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8 Quick and Easy Ways to Make Your Workspace Tidy and Productive

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You walk into your office and immediately feel stressed and overworked.  Why is that?  Your desk is a mess!  It's covered in folders, papers, old coffee cups, pens (both usable and dead), paperclips, at least two staplers, and a million Post-its. Now, tell me, how can you get any work done?  How can you be productive and focused when you can barely see the top of your desk?  And your computer desktop is crowded with icons and shortcuts too.  They cover the wallpaper photo you chose to make your workspace serene and lovely (it isn't). Did you know that 40% of workers surveyed assume that someone with a messy desk is less than competent at their job?  And 28% of employers say they're less likely to promote someone with a disorganized work space. Decluttering to the rescue!  You can make your desk a place that lets you store and find what you need so you can do your best work.  Not only that, but a clean and tidy space projects a better image of you as an organized, responsib
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How to Keep the Magic in Everyday Life

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When my husband and I go for a weekend trip to the Sonoma coast in Northern California, I'm always amazed by how fast a lot of people are driving on Highway 1.  Highway 1 is not meant to be a fast drive.  It's narrow, it's hilly, it winds, and the views are consistently spectacular.  It's a road to savor – not necessarily puttering, but certainly not racing , showing off your car's cornering and suspension or your own stunt driving skills. But my opinion may be in the minority. How do you ignore such rare beauty in favor of covering the miles as fast as possible?  Maybe these are residents of the area – so used to the marvelous vistas they no longer pay attention.  It doesn't seem possible to me.  If I lived there, I'd want to drink in that loveliness every day.  I wouldn't want to lose the magic. Noticing, and not noticing But don't we all get used to what we see every day?  Think about the last time you drove to work or the supermarket.  Did you re
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12 Tips to Try When You're Frustrated with Decluttering

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I won't sugar-coat it – decluttering is a hard job.  The more you're stressed and challenged by your home – the more you need the benefits that come with decluttering – the bigger the job probably is.  The advantages are real, but so is the frustration.  At times, you may feel tired, sad, or overwhelmed.  Letting go of stuff requires constant decision-making, and sometimes you'll need a break. And you deserve one!  You're not just decluttering, you're in the process of changing your mindset and your habits , and that's hard for anyone.  So when you feel like the job is too big, or that you should have everything under control, remember that no one has it all under control.  We're human, which means that we often have to learn the hard way.  But the victory will be even sweeter because you made it through the highs, the lows, and everything in between. When you feel like giving up, on decluttering or anything else, be gentle with yourself, and say goodbye to
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The Simple Pleasure (and relief) of Creating Order

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I have a fear of messiness.  Oh, I don't think it rises to the level of a phobia, but if it did I could tell you its name – ataxophobia .  I don't have panic attacks when confronted with a mess, but I sure don't enjoy it. I do have a need for order in my life, and can get very anxious when confronted with big changes or the need to do a task I don't know how to do.  And like anyone who feels fear and anxiety, it causes me to avoid those things if I can.  Yet when I get up the courage to ask for help, I often find that the task isn't as fearsome as I believed.  So my behavior is kind of irrational, after all. Why we all benefit from tidiness I'm sure that's part of the reason minimalism appeals to me.  Now, you might be braver than I about going new places or tackling new technology, but maybe you suffer from stress in other areas.  Maybe your job is very demanding, or your finances aren't optimal, or you have a relationship in crisis mode.  Maybe you'
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How to Create a Wardrobe with Hygge Style

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Google "hygge wardrobe," and you'll find a number of sites that want to sell you "must-have pieces to cozy your closet." I'm not surprised.  After all, our society exists to sell us stuff we probably don't need.  So let's remind ourselves that we don't have to run out and purchase "hygge essentials" to create a comfortable, sustainable, good-looking wardrobe. Dressing hygge is about more than being cozy.  After all, not every day is a snow day!  Let's look at hyggelig principles that can be applied to our closets. 7 elements of a hyggelig wardrobe 1.  Contentment Hygge is all about being content with what you have and making the most of it.  As author Louisa Thomsen Brits describes it, "Hygge is about having less, enjoying more ."  The Danish tend to keep their wardrobes simple, based on neutrals like black, navy, charcoal, or tan, with pops of color for personality and fun.  A cohesive closet means that a small number of
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How Effective Change Begins - Not With Politics, But With You

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As those of us in the U.S. near the end of this election season, I'm finding it hard to remain positive.  Maybe you're feeling the same. I have no intention of writing about politics or candidates or parties.  It's not going to happen.  But even though I spend minimal time reading about, listening to, or discussing most of the claims made by politicians, it's hard to escape the tirades, fear-mongering, and – unfortunately – outright lies that are publicized over all forms of media all day, every day. It's become ugly, and a bad advertisement for democracy and our supposedly great nation. American ideals All over the world, there are people who long for what the U.S. claims to have, and what was articulated by President Franklin Roosevelt – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.  They long for what President Barack Obama celebrated in his second inaugural address – a freedom that is not reserved to the lucky, a happiness that
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The Hygge Way to Clean and Declutter

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When I returned home from a weekend trip recently, I immediately unpacked my suitcase, washed a load of dirty clothes, and put everything away.  It made me feel settled and at home.  It was comfortable. A few days later, I felt a bit restless, so I set my writing aside and started cleaning.  I cleaned the refrigerator door and wiped the kitchen counters.  I swept the porch and mopped the floor in our small entry hall.  I decluttered a few old papers from my file box.  It felt good. Self-soothing with home care For me, cleaning, organizing, and decluttering are a form of self-care.  Tidying gives me satisfaction.  It makes me feel that I'm managing my life and ready for what's next. A hygge home isn't dirty.  It's not cluttered with garbage, dirty dishes, or things we never use or put away.  It's not covered in a thick layer of dust.  So don't decide that pouring a glass of wine, lighting a candle, and snuggling under a blanket is hygge, but running the vacuum is
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