A dream board (also called a vision board) is a visual of the things/experiences you want to draw into your life. It can also include images of things that are important to you (your values) or strengths you want to develop.

My dream boards were important to me at one time, so I photographed them before they hit the recycling bin. I wanted to share them with you and let you know that the simple task of cutting out pictures that speak to you has the power to attract those things into your life.

Pictured below is my first dream board, which I created at a ‘find your passion’ workshop in the late nineties.  Although I didn’t know what my next career would be, there are images of orderly homes, red rocks and mind/body connections. Shortly after creating this, I began my career as a professional organizer, traveled to see the red rocks in Sedona and trained as a life coach.  I cut it out in the shape of a sun, which I interpret as light.

MY FIRST DREAM BOARD

The next picture shows my second dream board, created around 2002 at a Life Makeover Group meeting. Although it’s hard to see in this photo, there is an image of  a polished looking female host, holding a microphone and being filmed by a television camera. Little did I know at the time, but a career in TV was just around the corner for me. Beach images are also prominent. Two years ago, we bought a condo near the beach in Florida.  Notice the word ‘mambo’? I’ve been enjoyed Zumba classes for a couple of years now and recently signed up for Latin dance classes.

DREAM BOARD #2

There have been other dream boards after these, and they have attracted things like my award winning book  and, as previously mentioned, a  home by the lake. If they work for me, and for countless other people who swear by them, they can work for you too!

Creating a dream board gives you the space and time to reflect on what you truly want without your doubts getting in the way. Having it up where you will see it keeps you focused on what matters most and can actually draw these dreams toward you.

Remember how much fun it was to cut and paste when you were a kid?  Enjoy that childhood pleasure again; spend the next rainy summer day creating a vision/dream board.  Leaf through old magazines and cut out images that represent your future goals and/or desires.  Glue them on a poster board and display it where you will see it daily.  As you look at it, imagine what it would feel to achieve it all.  Not only will this inspire you, it will also make your goals more concrete and attainable.  Don’t be surprised if the things on your board start showing up in your life; they did for me!

3 Steps to Creating your Dream Board:

1.  Discovery: Look through at least 8 different magazines or surf the internet for pictures or words that you feel drawn to (even if you’re not sure why) and cut them out.

2.  Creation: Use a Bristol board, a bulletin board or a scrapbook to post the items you’ve cut out.

3.  Display: Put your dream board somewhere you’ll see it everyday. Whenever you look at it, imagine what it would be like to experience the images in your life and notice how you feel (uplifted, excited, etc). Eventually, your mind will begin to accept the images as part of your life and you will start noticing opportunities to experience all that you pictured. It’s very much like planting seeds and watching them grow!

Never seem to get around to making time for this type of activity?  Consider hosting a dream board party; invite your friends to bring magazines, a poster board, scissors and glue, and have fun creating together. A reader recently shared her idea of creating the dream board on the computer and I thought this was a wonderful alternative. She used it as her background on her computer.

I hope I have inspired you to create your own dream board. Feel free to take a picture of it after you’ve created it and please share it on this blog.

Don’t over think it, display it, feel it and you will draw it towards you.

But keeping everything doesn’t always have a happy ending. I’ve also seen the other side of this scenario: The person, who keeps everything for sentimental reasons and, as a result, is suffocating in the stuff. I see it every day – well-meaning folks who keep everything but have no space in their home for themselves and their family members to comfortably sit, sleep and eat. Often, loneliness and depression sets in because they are embarrassed to have people over, so they isolate themselves. There’s such a fine line between hoarding everything and purging it all.

The best advice I can give, now that I have a slightly new perspective on ‘stuff’, is this: Imagine yourself becoming famous several years from now. There’s a glass case, say the size of your bathroom, devoted to displaying your ‘artefacts’. What items would you choose to put in that case? Which mementos best represent significant events in your life or truly reflect who you are as a person? If you have the space, put those items away for safe keeping or display them in a way you can enjoy them.

Although my perspective has shifted in terms of the value of memorabilia, I’ve never been of the mind-set that we should get rid of everything. I’ve advocated keeping the items that matter most to us, provided we store or display them in a way that honours them (i.e. not jammed in plastic grocery bags in the leaky corner of the garage or a musty basement). The key is to limit what we keep to what’s most precious to us so that the ‘stuff’ doesn’t deteriorate our quality of life. Keep the memorabilia to a reasonable amount and these treasures will provide pleasure and joy to you and to those who care about you for years to come.  Would be really interested to hear your thoughts on this perspective,  so please comment below.

When I ask clients what their biggest time gobbler is, the answer I get most often is email. It seems we have a love/hate relationship with our inbox. However, if we don’t take control of our email, it controls us, our time and our life.

Here are my top ten proven tips on managing email.

1. Avoid checking email first thing in the morning. Work on priority task first.

2. Turn visual/auditory notification off to avoid distractions and multi-tasking.

3. Checking email takes longer than you think. Enforce a time limit – use a timer.

4. Empty inbox daily. The inbox should be used for new email only. You wouldn’t open snail mail and then put it back in the mailbox, so avoid reading email and leaving it in your inbox; act on it immediately:

o Decide what the first action is: reply, forward, file or delete.
o Reply immediately if you can do it in 2 minutes or less.
o For longer emails, or when you require more information, transfer to action folders and schedule time in your calendar to act on them.
o Some emails require no action. Delete or file as soon as you read.

5. For quicker responses, stick to one subject per email. Change subject line when you change topic, for easier filing/retrieving.

6. Be brief and to the point when sending emails. Start with what action you need the recipient to take. If longer than three paragraphs, call instead.

7. To save time and effort, create templates for common responses.

8. Limit FYIs and Ccs. Don’t clog the inboxes of friends and co-workers.

9. Check at scheduled times, a few times a day. We’re teaching people how to treat us by responding to emails instantly, 24-7.

10. Increase focus and get more done by creating an ‘email free time zone’. Let everyone in the office know in advance that, during a specified time (one hour or more per day, one full day per month), you will not be responding to emails.

Email can be a great time-saver if used correctly. Once you have your email under control, you’ll be amazed at how much more productive your days will become.

“Perfectionism is the highest form of self abuse” – Tao Te Ching

I have a confession to make, and I’m sure it won’t be startling for those who know me. I am a recovering perfectionist. As an only child who was raised by perfectionist parents, it’s no surprise that I was a ‘good girl’. My expectations for myself were set very high. I felt out of control when I wasn’t able to control everything. Can you relate?

Perfectionism can be crippling. It can cause loneliness, anxiety, depression, low self worth, unhealthy body image, guilt, pessimism, controlling behaviour, OCD, rigidity, procrastination, burn-out and isolation. It can strain relationships and cause illness. For me, it was causing stress. The pressure to perform manifested in the form of debilitating headaches during most of my high school years. I fell into the trap of measuring my worth by how well I did in school. And I was rewarded with excellent report cards and approval from my well-meaning parents and teachers. What we are rewarded for becomes habit.

Unlike other addictions like alcohol, drugs and eating disorders, perfectionism is actually accepted and even encouraged in our society. Thinking back to my first job interview, when asked what my greatest strength was, I said perfectionism. Then I spent the next 20 years trying to overcome that so-called strength.

Some will argue that there are benefits to being a perfectionist, but the high costs outweigh the advantages. There is a fine line between the desire to excel vs. striving to accomplish goals that are beyond reach and reason. Perfectionism diminishes our ability to be productive because a task expands to fill the time we have allowed for it. If you find your perfectionistic tendencies coming out during certain tasks or projects, put a time limit on them. Resist spending an inappropriate amount of time attempting to achieve perfection.  Ask what the return is on your time investment. If the return is limited, then limit your time; the payoff should match the time invested in it. Set priorities and boundaries carefully, so you’re spending the most time on the things that yield the highest returns.

It’s so much more liberating on the other side of perfectionism. What was really helpful for me was when I learned to pay attention to my inner critic (that judgemental voice we all have inside our heads). I was horrified at the defeating things it was saying to me. I worked very hard at detaching from the negative thoughts and reprogramming that voice so it was nicer to me. It’s called ‘L.V.M.’ (Little Voice Management). Another thing that really helped was getting a dog. It’s pretty hard to be a perfectionist when there’s a new puppy in the house! I’ve released the need to control the uncontrollable; I’ve detached from the outcome of situations and projects I use to obsess about and now I just trust that everything is happening as it should. Journaling at the end of the day has also been extremely helpful; it allows me to get out of my head and connect with my wise self.

An exercise recommended by Life Strategist Lesley Sardo, who teaches a workshop called Perfektionizm, is to get still for 15 minutes at the beginning of every day rather than jumping into tasks right away. It gives you the chance to turn off the chatter and connect to your inner guidance.

Needless to say, I no longer see perfectionism as strength.  Occasionally, I find myself reverting to some of my old habits, especially when I’m having a dinner party or preparing for an important speaking event. But for the most part, I am free from the inner critic that tries to tell me my best is not good enough. I accept myself for who I am, flaws and all. How about you?

As many of you know, I have been doing a lot of traveling lately. Since January, I’ve been to California, Florida (twice), Ohio and Denver. As a result, I have picked up some great ideas on how to make travel less stressful and more enjoyable. I’d like to share some of my tips in hopes that it will make your trips go smoother.

Get Your Papers In Order:

-Before you travel, make two copies of the important information in your passport. Leave one copy with someone at home and pack the other in your carry-on. If your passport is lost or stolen this will make it easier to get a replacement. Treat your passport the same way you do your cash; always keep it in a safe place.

-Put one photocopy of your credit cards/identification in your carry-on and leave another with someone back home. Also take a copy of your medical and eyeglass prescriptions.

-Take an extra credit card and know your account numbers and bank/credit card contact numbers. My U.S. credit card was compromised on my last trip, and the bank was unable to give me information because I didn’t know my credit card number (U.S. law). I had packed my Canadian credit card as an afterthought, and boy was I happy about that when I had to pay for the hotel room and my US card was declined!

-Bring small bills in the country’s currency for tipping.

-Keep your receipts in a small, clear resealable bag. This keeps your wallet light and, when you fill out your customs card, you’ll know how much you spent.

-Place your business card or your name and contact information in a prominent place inside your luggage. If the luggage goes missing and the tag comes off, the airport personnel can still identify you as the owner of the luggage and return it to you.

How to Enhance  Your Hotel Stay:

-If you are staying at a hotel that is part of a large chain (i.e. Hyatt, Westin), sign up for their loyalty program ahead of time (usually no cost). You will receive perks like early check-in, late check-out, free upgrades, points for free stays, etc. Arrive early and you’ll have a better chance of getting a room that matches your preferences. Arriving early in Denver got me a room with a spectacular mountain view at no extra cost. Be sure your room is not near the elevator or the ice machine; the noise could keep you up all night. I like to request a low floor, in case the elevator is slow. The fire alarm has gone off in the middle of the night during several of my hotel stays, and though they were false alarms, I didn’t panic because I knew I could take the stairs and get out if there really was a fire.

-Make your hotel stay environmentally friendly; stick the “Do not Disturb” on your door. You don’t change your sheets everyday at home, so why do you need to have them changed while you are away? If you are only staying for a few days, you can decline housekeeping services, thus saving water and electricity. Some hotels reward this by offering vouchers for food and drinks or additional points.  An additional bonus is that you don’t have to pick up after yourself or hide your valuables before housekeeping comes in (although you should avoid traveling with valuables and use secure storage where available).

-Do not leave your key card behind when you check out. Take it home with you and shred it. It can have sensitive information about you on it.

How to Pack for Your Trip:

-Keep a packing list on your computer so you can print out a fresh one each time you travel. Check off the items as you pack them to avoid leaving behind necessities. The stress of last minute packing often causes us to forget things, so this can be a real sanity saver.

-Pack comfortable clothes that travel well. Prints and checkered patterns in blended fabrics or knits will hide stains and wrinkle less. Choose clothing in neutral colors (black, white, grey, cream) to create several outfits out of just a few mix and match pieces.

-Protect your clothing from dampness (if the luggage is transported in the rain or snow) by lining the inside top and bottom with a large garbage bag.  Some airports (Denver) provide clear plastic bags that fit over the entire luggage.

-Pack a mesh laundry bag or extra pillowcase for dirty clothing.

-To simplify packing, items that will be used at the same time should be packed together so that each bundle has a purpose.  For example, put toothbrush and toothpaste together in a resealable bag; bundle the camera and batteries as a group; combine hairpins and elastics with a comb.

-Pack the clothing items that will be worn first at the top.

-Pack each pair of shoes in a large, clear resealable bag to keep them visible and prevent them from soiling your clothes. Shoes should sit at the bottom of the luggage when it is upright; this distributes the weight properly so your luggage doesn’t tip.

-Save space by tucking socks and underwear inside shoes. Pack individual pairs of shoes in large zippered freezer bags; you’ll be able to see what’s inside while keeping dirt from the shoes contained.

-Wrap and roll clothes in dry cleaning bags to prevent them from wrinkling.

-Never pack more than you can carry; this will give you the freedom to move around easily and save your back! Use the smallest size of luggage you can get away with so items can be packed tightly; that way, things won’t move around. If you can travel with just a carry-on, you can save a lot of time. You may want to purchase a luggage scale to weigh your luggage before you get to the airport. If you like to shop while you’re away, be sure to allow extra space for your purchases.

-Update your luggage. New technology has made luggage lighter and easier to maneuver through the airports, making your trip more enjoyable. Investing in quality luggage was one of the best things I did to make my life easier at the airport.

Transportation Tips:

-Reconfirm your flight time and print your boarding pass before you get to the airport. This saves you time and secures you a seat on the plane. Many hotels will allow you free access to a computer and printer for this purpose.

-If you are renting a car at your destination, book online as far in advance as possible. I usually book the smallest car and have always received a free upgrade upon arrival. In fact, I got a Mustang convertible twice when I booked a compact! If you are willing to take the gamble, it’s a great way to save some money.

I hope you find these tips valuable when you are planning your next trip. Please post any tips you have so we can all benefit from your wisdom as a smart traveller!

Nerdy Things I Do

I keep a pair of slippers in my car and slip off my heels just before driving home from an event.

I keep moisturizer in my night table and slather my hands with it before I go to bed.

I keep a zip-lock bag of almonds in the glove compartment of my car and sometimes in my purse, in case I get hungry between meals.

I keep an ‘environ sac’ rolled up in my purse in case I forget to take my canvas bags out of my trunk when I go grocery shopping.

I email my kids when I want to remind them about booking their dentist appointment (or other similar things).

I bring baby wipes on the plane whenever I travel, and I wipe down every surface around me.

I always use the bathroom before leaving the house, whether I have to ‘go’ or not. I always ‘go’.

If I’m going out the next day, I pick out my outfit the night before. I have been doing this since kindergarten.

If I’m going to a special event, I start planning my outfit a month before.

I eat the same thing for breakfast almost every day: fruit mixed with plain yogurt, topped with granola.

I actually schedule coffee meetings with friends, sometimes weeks in advance.

I show up at least 15 minutes early for everything. If I’m driving somewhere, I double the expected time it will take (to allow for traffic).

I call my office number when I’m out and leave reminder messages for myself.

Not sure if I’m looking for sympathy or camaraderie, but I feel so much better now that I’ve got that off my chest!

I had this idea for an article that was quite a departure from my usual tip-oriented articles. I wrote the article but I was hesitant to have it published, for fear that people would take it the wrong way. I sent it to the editor of Home Digest for his opinion. I’ve been a regular contributor to this magazine for almost a decade, and the editor has become a friend, so I knew I could trust him. He loved it and encouraged me to let him publish it. After much deliberation, I decided I was going to take the risk, even though it might open me up to criticism. In fact, I asked readers to send their comments in and even had a book draw to encourage this.

The article, What Does Your Clutter ‘Hot Spot’ Reveal About You: Insightful Organizing,  recently ran in the Early Spring issue of Home Digest, and I was pleased with the amount of positive feedback I was getting in the form of emails. I even put the article up on the home page of my website.

I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. But just when I thought I was out of the water, I got a call from a woman who didn’t like the article. In fact, she said I came across very ‘judgmental’ to those who couldn’t keep a tidy house. My first inclination was to be defensive, but I quickly realized that I wouldn’t learn much from being reactive. So I just listened. She told me she was offended by the article because, as a minister, she works with a lot of families that are doing their best but can’t seem to keep on top of the clutter and that my article would make them feel like they are not okay because of that. Well, of course my intention was quite the opposite. Rather than make people feel hopeless and powerless, the article aimed to help them uncover the emotional link to their clutter so that they could start clearing the clutter and change their lives for the better. But hey, I asked for the opportunity to become more comfortable with criticism, and the universe provided. When I got off the phone, I didn’t feel devastated. I wasn’t defeated. No one died. I survived the criticism and because of that, I feel confident enough to continue taking risks.  I took the comment for what it was, someone’s opinion.  In fact, I was grateful for the growth opportunity it provided.

I’ve shared this experience in hopes that it will inspire you to find the courage to express yourself in spite of any consequences (real or imagined) or what others might think. Take a chance! It doesn’t have to be a big risk; smaller risks will work well too. Are you willing to be brave and bold, even if it means pissing a few people off along the way? What risk will you take this week?

“It is only by following your deepest instinct that you can lead a rich life, and if you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct then your life will be safe, expedient, and thin.”
– Katherine Butler Hathaway

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a gift basket from Post-it® Brand.  We have a winner:  Congratulations to Andrea Lister in British Columbia. The basket, valued at $250, will be shipped to you shortly. Hope you will enjoy using these products to help you get and stay organized.

If you’ve got spring fever too, here are some tips to organize any closet, regardless of the size:

Small closet:

If you have a large amount of space between the top shelf and the ceiling, install a second shelf above the existing one to store seldom-used articles.

Utilize the often-forgotten storage space on the back of the closet door by hanging a vinyl over-the-door shoe organizer.  Multiple clear pockets allow you to store jewelry, cosmetics or belts so you can find them easily.

A double-hang closet rod allows you to maximize the vertical space in a small closet.  The second rod hangs from the existing one with metal hooks and is used to hang short items, like skirts, blouses and jackets.

Remove off-season items from the closet and pack them in plastic, air-tight under-the-bed organizers or vinyl blanket storage bags.  Make sure the garments have been washed/dry-cleaned and add a cedar product to deter moths.

Store pairs of shoes toe to heel to maximize space.

Medium closet:

Hanging Sweater Organizer, Courtesy of Container Store

Canvas 6-shelf sweater and accessory organizers work as instant hanging shelves to house everything from sweaters to handbags.  Suspend them from the existing rod.  Small baskets can be inserted into the compartments to store small items like scarves, socks or bathing suits.

Stackable clear shoe boxes with pull-out drawers take up less space than shoe racks and keep shoes dust-free yet still within view.

Use wire shelf dividers to create an instant wall that prevents your stacks of sweaters and t-shirts from toppling.

Large closet:

Replace wire hangers to prolong the life and maintain the shape of your clothes. Use padded hangers for delicate tops and wood or sturdy plastic for all other items. Use one color and style consistently to create a visually-calming, cohesive look.

Use clear plastic stacking drawers for folded clothes. Place shorter-hanging items together to open up space underneath for this 4 or 5-drawer unit.

Hang a mesh bag to temporarily house items that need to be repaired or dry-cleaned. Keeping them in view will be a constant reminder to get the job done.

Try some of these ideas and you’ll be amazed at how much smoother your life will run when you can find what you need quickly and easily. Organizing your closets will give you a sense of control, both in your home and your life. When you decide to tackle a closet, I hope you will take before and after pictures  share them on my Facebook fan page so we can celebrate your success together.  If you are not on Facebook, perhaps you can add a link to your photo sharing site with your  comment below.

A week before Valentine’s Day, we were watching ‘Steven and Chris’ (a popular talk show in Canada) and one of the guests was Gretchen Rubin, the author of the book ‘The Happiness Project’. I watched with great interest and casually mentioned that I’d probably enjoy reading it. When he surprised me with this book on Valentine’s Day, I felt it was such a romantic and thoughtful gesture because it showed that he was actually listening and paying attention to me. We’ve been married for 25 years, so I’m very grateful for that. The book did not disappoint me (and I will talk more about it in a future blog entry) but you might be wondering what all this has to do with organizing.

Like many self-help books, this book was full of great ideas, quotes, and revelations. But there’s no point in having all that great information if we can’t put our fingers on it when we need it so we can put it to use. A friend of mine (who is a professional organizer in the US) gave me a highlighter that had a small dispenser stocked with ready-to-go flags attached to it, so I had a field day with it as I was reading this book. Whenever I read a sentence that inspired me or shifted my perspective, I would highlight it and flag the page. It felt so great knowing I wasn’t going to lose or forget it when I put the book down. Once I finished reading the book, I was able to quickly review the material I had highlighted. Then I created an action list and put the tasks in my calendar. My own happiness project has been launched, thanks to a cool new pen that helped me organize it.

Post It Brand Highlighter with Flags

When I was in Florida last week, I went to Target and stocked up on the pens, but I wanted to also share them with my friends and clients. I contacted the Canadian branch of the 3M Company that makes the pens to find out whether I could buy them on this side of the border. Sure enough they are available here. In fact, after hearing my enthusiasm, the nice people at 3M agreed to provide a gift basket with $250 worth of their Post-it® Brand products, including the coveted pen. They have agreed to ship the basket anywhere in Canada, so if you want to win it, simply leave a comment below and you will be entered into the draw. If you live outside Canada, you are still welcomed to leave a comment but are not eligible to be entered into this draw.

The deadline to enter is: March 26th, 2010

Winner will be announced here the week of  March 29th.  Good luck!