Death (or Life!) by Inches

-Get out of bed on time or sleep 10 more minutes.
-Put the bill where it belongs or toss it on the counter for now.
-Eat the second helping of ice cream or put it away in the freezer.

These examples seem to be very benign. They don’t appear to carry the weight of life or death in their balance, do they?

Small decisions which do not support your goals present the risk of undermining them. Over time, a string of small decisions make the difference in reaching the goals or falling short. Your definition of life and death is represented in every choice you make, whether intentional or thoughtless. Remember, your approach to decision-making is based upon your definition of living. So you now have a choice to make: What do you believe about what you just read, based on your definition? Are there small decisions you've begun making out of habit which are actually undermining your goals?
 
Check in. Be aware. This is the first key to creating an intentional life.
 
 
(c) 2010 Sheri Smith Bertolini

My House: Recycling System

Part of our culture in our home is recycling. We have created a system which has become so natural and second-nature, it virtually seems effortless now. The household learned as we and develop what worked best for us.

From start to finish, here is our system:

Recycling Bin on the Porch

- We have a bin on our porch, just outside the kitchen door. It's very easy to toss items in the bin with 5 extra steps from the kitchen work zone.

- Once the bin is full, it gets emptied to the Sorting Station.

Sorting Station
- That's a fancy name for "designated containers."

- We originally purchased 6 duplicate containers with lids. After aging in extreme temperatures over a couple of years, the plastic becomes brittle and breaks. By then we had learned which containers seem to fill soonest and most often. So we replaced them with larger containers.

- The photo shows a large trash can on wheels. This is our plastics container. We use far more products in plastic than other materials.
- Once these containers fill, or even 2-3 of the containers, we make a trip to the recycling station nearby.

Simple solutions make a huge difference. Save yourself time and energy by putting a plan in place, then working the plan.

Think about any system in your home which brings frustration because it just isn't working. Do you have a puzzling problem? Call Sheri for a free consultation.

(c) 2009 Sheri Smith Bertolini

Basics for Simplifying Your Life

I could tell you how to fold towels. Or give you 5 ways to streamline your kitchen. I could even give you tips on how to tame your paperwork, the #1 form of clutter everywhere. Instead, I offer what I believe are some of the most important principles for building a foundation in keeping your home clutter-free.

• Establish your culture. Or a culture will establish itself. If you don’t like the one you have, change it.
• Decide who you are and where you’re headed. Measure everything against that. Furniture, clothing, keepsakes, décor, the way you live your life. If they don’t support who you are and where you’re headed, they’re just taking up space.
• Question everything. Ask of every item, “What gives you the right to be in my house? Are you support me and helping me reach my goals?”
• Everything needs a home. This isn’t rocket science. Does it make sense for item “X” to live where it lives? Again, question everything.
• Nothing accidentally walked into your house. Own your responsibility for contributing to the mess, even if it means you stood by and let it happen.
• Do you actually use, like, and need, all that stuff? Could someone else use it instead? Share good stuff with people who need it and will use it now.
• Indecision creates clutter. Indecision produces mediocrity and ineffectiveness. Be intentional. Decide to decide.
• Life is too short to spend it serving stuff, allowing it to drain and distract you. Stuff is here to serve you, not the other way around.
• If you’re stuck, ask for help.
  
  And remember that if you are truly ready for change, it means things will have to be different.

(c) 2009 Sheri Bertolini