The Serene Home Tips

March 22 2020

Springtime Indoors at The Serene Home: Resources for Getting Organized While Spending Time Inside

Happy Spring from The Serene Home!

Well, this isn’t exactly how we thought we would be spending the first weeks of Spring, is it?

With all the challenges facing us right now, it is hard to feel productive and well-centered now that we have been shaken from our usual routines.

Once you have adjusted to the temporary new normal, you might consider using this time to get your home or work space organized! If that is on your agenda, here are a few tools that may help.

Whatever you are doing with the time; working from home, home schooling kids, taking care of family members, volunteering or just looking out for your own well-being, it is exactly the right thing for you to do. Trusting your own judgement and being gentle with yourself is the key.

Because we have been indoors with a little time on our (frequently washed) hands, many are considering getting organized as a good project. Our homes are our refuge and that has never been more apparent than now.

Over the last week, I gave a KonMari Basics presentation for NextDoor and then a follow up Ask The Organizer-Question and Answer presentation. It was great to connect with neighbors as well as new and past clients while sharing tips on getting organized in home and office

Here on the YouTube links to both presentations.

As always, please feel free to drop me a line with any questions you have about editing, sorting and organizing.

KonMari Method Organizing Workshop

Ask The Organizer! Getting Organized Town Hall

I am also offering a big discount on virtual sessions! There will be a 50% discount for all virtual sessions until April 30th. Here is the link to book online:

The Serene Home Virtual Tidying Program

Don’t forget that you can always listen to The Spark Joy Podcast:
Spark Joy Podcast

Our latest episode is about managing your physical and emotional well-being during the pandemic:
Spark Joy Podcast Ep-124 KonMari Staying Healthy Home Coronavirus Pandemic

Finally, a great resource I have found.

LOVE THIS!

It’s a google doc listening numerous museums and zoos with virtual tours or live cams of animals:
Museum and Zoo Live Links

Please stay healthy and well during this time. Let me know how you are doing and if I can help in any way.

All the very best,
Karin

November 4 2019

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder and the Adult ADD Holistic Seminar

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ADD and disorganization so often go hand in hand. But justgettingorganized is not enough for lots of people. Someone with ADD may have tried, and even succeeded, repeatedly, to get organized but found that sooner or later, things would become jumbled up and out of sorts again.

Frustrating!

For me, when I begin work with a client who is struggling with organizational techniques on their own, I know that setting up good systems is important for long term success. And, although what works for each person can be very individual, there are some tried and true methods that can be a good starting point.

Here are some techniques for time and task management put out by the Association of American Family Physicians that I have found to be very useful for many clients.

AAFP.org

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder and the Adult ADD Holistic Seminar

Time Management
Developing time management skills is essential for managing ADHD. There is more than one way to develop time management skills, and it is important for you to experiment and try what works best for you.

Use a planner. This can be a pencil-to-paper planner, an app, or a notebook. You should be able to take it with you wherever you go. Write down all your appointments, meetings and other commitments in your planner, and be sure to refer to it each day.
Over estimate how long it will take you to complete something. Add at least 10 minutes to how long you think it will take you to finish a task.
Get a watch. And check it! Using a watch and being aware of the clock will help you keep track of time. Using a watch instead of checking your phone will reduce distractions.
Create a Routine. Making a scheduled routine will help you stay organized, on-time and on-task. Using checklists can also help when creating routines.

Task Management
Organization isn’t just about your physical space. People with ADHD may have a hard time organizing tasks for school and work, too. These strategies will help you organize your work, prioritize, and stay on track.

Make lists. Each day after you check your planner, make a list of all the tasks for the day. After looking at the entire list, prioritize the tasks accordingly. When prioritizing, consider what task is most important, which tasks are time sensitive, and which tasks can be finished later. Keeping these lists in one notebook or app allows you to refer to previous lists to be sure you don’t forget any tasks.
Break down big projects. Creating smaller tasks out of large projects makes things more manageable so it is easier to get started.
Work in small increments. Getting started is half of the battle. If you’re avoiding something, commit to working on it for 15 minutes to get over the “hump” of getting started. If you feel like you need a break after 15 minutes, set a timer for 5 minutes and commit to starting again immediately after your break.
Don’t multi-task. Staying focused on one thing at a time will increase your overall productivity. Focusing on one task at a time ensures you finish one task 100%, instead of 8 tasks 50%.

I’m excited to share with you my participation in the first annual Adult ADD Holistic Summit. Starting November 4, 2019. The summit brings together top experts in the field, with each offering their unique perspectives on thriving with Adult ADD.

It’s a virtual summit, that you can view online. I am a panelist in this virtual summit, offering my own experience and strategies to support Adults with ADD.

I will be sharing content management tips utilizing KonMari techniques.

The Serene Home Talks to the Moving Experts at FlatRate Moving

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Most of us will expect to experience a move every five to ten years. A growing family, a new job opportunity, or even downsizing to a more manageable size home are some of the happy reasons we look for a new home.

But, finding your perfect new home is just the first step in a move.
Moving can be stressful and challenging! The planning and preparation done ahead of time can make all the difference in reducing the amount of disruption your family will experience. We often work with clients who have recently moved and found that, many times, their move could have gone better with a little pre-planning.

I partnered with the moving specialists at FlatRate Moving FlatRate.com to find out how pre-planning and choosing the right movers can make for a more pleasant moving experience.

Tell me a little about FlatRate Moving!

Since our start in 1991, we have introduced a totally new concept in moving – offering customers an all-inclusive, guaranteed, one-price move, with no surprise costs. Building upon our success as New York’s largest moving company, FlatRate Moving offers hassle-free, customer-focused services in other major cities and states, including New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Miami, and Orlando.

What are some of the things that make you unique as a moving company?

Not only do we move individuals, families, and businesses, but we are also able to move the world’s most respected organizations throughout the world. We are certified to move families in the U.S Military as well as diplomats at the United Nations.

Also, our luxury white glove moving service sets us apart from other moving companies by providing a peaceful moving experience done with as little noise as possible. Our white glove services is perfect for clients moving in and out of luxury buildings who could benefit from our discrete black moving trucks, special handling of furniture, top-of-the-line packing materials, and custom wood crating.

We’ve all heard stories about moves that have gone wrong, what are some of the ways someone who is getting ready to move can reduce the risk of a bad experience?

It is also important to choose your movers wisely when planning your move and pick a mover that will provide you with a price based on inventory rather than an hourly price. One big mistake people tend to make is choosing a moving company that is unlicensed or that offers a low hourly rate because the price will often end up being higher at the end of the move due to the move taking longer as well as traffic and parking issues outside of the customer’s control.

To best prepare for your move and help make the day run smoother, it is ideal to start the planning process at least 30 days in advance and start getting quotes from companies at least three weeks before your move.

To avoid last minute packing stress, it is always a good idea to pack in advance of your move day. When packing, you should always use professional moving boxes that are designed to stack and pack any medication and living essentials separately.

What are some of the mistakes you see clients make when getting ready for a move?
How can partnering with a professional organizer help?

Some common mistakes people make while moving:
1. Thinking that moving is one day process. The moving process starts 3-4 days before the move (packing) and lasts 3-4 days after the move (unpacking and settling in at your new place). We recommend preparing a suitcase for a one-week period, that way you will have everything that you need accessible for you until you settle into your new place.

2. Assuming that all your furniture will fit in your new home. Some of your furniture will likely not fit, so think carefully about what you should take with you to your new place.

3. Thinking you can pack everything on your own, especially your most fragile items that require extra care when packing, such as antique furniture or expensive artwork. If possible, it is best to work with a moving company who can provide crating and special protection to avoid any possible damage from occurring during the move.

If you decide to pack yourself, it’s helpful to start packing early as people often underestimate the amount of time it might take. We also recommend researching packing instructions to help guide you while packing, and using professional packing materials especially for long distance moves. It’s also important to use proper boxes when packing specific items, for example, picture frames should be packed in a picture box.

4. Even with full packing service, keep in mind that you will still need to pack some of your items and be involved in setting up your new place.

5. Partnering with a professional organizer is a great idea when moving because they can help you de-clutter your items and decide what to toss or donate and what to keep with you. A professional organizer can also help you label your boxes so that you can easily locate them in your new home.

What are some of your favorite tips to help make the moving process more joyful?

Some of our favorite tips include:
1. Have a separate list for high-value items. This is important to have to emphasize to your movers that they need to be extra careful with those items.

2. It is best to notify your moving company of any elevator restrictions in the buildings you are moving from and to in order to make sure your moving company is supplying your building with the proper Certificate of Insurance (COI) information.

3. Pack essentials you will need right away when you arrive at your new place such as your cell phone charger, jewelry, and medicine in a separate labeled box or overnight bag that you can easily locate once you get to your new home.

4. Packing is the most important part of moving because how well your items are packed determines in what shape they will arrive. The best approach is to let professionals do it or if you choose to pack yourself, do it carefully. See our Youtube videos for how to pack like a pro: How to Pack Up Your Kitchen

The FlatRate Moving app is really amazing! Tell me about how the app came about and what it does.

The idea to develop the app originally came from customer feedback on how to make their move more seamless. Customers kept asking if there was a way to track their moving truck on moving day. Initially, booking and managing a move online was novel and convenient but customers had to call our customer service line for additional requests, questions, and clarifications.

Even though our website and customer service hotlines are completely functional for booking, managing, and tracking a move, we knew that an all-in-one moving and storage app was what we needed to truly deliver convenience to our customers. We want to make sure our clients can manage their move by using the My FlatRate app before, during, and after their move.

My FlatRate gives clients the ability to track their truck on move day, write a review for and tip moving staff, create a photo inventory of all items being moved, edit move details, and retrieve items from storage, all without needing to speak with a customer service representative. Plus ‘manage the move’ – including logistics, confirmation, and any last-minute changes, including options for extra packing services and protection or any adjustments the movers should be aware of.

My FlatRate app can be easily downloaded directly from the App store or on Google Play.

I often get calls from clients who want to organize before their move, but they sometimes have a hard time deciding what they will need and what furniture will or won’t work in their new homes. What do you advise moving clients consider when deciding what to leave behind or to take with them?

When getting ready for a move, it is beneficial to organize and de-clutter your home before packing. A professional organizer can come in handy here to help you sort through your closet and kitchen areas to decide which items are no longer in use or essential.

You should dig through your home and decide what to take with you as well as what to get rid of, sell, or donate so that you only take what you need with you especially when moving long distance or into storage as moving more items can increase the price of your move.

What do you find is the most rewarding aspect of helping people move?

The most rewarding aspect of helping our clients move is knowing that we are able to make their transitions smooth and stress-free so that they can enjoy the excitement of moving into a new home.

How can people get in touch with you?

To get in touch with us or get a free quote for your move, you can give us a call at 212-988-9292 or visit our website at FlatRate Moving FlatRate Moving

August 1 2019

Organizing Your Estate: Katya Sverdlov, Esq. Talks to The Serene Home!

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Did you know that The Serene Home can help with Estate Management?

Getting things in order, whether it’s your clothing, your kid’s toys, or your financial life is really about gaining peace of mind. Why else would you set out to do all the hard work of getting organized unless the end result brings you a feeling of security and well-being?

The good news is that many of the time and money consuming headaches of financial management, now and in the future, can be avoided with the help of an Estate planning expert who knows how to review and advise you about the various options available for your particular situation.

Today, with the assistance of Katya Sverdlov, the attorney behind Sverdlov Law, PLLC, and the Katya Sverdlov blog, we’re talking about how to think about estate planning so that you can move toward having your financial house in order as well as your closets!

Hi, Katya! What are some of the biggest mistakes that people make when planning for the future?

Biggest mistake is ignoring the issue of incapacity and death, thinking that it won’t happen to you, and not creating any documents. If you do not do it yourself, then the State you reside in will decide what will happen to you and your assets.

If you become incapacitated without having any advance directive, your family will have to apply for a Guardianship in a local court. The judge may grant Guardianship to a particular family member, or, if there is a fight amongst family members, then the judge may appoint a Guardian who is an outsider (a lawyer or a social worker).

If you die without having a Will, then the State of residence will determine how to distribute your assets based on the rules of intestacy. Your closest blood relatives will receive the money, regardless of whether you have been in contact with them, and regardless of whether you like them. You need to plan if you have specific wishes.

What are some of the major challenges you see facing surviving family members when it comes to dealing with the Estates of loved ones?

The major challenges that people face after the death of a loved one are:

a) Finding the assets. There is no central database where one can look up a person’s bank accounts, brokerage accounts, life insurance policies, etc. As a result, families can spend years looking and lots of money eventually goes to the Unclaimed Funds.

b) Waiting for probate to complete. The majority of people do not understand the rules of probate and do not understand that certain situations may cause years of delay in courts. In the meantime, all the money is frozen and inaccessible to heirs.

c) Fights over personal belongings. It’s relatively easy to divide the money – either based on the Will or on the intestacy rules. But when it comes to photographs, furniture, art and jewelry – personal feelings really come up. Unless the parents’ wishes are spelled out in great detail ahead of time, quite often families fight for years over the remaining personal assets.

What steps can someone take to avoid some of these challenges?

a) Plan for the possibility of incapacity. A Power of Attorney allows your agent to make financial decisions on your behalf. A Health Care Proxy allows your agent to make health care decisions on your behalf. Without these documents, a Guardianship process is a must. It doesn’t matter whether you have $1MM in a bank or only a monthly social security check – the process for incapacity planning is the same.

b) Plan for your Estate. Decide how you want to split your money. It doesn’t matter whether you have $100K or $10MM. Family emotions can take the same intensity regardless of the amounts of money.

c) Talk to a qualified attorney. You may not even know that your family situation can cause untold problems. For example – do you have children from a previous marriage? Make certain your current spouse understands your wishes and that they are appropriately documented. Do you have a special needs relative? Do not leave them money outright, so that not to jeopardize their benefits. There are many similar situations. Make an appointment for a consultation and discuss your individual situation.

Is Estate planning expensive? How does someone get started?

The answer really depends on the individual situation. Compare the cost of planning with the cost of NOT planning. For example, when people do not PLAN for long-term care, they end up paying a shockingly high amount for their own care. The cost of a nursing home in New York is currently $20K a month. If one does not have Medicaid – one has to pay for it privately. Yes, it comes as a shock to people, but Medicare does not pay for either home care or nursing home care.

The cost of a Trust to protect your assets ranges from $3,500 to $5,000. In addition, there are costs associated with Advanced Directives and a Will. However, even if you end up spending $5-7K on your estate planning, it will still be less than 1/2 of a monthly cost in a nursing home. And if this planning saves you and your family hundreds of thousands of dollars in long term care costs and future litigation costs, it seems that it is a good investment.

Having this conversation with our families could feel really uncomfortable. Do you have any tips for how to approach this conversation in a positive way?

I would suggest telling a story of a celebrity who did NOT plan. There are plenty of those – the artist Prince, James Gandolfini, etc. Their lack of planning cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of emotional distress to their families. Bring these up, and then mention that the same problems arise with people of lesser means. The best way of avoiding it is to plan properly and early.

Talk to a proper specialized estate-planning attorney; do not do these documents yourself. Most lay people and most attorneys who specialize in other areas are not aware of the complexities of Wills and Power of Attorneys.

For additional information, you can find Katya at:
www.sverdlovlaw.com
https://sverdlovlaw.com/lawyer/blog/Katya-Sverdlov-Blog.htm

She also has a free questionnaire that will help you identify documents needed before speaking with an attorney:

http://freeguidetoestateplanning.com/

You can even schedule a call with Katya here:
https://calendly.com/katyasverdlov

In working with families who are faced with a loss, I often find that the surviving family members are unaware of the condition of the home left behind and may not be prepared to address some of the immediate concerns.

The Serene Home can help in the following ways:
• Set up an initial project management plan along with the family and estate administrators
• Communicate with the family throughout the process. Provide emotional support.
• Manage the discontinuation of your loved one’s mail, deliveries and scheduled services.
• Coordinate bill payment and property maintenance with the Executor.
• Inventory, sort and organize contents of the home for family to review.
• Assist with the distribution of the physical assets according to the will or trust.
• Help each family decide which items they want to keep separating sadness and guilt from what truly sparks joy for them.
• Work with the family to mediate areas of conflict regarding the distribution of property.
• Facilitate donation of items to non-profits or charities.
• Work with realtor to prepare the property for sale.

Check out The Serene Home Estate Management services here, set up time for us to talk and let’s work toward Bringing Serenity Home.

FIND SERENITY NOW

June 20 2019

Downsizing is Life Changing Magic!

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Downsizing is Life Changing Magic!

Are you considering downsizing? Whether you are preparing to move into a smaller home or just want to reduce the amount of things you are managing in your current home, downsizing allows you to let go of the past and focus on how you want to live your best life. Here are a few ideas on how to make the process easier and less stressful.

To begin, imagine your ideal life going forward. Do you want to have a simpler lifestyle with fewer things to take care about in a smaller, more efficient living space? Would you like to be able to focus on travel and hobbies away from home, more involved in sports or fitness? Do you expect that you will host guests in your home often? Have your grown kids taken over some of the holiday hosting?

Once you have that vision in your mind, you can begin to evaluate what items and physical objects will fit into your life going forward. This will often mean letting go of furniture, kitchen items and other things that may be perfectly good and useful, but don’t fit into your new life.

I recommend that you sort by category. Do clothes, books, paper, miscellaneous items and finish with sentimental items. Clothing is easier and sentimental things are the hardest. Starting with the easy things will help you develop good edits skills!

Be firm in your decision to let go of anything that is seldom used such as appliances or specialized utensils. Ask yourself: do I have multiples of this type of thing or do I use one of these things more often than the others? You probably don’t need five garlic presses and keep only the “good” scissors that you use most of the time.

Is your home full of toys and furniture more appropriate for children at home, clothes that fit your old work or social life, or absolute media formats? If you have items that are no longer needed, donate or discard them. Even if they are still usable, if you aren’t using them, they are just occupying space you could free up.

Be very selective about offering these items to family. Often, your kids will just not want or use heavy vintage furniture or sets of china. Lifestyles are very different these days and younger families often don’t want hand me down things from previous generations. If your kids genuinely do want some of these items, give them a deadline to pick them up. Often, parents find their homes acting as a storage locker for their grown kids.

As you evaluate which items to keep and what to let go, ask yourself: “What is my future use of this item?” If you are unable to identify a realistic use for the item consider letting it go.

Avoid “Maybe someday.” thinking. If you have items that you are keeping because you may need them someday, decide whether their possible use is worth the amount of space they are taking up. If you DID need it in the future, how hard would it be to get again.

Consider the amount of memories and mementos you want to bring with you. If everything is important, nothing is truly important. Put all your mementos in a pile and decide which photos, souvenirs and sentimental items are most important to you.

Surround yourself with only things that enrich your life and home. Although the sorting and editing can be challenging, utilizing a strategic approach can make the process much easier. A simpler and more meaningful life is a blissful outcome!

Read my article in MSN Best Life Onlife here:

33 Genius Tips for Downsizing Your Home After 50

The Serene Home specializes in helping our clients make the best home management decisions quickly and without regret. We can help with preparing for a move, staging your current home for a sale, and getting you settled in your new home.

Learn more at TheSereneHome.com.

FIND SERENITY NOW

May 20 2019

Bring Joy to Spring Tidying!

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Spring tidying is different than the KonMari Tidying event, which is the one time event during which you sort and organize your entire home, one category at a time.

This tidying is an annual review of your home to address those minor repairs and little improvements that can be made to keep you home and belongings in maintained condition. There is benefit to an annual joy check and the Spring is a great time to review and reset.

KonMari Spring Tidying Tips!

Take a tour of your home interior and exterior condition, subcategory by subcategory. I like the idea of starting from the inside out: inspect the walls for needed paint touch ups. Look at the walls, woodwork and doors to see if there are any dings.

This is a good place to suggest that you decant any leftover gallon paint cans into small, screw top plastic jars if possible. Those gallon cans are not always airtight and paint will separate and dry up over time. Plus, those cans take up a lot of room. When preparing your paint touch up supplies, be sure to mark the name, number and manufacturer of each color for future reference.

Review the floors and carpets for cleaning needs or repairs. Check to see if tiles need repair or re-grouting.

Then, review your plumbing and electrically systems. Do you need some new light bulbs or could you change to higher efficiency bulbs? Could your drains use a good cleaning?

Next, consider all the things in your home that have replaceable, such as your heating and cooling systems or your humidifiers. The Spring is a great time to replace them.

Now it’s time to take a look at your furniture and furnishings including your drapes and curtains. Does anything need cleaning or repair? Have you decided that something you once loved no longer sparks joy? Remember that your tastes and needs change over time and things wear out. Are there things you would like to replace?

Inspect your kitchen cabinets and home storage. Could your shelves benefit from new shelf liners? Do they need a good wipe down? Do your containers still perform their function well?

Now, to the exterior of your home! Harsh Winter weather can expose needed exterior repairs and you’ll want to make sure that your home is protected for the Spring and Summer storms. See that the gutters are cleaned out, paint touched up and check that windows and doors are properly sealed.

Finally, consider your landscaping maintenance needs including making sure that your lawnmower and garden tools are clean and in good repair.

🤦🏻‍♀️Whew! This all can seem like a huge, time-consuming task, so break it down.

Listen To Podcast Here:

I like to do a walk-through inspection first, making a note of everything that needs action. With this list, you can make a project plan:

Do you need to purchase supplies? Decide how you will collect the things you need to get the job done.

Do you need to delegate a task? Enlist your family and friends or look into hiring the right professionals.

Give yourself a reasonable time line and address each item in turn.

A well-maintained home will bring amazing joy to you and your family.

FIND SERENITY NOW

May 20 2019

KonMari Technology Drawer

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Ready to complete the Komono category of technology equipment!

Dad has a drawer full of mismatched cords, old boxes, batteries, and a jumble of unidentified adapters and extensions. It’s confusing and very hard to find anything.

With this category of items, the concept of Spark Joy still applies, even though these are items that are more practical and necessary than some of the other categories. The Joy comes from how these items allow my Father to enjoy his videos, communicate with his children and grandchildren, and allow him to keep up with the news online.

The first step is to remove everything from the drawer. Everything comes out and made into a pile. It’s amazing how much stuff fit in the drawer!

We looked around the house to find any other items in other places so that all the items in this category could be tidied.

Next, items are grouped into similar items so that Dad can determine which items are necessary to enable his technology to work.

Dad shows what he removed from the pile. He will discard these items because they no longer work, they are unneeded boxes or he no longer has the item that the discard fits. We will discard these items responsibly and will take them to a computer store for recycling. This is especially important with things such as batteries or items that could be dangerous.

Now, finding the appropriate and best way to store the items is determined. These items are used in the car to connect technology devices and to allow phones to be to charged on the go.

We will use a small black bag for all of them. This allows these items to be found and taken with him when he travels. These Velcro strips are used to tie up the cords neatly and the colors can be used to identify which items belong to which technology item.

Batteries are a small item and he never seems to have the correct size when needed. Sometimes, a storage item can be found that will give an item a permanent home in the best way.

We found these plastic battery boxes with lids. There is a size for each type of battery. He will keep the batteries neatly organized in these boxes and will know right away when he needs to replenish his supply.

Old boxes can be put to good use in storage. This is a nice, sturdy headphone box that is being used to put all cords and adapters for Apple and Macintosh items. This will allow Dad to find what he is looking for with ease.

And, finally, here is the drawer completely tidied! Everything is visible and easy to find. This well organized drawer definitely Sparks Joy!

FIND SERENITY NOW

May 20 2019

Build An Annual Card Organizer

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I could never remember birthdays or events and was always scrambling around at the last minute for a boring convenience store greeting card.

It was not fun and was not a pleasant way to celebrate a family member’s or friend’s birthday, graduation, wedding, or any other event.

I found a solution that has completely changed my greeting card routine. It’s now a pleasant, relaxed and fun experience.

I started with a pretty box that is the size of the largest card I would ever need. I found a greeting card box on Amazon that came with a set of dividers.

Then I bought a set of stick-on months of the year for the tabs.

Next, I used colorful index cards, one for each month, and wrote out the dates of every birthday and event for that month.

Then, the best part: I hunt down really fun cards, many of which I found on Etsy.

Etsy lists tons of handmade and beautiful cards but I have found them on other websites and nice card shops as well.

For each event on my index list, I put a card under the correct month. I keep several random cards such as thank you or congratulations cards in the back for unexpected situations.

Now, at the beginning of each month, I look to see which cards need to go out and make sure I have the right cards. Throughout the year, I keep an eye out for new cards to add to the box for upcoming events. I keep a book of stamps in the front of the box to make it even more convenient.

Presto! Cards go out on time and with good wishes! Perfect!

May 20 2019

Shopping for Clothes KonMari Style

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Have you thought much about how KonMari might affect your shopping habits in the future? If you are new to KonMari, you may not have even considered it, especially if you are in the midst of discarding and sorting.

Buying anything new might be the last thing on your mind!

At some point, though, it’s inevitable that you will be in the market for something to wear. We all need the basic underthings and we have events and work situations that require particular outfits. Maybe your weight has changed or your day-to-day activities are different than they once were.

It’s very likely that your taste in clothing will change over time after KonMari has entered your mind set. For me, as I discarded so many things that I didn’t love, I wanted to refurnish my wardrobe with clothing that demonstrated my new outlook on life.

I’ve had a few revelations about shopping since I sorted several years ago.

For one thing, it’s been true what is said about KonMari impacting every area of your life. My shopping habits are far different than they were before.

Before KonMari, shopping looked like:

· I would buy as much online as possible, returning things often

· I prided myself on never paying retail.

· I’d almost never shop at nice places. I’d only go to where the deals would be found, in discount stores where the racks were thick with marked down clothing from last season.

· A designer “anything” was a deal at the right price, even if I didn’t like it that much.

Now, shopping is a lot different.

· I don’t buy much online. I really want to see things in person and touch them before I buy.

· I don’t return much because I have a much better sense of what I love and get it right the first time.

· I tend to shop at a greater variety of places-high-end retailers or sample sales or wherever-but it’s not about the deals anymore, because I’m buying fewer, nicer things.

· I can go a very long time without buying anything.

I truly love shopping. It’s one of my favorite pastimes. I love looking at things, trying them on and, occasionally, bringing home something that Sparks Joy! I spend more time now evaluating fabrics and colors and thinking more about how an item will fit into my closet along with my other things. Whether it will be a good investment of not just money, but space within my closet.

When I was an antiques dealer, years ago, I would often go to the estate auctions that followed when the owners had passed on. In looking through all the household items, accumulated over a lifetime, I would find beautiful hats, lingerie and gloves still in their original boxes and tissue, unused and being saved for a special day that never arrived.

Today, I feel a greater obligation to myself and to the items I bring home as well. I don’t want something hanging in my closets, tags still attached, unworn and unloved. So, I wear them.

Because today is my special day!.

Have you thought much about shopping as a KonMari practitioner?

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May 20 2019

The Serenity of Tidy: An End to Clutter Anxiety

admin The Serene Home Tips 0

I have a theory about living in an untidy home: Behind an untidy home lives a person with a measure of anxiety and a frequent sense of being overwhelmed.

Is this true for you?

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Of course, clutter anxiety doesn’t apply to everyone. Many people live quite happily with disorganization and a little chaos. But, many of who suffer from feeling anxious often have a hard time finding their way to maintaining an organized home.

This is not to say that an untidy home is the cause of anxiety, not at all, it is just a symptom of an underlying condition. Certainly, achieving a tidy home will not “cure” anxiety, but it may help reduce the out-of-control feeling that many of us experience before tidying.

Do you identify with any of these feelings?

· Anxiety about how to start organizing.

· Why bother keeping a tidy home when it will just get messy again?

· Fear of having others see your home in a messy state.

· Feeling too tired to straighten following a stressful day.

· Feeling hopeless about keeping a tidy home when so many other things are occupying your thoughts.

The goal of tidying is different for everyone, but some goals include the desire to feel more calm, more relaxed and to have less worry about facing a new day. It’s having a greater appreciation of the things that you love without feeling burdened by the clutter they create.

If only you could get organized once and for all, things would be so much better, right?

Well, I believe that some things would be better!

When simplicity and serenity become words that describe your home and your life, you’ll make room for the things that are really important to you.

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The Serene Home Tips

Springtime Indoors at The Serene Home: Resources for Getting Organized While Spending Time Inside

Happy Spring from The Serene Home!

Well, this isn’t exactly how we thought we would be spending the first weeks of Spring, is it?

With all the challenges facing us right now, it is hard to feel productive and well-centered now that we have been shaken from our usual routines.

KonMari Method Organizing Workshop

Ask The Organizer! Getting Organized Town Hall

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder and the Adult ADD Holistic Seminar

The Serene Home Talks to the Moving Experts at FlatRate Moving

Organizing Your Estate: Katya Sverdlov, Esq. Talks to The Serene Home!

Did you know that The Serene Home can help with Estate Management?

Downsizing is Life Changing Magic!

Bring Joy to Spring Tidying!

Listen To Podcast Here:

KonMari Technology Drawer

Ready to complete the Komono category of technology equipment!

Build An Annual Card Organizer

Shopping for Clothes KonMari Style

The Serenity of Tidy: An End to Clutter Anxiety