy being awake very early (five a.m.) in the day. If I do physical work at this time, I feel well-coordinated and enjoy what I'm doing. If I sit down and do mental work I have energy for a while, but it starts to taper off by mid-morning (10 a.m.).

Noon is my absolute slump time. If I stop moving, I fall asleep. When I had my own cleaning business, I would park my car somewhere safe (preferably near some green space, like a park) and have a catnap during my lunch break. I always woke up feeling refreshed.

These days I save any activities that need a sharp mind for late afternoon or early evening. This is when I love to write, and I can often work for hours into the evening without fatigue.

The joy and the gift of being self-employed is that I can use this knowledge to organize the tasks of my day.

What do you know about yourself? And how do you use that knowledge?

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

the simplicity of kindergarten

The fast is going well. I'm getting migraines from low blood sugar, but I can handle that.

In my altered mental state, however, I crave simplicity. Nothing complicated, nothing strenuous, nothing extraneous.

I want to go back to kindergarten.

One of my favorite organizing authors, Julie Morgenstern, uses the kindergarten analogy when talking about organizing.

(See Organizing From the Inside Out, page 59 - Julie's Secret Weapon #1: The Kindergarten Model of Organization.)

Remember kindergarten? Lots of fun stuff to do. Every activity had its own little area, and everything you needed for that activity had a clearly designated home nearby.

It's hard to go wrong with the kindergarten model. It's comforting, it's reassuring, and most of all it's easy - if you remember to put things back in their homes when you're done. Maybe what we all need is a kindergarten teacher to remind us to take the time at the end of each activity to clean up.

Why do some of us hate this last part so much? Me, I love putting things back where they belong. My boyfriend, on the other hand, leaves stuff everywhere. Mail from the mailbox, for example, makes its way to the living room coffee table, where it sits forever.

(Okay, not really forever. It just seems like forever when I'm inhibiting the impulse to tidy up after him.)

Where is mail's home? Where does mail belong?

The simplest solution is to put mail in a special spot on your desk, and keep everything you need to deal with the mail in close proximity: letter opener, cheques or computer (for paying bills and other correspondence), recycling bin, shredder, and filing cabinet(s).

But what if you like to read mail in a different place from where you pay your bills or file your papers?

You have choices, and this is the not-so-simple part. You could have a series of mail "way stations": a place by the door where you immediately put mail when you come inside; a place by your favorite mail-reading chair; a place in your desk area; and the final place (which could also be multiple places: the recycling bin, the shredder, the filing cabinet).

You run the danger of "losing" mail if you rely on too many mail homes, however. Even I am occasionally vulnerable to this. Just yesterday, I was sorting through my date book and found the bank slip from my last GST remittance (paid in January!) stuffed under the back flap. Oops.

Where's my kindergarten teacher when I need him?

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

are you ready to get rid of everything?

At some point, many people with a lot of material possessions just want to get rid of it all. All of it.

Just let it go.

The problem is, sometimes getting rid of everything isn't the answer.

I'm feeling really out of it right now - light-headed and woozy. My boyfriend is Baha'i, and today is the first day of the last month of the Baha'i calendar. During this last month of the year, Baha'is fast between sunrise and sunset - kind of like Islam's Ramadan.

I'm not Baha'i, but I thought it would be a nice gesture to fast along with my boyfriend, even though we don't live in the same city.

(The longer I go this first day without food and drink, however, the stupider this gesture is beginning to feel. Wait, was that my outside voice?)

I'm drawn to the spiritual significance of the fast: These nineteen days are a reminder of our strong desires for the material world, and through fasting and prayer we give ourselves the opportunity to explore different (preferably spiritual) choices.

Done without consciousness, however, I suspect this exercise would be futile.

It's not enough to simply deprive ourselves - or get rid of all our material possessions. Anyone can be disciplined for 19 days (yes, I have to do this for 19 days!), but at the end of it, what have you learned? Without introspection and consciousness, you'll have starved yourself for a while, and then most likely return to your pre-fast habits.

I don't want to finish this fast the same as when I began it. I've struggled with disordered eating since adolescence, and I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to finally face the insatiable demon inside me. You know, the one who would have me eat an entire bag of cookies in one day.

(I'm betting many of you are also acquainted with Mr. Cookie Demon...)

Here's the heart of it: My desire for a cookie (or a new outfit, or the latest techno-gadget) does not rule me. Desire is fleeting and hollow. There is something larger than the desire - call it God, The Universe, love, the creative source, the true Self, whatever you will - and each time I turn away from material desire, I expect to run into something better, head-on.

What has this got to do with organizing?

(Yes, please tell us, Michelle. My sugar-starved brain is starting to hurt...)

Getting rid of everything is too easy. If you don't confront the desire to clutter up your life, sooner or later you'll end up back where you started.

It's hard work to get really clear - about each and every object in your life. It takes a lot of strength, and courage, and patience to do the work of clearing out the things you don't truly need. I would say it takes even more strength to make decisions about what to keep - and what to acquire, because you know, we can't stop acquiring stuff.

But you can start becoming conscious. You can ask yourself: Does this serve my highest good? Is this contributing to the essence of my life? Or detracting from it?

Clarity.

It's an ongoing adventure...

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

what do you want from your space?

This post relates to an earlier one from last year (feeling like "home", Sunday, October 29, 2006). Take a moment to consider the following questions:

How do you feel in your current space?

How do you want to feel?

Calm? Rested? Energized? Soothed? Healed? Strong? Powerful? Peaceful? Loved...?

Really think about it. This may sound crazy, but I find that a lot of people arrange their rooms based on how the spaces will look, or how the spaces will be seen by others. I've had many clients who've decorated their houses to please society's idea of what the space should look like, rather than please themselves.

Living rooms should have couches, coffee tables, and big pieces of art on the walls, right? Bedrooms should have bedroom sets. Family rooms should have televisions, and big, comfy furniture in which to become a potato.

Actually, they only have to look that way if that's what you really want. You have choices, you know.

I'm always saddened when I see cold, unused formal dining rooms in people's homes. They may look beautiful, but if they're only used to hold a bunch of beautiful stuff (that - just maybe - you don't even like), and not really used... well, enough said.

I'm thinking of an elderly couple - former clients of mine - who never ate in their dining room. It became a clutter magnet, full of tschotkes that covered every horizontal surface, including the table. They started keeping their unread newspapers in there, and the only reason they entered the room was to deposit or remove piles of newspapers. They ate in the kitchen, and never had guests over for a meal.

To me, the energy in that room was horrible. They kept the drapes closed, so it was always dark - even in the middle of the day. Jammed with furniture (two hutches, one cedar chest, table and chairs, and two occasional tables in a room 10'x13') and objects they never bothered to enjoy, it became a room full of obligation: We need to keep this stuff because it's ours and it's "beautiful," and it's what "belongs" in this room.

In the basement, the husband kept a huge number of houseplants under grow lights. His plants and his outdoor garden were his life's joy, and you could see that he lovingly tended these living things every day. Many of the houseplants were African violets, and he had several different colours: pink, purple, white, blue...

Going into their basement was a thrill for me. The flowers were gorgeous, and the man's love and care permeated the space like a exquisite scent.

Now here's a revolutionary thought: What if they kept the flowers and the grow lights in the dining room, and relegated the dining room stuff to the basement (or better still, got rid of it!)? They would have natural beauty close at hand every day. The husband wouldn't have to climb up and down the stairs so often on his bum knees. His hobby would be elevated and respected for the art it truly was.

But no. Dining rooms aren't greenhouses. What if he got dirt on the carpet?

(What if they got rid of the carpet - a tatty, 40-year-old eyesore - instead?)

Don't become a slave to your rooms. Don't become a slave to public opinion. If you love violets, let those violets really bless your home.

I live in a bachelor apartment. When the super's wife first showed me the suite, she gushed about how wonderful it could look with the right furniture. A bed could go on this wall, hidden by a nice screen. This spot by the window would look great with a cute area rug and a loveseat.

I smiled and murmured polite "mmm-hmm"s. She's a dear woman, and she couldn't have known that the 700-square-foot room was going to have to be bedroom, sitting room, library, home office, work room and art/music studio all rolled into one.

Oh, and dining room. :)

Enliven your rooms with your passions. I know of no other fulfilling way to live...

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

when the going gets busy

I'm in the middle of writing some business proposals right now, and don't have a lot of time for posting to my blogs. But as I work, I'm continually reminded of how valuable the organizing I've done for my own life has been.

I don't function well in chaos, and I know it. So I've created lots of clear space to do my work. I have two large tables where I can spread out my papers (or my artwork, or my fabric), and I have lots of storage space (filing cabinets, book shelves, and storage shelves) where I can hide things away when I'm not working.

I'm also reminded of the need for regular maintenance. Most good organizers will tell you that once you have systems in place, you need to take time at regular intervals to maintain your systems. This can be a chore if you let things go too long, but now I make it a part of my "settle down to work" routine.

I spend time every day puttering around - filing away papers, tidying up messes, doing light housekeeping - before I start working. You could also do this after work, but I prefer doing it at the beginning of my workday (which usually starts sometime in the late afternoon, if I don't have an organizing client). Mid-afternoon is my "slump" time, and my brain is not its sharpest then, so puttering is a great use of my time.

(So is napping. Shhh...) ;)

Today I made a bunch of phone calls, tied up some loose ends, and sorted an accumulation of paperwork: committee projects I'm involved with, business leads, inspirational journal notes, and financial stuff.

Now I'm awake and ready to get down to the nuts and bolts of my business writing. I look around me and I see the neat piles of papers that I will need this evening, as well as inspirational messages that keep me focused on my values. Here's a quote that's sitting beside me right now:

If we could learn to live from the level of the soul, we would see that the best, most luminous part of ourselves is connected to all the rhythms of the universe. We would truly know ourselves as the miracle-makers we are capable of being. We would lose fear, and longing, and hatred, and anxiety, and hesitation. Living from the level of the soul means diving past the ego, past the limitations of the mind that harness us to events and outcomes in the physical world.

Deepak Chopra, The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, p77

http://www.chopra.com/

What are the circumstances and environments that best nourish your own work life? Do you know?

(And do you use that knowledge?)

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

some useful books

Don't stress about getting organized.

(Easy for me to say, I know.) :)

But I'm just like you in many ways. My life is too full. I have more material possessions than I need. And sometimes I feel like my default strategy has become rushing from one crisis to the next... to the next... to the next...

There are many useful tools out there for people interested in changing their lives. I've mentioned some in previous posts, and I'd like to share a few more.

I have found the books by Cheryl Richardson to be invaluable. She suggests several practical action plans for becoming aware of what's going on - and going wrong - in your life.

Before Cheryl there was Barbara Sher, whose books are fantastic for helping you figure out what it is you really want from life.

If you know you need to simplify and you're not sure where to start, check out the books by Elaine St. James. She offers short, simple steps that will help free up your time to do the things you really want to do in life. A sample of her writing can be found here.

If you prefer a more business-like approach, you might enjoy Stephen R. Covey's bestselling books, including The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

And once you've decided to really get organized, the books, audiotapes, and videotapes by professional organizer Julie Morgenstern provide a thorough overview of any personal or workplace organizing project you might want to undertake.

(Just be sure that if you buy the books, you actually read them. Don't laugh. Even I occasionally buy books that I never get around to reading...)

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

zeroing in on priorities

I was going to start talking about physical surroundings, but then I realized there's a bit more I want to mention regarding dreams and good feelings.

Do you know how you spend your day? The following is based on an exercise from Cheryl Richardson's book Take Time For Your Life (www.cherylrichardson.com).

Make a rough list of how you spend the hours of each day. Look back over the past week, and notice how much time you spent on everything that you do, including sleeping.

An average day for me lately, for example, would look like the following:

sleep - 6 hours
food preparation and eating - 1 1/2 hours
bathing and dressing - 1/2 hour
reading - 1 hour
playing Sudoku - 1/2 hour
Alexander training (weekdays) - 3 hours
travel time - 1 hour
errands - 1 hour
napping - 2 hours
phone calls - 2 hours
working at the computer (including e-mail) - 3 1/2 hours

total: 22 hours

(I haven't figured out what I do in those extra two hours. They get used somehow - probably on the computer, writing these blogs!)

Obviously there's some variation in anyone's schedule. One night a week, I have choir rehearsals; some days I don't work at my computer (so much). Sometimes I socialize with friends, and when I have organizing clients I spend time on that, rather than at the computer. This past weekend (when my boyfriend was in town), I spent a lot of time with my boyfriend.

But it can be a very sobering experience to see how your time goes, especially if you don't usually keep track of your extra-curricular activities and all the little things you do with your day when you're not working.

And I'm not advocating that you suddenly start to pencil in "me" time, or anything. (Although that probably wouldn't be a bad idea). I just want you to realize that you have made choices, whether consciously or unconsciously, about how you will spend the precious minutes of your life. And if you don't like the way your life looks right now, you can make new choices that will change it.

What are your priorities? If you make a pie chart of your daily activities (something you can do if you put your list in Excel), does it make you feel good to see that over one third of your day is spent on activities directly related to your work? Do you wish that more time was spent on activities that nourish your life in other ways?

I love working on the computer; I love writing. But I can lose hours online (when I'm researching new business), and I often fall into bed each night jittery and distracted - only to start the next day the same way, as I rush to check my morning e-mail and take up my work where I left off.

I've also noticed that there's no time for yoga in my list above. That make me unhappy. And I would love even more time to read for pleasure.

What's missing from your own life? What changes do you want to see in your schedule? Continue to dream your dreams there...

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

building your dream

You've zeroed in on the way you'd like to feel. Now you need to come up with a variety of situations that are fertile ground for good feelings.

1. Return to your happy memories. Make a list of all the things or situations that made you feel good.

In my list, this would include singing, being with family and friends, being with my boyfriend, doing yoga, moving my body, doing activities I love (and not doing activities I don't love!), having enough of everything I need, watching movies, reading books...

2. Now probe a little deeper. You're not necessarily looking for a strict set of criteria, but a variety of possibilities. What are the real situations that bring out your happiness?

I'm not always happy when I'm singing; sometimes I don't like the way I sound. Sometimes my voice just isn't working properly. Sometimes I don't like the songs I have to sing. I find learning new music tedious. And I don't like to sing music that goes too high.

But if I care for my voice properly, and exercise it well and use good technique, I improve my chances of making sounds that are satisfying. And I know that when I'm practising, I like the freedom of not worrying about whether or not anyone is being bothered by my noise.

Once I've learned music that I love, I find singing a joy, especially if I am working with people (accompanists, directors, choir members) who pursue their own music-making with excellence and joy.

So in the case of singing, I increase my chances for happiness if: I care for my voice; I make time in my schedule to practise regularly in spaces where I feel free and comfortable; I do as much as I can to ensure I'm singing the styles and ranges of music I particularly love; I choose to sing with people who will enrich my experience of the music.

Does this mean we should become hedonists who seek out only those experiences we know we will enjoy?

Yes and no. There is always the danger of falling into the trap of grasping at pleasure. But if you approach the circumstances of your life as choices, and if you continually choose those which align with your best possible existence - in the spirit of aparigraha (non-grasping) - you run a better chance of being a Dream-Fulfiller.*

True, not everything that contributes to our best lives is enjoyable. I remember one choir I sang with several years ago: I was easily the poorest singer in the group, surrounded by university voice majors who could sight-read rings around me. I lived in a panic every time we went through a new piece, and I frantically tried memorizing everything between rehearsals, so that I wouldn't be found lacking.

Another woman in my section seemed to dislike singing beside me, so I was always trying to avoid any confrontation with her. And when I was one of the only singers on my part, I felt too ashamed of my voice to sing out strongly.

This all sounds like a recipe for disaster, and indeed I writhed in mental agony for most of the year-and-a-half that I sang with this group. But they were performing my absolute favorite period of music - renaissance - and the moments when I could relax and enjoy the exquisite harmonies of composers like Thomas Tallis and William Byrd were like precious gold. Plus in the all-too-brief eighteen months that I belonged to the choir, I was pushed and stretched, and grew more as a singer than at any time before or since.

(So I guess I should add to my happiness list: I like experiences that challenge me, and test my limits.)

Doing a "pleasure audit" of your life can take some time. Don't expect to get it all figured out in a day - or even a week. Truly, it can be an ongoing lifetime exercise. But do continue to think seriously about what makes you happy.

Next we'll begin to talk about your physical surroundings, which is what most people hire me to help them take care of.

*see my post from February 19, 2007: daring to dream

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

what has this got to do with organizing?

You might be wondering what all this talk about feelings has to do with reorganizing your life. And many of my clients feel the same way. They hire me to do the nuts and bolts moving and arranging of their stuff, never seeming to realize that their desired result is a feeling. They want to feel better about their lives.

It helps if they know what they're already feeling, and if they have a new feeling they want to aim for.

The next part is an unearthing of the circumstances and situations that will most likely result in good feelings...

Additional resources:

Take Time For Your Life and Stand Up For Your Life, by Cheryl Richardson (www.cherylrichardson.com)

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow

triggering happy memories

Hello, beautiful person! I'm so glad you found my blog. This post and all its scintillating content have been moved to my lifestyle blog, Kitchen Sink Wisdom.

choosing your dream

Hello, beautiful person! I'm so happy you've found this blog. This particular post and all its scintillating content have been moved to my lifestyle blog, Kitchen Sink Wisdom.

daring to dream

Hello, beautiful person! I'm so happy you've chanced upon my blog. This post and all its scintillating content has been moved to my lifestyle blog, Kitchen Sink Wisdom.

making peace with your organizing style

When I started this blog, I fully intended to submit entries several times per week, if not daily. Then my obsessive-compulsive* tendencies got in the way. I wanted my posts to unfold in an orderly, logical fashion. If I promised a post on a certain subject, I couldn't write about something else until the first subject was finished. But if I didn't feel like writing about the first subject, then nothing at all got written.

I give up. I've finally realized that while I love order, it's not the way my thoughts unfold. Ideas spring out of my head in random fashion, and I'd rather see them all given life than let some of them wither and die under the searing heat of someone else's idea of good organization.

It's a problem I run into regularly when dealing with clients - especially the type of people who tend to seek out the services of a professional organizer. So many of my clients are embarrassed by the way they live, and are apologetic about their own natures. I always try to reassure them that they each carry within themselves the knowledge of the best way for them to live. There's no need to try and conform to their families' or friends' opinions. I can't dictate their values, or tell them how they should organize their lives. As a professional organizer, I'm there to support their own unique organizing styles. I've decided to extend myself the same compassion and generosity.

How do you figure out your personal organizing style? That's the subject of my next post.

(Or not.)

*I'm not really obsessive-compulsive, and mean no disrespect to true OCD individuals. I do have an eye for detail, though - and a love of order and cleanliness that my chaos-loving boyfriend deems excessive.

copyright 2007, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow