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Stop Searching. Start Living! |
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September 2, 2005 |
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Space Inventors 484-547-7304 SpaceInventors@gmail.comP.O. Box 3056 Allentown, PA 18106
Space Inventors provides hands-on and coaching assistance to make the most of your time and space. Our clients seek a nurturing space to spend more time with loved ones, enhance the community, create art, continue learning, and grow professionally. If you’re inspired to do more with your life but clutter and mundane tasks stand in the way, contact us for a free consultation.
Something on your mind? Don’t just sit there! Send an e-mail to SpaceInventors@gmail.com with the subject Comment and tell me what you think. I’d love to hear about your experiences getting organized.Got a question? Ask the Organizer! Send an e-mail to SpaceInventors@gmail.com with the subject Question. Maybe I’ll feature your question in a future newsletter.Find this newsletter useful? Please pass it along. The only thing I ask is that you forward the entire newsletter. Got this newsletter from a friend? Want your own copy? Send an e-mail to SpaceInventors@gmail.com with the subject Subscribe.No longer interested? Reply to this message and change the subject to Remove. Your wish will be granted with no hard feelings.
Space Inventors 484-547-7304 SpaceInventors@gmail.comP.O. Box 3056 Allentown, PA 18106
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The clock is ticking Welcome back. I want to thank everyone who told me you enjoy the newsletter, and apologize for making you wait so long for this one! It’s been a busy month here at Space Inventors. Business increased dramatically in August, encouraging me to look at how I spend my time helping clients and supporting my family. If you are also pondering the best use of your time, this issue is for you. Namaste, WDIY Flea Market 9/17 WDIY, the Lehigh Valley’s very own public radio station, has asked Space Inventors for assistance with their upcoming benefit flea market. The flea market will be held September 17 at 301 Broadway in South Bethlehem (see www.wdiyfm.org for more info), and Space Inventors will provide information to volunteers for donating anything that doesn’t sell. It’s a great event for everyone… WDIY raises money, the community can pick up goods at a discount, and area charities will receive any unclaimed goodies free of charge. We’re lucky to have WDIY in our backyard; please come out and support them.
Recognizing time clutter Lately we’ve been looking at physical clutter… unused kitchen utensils, unworn clothing, etc. But I’ve also mentioned committee obligations and telemarketers’ calls. If organizing is about saving time and freeing up space, let’s talk about the time side of the equation. Just as your filing cabinet may be stuffed with never-referenced paper, your calendar may be stuffed with ineffective activities. Consider the following: When was the last time you… * … listened politely to a boring story while your mind was on what you wanted to do instead? * … attended a social engagement you wish you hadn’t? * … sat through a meeting you didn’t need to? If your answered "recently" to any of these questions then you likely have some time clutter. Time clutter is insidious. Not only does it take precious minutes from your life, but it can also steal more time as you recover from unpleasant tasks and events. Time clutter hot spots Time clutter tends to collect in the non-essential areas of our lives. Take a look at the activities that feel important, but aren’t critical. * Hobbies that feel like a chore. Pay careful attention to your internal words when you think about your hobbies. Are you saying "I want to" or "I have to"? Abandon the "have-tos" and donate the supplies associated with them. Someone who is new to your tired old hobby will love your used supplies. In the last year, I have given away yarn, fabric and wax that I will never make into afghans, clothing, or candles. Nothing says you have to keep all your hobbies forever. Each time I give up a hobby, I wonder if I will feel like a quitter. Instead, I feel relieved and free and wondered why I didn’t do it sooner. It creates time for new experiences, and lets me approach the hobbies I enjoy without those so-called failures underfoot. Give yourself the gift of guilt-free fun! * Volunteer work and community commitments. In Simplify Your Life, Elaine St. James says "resign from any organizations whose meetings you dread." If you’re volunteering, your compensation is the good feeling you get from making the world a better place. If you feel drained or used, you’re not being compensated. So quit! There are plenty of organizations doing good work. Find one whose activities you don’t dread. * Friends and coworkers. I know someone who was a stay-at-home mom for several years. She had no shortage of people who bombarded her with requests for her time. "You don’t work, could you pick up my kids after school?" or "Since you’re available during the day, could take a package to the post office for me?" Eventually she realized that these people were moochers instead of friends, and started redirecting her energy to relationships that were more equitable and satisfying. Controlling time clutter Welcome to the age old balance between honoring one’s own needs and being respectful of another’s. So where’s the line between giving a gift to a fellow human and being take advantage of? I don’t have a clear answer, but here are a few questions to ask yourself: * Is this the best use of my time? Think about your personal and professional goals, and whether or not a given activity or conversation will move you towards them. * How will I feel about this tomorrow or next week? Project yourself into the future, beyond the emotion of the moment. Are you more likely to be angry at yourself for letting someone or something steal time from your family, your work, your passions? Or will you regret walking away? It’s fine to give the time to a rambling conversation with someone who needs a compassionate ear, or stay late to work on a project that’s important to you. It’s not fine to give so freely of your time that you or your loved ones suffer. We only get so much time. Make sure you are spending yours wisely. |