Declutter time

Think of one room that you really need to be able to use and you can't because of all the CLUTTER. Now everyday for a week I want you to spend 5-10 minutes decluttering. Set your kitchen timer and move as fast as you can. Come on, you can do it.

If you don't have any clutter-yea you-then pick a room to deep clean. Again use the 5-10 minute rule. Dust one day, clean the windows one day, wipe down the base boards one day, etc.

Now get moving and don't stop til the bell rings!

Building your family CEO manual

Time to put together your life manual. I know you're sitting there like WTH? But this is one of your most important tools for changing your life. Come on. Stereos have manuals. Computers have manuals. TVs, cars and even curling irons have manuals. However. for some reason it's ok to live our lives by the seat of our pants without any direction or guidance.

No more! You'll need: a three-ring binder, notebook paper, pen/pencil, calendar, and dividers. I want you to decorate the outside of the binder however it suits you. Next, you'll have to create the categories for your dividers such as: budget, meals, career, emergency numbers, fitness, and goals. You are not limited to these categories. You can list as many as you can keep up with.

We'll go into these in more detail next week.

Are you in touch with your spiritual side?

How often do you talk to God? Always, sometimes, never? Take a few moments everyday this week to spend with God. Pick a quiet spot and a quiet time. Say a prayer and connect with God. If you want to, read the Bible or some other devotional/inspirational book. Or simply close your eyes, take some deep breaths and talk with God. It doesn't have to be some deep, selfless prayer thing. Sing a praise song, talk about everyday life, do whatever gives you a rested, peaceful feeling and keeps you connected with the spirit that lives within you.

Working from home or working outside of the home?

Now is the time to determine where you want to go with your career. Do you want to work outside of the home or work from home? What type of career do you want?

Here are some questions to ask yourself.

1)Do I like the career I'm in?

2)Where do I want to be in this career in five years?

3)What career would I like to be doing if I don't like this one?

4)What steps do I need to take to further my career or change it?

5)What skills or accomplishments do I need for my career goals?

6)What is my time frame to complete these steps?

7)How will I accomplish these tasks with my current responsibilities?


Write down the answers to these questions somewhere that you can look at them often.

Do you have a budget?

Do you know where your money goes? Can you account for every penny or do you get to the end of the month and wonder what the hell happened to your money? Worse yet, do play beat the bank and float checks hoping that the paycheck comes in before the check you wrote clears the bank?

I am guilty of all of those things at one time or another. Now I have a written record of finances and where the money is suppose to go each month. If you’re as lost as I use to be then here are a few steps to help you out.

Write out all of your fixed expenses. Mortgage, rent, utilities, groceries, gas, etc. Now list your credit cards or loans on there too. If you’re not sure of your grocery or gas expenses then over the next month write down every time you go to the grocery store or stop at the gas station. (If you want a true average then keep track for three months and then find the average)

Now write down your income for the month and subtract your expenses. If your expenses outweigh your income then you need to find ways to cut corners. The best place to start is the grocery bill. Try buying generic brands or planning out your meals.

If you really have to cut out some things try reducing your satellite or cable package. Do this with your phone bill as well. If you can make do with one car then perhaps you could sell one or trade in one for a more economical model.

If your income exceeds your expenses that is wonderful news! Try to put money into an interest building savings account. Pick a percentage to put back every pay period or month. Even $5-$10 a month makes a difference.

Final note, when creating a budget be sure to include amounts for savings, entertainment such as eating out and trips to the movies, medical and dental expenses, fees for sports or school, any other miscellaneous you might think of.

How's your marriage?

Do you have this wonderful, fairy-tale marriage or are you sitting in the floor wondering what the hell happened to your prince charming? Well after eleven years of marriage I found myself in the latter group. I figured that no one else was going to be able to help me with this so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I decided to change myself and pray that my hubby would follow suit.

This week is your chance to find your patience. No matter what he says or does, try your best not to say anything negative. As a matter-of-fact, let anything he says or does just blow away with the wind. I'm sure this will be hard. I completely understand. Just take it one day at a time. You never know, he may surprise you, especially if you are normally a nagger.

Are you one big squishy mess?

So Wednesdays are the day we focus on ourselves.

This week:
we're going to spend 10 minutes exercising everyday. I want you to drink one more glass of water a day and eliminate one coke per day.
It's time we brushed our hair and our teeth everyday. Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day.