Getting Organized Archives - Page 3 of 3

How to Disconnect & Be Present

On March 4, 2019

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

Do you ever try to disconnect and be totally present? These days it is hard to feel present in this technological age. You have to make a concerted effort to not be on some kind of device. So how many different electronic devices do you own? It is safe to say that most of us have a smartphone, an iPhone, iPad, or Kindle. We are constantly connected whether we like it or not.

What kind of impact do you think this has on our health– mentally and physically? There has been a lot of research on the effects of electronics and our brains. Many studies have shown the harmful effects this constant connection has on young adults.

There has been an increase in anxiety and depression in our society and technology plays a role. This is not to say that everyone should throw out all devices. However, it just means we need to be more aware of the usage and put limits on it especially for our younger generations. Learn how to disconnect.

Detox Your Digital Life

The next tip from my Stress Solution Coaching program is to Detox Your Digital Life.

While it is nice that we have the ability to be connected to the entire world and all the knowledge we want with the click of a button — it can become a habit and take our focus off real life and also destroy personal connections.

Do you find yourself perusing your social media accounts when you’re bored? Have you ever jumped online to look up one thing, and an hour later, you’ve found yourself still scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed? We have all fallen victim to this. A digital detox, however small it is, can serve you tremendously. Try going offline and disconnect for a few days.

Some Steps to Disconnect

Clean out your e-mail account.

Do you have a ton of subscriptions cluttering your inbox daily? Take time to unsubscribe from unwanted emails, clearing out old ones that are unnecessary for you now, and even making folders and putting an organization system in place in your email account.

Cut down on your time online.

Yes, this means taking a little break from Facebook and Instagram! I promise you really won’t miss anything too important that will affect your life in any way. In fact, you may just find that you are even more mentally clear and positive without those distractions.

Make a plan to only check your phone at certain times of the day.

Just because someone texts you doesn’t mean you have to get back to them in the next few minutes. I know there are some exceptions but really most messages can wait until later. Figure out your most productive time of the day and plan to answer texts and emails then.

Have a digital curfew.

Research shows we should stop using electronics at least 2 hours before bed because it will affect your brain and the quality of sleep you get. Choose whatever works for you even if it is only 30 or 60 minutes before bed.

Be present.

Use this downtime to do the things you truly enjoy. For instance, exercise, pick up a new hobby or spend more quality time with your loved ones. This will quickly become way more enjoyable than scrolling through your Instagram account! Less time with your head buried in your phone will increase your mood, quality of life, and health.

Now put your phone down, go outside and CONNECT with others and nature. I promise you will feel so much better 🙂

What is one way you can slow down and become more present in your daily life?

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

A Few Tricks to Simplify Your Calendar

By Jill Ciampi

On February 25, 2019

In Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Stress Management

What does your calendar look like these days? This may depend on what phase of life you are in. Kids or no kids? Because with kids your schedule is definitely more jam-packed with activities like sports, school events, and playdates. Maybe you are busy with doctor visits, work events, and volunteer commitments. Sometimes it may be difficult to find the time for anything else.

Don’t forget we all have the same 24 hours in a day to spend. How do you spend yours?

We are all so busy with no time to take care of ourselves…right? Are we really though?

Review Your Calendar

Do me a favor and take a look at your calendar. If you manage your time efficiently you will always find some extra time in your day. It’s not so easy but try it. Doing this every once in a while will help you manage stress in your daily life. This exercise will help you figure out how to fit in some self-care too which is necessary if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.

The next tip from my Stress Solution coaching program is to Detox Your Calendar.

Are you one of those people that don’t like disappointing others, so you pack your schedule full of commitments? Wearing yourself thin is a disservice to all parties involved, especially you. Are there some responsibilities on your plate that could be given to someone else? Some simple rearranging could do the trick.

It is crucial to remember that detoxing your calendar is not an act of irresponsibility. Allowing yourself to perform this detox will be the beginning of a new and better functioning schedule.

Figuring out when you are most productive and scheduling your appointments strategically will make for smoother days to come.

Make Some Changes

Adding in some fun new routines can be a nice refreshing start to your new, refreshed life.

Consider what actions would make your routine more enjoyable for you. Think about the stuff you can do without or is draining you. Can you add in a hobby you’ve been dying to take up? Or perhaps adding a weekly, routine date with friends? I like to make sure I spend time with friends even if it is for a quick lunch or walks when time permits. It is good for your soul to be around supportive and loving people!

Take ACTION! Remove anything from your calendar that is not serving you or your family.

I suggest picking up a copy of The Perfect Day Formula because it really helped me manage my time and is a great read! What is one healthy habit you could start implementing into your calendar to bring lasting health and happiness? I suggest doing this at least monthly in order to keep your life and health in check. Simplify 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

How to Organize Your Closet

By Jill Ciampi

On February 11, 2019

In Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

How is your closet looking these days? Do you feel calm or confused when looking in your closet? This is one activity we all do every day so it can really set you off before your day even begins. Wouldn’t it be better to have some organization so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed when you are getting dressed? I’m sure this is one thing we can all agree on — we have too much stuff.

The next tip from my 6 week Stress Solution coaching program is to DETOX Your Closet. Holding onto that pretty blouse or dress because you just know you’ll wear it again one day? I hear ya. I am one of those people who hold onto jeans that are too tight just in case I lose that extra 10 pounds so I can wear them again.

This isn’t just about throwing clothes away…don’t worry. This time is about decluttering your life, but the organization is also on the list. Depending on your personal situation, a simple organizational system put into place may solve your closet clutter. If you have an abundance of clothes, shoes, and outerwear overflowing from your closet as well, it just may be time to go through it all and downsize.

Organize Your Closet

As you’re going through your closet clutter, take into account what you haven’t used in quite some time.

Remember the 3 pile method— garbage, keep, and donate.

If you can’t remember the last time you wore an item of clothing… toss it in the donate pile. Come on, we all have way too much stuff in our closets that we do not need, just doesn’t fit anymore, or is way out of style.

Sometimes it is just a matter of refolding clothes or hanging up stuff to get it out of that unorganized pile in the corner. You would be surprised how much better your closet can look with some new hangers and some cloth bins to organize the miscellaneous items. Out with the old and in with the new! Setting time aside to tackle this task may seem daunting, but you will feel so much better after it’s over.

Less clutter = less STRESS!

DIY or Professional Advice

There are plenty of options when it comes to cleaning up your closet. Going all out and having someone build and design one for you is one way to go if you can afford it. If you want to stay on a budget, check out places like Home Depot for more economical options. My go-to favorite is Amazon because they always seem to offer affordable solutions. You can even visit the Dollar General store for some simple fixes that will make your closet ten times better than it is now.

Organizing is a fun DIY project for snowy winter days at home. If this makes you feel overwhelmed, try enlisting some help from that organized perfectionist friend. You know we all have at least one! Unless you are already blessed with an amazing walk-in closet, it can get pretty expensive so buy a little at a time.

So get to it! It doesn’t have to take up all of your time. As I always say, keep it simple and do one thing at a time. I promise being less cluttered at home will make you feel good and accomplished. What would you like to challenge yourself to start in the very near future?

Comment below and let me know what challenges you are facing with the organization. Always love to hear from you!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

3 Ways to Declutter Your Home

By Jill Ciampi

On January 22, 2019

In Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

How organized is your house right now? Do you need some extra help to declutter your surroundings? There will always be times when you feel unorganized and a little behind on cleaning. There is nothing wrong with that because life gets super busy sometimes. I may be the exception but I love to clean. I find it extremely therapeutic and helps my anxiety a lot.

Cleaning and organizing are my top ways to handle anxious thoughts and helps to calm me down and forget about my issues for a while.

The next tip from my premium Stress Solution program is to Detox Your Space. This one is best to be done perhaps one room at a time or even 1/2 room at a time. A couple of months ago, I blogged about how important it is to have a clean and organized home environment. Your environment around you has a big impact on the state of your health and can either help you or harm you.

The Three Pile Approach

This past weekend, we were stuck in the house because of a snowstorm. So I got the motivation to clean one of the kid’s rooms.. instead of watching Netflix which is what I really wanted to do! Although it took a few hours, I was able to sort through games, clothes, and some other junk that really needed to go!

To keep it simple I made 3 piles. Donate, Keep, Throw Out.

It always feels really good to complete a project like this and I have to say that his room now looks pretty damn good. Let’s see how long it lasts for!

Make a Declutter Plan

Your home is your sanctuary. Your place of retreat, comfort, and stability. Over the years, it is possible to accumulate a lot of junk. When you walk throughout your home, what feeling do you get? Is it peaceful and calming? Or, perhaps there is clutter that is causing anxiety for you. More often than not, we have quite a bit of stuff we could stand to get rid of.

Clutter in the house will breed clutter within your mind. Making a plan to give your home a thorough deep cleaning will revitalize your mood and get you ready for the next stage of your refreshed life. Having a clean living space is a wonderful way to give yourself a more peaceful demeanor.

What can you do to make your home more enjoyable for you? Don’t get overwhelmed with the idea of going through all of your belongings all at once. Spreading this out over time will help make this task enjoyable and attainable. Committing to one or two tasks a day will have you done in no time at all.

Start slowly. First, make a declutter plan and write a checklist. Second, think about what steps to take to achieve this project. And then get started and I promise you will feel better in no time! Check out these tips from Good Housekeeping.

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

2 Simple Ways to Reduce Anxiety at Home

By Jill Ciampi

On November 16, 2018

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

Home. What does that mean to you? For me, home is my sanctuary and a place I can relax with my loved ones, be myself, and best of all catch up on my rest. For some people, home is not so welcoming or loving and sometimes is the last place they want to be. Home should be a safe and comfortable oasis to unwind and renew our energy.

Your Home Environment

The fourth aspect of health that I talked about in my last post is the Environmental component. Again, there are many ways to interpret this aspect. We talked a little about the external environment as far as weather and other factors that can affect our health. Today, I would like to talk about our home environment.

Do you dream of going home, putting your pajamas on, and snuggling up with a cozy blanket to watch a movie or maybe your favorite Netflix show? I have to admit I am somewhat of a homebody and sometimes need an extra push to go out because, after all, I am an Introvert. That being said, I cherish time with my friends and family and I love experiencing new things and traveling to different places.

As I get older, I find myself wanting more and more to just come home to relax. There’s nothing wrong with needing some time alone to recover from the stress of the day. Even if it is just a few stolen moments in the bathroom before you have to cook for your family and take care of everyone else! 😉

Your Home’s Role in Your Health

What makes a home so comfortable that you can’t wait to get there? Is it that you can just unwind and be yourself and not worry about having to be “on” for others? Why is it so important to feel safe, secure, comfortable, and happy in our homes? Our home environment plays a huge role in health and disease. Think about it… we spend a lot of time at home so it is hopefully a place with less stress. If it isn’t, then the stress you feel at home will eventually add up and possibly harm your health unless you can manage it well. Let’s talk about a couple of simple ways you can make your home a little less stressful.

2 Ways to Feel Great About Your Home

There are so many ways we can foster a healthy home environment. I don’t know about you but cleanliness and organization are my top 2.

Having a Clean Home

For me, having an organized and clean space to live in makes me feel good and a lot less anxious. Cleaning is one of my top ways to deal with anxiety. If you are focused on some other activity it will give your brain a break from the anxious thoughts. It is different for everyone what exactly makes a healthy home environment. Cleaning is tiring but can be very therapeutic.

I can tell you this…if you are living in a cluttered and unclean home you are adding unnecessary stress to your life and it will eventually affect you. Do me a favor and watch an episode of Hoarders. It is so sad how some people live but it does give you some idea of how living in a dirty and cluttered home can affect your health and relationships.

Being Organized at Home

Having some organization at home is my second way to deal with stress. I love looking through websites for ideas on creative ways to organize. Two of my favorites are Real Simple and HGTV. Check out their article- 20 Habits of People with Really Clean Houses. Both websites have some really interesting and simple ideas for organization.

Organizing doesn’t have to be expensive. You can stay on a budget by picking up items at the dollar store or Walmart. Pick up some baskets and those cool bins to organize stuff in your closet or pantry. It’s best to start with one project at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself! Ask for help from a friend or look into hiring a professional organizer if you really are into it.

Just know that when you are done it feels so great and I guarantee you will think about other areas in your house to move onto next! The winter is the perfect season to take a look around your house and identify what may need a little organizing and clean up. Make those snow days a little productive after some time on the couch with a good book or TV show.

Today is a great day to start 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage Stress, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!