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Back To School-Adaptations

August 17, 2012 in News with 0 Comments

It’s about that time again…wow summer flew by!

The following are some tips to help you get back into the BTS transition. If you have school age children, it’s important to help them transition out of summer and into school. It’s also important for Parents to gear up for BTS too! Team effort here all the way!

Organizing your family is important if you want to maintain some Peace of Mind. Of course organizing takes some effort and a little strategic planning. Here are 3 tips to keep in mind as you begin to focus on the new school year. Less stress and more time to do what you really want… plus a sense of pride knowing that little investment of time has really paid off.

Create Routines

The best way to clarify your needs, and get things done in an efficient time is having a routine. Routines remove the stress of decision-making because everyone knows their contribution and when they are expected to contribute. Routines can easily become habits, allowing you to complete your daily tasks easily and quickly. The essential times for routines are morning and evening–they put in place the expectation for things such as homework, snacks, chores and more…

Create a Command Center

Critical for any busy family is a Command Center–the area does not have to be complicated, just useful. The essential elements would be: a calendar, file system for homework, message board and a place for backpacks. The Command Center allows parents and children know where to check for information, at-a-glance communication, and where to follow up on homework assignments. A busy family may not always be together! The Command Center assists in keeping everyone in touch with each other without each person being in the same place at the same time. It’s a simple space, yet so effective.

Create Homework Zones

Find a space in your home that is an approved Homework Zone. The zone should be clutter free, clear of busy traffic ways, and generally a quiet area. Children should understand what goes in the Homework Zone stays in homework zone! There is nothing more frustrating than making a mad dash around the house trying to find that lost sheet of homework.

Hope these tips help you and your family transition smoothly into Back To School Season. Remember, if you need some help organizing a Homework Zone, creating Command Center and/or purging last year’s school stuff, you can always contact me here.

Planting Peace!

Shelley

Entertain in Peace

August 5, 2012 in News, Organization Ideas, Shopping Tips, Time Management Ideas with 0 Comments

Piece of Time Peace of Mind™ offers you another Free Resource

Entertain in Peace Checklist

(click the image below to take a peek at and download the checklist!)

Do you see a party in your horizon? Planning a party a can be half the fun! Use my Entertaining Checklist to help map out your next gathering.

This handy guide helps organize your time and quickly keeps you on track to a successful party.

Once you have completed this checklist, you will be on your way to having as much fun as your guests.

Enjoy!

Planting Peace,

Shelley

You Call This Downtime?

June 18, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

{image by Emanuel Leanza “Eleanza”}

Taking time to Pamper Yourself does not always include a scrub, cream or oil.

Giving time to you is my definition of Pampering You.

When you’re feeling overburdened, you begin to feel stress and when stress occurs, changes happen within your body: clenched jaw, shallow breathing, sighing. I could go on and on but you know how stress manifests in your body.

Overwhelmed? What’s the first thing to go when your schedule is overwhelmed? For most people it’s exercise. Any form of exercise will actually help you deal with the demands of a hectic life.

How do you find more time to exercise when your schedule is full? Break up your type and time of exercise into segments of 10 minute. So many people try to figure out 1-2 hours of exercising a day. But when your life is full and you have demands of time. This may not be so easy.

Here are some ways to exercise as your day moves along:

1. When doing errands, park farther out from the store you go to or park on the other side of the parking lot and walk to the store.

2. Do morning stretching.

3. Take the dog for a walk.

4. Walk your child to school depending on distance-do 1way or RT.

5. Biking to a neighbor friend and say “HI.”

6. Cook more dinners in the oven or Crock Pot-that will offer more time to do exercise. While dinner is cooking you’re boosting your metabolism.

7. Walk to a park with your planner and plan out your week in the park.

8. Housecleaning on the go-go. Collect all your cleaning products in 1 spot. Put on some good dancing tunes. Find your groove and bust a move on cleaning!

Exercise is motion…you can decide what kind, type, length. Make exercise your Pamper Time. Remember there is no better way to pamper yourself than by taking care of your health.

”Health is something we do for ourselves, not something that is done to us… a journey rather than a destination, a dynamic, holistic, and purposeful way of living.” -Dr. Elliot Dacher

Planting Peace,

Shelley

The Cheating Curve

June 15, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

{image by music2work2}

You’ve heard that repeating an action for 21 “consecutive” days turns that action into a habit.

That is almost a month!

They say the first week is critical to your success, but the hardest part is marked on day 10 and further.

Your mind begins judging your habit as a sort of Mind Story. These Mind Stories evolve and they can discourage you quickly. By day 15 you are struggling to hang on and by 21 the odds aren’t looking good.

I think the best way to form a habit is to begin small. A new habit is a new way of thinking.

Reflect on what seems to be an eye sore in your home. Is it the un-kept bed? Unloaded dishwasher? Dirty countertops? Full Trashcan?

Pick 1 thing you want to maintain for 21 days. Choose only 1 thing. As you start to see this maintained, you will notice a shift in you and a change in the item picked. As you continue along your self-esteem increases, your mind-stories minimize, and the positive results influence you to continue on.

If you just chose 1 habit a month, by end of the year you will have built 12 new habits. I would love to hear about your new habits you have recently created.

Nothing is more difficult and therefore more precious than to be able to decide. –Napoleon Bonaparte

Planting Peace,

Shelley

New Shopping Habits

June 8, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration, News, Shopping Tips with 0 Comments

{image by IvanWalsh.com}

Is STUFF taking over your life? Start to rethink your Shopping Habits.

I recently have become more aware of how much I NEED vs. how much I WANT. Theredefinitely is a difference.

I have begun to adopt new principles to apply to my weekly shopping.

I found that a lot of the items that landed in my home were from impulse purchases.

I won’t lie because I do love lists. However, I have to be honest. I would never make a list for fun shopping. It kind of takes out the fun of spontaneous buying, right? Uh… not necessarily…

I now take my time compiling a list of items I would like to get. I do research on the Internet looking for styles, prices and quality. I basically research each item and I do a lot of bookmarking. I have my items of interest bookmarked and it allows me time to do more research and still have my items set up in an organized fashion.

Once I do make a purchase, I am prepared to let go of an item. Any piece arriving in my home tells me that a piece will be released at home. This is a perfect way to keep clutter at a minimal. This principle does not apply to items that are broken or damaged.

So let’s recap some quick tips:

1.Save all your receipts–if you do not use an item within 30 days, its time to get your money back.

2.Don’t carry your store credit cards in your wallet–this take the “quick” out of quick impulse buys.

3. Give to Get-New arrival lands in your home–release an older item and pay it forward.

4. Streamline your purchases–I utilize Reminder List on my iPhone. I create lists for all of my most frequently shopped in stores such as Target, Costco, Petco etc… All of the items I normally buy from each store are on each list. It cuts down the clutter in my mind and also keeps my purchasing more organized and focused.

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

Branching Out Your Way!

May 18, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

All items in your life are there for a reason. It is up to you to discover that reason.

Part of the process of letting go is allowing yourself to find the emotional attachment to the item. This can be challenging at times, but if you persevere the rewards will be great. As you get through your stuff, your answer will find you.

When I am with a client who is in their throes of emotional attachment. I ask them to set it aside for now and continue to stay on the course. There is no need to put additional pressure on one item. If they are not ready to let go then they are not ready.

Simple as that!

We keep the item and move on.

If you know that the process of letting go will be difficult, don’t do it alone. Find someone who can help you to continue through but will know when you need to set aside and circle back later. The more at ease you are, the easier it is to decide and to let go.

Keeping or not keeping will become as easy as 1, 2, and 3.

“People have to learn sometime not only how much the heart, but how much the need can bear.” -Maria Mitchell

Planting Peace!

Shelley

Get The Help You Need!

May 4, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

{image by Shelley Rubalcava}

Is your house a disaster zone?

Do you find there is no time to organize your house?

Or even your life?

When you get so far behind in caring for your home/life, it may seem impossible, to find balance and organization. It’s time to hire a professional organizer!

Personal organizers have experience to look for ways that will help you get and stay organized. Once you have organization in your home/life you will feel more balanced.

When searching for organizers take time to have a conversation with each potential organizer. Here are some questions to ask each potential organizer:

How much experience do you have?
Do you specialize in a certain area of organization?
Do you have a list of references? May I contact them?
Do you charge for the initial consultation?
Do I purchase supplies that are needed?
Will I be involved in the decision making process?

Hiring an Organizer benefits you in many ways:

Creates more Time

Saves Money

Provides an Objective View

Provides Accountability

Teaches A New Way to Organize Your Stuff

Hiring an organizer is a great investment in YOU. Do some research, call and compare organizers. You want to work with someone you feel comfortable with. The last you want is an organizer to bulldoze everything and create systems that are not reflective of you.

Trust me get yourself a Piece of Time and you will have Peace of Mind.

Planting Peace!

Shelley

Life Planning 101

April 30, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

I am by no means an expert in Life Planning but I do have some experience in living a balanced and simplified life. It has taken years to re-arrange, re-prioritize and I am still in the process and I hope never to stop reshaping my life. I think we all struggle with creating effective plans in our lives. Sometimes an event, person or a new transition derails our best-laid plans. Whether you are just beginning and or have been doing it for years you can increase the value of effective planning.

I offer Life Planning Workshop that is an individual process to really look at your life: priorities, time management, and planning. Being able to meet for weekly sessions creates the space for accountability. Being your accountability partner enables you to implement your life plans and is an important key to your success.

As we work on getting your life plans in motion it’s important to remember not to shoot for perfection- sorry I will be the bearer of bad news “your life will never be perfect”. Everyone’s lives needs adjusting, fine-tuning and tweaking and with my support you can move thru all your life with ease. Dont’t you think two minds are better than one? Let’s strategize together!

I am here to help you focus on what is most important now and keep your tasks aligned with your goals. It’s critical that you maintain your focus on the important things in your life and having my support will make a difference.

Sometimes when you are feeling overwhelmed you can easily loose sight on what your priorities are. I can help you adjust priorities as your situations change. I can aid in reminding you to be flexible and stay true to your values.

Our weekly meetings are not spent crossing off a checklist nor is it about completing as many tasks as physically possible. The devoted time is spent reviewing your past week and current week. It’s our time to discuss your life progress.

Are You?

Juggling the details of your life?

Feeling completely overwhelmed?

At a loss of how to make you’re way out of your chaotic life?

Do you wish you had someone to just walk beside you and re-calibrate your systems?

The Life Planning Workshop was made for you!

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

Greener Pastures?

April 29, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Creative Ideas, Inspiration, News with 0 Comments

Looking For Greener Pastures?

Organization? No Time to Do It?

Organized… something you want to do, yet seem to push off until “you have more time.”

Organized… something you used to be but lost your way some how.

Organized… something you strive to be but have not been able to accomplish yet.

Your closets, pantry, drawers and extra rooms seem to be the catch all’s of your daily life. You lose focus on things that are important. You’re running around like a crazed person because you cannot seem to locate anything in your home?

Those crazed days are over. I am here to help you organize your sacred space- “your home.” I can help you create a space that is defined and reflective of your personality.

There is more than enough organization tips out there. Most organizational experts look at clutter as the enemy but I believe clutter arrives when your life needs a little extra TLC.

Out of clutter you can find simplicity- Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.

If you are checking out my website/blog than you already have the “will” to get organized. I will be your clutter coach. I can offer support to help you stay the course. You don’t need to feel discouraged anymore. Your life is about to get organized. So you can spend time on what is important to you.

Where to begin:

Hot Spots: What are hot spots? These are areas where items have piled up and they are quickly approaching a “take over” of your home. We will ask questions:

What is this clutter telling us?

Who shares clutter in this home?

How does this clutter get in the way of your life?

PDR: We will determine what items need to be purged, donated or re-purposed. Clear items that isn’t useful or beautiful. Does the item need to move on?

How can more good come into your life if there is no room for it?

Order within: Once the chaos is removed. The next step is finding a place for everything. Finding a home takes a plan but most importantly that plan needs to work for you.

I can help you find solutions to maintaining an organized life.

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley