Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 63

20 Signs You’re Pushing Yourself too Hard

As moms, most of us have been guilty of burning the candle at both ends.  Because, let’s face it–our lives are BUSY!  Couple motherhood with being a wife, caring for your home, holding down a job, and dealing with a million other responsibilities, and I think we can all admit it…most of the time, our plates are full!

But the reality is that when we try to take on too much too often, we will eventually burn out.  In fact, you might even be feeling burned out right now.  Maybe you are tired all the time, or having trouble staying focused.  Maybe you feel disconnected from your friends or your spouse or even from God.  Maybe you feel depressed or anxious or stressed.

When we’re overwhelmed, our lives suffer. We snap at our children or scream at our spouse.  We sometimes drop important balls–miss appointments or birthdays, or let people down.  We might try to alleviate our stress by overeating, spending money we don’t really have, or engaging in unhealthy behaviors (like that THIRD glass of wine), but those coping mechanisms only tend to make things worse.

Personally, I’m the kind of person that likes being busy, at least most of the time. I enjoy being engaged and involved in all sorts of projects. Call me crazy, but I have to admit I like achieving big tasks and taking on extra responsibility. I feel good about myself when I accomplish something difficult, or when I take on a challenge that appears to be insurmountable.

Except when I don’t.  Because then I hate being busy, and all I want to do is stop the madness.

But I’m learning, slowly, that sometimes it is okay to let things go.  For instance, a few years ago we tried homeschooling for a year.  There was a lot I loved about it, but there was also a lot I didn’t.  Eventually we made the hard decision to send our girls back to school.

I’m not going to lie, I felt like a big fat failure.

But once I admitted it wasn’t working for our family, there was an enormous sense of relief that washed over me. I didn’t realize the toll it had taken until it was over. Life is like that. So often, we don’t realize just how frustrated we are or how challenging a situation is until it’s over.

Keep in mind, there are quite a few signs and symptoms that indicate you might be pushing yourself a little too hard.  In fact, this is topic that I discuss in detail in my new book, Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind & Soul, which speaks to the fact that the clutter in our lives isn’t always just the physical stuff filling up our homes, but often the mental and spiritual clutter that weighs us down and makes us feel out of whack.

But just like runners training for a race, there’s a point when you want to push yourself to achieve optimum results, but not so hard that you crash and burn. Here are some signs you might be pushing yourself to hard:

Physical Symptoms
 1. Exhaustion and Sleep Issues

If you’re feeling tired all the time or if you’re battling insomnia (or both), these are clear signs you may be in over your head. Try to aim for 7½ to 8 hours of sleep per night. If you just can’t seem to get what you need or if you’re still exhausted despite hitting the 8-hour quota, please visit your doctor.

2. Frequent Illness

Everybody gets a cold or flu bug now and again, but if you’re sick all the time, something might be wrong. This is a big one for me. Have you ever heard, “If you don’t take a break, your body will take one for you”? One season I experienced colds and respiratory infections for six months straight!

3. Headaches and Stomachaches

Even if you’re a migraine sufferer or if you have digestive issues, constant flare-ups can be a symptom and sign of stress. If you notice your body is experiencing more pain and discomfort than usual, see a doctor and consider addressing the source of some of the stress, if at all possible.

4. Sports Injuries

If you (or your kids) are frequently experiencing sports injuries and strains, perhaps you’re training too hard or taking on too many physical challenges. Kids can be taking on too much as well, so it’s up to you as a parent to reinforce limits and help them understand it’s okay to sit out once in a while.

Emotional Symptoms
 5. Feeling Overwhelmed

We all feel overwhelmed once in a while, but if you’re regularly feeling like things are spinning out of control and it seems like you can’t get a handle on anything, it might be time to take a break and reset.

 6. Forgetting Things

Again, everyone forgets things sometimes, but if you’re noticing marked confusion or forgetfulness, it might be a sign of too much stress. The worst part of forgetting things is how it compounds the feelings of stress even more so. If you’re searching for answers on the tip of your tongue, it might be time for some rest and relaxation. Our brains need breaks, too.

 7. Feeling Stressed, Anxious or Angry

If you feel you’re on the verge of screaming at someone or ready to explode all the time, it can be really miserable. Of course, it’s normal to feel nervous, worried or angry sometimes, but if it seems you’re in a constant state of irritation and distress, it’s probably time to seek some help or to cut back on your to-do list. A big red flag? Erupting in anger for almost no reason.

 8. Feeling Sad, Depressed, or in Despair

A little sadness is natural, even healthy. (Who doesn’t need a good cry every once in a while?) Clinical depression, however, is dangerous and should be taken very seriously. As a sufferer of depression, I can attest that it can be utterly overwhelming and is usually very discernible from simply feeling blue. Depression is crushing and life-threatening. If you feel you’re depressed, tearful or unhappy most of the time, then please reach out to get some help.

Relationship Symptoms
 9. Frequent Fighting

If you and your spouse can barely be around each other without fighting, or if you’re experiencing a higher-than-usual amount of conflict in your relationship, it could be a sign you’re both stretched too thin. Take a step back before it takes a toll on your relationship.

 10. Lashing Out at Your Kids

We’ve all had moments when we’ve snapped at our kids, and it feels terrible, of course. If you find you’re short-tempered or easily frustrated with your children for benign situations, it may be a sign you’re approaching stressed-out.

 11. Isolating Yourself or Feeling Like You Aren’t Social Enough

For some people, every weekend means a social gathering or activity. For others, maybe your social calendar only needs to be visited a few times a month. You know what’s normal for you, so if you start feeling isolated or like you’re not seeing friends and family as frequently as you’d like, then something might be amiss. Pay attention to comments from your nearest and dearest as well. Sometimes those who know us best might pick up on isolating behaviors faster than we can pick up on them on our own.

 12. Taking Offense (Too Easily)

If every social interaction leaves you feeling hurt, annoyed or stepped on, it might be a sign you’re feeling vulnerable because you’re emotionally strained. When we are exhausted or feeling raw, every comment can come off as offensive or harsh, even if it was unintended. If you feel like everyone is frustrating you or hurting your feelings, you might need a break.

Spiritual Symptoms
 13. Destructive Habits

When we’re trying to keep up with everything, we can develop bad habits and rely on coping behaviors that are damaging to our bodies, minds and souls. Using drugs, drinking too much, and even overspending can become addictive. When this happens, it’s time to take a step back to realize that we’re often using these quick-fixes to try to make ourselves feel better, rather than addressing the stress at hand.

 14. Skipping Spiritual Time

If you’re skipping church, prayer or Bible study simply because you feel you don’t have time, try to pause and reassess priorities. Our time with God is the most important time we can spend. By isolating ourselves from church and worship, we’re left feeling like we’re telling God we don’t have time for Him. You’ll feel much better when you revamp your schedule and regain some peace.

 15. Feeling Guilt or Feeling Distant from God

If you’re constantly wracked with a sense of guilt or a feeling that something is missing, or if you’re just avoiding prayer because you feel you might be unworthy or not enough—it’s truly time to reach out. When you feel that distance, it means you are pulling away from God, not the other way around. Remember God loves us not because we are worthy, but because HE is.

Practical Symptoms
 16. Missing Appointments and Events

If you’re unable to keep appointments and commitments because you either can’t keep track or you just keep forgetting, your calendar is probably too full. Really look it over and think about what items you can scale back on or say no to. Check out this post, for some practical tips on how to Take your calendar back.

 17. Mistakes at Work

Many times, our busy personal lives can spill over into our work lives. If you’re taking on too much outside of the office, you might find yourself unfocused or unable to handle as much at work. Conversely, if you’re taking on too much at work and you find you’re unable to let it go when you’re home, it’s probably time to refocus your work/life balance.

 18. Financial Problems—Overspending and Late Bills

When we’re stressed, finances can seem insurmountable. Not only do we spend to cope with stress (it’s easier to go out to eat than to fix dinner; it’s easier to buy a gift than to take the time to make something), but we can also find ourselves avoiding our bills and falling behind. It can become a vicious cycle. Get a handle on your budget and work to get things under control so you can address your stress.

 19. A Messy Home

If you feel you’re constantly running around and you never have time to clean your house, let alone relax in it, it’s time to re-prioritize. A messy, disorganized home can add to the chaos of our lives, as it becomes a place of stress rather than a sanctuary from the world around us. Organize your home so you can count on it as a retreat, rather than a place of increased stress.

 20. Falling Behind in School

Our children feel the pressure of our stress as well. Have your kids fallen behind on assignments because you haven’t had time to go over homework or help? Are they struggling because of too many evening extracurricular activities, lessons and clubs? Kids can get just as stressed out as adults and childhood should be a time of creativity and growth, not stress and deadlines. Help your kids get their stress under control and make sure your stress isn’t spilling over onto them.

By identifying these signs and symptoms of stress, we can better head it off before it takes over our lives. Remember: life is short! It should be joyful and fun (not miserable drudgery). Give yourself time to appreciate the beauty in day-to-day activities and let go of the pressure to do it all!

P.S.  Unstuffed is now available in bookstores everywhere, and if you’ve been feeling weighed down by clutter, it might just be the message your heart needs to hear!  Jam-packed with inspiring personal stories as well as practical tips you can implement right away, it is a guilt-free, stress-free guide to taking our life back from all the STUFF weighing down our lives.  Plus, when you order right now you can also get $75 in exclusive tools & resources! Get all the details at www.unstuffed.com.

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Chocolate & Peanut Butter Dessert Dip

This is a guest post from Gina of Kleinworth & Co.

I sure love having a little something sweet at the end of the day. It’s so nice to just indulge in a couple bites of something delectable. But as the weather gets nicer & the calendar starts filling up, I don’t want to spend a bunch of time in the kitchen making treats. But I love having homemade recipes rather than a store bought goodie. So I have come up with some quick & easy recipes just for this time of year. I consider them my warm weather staples. I love them because they take just a handful of ingredients & usually come together in about 10-20 minutes. For me that’s key because I’m usually running out the door for this or that & keeping treat prep manageable is important. It certainly keeps me from stopping at the corner store or the ice cream shop while running around.

One of my favorite flavor combinations is the ever popular chocolate & peanut butter. So it’s no surprise that the recipe I make the most is this Chocolate & Peanut Butter Dessert Dip. Have you ever made a dessert dip before? They are incredibly simple & always a great addition to a party spread. I love this one because it has my favorite flavors & I can dip just about anything in it. Our “go-to” is usually animal or graham crackers, but this is also quite tasty with some apples, pears or pretzels. The creamy texture paired with something crunchy is really delicious & then that pop of the chocolate bits- WOW! If you are a fan of peanut butter & chocolate then this is a must make treat for you!

Here is what you need:

1/4 cup peanut butter
4 oz cream cheese- softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tsp sweet cream coffee creamer
1/2 cup chopped chocolate pieces
 

Step 1: Combine peanut butter, cream cheese & coffee creamer in mixer bowl & beat until smooth.

Step 2: Slowly stir in confectioners sugar & then beat well.

Step 3: Chop your chocolate bar into bite size pieces.

Step 4: Fold chocolate into your dip. Cover & chill until ready to serve.

NOTE: You don’t have to chill before serving. It’s actually best when served closer to room temperature so it’s nice & creamy. I suggest removing from refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving for best consistency. It certainly never lasts long at our gatherings. Don’t be surprised if everyone just hangs out near the snack spread so they can enjoy all of this dip.

 

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Recipe: Chocolate & Peanut Butter Dessert Dip

Summary: This is definitely my favorite quick snack. It’s the perfect blend of chocolate & peanut butter that I can never seem to get enough of.

Ingredients

1/4 cup peanut butter
4 oz cream cheese- softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tsp sweet cream coffee creamer
1/2 cup chopped chocolate pieces



Instructions

Combine peanut butter, cream cheese & coffee creamer in mixer bowl & beat until smooth.
Slowly stir in confectioners sugar & then beat well.
Chop your chocolate bar into bite size pieces.
Fold chocolate into your dip. Cover & chill until ready to serve.

Prep time: 2 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2 cups

 

 

Gina, author of Kleinworth & Co, is a busy homeschooling mom to 3 great kids ages 12-18. She likes to find new ways to make life simple & streamlined on a budget. She loves to share easy DIY projects, fun crafts with the kids & a whole lot of recipes, with a few photography tips sprinkled in occasionally too.

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10 Simple Changes You Can Make TODAY to Save Money

This is a guest post from Kalyn of Creative Savings

Most of us brush off saving money because we find it too overwhelming. The truth is, it can be…especially if you’re tackling a big expense or trying to change everything right away.

But the key to saving money is not necessarily by taking on a huge project—it’s by focusing on a much smaller, more achievable one. It’s finding those extra savings that don’t really feel like huge sacrifices in the moment, but end up creating lifelong habits later on.

So instead of telling you to grow your own vegetables, stop Starbucks cold turkey, or extreme coupon until your closets are full, I want to suggest ten simple changes take literally 5-10 minutes each, and still have an instant impact on your bottom line. They probably won’t save you hundreds of dollars tomorrow, but over time, I promise they will make a big difference!

1. Start Saving Loose Change

If you primarily use cash, one easy switch is to pay exclusively with bills, then set aside your change in a digital coin bank. I bet you already have a few coins lurking in your laundry room and behind the couch to get started! At the end of each month, or when the container is full, roll them in coin wraps and drop them off at your local bank.

I recommend storing these coins in a savings account so you’re less likely to touch it. Establish a financial goal—like paying off debt, saving for retirement, or funding a home remodel—then let it grow!

2. Adjust Your Thermostat

Whether you use heat, air conditioning, or both, adjusting your thermostat every time you leave the house or head to bed makes a pretty big difference in your overall bill. The Energy Information Administration found that 42% of home energy costs go to heating and cooling, so it’s essential to get this part under control!

You can adjust the temperature manually, or buy a programmable thermostat to do all the adjusting for you. During winter, lowering your temp will save more. During the summer, {especially with air conditioning}, higher is better.

3. Take a Shorter Shower

I’ll be honest—I love a nice long relaxing shower, but when you really stop to think about it, it’s crazy how much water we waste {and pay for} all because we want to enjoy that spa-like experience!

Time the length of your normal shower, then try to shorten the length by a few minutes every day. Save even more by turning the water off to suds up with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. If you always shave in the shower, fill the sink with warm water and shave there instead.

4. Swap Out One Cleaning Product

The absolute biggest way you can save on cleaning supplies is to make your own from scratch. White vinegar, borax, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, dish soap, and water literally cost just pennies a piece, and can do wonders when mixed in the appropriate measurements!

I don’t recommend you switch out everything right away—remember, we don’t want to get overwhelmed—so focus on the one bottle that’s closest to being thrown out. Ruth has a ton of great DIY cleaning recipes to help you get started.

5. Repurpose Your Scrap Paper

Limiting paper use is not just good for your wallet, it’s essential for the environment too. Just think about how many pieces of paper you use, print, or handle in a given day. Paper is literally everywhere, including our landfills!

Besides being more conscious about what you print, it’s time to repurpose the paper you currently use. I have a stash of scrap printer paper available to print coupons, my weekly meal plan, and anything else that doesn’t require a professional printing. I also write lists on the back of junk envelopes, or cut scrap full-size papers into four quarters to use as notes.

6. Cancel Memberships You’re Not Using

How often do you use Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Sling TV? What about the gym membership you bought in January, or the magazine subscription you never have time to read? Comb through your credit card and/or bank statement and highlight everything that comes out automatically, then reassess to see if you really need them.

Chances are, you probably don’t…or at least not that many!

7. Sign Up for Birthday Freebies

Many restaurants offer free food on your birthday if you sign up for their email list. The best part is, the coupons they send are valid for your entire birthday month—that means you could eat for free all month long, and at a variety of restaurants!

You want to sign up for these at least thirty days before your birthday to be eligible, then print and keep on hand to enjoy free stuff throughout your birthday month. You can find an extensive list of birthday freebies HERE.

8. Eat the Leftovers Already in Your Fridge

Instead of grabbing takeout, dig through your fridge or freezer and eat a plate of leftovers…pending they’re still good, that is!  One of my tricks is to freeze individual leftovers rather than sticking them in the fridge. This is particularly helpful if we have something like extra biscuits or soup, because we can just freeze the rest for another busy night.

Another thing I like to do is warm up leftovers on the stove or in a convection oven. It seems to revive refrigerated food a lot better than the microwave!

9. Unplug Your Unused Appliances

Take a minute to look around your house…is your toaster oven plugged in? What about lamps? Maybe a phone charger…or two? It takes just a few minutes to plug and unplug these items, and though one appliance might not make that big of a difference, a handful of them most definitely do!

Make it a habit to unplug your kitchen appliances when not in use, and put away your chargers when you don’t need them. If you have a bunch of cords in the same general area, grab a surge protector that you can easily switch on and off.

10. Swap Your Light Bulbs

Another simple change is to switch out all incandescent bulbs after they burn out with CFL bulbs. These bulbs work at partial capacity, which means they use 75% less energy, and last ten times longer than normal bulbs. Even though CFL’s are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, their long life span makes the switch more than worth it.

Dimmable CFL’s can save even more, but make sure the package says dimmable before trying it. Many CFL’s are surprisingly not!

Once you see the amazing transformation these simple changes have on your budget, you might just find you can’t stop. That’s a good thing! It means you’re ready for more.

These tips are just a small sampling of what you’ll find in my book, 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses. If you want to go even deeper and radically improve your finances, this book is your go-to resource! Psst…today the Kindle version is just $.99, but you can also get it paperback too.

31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses walks you through every part of your budget, and gives you the tools and resources to change your expenses for the better…even if you already think they’re as low as they can go. Consider this your personal roadmap to find more money at the end of every month, make lasting change, and start saving for what truly matters!

Saving money isn’t about just making changes today, or even this month…it’s about making changes for life. I hope you’ve been inspired to turn one of these simple changes into a lifelong habit!

*   *   *

What simple change are you going to make today?

 

Kalyn Brooke is the founder of the popular frugal lifestyle blog,  CreativeSavingsBlog.com, where she empowers women to make their money work smarter, so they can create the life they really want. She strongly believes in pinching dollars over pennies, buying quality products over cheap substitutions, and living a life rich with purpose and intention….not deprivation. Originally from Upstate NY, Kalyn now resides in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband, Joseph, and one terribly spoiled rabbit, named Cody.

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How to Plan a Weekend Purge

I just love those home makeover and house-swap shows. You know, those shows where a family spends the weekend organizing, cleaning out, and “making over” their home? It’s so exciting to see people get a fresh start. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the opportunity to work from a blank slate?

Truly decluttering your life is a much larger process—it’s going to take longer than just one weekend of cleaning. However, there’s quite a lot to be said about getting a big chunk of purging and organizing done at once.

You might not be on a reality show, but you can certainly spend a weekend emulating the pros and making headway.

In my new book, Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind & Soul, I provide a detailed process to help you undergo a weekend of purging, decluttering and getting yourself organized. If you’re ready to get started, here are the basics of the weekend plan.

Plan & Prepare to Purge

The first step is to harness your plan and get ready. You’ll want to start preparing at least a few days ahead. Schedule your clean-out for a weekend when you can dedicate the entire time to the process—no lessons, no games, no activities, no visitors.

Assemble a team of helpers, including your spouse and (depending on their ages) your children. By including the whole family, you ensure their buy-in and commitment to keeping your house unstuffed after the work is done. It’s so easy to slide into bad habits, but it’s more difficult when you’ve exerted such effort and had a hand in the process.

If your children are very young, you’re going to want to also consider childcare. If you have pets, you may want to arrange for a sitter or boarding for the weekend. Consider preparing freezer meals or easy-to-assemble make-ahead meals, because you aren’t going to want to focus on preparing food and cooking. Have items like granola bars and water bottles readily accessible, so your team isn’t slowed down by thirst or hunger.

Consider where you’ll be donating items and be sure you can drop items right off at the proper location THAT day. Don’t wait! Waiting means holding onto stuff, which can lead to changing your mind and undoing some of your hard work.

Compile the supplies you will need, such as: boxes, garbage bags, markers, tape, storage containers and baskets. Consider assembling hangers for each closet. (40 hangers per family member works well.) If you have a label maker, shelf paper and other organizational tools on hand, you may want to also gather them together.

You can include your photos on social media by using the hashtag #unstuffedchallenge. Let’s compare our progress and exchange some tips and tricks we learn!

It’s Friday—Time to Get Started Right Away!

When the scheduled weekend arrives, you’re going to want to get started right away! Don’t wait for Saturday morning. Roll up your sleeves on Friday night and get to work!

Turn on some motivating music (something with a good beat) because for the first 90 minutes, you’re going to blitz through your house. Have everyone go through each room in the house with a box or a bag. Start with surface organizing and remove anything clearly out of place. For this step, you’re simply picking up and organizing your home.

Don’t worry about putting every single thing right where it belongs—just get it close to the general location. After all, you’re going to spend some time organizing closets and shelves, so right now it’s just about getting items to their proper area.

Start with your bedroom closet. Remove each item and narrow it down to just the essentials. For each item ask yourself:

Is this in good condition? (No stains, holes, or snags)
Do I love this?
Does it fit?
Do I wear this regularly and does it go with other things in my closet?
Does it make me feel good when I put it on?

 It can be hard to let go of items you feel an emotional attachment to, or things you love but you just don’t fit into. These feelings are totally normal. Give yourself permission to toss these items in a bag and let go. Set a limit on the number of items you can keep. I like to stick to 40—I get a nice variety of clothing, but setting this limit ensures I don’t keep unnecessary items.

Load up your car with everything you’d like to sell or donate, and finish up for the evening.

Saturday Morning

Get started early! Today’s going to be a big day. Start the morning by stripping the beds and washing the sheets. Then, take some time to drop off any items you decided to donate last night. If you’ve decided to sell any items online, take the time to post those as well (but give yourself a strict time limit). Enjoy a hearty breakfast and switch up the laundry.

By 9:00am, you should be ready to tackle the bathrooms. As these are typically small spaces, you may want to split up the tasks, especially if you have more than one bathroom. Each person should have instructions to throw out anything you no longer use, and anything expired or leaking.

Go through cabinets, drawers and shelves. Get rid of extra towels, those old magazines on the back of the toilet, and anything else cluttering up the space. Once you’ve cleaned it out and pared down, give your bathroom a good cleaning. Wipe down mirrors, counters, the shower, the sink and the toilet. Don’t forget the floors.

Schedule a short break in the middle of your morning to catch your breath, use the bathroom, have a drink, etc. Next, move on to the master bedroom. Set a timer for 90 minutes and go through the drawers and surfaces of your bedroom. Be sure to pull out anything stored under the bed and organize your drawers using the same guidelines as your closet. Finish up with a good dust and vacuum, and be sure to put any remaining items back into their proper homes.

Saturday Afternoon

Take a lunch break and resume cleaning by 1:00pm. To make lunch easier, plan to have something simple, like sandwiches or another easy-to-clean-up item. You might even choose to use disposable plates or just napkins to keep cleaning up to a minimum.

After lunch, your next project is the kitchen and dining area. These can be tough spots to tackle, as clutter definitely tends to collect in these areas. Go through your fridge and food cupboards. Toss anything past its expiration date, anything you don’t like, and anything you don’t plan to use up. Be ruthless.

Go through your cupboards. Take everything out and place it on the counter. Ask yourself if you REALLY need two garlic presses (or even one), and get rid of any multiples or one-trick gadgets.

Take a 15-minute break after 90 minutes, then continue on with the process. Reassemble the cupboards after wiping out the shelves by putting away the items you’ve decided to keep. Repeat this process with food shelves, the buffet, pantry, fridge and freezer. Wipe down every surface and be sure bottles, packages and dishes are clean when you return them to their homes. Finish the kitchen by wiping down the sink, counters and floor. Try to keep the counters as free from clutter as possible.

After taking a short break, it’s time to start on the kids’ rooms and closets. Similar to your own room and closet: get rid of anything no longer loved, used or serving your needs. Toss or donate any toys your kids have outgrown and clothing they no longer wear. Put things back in an orderly fashion, surface clean and make the beds.

By 6:00pm, you’re probably going to be feeling pretty exhausted. Run any items to a donation location and take a nice dinner break. Over dinner, you can assess your progress and challenges you might have faced during the day’s process. Give yourself some time to refresh and re-energize before you tackle the evening tasks. You can do it!

Saturday Evening

After dinner, it’s time to give yourself another 90-minute task: cleaning the basement and the toy/playroom. Get rid of anything you don’t use! Basements are major areas of clutter. It’s where we store things we don’t actually want, yet we can’t bring ourselves to part with. If items have made the way down to this “zone,” it’s time to be tough and clean them out!

Give yourself until 9:00pm to finish, then take a few minutes for YOU. Relax with a hot bath or shower. Enjoy a cup of tea, and read a magazine or book, or zone out to your favorite show. Whatever it is, be sure to treat yourself a little. You deserve it after this challenge!

Sunday

Spend the morning relaxing! Enjoy breakfast or brunch with your family, attend an early church service, go for a walk, or do some reading. Take a break and take care of your Sunday necessities.

Around noon, start to gear up to tackle the garage. For 90 minutes, go through all of the junk that’s accumulated…and purge it. Get rid of old tools, cans of paint, pots and gardening equipment, sports items—whatever you’ve dumped in the garage for “storage.”

When you’ve eliminated as much as possible, give yourself a chance to catch your breath and take a quick break. Then, set the timer for another 90 minutes and start to reassemble the garage. Sweep, dust and wipe down surfaces, then put everything in its proper place. For every item you keep, ask: Do I really use this? Does it work? Do I really like it and want it? If the answer to any of those questions is no, get rid of it.

By 4:00pm, you’re on the final stretch! Give yourself 90 more minutes to tackle any remaining areas in your house, and give everything a final sweep. This is a great opportunity to go through your craft area, your home office, exercise area, or other rooms specific to your living space. Use the same principles to assess each area, and finish up.

If you follow the plan, by 5:30pm or 6pm on Sunday, you should feel very accomplished! In a single weekend you’ve managed to purge what might be years of clutter and junk. You’ve gotten a handle on your space and you’ve started the organization process.

As you move forward, set up small milestones and markers so you can be sure you’re not backsliding from the plan. Continue to keep only the things that bring you joy and those that are truly useful to your home and happiness. Unstuffing our lives is a long process, requiring a change of habits and mindsets. While it can’t completely happen in one weekend, you’ve managed to get a healthy head start—and for that, you should feel very proud!

P.S.  Want even more guidance for how to plan and execute a weekend purge?   Unstuffed is now available in bookstores everywhere, and if you’ve been feeling weighed down by clutter or overwhelmed by the number of things on your plate, it might just be the message your heart needs to hear!  Jam-packed with inspiring personal stories as well as practical tips you can implement right away, it is a guilt-free, stress-free guide to taking our life back from all the STUFF weighing down our lives.

Plus, when you order right now you can also get $75 in exclusive digital tools & resources, including a digital copy of our bestselling challenge, “31 Days to a Clutter Free Life,” access to the Unstuffed App, and our Home, Mind & Soul Workbook, which is the perfect tool to help you implement the lessons in the book and clear the clutter for good.  You’ll also get a step-by-step timeline for how to plan your #Unstuffed Weekend Challenge!

Here is what to do to get your bonus resources:

Order the book at  Amazon  or  Barnes & Noble  (or any other bookseller)
Fill in the form to get your bonus  HERE
Check your email in a few minutes for access to our bonus website

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Win The #Unstuffed Closet of Your Dreams!

It’s launch week, which means we’ve got all KINDS of fun stuff happening around here, including quite possibly the most incredible giveaway we’ve ever done!!  One lucky reader will win the closet of your dreams–a $2,500 custom SpaceCreations@ closet by ClosetMaid®–in our Ultimate #Unstuffed Closetmaid Giveaway!

Pretty incredible right?  To enter, all you have to do is snap a photo on Instagram of something related to the Unstuffed book–it could be a picture of the book itself, a snapshot of your biggest clutter challenges, or anything else related to decluttering your home, mind & soul.  The sky’s the limit, & we encourage you to get creative and to let us know why you need this prize!

Then, to make sure your entry is counted, you need to do two simple things– just follow @RuthSoukup on Instagram and tag your photo with hashtag #Unstuffed.

Pretty easy, right?  You can get more details and see all the entries so far in the box down below, or you can check out the official rules HERE.

P.S.  If you haven’t yet picked up a copy of  Unstuffed, be sure to do that today too! I guarantee it is a message your heart needs to hear!  Jam-packed with inspiring personal stories as well as practical tips you can implement right away, it is a guilt-free, stress-free guide to taking our life back from all the STUFF weighing us down.

Plus, when you order right now you can also get $75 in exclusive tools & resources, including a digital copy of our bestselling challenge, “31 Days to a Clutter Free Life,” access to the Unstuffed App, and our Home, Mind & Soul Workbook, which is the perfect tool to help you implement the lessons in the book and clear the clutter for good.  All of the bonuses are hosted on a private, password-protected site that you can access anytime.

Here is what to do to get your bonus resources:

Order the book at  Amazon  or  Barnes & Noble  (or any other bookseller)
Fill in the form to get your bonus HERE
Check your email in a few minutes for access to our bonus website

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How to Simplify Your Meal Planning Routine

From planning and preparation to cooking and execution to serving and enjoying, food is a focus point for any family. It’s no wonder food takes up so much of our time and effort.

While variety is (of course) the spice of life, there’s something to be said for the amount of time we waste agonizing over what to wear and what to eat.

Have you ever noticed just how many successful people out there wear the same thing every day? They’re avoiding decision fatigue caused by an abundance of choices. When we focus too much on all the tiny details, we can become too distracted to make big decisions when it really matters.

It might just be time to simplify & to make time for more important things.

The reality is I love food. My family loves food.  I love leafing through cookbooks and thinking up new recipes. I love going out to eat, and I enjoy experimenting with new flavors.

I don’t, however, enjoy spending hours upon hours at the stove. I get frustrated when I spend a bunch of time on a meal, only to find out my kids or husband aren’t thrilled with it, and I could have just made some grilled cheese sandwiches instead. My love of freezer meals grew from this idea: life is too short to spend all of it in the kitchen!

So, how can we simplify our food routines? How can we make meal planning an exercise of joy and relaxation? How can we bring happiness into our cooking and unstuff our meal plans?  Here are a few ideas that might just help!

1. Simplify Your Ingredient List

The easiest way to simplify your meals? Cook simple meals. Really! Simple meals are composed of a starch, a vegetable and a protein, like grilled chicken on a bed of greens, with a baked potato side. Soups with hearty bread or simple sandwiches can be comforting and delicious. Try rice, grain, or noodle bowls with a variety of sauces and add-ins.

Try to aim for only 5 or 6 ingredients for each meal. For example: protein, salt, pepper, tomatoes, rice, and cheese. Look for whole ingredients (fruits, vegetables, grains) that are unprocessed, simple and delicious. Sometimes lovely fresh produce can be enough to make a meal feel elevated and special.

2. Take Help Where You Can Get It

When it comes to your grocery bill, preparing your own produce can save you quite a bit of money. However, chopping, grating and preparing can also take quite a bit of time. While there is something to be said for making your own bread, almond milk, or tomato sauce, sometimes the convenience of jarred or canned foods trumps the cost savings.

Frozen vegetables often contain higher nutrient levels because they’re flash frozen at the time of harvest, unlike many “fresh” vegetables that deteriorate while in transport for weeks. If you opt for additive-free and organic items, you might find yourself very pleased with the flavor and nutritional values. Many well-known stores (including Trader Joe’s, Aldi and Costco ) offer quite the cost savings on organics, and you can even find pre-chopped, prepped items to simplify your meal planning routine.

3. Enjoy “Taco Tuesdays” and More

Come up with a few family favorites, like Meatless Monday or Fish Sticks Friday, and make them a regular thing. (Don’t worry about the cute alliteration in the name. If your family likes Spaghetti Thursdays, go for it.) This solves the “what to eat tonight” conundrum each week—and believe me, your family won’t mind a bit!

Regular meals in your repertoire also means you can easily shop for ingredients and keep them on hand. You’ll save time at the store searching for new ingredients for new recipes. Plus, keeping it consistent means you can reuse spices or ingredients each week. For example, making a stir-fry once a week means you can plan on always keeping the basics in stock (rice, soy sauce, spices and brown sugar), but you can change up the veggies or meat you incorporate each week. If there’s a deal on chicken one week, enjoy a chicken teriyaki dish; if tofu is on sale the next week, give it a shot.

4. Learn to Love Leftovers

Not everyone is a big fan of leftovers. I get it. If your family is resistant, it might be time to encourage them to get over it. Cooking once and eating for several meals is a huge time saver. A lunch of last night’s leftovers tastes significantly better than a frozen “boxed meal” anyway, plus, you’ll save all that money you would have spent in the office cafeteria or at a lunch spot.

Family still resistant? Find ways to cook once and use ingredients twice. For example, last night’s roasted chicken with baked potatoes becomes filling for tonight’s chicken fajitas with spicy Mexican hash browns. If your family balks at a second spaghetti night in a row, try a baked spaghetti pie for the second round. It’s fairly easy to make the second meal different enough so it’s doesn’t seem like yesterday’s microwaved meal.

5. Try Sunday Meal Prep

I’m a big fan of Sunday meal prep. It sets up my week for success, and there’s something very comforting about looking into a freezer or fridge full of ready-to-go meals. I’ve really streamlined the process, so I can prep a whole week (or two) in just an hour. It’s a wonderful time saver and Big time stress-saver. If you want to give Sunday prep a try, you can easily go beyond dinner and plan out your family’s breakfasts and lunches as well. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked.

Preparing oatmeal ahead of time, individually bagging lunch components (like chips and carrot sticks), or making bread on a Sunday afternoon makes for a fun and relaxing process. I really feel Sunday meal prep helps me enjoy cooking much more in general. I can do it at my own pace and it feels productive and planned, rather than stressful and thrown together. It’s a great way to start Monday off on the right foot.

6. Embrace Make-Ahead & Freezer Meals

Similar to Sunday meal prep, make-ahead meals and freezer meals are an amazing way to streamline your meal-planning process. A freezer full of go-to meals saves so much time. It makes dinner planning simple and easy, and you have plenty of variety available to suit your family. Not only that, but you also save money by shopping once, prepping once, then making the meals right then and there. No more heading to the store on a whim for a last-minute ingredient only to come home with a bag full of items you didn’t plan on purchasing.

When you get home from work or at the end of your busy day, the last thing most of us want to do is haul out pots, pans, and cutting boards. Preparing meals beforehand allows you to simply pop what you need in the oven at the end of the day, or come home to a delicious creation that’s been cooking away in the crockpot all day. With make-ahead meals and freezer meals, I can focus on my family, hear about their day, help with homework, and enjoy our time together, rather than stress out in a hot kitchen with hungry kids underfoot.

To get started, try one of our 10 Meals in an Hour™! Here’s a sampling of my favorites:

10 Meals in an Hour: Part One
10 Meals in an Hour: Part Three (Comfort Food Edition)
10 Meals in an Hour: Part Seven

 
7. Make What You Know

Occasionally I like to make something more complicated. It can be deeply satisfying to follow a gourmet recipe—making your own ravioli, creating beef Wellington, or cooking up jambalaya. Save these special high-prep recipes for an occasion when you have plenty of time and patience, you haven’t worked all day, and you don’t have guests arriving for dinner.

When you’re under time constraints or pressure, keep it SIMPLE. In a pinch? This is the perfect time to pull out your go-to recipes. It’s fun to experiment in the kitchen, but if you’re looking to reduce stress, don’t try meals requiring extended cooking times, many steps, or new and unfamiliar components. Stick with what you know and it’s sure to turn out wonderful each time (like Grandma’s Sloppy Joe’s).

8. Use Flavorful Ingredients

A secret to simple meals? Use only the best, most flavorful ingredients! Fresh herbs, strong Parmesan cheese, or a squeeze of lime can make basic meals sing and feel so much fancier! Grow herbs in a container or vegetable garden, then use them to add a little polish to your dishes. Plain ol’ pork chops and rice can get really special when you have fresh rosemary or thyme.

If you have delicious food from your garden or if you find some really nice produce on sale, make it the focus of your meal. Fresh ingredients rarely need much preparation—steaming and adding a little salt and butter can generally be enough. Celebrate and highlight the best qualities of your ingredients by allowing them to shine through. Don’t bury them in sauces and heavy (time-consuming) preparations!

9. Make the Most of Pantry Staples

Another secret to simplifying your meal planning is to make the most of what you have in your pantry. If you have rice or pasta, cook a large batch and switch it up as the base for several meals. Quinoa, rice, barley, couscous, noodles or orzo can be the base for a “bowl” along with some sauce and veggies.

Beans, lentils, and other legumes can be a great source of protein, and they’re easy to prepare ahead and incorporate into dishes throughout the week. If you find your food budget is a little tight from week-to-week, these pantry staples don’t cost much, plus, they can stretch your meals and they’re simple to make in advance.

10. Don’t Fear the Microwave

I must confess: I’m NOT a big fan of the microwave. When it comes to meal preparation, microwaving feels too “convenient” and cheep to me. Things never seem to heat evenly and they just don’t cook as nicely in the microwave. However, when it comes to simplifying your meal preparation, the microwave can be a necessary tool.

Steaming vegetables in the microwave (use a glass container) is beneficial and helps them retain their nutrients. You can serve steamed veggies right from the dish, and you don’t have to dirty and wash yet another pot. Reheating soups and make-ahead dishes, as well as leftovers, comes easy in the microwave. If you’re like me and you avoid your microwave, it might be time to give it another chance.

When all else fails, you can always have grilled cheese or cereal for dinner. I’ve found that even though we put pressure on ourselves to cook delicious and healthy meals for our families, our kids often don’t mind the occasional “cheater” convenience meal. Keep things simple and give yourself a break!

P.S.  Want more ideas for how to simplify your life?  My new book Unstuffed is now available in bookstores everywhere, and if you’ve been feeling weighed down by clutter or overwhelmed by the number of things on your plate, it might just be the message your heart needs to hear!  Jam-packed with inspiring personal stories as well as practical tips you can implement right away, it is a guilt-free, stress-free guide to taking our life back from all the STUFF weighing down our lives.

Plus, when you order right now you can also get $75 in exclusive tools & resources, including a digital copy of our bestselling challenge, “31 Days to a Clutter Free Life,” access to the Unstuffed App, and our Home, Mind & Soul Workbook, which is the perfect tool to help you implement the lessons in the book and clear the clutter for good.

Here is what to do to get your bonus resources:

Order the book at  Amazon  or  Barnes & Noble  (or any other bookseller)
Fill in the form to get your bonus  HERE
Check your email in a few minutes for access to our bonus website

*   *   *

What other tips and tricks to you use to declutter and unstuff your meal prep? Do you have some go-to simple meals you love to cook? I’d love to hear your ideas!

 

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When Enough is Enough–the Truth About Unstuffed

Hi friends,

One July morning not quite six years ago, my husband and I had the worst fight we’ve ever had. It was a knock-down, drag-out battle, one I was pretty sure meant the end of our marriage.

The cause of all the anger?

Stuff.

More specifically all the stuff that I kept dragging home from Target. And Old Navy. And Pottery Barn. And Amazon.com.

My spending was out of control, and as I slowly emptied our bank account, I was literally filling our lives—and our home—with a whole lot of stuff we didn’t need.

And so I started writing a little blog called Living Well Spending Less, not because I had all the answers, but because I didn’t have any, and I needed some way to hold myself accountable as I attempted to take back my life from the stuff that was consuming me.

It’s a journey I’ve been on ever since, one full of ups and downs. I’ve made so many mistakes and failed so many times, but in the process, I’ve also learned some really important lessons along the way.

And those hard-fought, hard-won lessons are the same lessons I share in my new book Unstuffed, which is available in bookstores everywhere beginning today.

Because here’s the thing–I’m not a decluttering expert or a professional organizer. I don’t have some crazy unattainable ideal of what our homes should be, or what our schedules should look like. I’m a mom, wife, daughter, friend, and business owner who is busy trying to juggle all the pieces of an often chaotic life.

Just like you.

And that’s why I know you’re not just feeling overwhelmed by the physical clutter that has been filling up your home. You’re also stressed out by an overbooked schedule that sometimes feels out of your control. You’re frustrated by trying to live up to other people’s expectations of what your home is supposed to be. You’re tired of the guilt and exhausted by relationships that seem to suck the life out of you.

And the last thing you want is a book that will make you feel worse about yourself, or one that hands you another massive list of things to do.

Believe me, I totally get it.

But Unstuffed isn’t that kind of a book, because quite frankly, I am the last person who should be throwing stones.  And the truth is that if you are looking for a book written by an “expert,” this probably isn’t it.

Instead, it is the kind of book that walks beside you, offering encouragement and advice based on my own experience and mistakes, along with simple but practical ideas for taking back your life from the stuff that is weighing you down.

More importantly, it offers permission to NOT do it all, and much-needed relief from the constant pressure to perform and keep up. It’s room for your soul to breathe, and I truly can’t wait to share it with you, because I think it is a message all our hearts need to hear.

Launching a book is always a little bit terrifying, because you are literally putting your heart & soul out there for the world to trample on. And so while I am feeling more than a little bit anxious this morning, I also know that it is out of my hands now. I’ve done my job. I’ve run this particular race and seen it through to completion. How God decides to use it is up to him, not me.

My hope and prayer for this book is that the message will be heard by those who need it most, by those who are longing for permission to not be perfect. And if you are that person? Well then my prayer is that it will set you free—free from guilt, free from overwhelm, and free from the expectations of a world consumed by STUFF.

Happy Unstuffed Day!

xoxo, Ruth

P.S. If you are the person who needs this book and want to know more about where to purchase, or simply want to know how you can help spread the word, please check out the book website at www.unstuffed.com.

P.P.S. Several of you have asked if you can still get our bonus resources if you purchase today, and the answer is yes! Here is what to do to get your resources:

Purchase the book at Amazon or Barnes & Noble (or any other bookseller)
Fill in the form to get your bonuses HERE
Check your email for access to our bonus website

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When Stuff Takes Over: 5 Tips to Break Free

We live in the wealthiest nation on earth, and compared to much of the world, we have everything we could ever want.  And yet, even with the blessings and the bounty we enjoy in our lives, it’s amazing how often we still feel that sense of scarcity, like something is still missing.  And then, to fill the void, we reach to “stuff.”

How many times have we looked in our closets full of clothes and felt we had nothing to wear?  Is that just me? Whether it is not being able to find anything that goes together, or feeling unhappy with my weight, or just not feeling confident, it’s not that unusual for me to walk into my closet and feel like nothing fits.

I’m pretty sure it has happened to most of us at some point—and what do we do? We go to the store and pick out more stuff, or we go online and order items we hope will fit and flatter and fill the void.

Imagine instead, a manageable closet: there’s a set number of pieces to wear, and everything fits and is easily coordinated with other items you love. Sounds wonderful, right?

How about cooking? Cooking can be overwhelming and messy. Often, many of us hate to cook because we own complicated cooking gadgets, which are supposed to make our lives easier, but require more work to use and clean than a simple knife and cutting board. We have drawers and cupboards of spices and ingredients only to find our parsley is grey and tasteless, and our baking powder has long since expired. We cut our fingers trying to clean our spiral slicer or we can’t find the piece to the ice cream maker.

Now imagine instead, cooking a simple meal from items ready-prepared in your freezer, and knowing the spices and tools required are ready, on-hand, and easy to find and use.

Whether it is taming your closet or conquering your kitchen, the reality is that planning ahead, staying organized, and paring down to just the items you need is one of the most liberating things you will ever do. Your clothes look great and make you feel really good about your appearance. Suddenly meals feel simple and healthy. Cooking becomes a joy, because it’s doable and easy.

The truth is that STUFF doesn’t have to control our lives. In my new book, Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Mind, Home and Soul, my goal is to help each of us discover what it takes to become truly unstuffed. Because becoming unstuffed is SO much more than just throwing a few things away!

It’s changing the way we look at our homes and the stuff we live with.

 It’s changing the way we look at our schedules and the stuff that fills our time.

 It’s changing the way we look at our relationships and the stuff they are made of.

 It’s becoming purposeful about the stuff we let in, because the reality is that nature hates a vacuum, and if we are to become unstuffed, we better spend some time thinking about what that really means before our unstuffing stuffs us with new stuff we don’t need or want. (Say that five times fast!) But as funny as that may sound, the reality is serious business: we have to choose our stuff well.

And the very first step towards becoming unstuffed is being realistic about how we actually use our homes, as well as how we want to use our homes. Here are five steps to help you kick off the process:

1. Identify the Purpose of Each Area of Your House

This can be as formal or informal as you like. If it helps you to write down each area and its purpose, then do it. You can write a list or even sketch it out. Walk through each room and really think about what you do in the room and how it serves its purpose. Do you play games in your family room? Is your dining room also your office? Maybe you eat in the kitchen and rarely use the dining room..?

Once you’ve identified the purpose of each area, keep only those things in the area that serve that purpose. Consider the storage in each room as well. Does it make sense to keep pantry items downstairs or bathroom items in the closet near the bathroom?

Envision your ideal use for each area of your home and how you would like each area to feel. Maybe you enjoy an eclectic space, a clean, sparkling space, or a cozy space. Once you’ve figured it out, make it your objective to let go of or move the items that don’t fulfill your vision for that room.

2. Create a “Collection Zone”

Designate one area (by the stairs, at an entryway, or by a door) as your family’s “collection zone.” This is where all those stray items go throughout the day—items that would formerly be strewn about, left on the counter, or just thrown anywhere because they don’t have a designated spot. Choose a suitable container for your collection zone, like a pretty basket or a rubber storage container.

When it’s time to pick up, grab your collection-zone container and put everything in it as you go. Once you’ve collected everything lying around, it’s easy to run through the house again and put everything back where it belongs in one swoop.

Commit to spending 10-15 minutes before bed each day putting away items from your collection zone. Or better yet, if your kids are old enough, they can take turns running collection zone duty.

This simple act will keep your house neat and tidy and prevent clutter from building up on the coffee table, kitchen counter, by the door, or on your desk.

3. Clear & Clean Your Surfaces

At least once a day, do a surface cleaning of your house. This doesn’t mean you need to vacuum or dust every day. Simply run through the house with your collection zone container, if needed, then you’re all set to work those surfaces.

Spray off all countertops and the bathroom sink, and clean up any spills or messes. Straighten up the couch cushions and do some quick “sprucing” and tidying.

You’ll be amazed at how this little effort makes a huge difference in your home. Suddenly, keeping things organized and tidy will seem less daunting and much more attainable.

4. Wrangle Your Paperwork & Media

When it comes to clutter, papers and media are two of the biggest culprits. Whenever you have the option to go paperless—take it! Get your bills and junk mail on board with the paperless plan. Pay bills online and unsubscribe from any direct mail or catalog lists (and while you’re at it, tackle your email inbox clutter as well).

Be a ruthless shredder when it comes to paperwork. Digitally archive loose paperwork and items by snapping a photo or scanning to your computer. You’re not required to keep original documents in most cases (aside from tax-related materials and certain financial documents). 99% of the time, all that extra paper is doing nothing but cluttering up your life.

Organize photos, books, and media, and opt for digital versions whenever you can. Rent or borrow books and DVDs from the library or download and stream online. Media can be a huge source of clutter and much of it can be found in digital format, so why maintain physical copies?

5. Use Your Calendar—It’s a Powerful Tool

Your calendar is a powerful tool. One of the biggest ways to break free of clutter is to schedule as much as possible. I know it sounds restricting, but it’s actually quite freeing! Just like you would use your calendar to schedule an appointment at the dentist or a meeting at work, use it to organize and schedule your life as well.

When you put an item on your calendar, it becomes much more concrete, so you’re more likely to keep the appointment. Designate a set time to “deal” with things like phone calls, bill paying, exercise and social obligations. Schedule kid pickup times, and even time to organize and clean. Set aside calendar time to review your bank account and family budget, and time to do your shopping.

If an appointment or obligation feels like drudgery, or is unnecessary, don’t be afraid to scale back on your appointments. The idea is to simplify your life, not overschedule yourself and add to the clutter.

With just a few simple tools and tricks, you can keep your home clutter-free and stay on top of your schedule. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to becoming unstuffed! There are so many great ways to let go of the things that no longer fit our needs and simplify our homes and our lives.

P.S.   Unstuffed arrives in bookstores everywhere tomorrow, April 5th, and if you’ve been feeling weighed down by clutter, it might just be the message your heart needs to hear!  Jam-packed with inspiring personal stories as well as practical tips you can implement right away, it is a guilt-free, stress-free guide to taking our life back from all the STUFF weighing down our lives.  When you order right now you can also get $75 in exclusive tools & resources! Get all the details at www.unstuffed.com.

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10 Things You Can Take OFF Your Calendar

Big news friends–my new book, Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind & Soul, arrives in bookstores everywhere on April 5th.  It is a message that is near and dear to my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with you!  Jam-packed with both personal stories and practical tips you can implement right away, it tackles the big question we are all facing–how can we take back our life from all the STUFF weighing us down?  Order now to get $75 in bonuses! Get more info at www.unstuffed.com.

I love a good calendar. It helps me feel in control of my schedule and able to tackle whatever comes my way. When I schedule things, I know they’ll get done because I’ve made time for them. Most importantly, my calendar helps me avoid wasting time, one of our most precious commodities.

Sometimes though, I must admit, my calendar feels overwhelming. When I look at all the items laid out before me, it’s hard to know what to tackle and when it will ever end. It’s a challenge to see all the things I need to do, yet not feel like I’m running myself ragged, stuck on an endless cycle of to-dos.

An important part of becoming unstuffed is to also unstuff our calendars. Yes, we all have to do things we don’t like (that’s just life). But too many of us spend FAR too much time dreading certain obligations and doing things that offer us little payoff—monetarily, spiritually or emotionally. Even scheduled time can be wasted.

And so there are a few important questions we each need to ask ourselves:  Is my schedule really serving my needs? Am I making the most of my time? What am I doing that I shouldn’t be?  What doing that is adding stress but not adding value?

As you unstuff your calendar, note there are a lot of to-dos you can (and should) take OFF your agenda. I’m talking about all those things that cause you to spin your wheels—timewasters, activities that feel like drudgery, and obligations you resent. What items can come off your calendar today to free you up for more important things?

1. Things You’re Going to Skip Anyway

I have a friend who has a reminder set on her calendar every Friday to revisit her birthday card list and correspondence. You know how often she actually does it?  MAYBE once a month—and definitely not once a week. She tells me that in some idealized world, she pictures herself dutifully writing cards and correspondence for half an hour on Friday afternoons, but in reality…she just doesn’t.

If there’s an item clogging up your calendar, take it off. Oftentimes, reminders and weekly obligations can be moved to bi-weekly or once a month. We actually desensitize ourselves to these items on our calendar and ignore them anyway—and then they NEVER get done. Let go of the idealized version of yourself and take off the plans you “wish” you were going to keep and the reminders you’re ultimately going to ignore anyway.

2. Unnecessary Cleaning Tasks

I love to make my bed every day, and I have other daily routineswhich help me keep up with household chores. However, there are a few cleaning to-dos I actually do a little more frequently than necessary. I love a clean home, but do I need to wash all the windows once a week? Truth be told, I could probably stretch that out.

If cleaning relaxes you or you enjoy it, then keep the items on your schedule. If you find you’re cleaning your unused guestroom once a week out of a sense of obligation, habit or duty, it might be time to let it go. Once a month, add an extra 15-20 minutes to your cleaning routine to really give attention to some rarely used areas, but don’t beat yourself up if you stretch out dusting to once a week. Keep your house organized, your surfaces clear, and your bathroom and kitchen spot-cleaned. The rest can probably go on the back burner.

3. LONG Meetings

If you’re in the workforce, you know all about dreaded, endless meetings. There are lots of people out there who can drone on for hours about topics they could sum up in 5-10 minutes. While you might not have control over your office obligations, you can scale back personal meetings and appointments to free up your calendar. It can be difficult to control the length of PTO, scouts and church meetings, but allow yourself a finite amount of time to attend, and don’t be afraid to step out early if it’s going nowhere.

When you’re meeting a friend for coffee or when you have an appointment, always be upfront about the amount of time you have. Say, “I’d love to get together for an hour and catch up,” and then stick to it.

4. Hours of Emails

Email can be a huge time-eater. Checking your inbox first thing in the morning and firing off responses right away can mean you’ll be in front of your computer for hours. Instead, try to tackle some other tasks first and leave your inbox untouched. When you do sit down to respond, keep your emails short and to the point.

So often, we spend hours typing out responses when we could have simply picked up a phone and taken care of things in one short call. If you’re leading an email thread, say, for planning for an event, keep the group on task and focused with specific action items and direct questions.

Unsubscribe from any spam, and also from any retail and store emails you delete anyway, or those that encourage unnecessary spending. If you don’t read the email regularly, unsubscribe and simply visit the site occasionally for new information. Try inbox filters to help organize your personal correspondence and keep your important emails separate from notifications and social media.

5. Phone Calls

Remember the days of corded phones? You’d end up literally tethered to one spot while you talked. Now that we have cordless and cell phones, we can have phone conversations while we get other things accomplished. Yes, if the conversation is important, step away from your computer screen or stop what you’re doing. However, taking a walk to get your 10,000 steps in for the day while you talk, or having a conversation while you prep dinner can be a big time time saver.

Talking on your cell phone while driving can lead to distractions. You should be focused on the road, of course. But for long trips, a hands-free solution can allow you to catch up on the way to your destination.

6. Things You Do Out of Guilt

Raise your hand if you have at least a few items on your calendar solely because of guilt. I know I do! It can be hard to say no to running the bake sale, taking dinner to a neighbor, or organizing the block party. The next time you’re asked to do something you would rather forgo due to time restraints (or even just because you don’t want to), give yourself permission to decline.

We can say yes to so many things because we feel guilty or bad if we don’t. However, these obligations actually take us away from our families and leave us feeling burned out and emotionally strained. Give yourself back to your family by knowing when to say when. There’s no shame in choosing a different path that better fits your needs and the needs of your household.

7. Things that Don’t Bring You Closer to Your Long Term Goals

Does a trip to the dentist bring you joy? Does the housecleaning job you recently took up make you beam with delight? Maybe not, but clean teeth, and ultimately earning extra money to support your family both help serve a greater purpose, so they’re worth the effort. Not every item on your calendar is going to be fun, but every item should ultimately be moving you toward your larger goals of health, financial security, and whatever else you want to accomplish in life.

Some of us try things like yoga classes or scrap-booking because we feel it’s what we’re supposed to do, or that it will make us a better mom or wife. If it’s not fun and if it doesn’t make your heart sing, then it’s perfectly okay to let it go.  If you want to run a 5K and every training workout isn’t awesome, but you are progressing and satisfied, keep going. If every time you step on the treadmill it’s absolute drudgery—let it go and try walking instead.  Determine what is most important to you, and only keep those activities that fit within the bigger picture.

8. Too Many Lessons

Ballet, soccer, singing and softball…our kids’ calendars can fill up with lessons and activities in the blink of an eye. Suddenly you’re left feeling like the chauffeur—and your kids are feeling the pressure and weight of too many commitments, and not enough creativity and play.

Childhood is so short. It can be difficult to let go of our own dreams and childhoods, and resist the urge to “give our children what we didn’t have.” If your child cries every time she has to practice the piano, or just isn’t enthused about scouts, day camp, or swimming lessons, or who is falling behind in school—let the lessons go. Kids can grow into perfectly well-rounded beautifully adjusted adults without jam-packed social schedules. Sometimes you have to let kids just be kids.

9. Too Much Prep Time

When we look our best, it truly does make us feel more confident. However, if you’re spending hours on your hair, makeup, or pulling together your outfits each day (or doing the same for your kids), it may be time to streamline the process a little.

Consider easier hairstyles for your kids. Organize and cut back on your closet and theirs so it’s easier to quickly pull together outfits that don’t require ironing and fussing. It’s okay to skip a full face of makeup for the gym or when you’re going to the store. Simplify your routine and you’ll find yourself with more time to do the things you love.

10. Commitments You Should Have Said NO To

There comes a time for all of us when we get that sinking feeling we’ve over-committed. Instead of stressing yourself right out of all your energy and joy, give yourself permission to cancel plans, reschedule obligations, and take a break when it gets to be too much. Remember: no calendar is set in stone. If something very important came up, like an emergency, for example, you’d make time to deal with it.

A friend once told me: If you don’t take a break, your body will take a break for you. If you find you’re facing frequent colds, feeling easily run down, or if you just need a mental health break, take a few things off the list. Maybe you won’t get the first chapters of your novel written this month, or maybe you won’t organize a community-wide garage sale. It’s okay. Not everything needs to happen NOW.

It can be hard to say no and take items off your calendar, but taking back your schedule will allow you to feel more at ease and in control. Let go of the idea that you have to do everything. Take some time for yourself and give yourself a break, already!

 

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Order Unstuffed Now to Get $75 in Bonuses

Hi friends!

I just wanted to send out a quick reminder that there are only a few days left to preorder your copy of Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind & Soul before it releases next Tuesday, April 5th. When my first book launched, it sold out everywhere on day one and ended up being backordered for weeks—I highly recommend ordering as early as possible, just in case this happens again!

Remember also that when you order, you’ll also get instant access to all of our fantastic purchase bonuses, including our 48-page Unstuffed workbook, which is the perfect companion to the book and the best way to make real and lasting changes that will help you clear the clutter and unstuff your life for good.

Our bonus package also includes exclusive videos, access to our Unstuffed app, a digital copy of my bestselling guide 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life, and much more. In fact, the bonuses alone are valued at more than $75!

Here is what to do to get your bonuses:

Order the book at Amazon or Barnes & Noble (or any other bookseller)
Fill in the form to get your bonus HERE
Check your email for access to our bonus website

In the meantime, THANK YOU for your support and words of encouragement along the way! Launching a book is always a crazy journey and a very scary prospect, and I hope you will continue to join me in praying that the message of this book will be heard by those who need it most, and that it will bring hope and encouragement to women everywhere.

Just five days to go…..wow!

xoxo, Ruth

P.S. Today also happens to be my birthday, so just for fun I thought I’d add a little giveaway to the mix.  Leave a comment below letting me know that you preordered your copy of Unstuffed, and on April 5th I’ll pick 5 winners to ALSO receive a copy of the corresponding Unstuffed DVD Study—a $24.99 value!

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