Defining Time & Space News

As evidence of the upcoming holiday season surrounds us more and more each day; many of us begin to feel heart palpitations and anxiety instead of gleeful thoughts over the reason for this season.   Why?  Because we are thinking about the gift giving part of the holiday and all that shopping !!!!   Spending money can be stressful enough these days, but determining what to buy and when, where and how to get it can put us over the edge.  This is time of year when the true personality of some people can become evident.   It is the searching for the right gift for those family and friends we want to please, the long hours in lines for the most wanted gift, and let’s not forget the fighting over parking places at the stores.   

 

Over the years when asking my mother what she wanted for Christmas, I always got the same answer, “nothing.”  While on a business trip one year I stumbled upon a gift shop and finally found the perfect gift for my mother.  It was a nice little box and on it was a sign that read, “Nothing”.  Inside was a nice little description of how this was the perfect gift. Yes, I purchased this basically empty box and gave it to my mother that year.  Sometimes we find the perfect gift and sometimes we never do.

 

In order to try to relieve a bit of stress this time of year, prepare a gift giving list early.  Starting early, spacing out gift purchases and having more time to think of things that are meaningful can be a much better experience for all.  Gifts of time with family and friends can be more valuable than those found in the mall.  Instead of exchanging gifts with another family this year, think about using that money to enjoy a meal or outing together.  No one has to shop and it is an opportunity to create many more memories.  Ideas like tickets to movies, theaters, museums or the like can make a nice gift.  Think about personalized gifts that are handmade, engraved or embroidered versus endless shopping days; also framed pictures, photo collages or recipe books made up of materials of/from family and friends can be a real hit.  Also remember that when we give a gift we are doing just that; along with it comes the privilege to do with it whatever they want.  It is a gift alone to let someone know they should not be burdened to keep something when they no longer have a use for it. 

 

Best wishes,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PBS broadcasted a television program about 10 years ago called Affluenza.  One definition given for Affluenza was “An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream.”

 

It brings about the question of whether all the “stuff” we keep adding to our lives is actually improving our quality of life.  Interestingly enough, they site a statistic that “the number of ‘very happy’ people peaked in 1957, and has remained fairly stable or declined ever since.”  Even though we consume twice as much as we did in the 1950’s, people were just as happy when they had less.

 

I remember spending many happy days as a “poor college student” playing cards and eating popcorn with the people I enjoyed being with.  It really can make us think about what makes us happy and are we focusing on that or just stuff we can buy to keep up with “The Joneses” or add to our stress of having to pay for it, store it, use it, clean it, repair it, and one day figure out how to get rid of it.  The amount of stuff we consume has caused major financial issues to many Americans. This stuff and in many cases the financial issues they bring with them, have caused the fracturing of many families.  This then adds more to debt, stress and unhappiness.  It was noted ten years ago that Americans had $1 trillion in personal debt, approximately $4000 for every man, woman and child, not including real estate and mortgages.  In 1996 more Americans declared bankruptcy that graduated from college.  Is more stuff really worth it?

 

As the holiday season approaches it might be good for us all to think about what things we need, would really make us happy and will not put us in or further into debt.  Think about all the time and money that is spent on fighting illnesses.  Affluenza is one epidemic that we can actually cure by spending less.  If you want to learn more about the Affluenza program go to www.pbs.org or contact me.

 

To your health,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Time management by organizing atlanta
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Ever find yourself in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, a car maintenance facility or other type of visit much longer than you anticipated?  I had that experience once again this week, which is why this topic came to mind. 

Being able to avoid this “waste of time” or making the most of it can mean not only more effectively using our time but more importantly reducing our stress level.

 

First, let’s discuss how to avoid the wait in the first place.  If we can find out when the wait for appointments is more likely to be less, we can go a long way to avoid this situation.  If we ask, they will most likely tell us.  As a rule of thumb, we should schedule appointments, when we can, first thing in the morning or just after lunch.  As the day progresses, scheduled appointments get more and more behind and if there is a long wait it is most likely going to be the appointments just before lunch and at the end of the day.

 

We cannot all make appointments when we wish to or we might be in a waiting situation that is not even a planned visit.  What can we do then to make the most of this time?  This is when we can do things that we ordinarily don’t have time to do but wish we did.  We can read a book we have been tying to get around to, read articles in magazines, sort through coupons, fill out forms, read newsletters, write a letter and on and on.  The trick is to have these things available when these events happen.  Try to keep a folder or bag of items in the car that are those non-urgent things that we would like to do and enjoy the opportunity to do them versus stressing over the lost time.  We can make what would have seemed like a long period of time, just wiz by.

 

Happy waiting!

 

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Time management by organizing atlanta
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