Get a jump start on clearing your cluttered environment by quickly purging lazy clutter. (The operative word is quickly!) The Tidy Friday System works for me. I set aside an hour every Friday afternoon to quickly go room-by-room picking up wayward items, throwing away past newspapers and magazines, and straightening pillows and lamp shades, singing and dancing my way to a clutter-free, stress-free life. And, before I go to bed, I polish the kitchen sink!  (Check out www.flylady.net for reason why to polish the kitchen sink every night before going to bed.)

Set aside one hour a week to deal with your lazy clutter and you too will experience a clutter-free environment.

>  Eat your breakfast outside on delightful autumn mornings.

>  Read adventure stories to the little ones.

>  Listen to your favorite music while cleaning the kitchen, or dance your way around the house with a vacuum cleaner.

>  Follow a butterfly.

>  Indulge in chocolate fondue.

>  Rainy days got you down? Watch an “oldie” movie just because… and, laugh or cry — whatever.

>  Carry a glass of wine outside some moon-lit evening and sit under the stars to contemplate life.

>  Take a hike through the woods or sit and listen to the birds sing.

Every day must have one pure pleasure. Better yet, start a gratitude journal and keep track of the pleasures you discover.

»  Preparedness:  Readiness; to provide what is necessary; rehearse; calculate; address an issue

What potential disasters could possibly affect your personal and professional life?

›  Fire
›  Flood
›  Hurricanes/Tornado/winter storms
› Outages (power, telephone, gas)
›  Hazardous materials spill
›  Theft/Burglary
›  Vandalism
›  Loss of wallet, address book, calendar
›  Loss of business records
›  Crashed computer
›  Illness
›  Death

We live in a world of material and financial abundance–both a blessing and a curse. We need to be aware, protect and be responsible for what we have.

When ‘disaster’ strikes you may not have much time to act or think about your options or plan your next step. The importance of being prepared cannot be over emphasized. It provides the edge needed to cope during stressful moments.

The key to survival is planning. Organizing is preparedness.

Click here to read more about preparing your own emergency plan

Why does laughter give us an all-over feeling of well being? It is because endorphins are released from the brain every time you laugh. Endorphins have a morphine-like effect and are often referred to as the body’s own opiates. Have a good laugh today!

Relaxing at sunset

“Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.”   ~  Horace Mann

Cactus Finch - Galapagos

Stress is everywhere. It hits us all at some point in time. Individuals who know how to control their stress are apt to have more enthusiasm, work smarter and be more productive. It is important for all of us to learn how to manage stress in order to feel and work better.

Take a lesson from the Cactus Finch. He knows how to avoid the prickly spines. (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Stress management skills help you to:

• Achieve more throughout the day
  

  Finch's Home

• Improve your concentration and creativity
• Make better decisions under pressure
• Maintain your composure
• Make fewer mistakes
• Increase energy level
• Adapt to change easily
• Be in control
• Relax and renew yourself quickly

Click here to unlock ‘Stress Management Secrets’ and gain control of your life…

Plants release moisture into the air and remove a variety of chemical toxins. Houseplants require care–water, light and fertilizer. A healthy plant provides a healthy environment. Houseplants are an essential component to simple, healthy living.

Do you want to learn more about house plants and healthy air? Click on the envelope icon at the top of the page to send me an email requesting a free article on “Clean Air.”

Stress is everywhere! It hits us all at some point in time. Stress is defined as any stimulus — physical, mental or emotional — that disrupts or interferes with normal physiological equilibrium throwing us off balance.

Individuals who know how to control their stress are apt to have more enthusiasm, work smarter and be more productive. It is important for all of to learn how to manage stress in order to feel and work better.

Here are 10 keys that will help you control undue stress and the imbalances of life.

1. Eat right, eat light. Most people know when and what to eat. However, the trick is to eat what is good for the body to maintain an even keel. Simple solution: don’t eat anything that comes wrapped in cellophane!
2. Break the vices. Keep your workplace a healthful environment by establishing a positive lifestyle. Alcohol fogs the mind; tobacco saps endurance; refined sugar lifts you up and slams you down.
3. Does the shoe fit? There are all kinds of people and all kinds of organizations. It is critical to find the right fit. Tip: Look around you. Do you like the pace of work you are involved in? Do you like the people you come in contact with? Do you agree with the values of your friends? The right fit is essential.
4. Indulge in guilt-free leisure. The next time you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, go to the movies and get into somebody else’s drama. Laugh. Enjoy the entertainment.
5. Take a walk. Walking is one of the most effective stress management tools available. It is easy; it is cheap.
6. Say “NO WAY!” The pressure is always on to do more. Learn when and how to say no, unless it fits in with your goals and objectives.
7. Master conflicts. Conflict is a major source of stress in our life. However, it can be dealt with positively. Make it your goal to get comfortable with conflict. Learn how to handle  different situations.
8. Exercise. Regular exercise has the mega-benefits of making your heart and lungs stronger, giving you more energy and a better self-image. Regular activity provides better sleeping patterns and makes you more attractive. Start a program and stick to it for the entire year.
9. Get away. When things are getting too crazy and the pressures are driving you nuts, get away from it all for awhile. Take a ten minute sabbatical or a weekend holiday. Take however much time you need to simmer down and find peacefulness.
10. Get a pal; be a pal. Sometimes all you need is someone to talk to, to confide in, to complain to. The buddy system allows you to have somebody you can go to when you are feeling overwhelmed. We all need somebody to ease the tension. Criteria to making the buddy system work: Give advice only when asked; and there must be complete trust and confidentiality.

Americans spend more than $4 billion a year on over-the-counter pain relieves for headaches. Prevention costs nothing. Stress management skills help you maintain an upbeat energy level and increased vitality. You can learn to identify and control stress triggers.

Overstressed Rx = Get a life!

This cliche is usually said with sarcasm. However, it is actually very good advice. Are you among the multitude that invests in an abundant lifestyle? Do you think you need that new car, boat or expensive vacation to feel important and successful? Would life be perfect if you had that new suit, a diamond ring, a bigger TV?

Our homes have become a warehouse for possessions that enhance our lifestyle but fall short of enhancing our life. Americans are good consumers. The Madison Avenue philosophy ensnares us every day.

What would happy if you turned your resources — time, energy and money — toward investing in your life instead of your lifestyle? Imagine how much better you would feel if eight hours of sleep became more important than the new sitcom on TV. How much would your life be enhanced in you spent time reading a book rather than wandering through the mall with credit card in hand? What is you valued your time as much as you value your money? How much does clutter affect your physical and mental health?

Just as our bodies need food for survival, our spirits need sustenance too. Rather than piling stuff around your home, start feeding your spirit. A well-nourished spirit keeps the stress level down. Reducing stress means taking an active role, making choices that are important to you.

I am not suggesting that you abandon work, throw out everything you own and run away to the mountains. Just take some time and consider what you need to feel alive. Start making the shift from acquiring more stuff to simplifying your life. Be mindful of the tasks you undertake. Concentrate on your helath. You are the only person responsible for reducing your stress level.