August 2008
THE ANTICRASTINATION TIP SHEET
From Rita Emmett
Author of The Procrastinator's Handbook and The Clutter-Busting
Handbook
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Quotes for August
EMMETT'S OBSERVATION: God created company so that the house gets
cleaned
--- Rita Emmett, The Procrastinator's Handbook
A plan is WHAT you're going to do.
A schedule is WHEN you're going to do it.
If you don't SCHEDULE your PLAN
it may NEVER get DONE.
--- Rita Emmett, The Procrastinator's Handbook
Getting organized when you're surrounded by clutter is so
difficult, it's almost impossible. But getting organized once
your clutter is gone is so simple, it's almost effortless.
--- Rita Emmett, The Clutter-Busting Handbook
Simplify your life. Clutter busting doesn't mean just getting
rid of stuff. Realize you can't DO everything, so whenever
possible, streamline and simplify all that you think you have to
do.--- Rita Emmett, Manage Your Time To Reduce Your Stress (to
be released in December, 2008)
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Message from Rita
Don't be shocked ... BUT here is the August Tip Sheet and it's
still early Aug. That's because we are preparing for an "August
Irish Invasion". Every year Bruce and I go to the Milwaukee
Irish Fest and enjoy friends, music, stories, plays, and typical
Fest "Irish food" such as pizza, gyros, egg rolls and bratwurst.
The week before the Fest, my good friend, Mary Clancy, who lives
in County Tipperary, Ireland, will be staying with us. Mary is
the widow of Paddy Clancy, who was leader of a singing group
called the Clancy Brothers. She's fun, high-energy, a delight to
be with and wants to see ALL of Chicago ... in a week.
Then the week after the Fest, our good friends Tom and Frances
Sweeney, who live in Northern Ireland, will be with us. Tom is a
wonderful singer & songwriter who will be performing at Irish
Fest. We usually stay up long into the night discussing
politics, history, poetry (especially W.B. Yeats) and solving
the problems of the world..
Bruce And I find that any time spent with Mary, Tom and Frances
is very nurturing and nourishing to our souls. Time with them is
re-creation for our spirits. So we are closing up the office and
taking off work for two weeks to enjoy friends and fun, music
and laughter.
As a "Recovering procrastinator" I'm doing a lot to get ready
ahead of time, such as sending out this Tip Sheet. AND yes, I'm
trying to get the house clean. Luckily, we don't have clutter,
so it's not that hard.
Yes, I'm married to the World Clutter Champion. Want some tips
for when you have conquered YOUR clutter habit but some people
that you love still wallow in clutter? Here's an excerpt from
The Clutter-Busting Handbook
See what a good role model I am? When you are trying to get a
LOT done in a short time, simplify everything you can --- such
as using an excerpt from the book instead of writing a whole new
article. Here goes:
When Others Are The Clutter Culprits
When you live or work with someone who has clutter oozing and
slithering all over the place, your stress level can go through
the roof. One of the most basic lessons to learn in life is that
you can't change someone who doesn't want to change.
So, if you can't put boundaries on the amount of stuff they
cherish, what can you do? You can set a boundary on its
location; draw a line between where their clutter can go and
where it cannot.
Becca emailed that she is a neat freak married to the King of
Klutter. (Doesn't it seem as if in God's infinite wisdom, these
two types always seem to marry each other?)
She explained to her Klutter King spouse that there are parts of
the house that are "public areas" and parts that are her areas
and parts that are his. She asked him - and he agreed - if it is
reasonable that his clutter should stay in HIS areas and not in
the other sections of the house.
So it was declared that the King could make as much of a mess as
he wanted in his office, in this model railroad room, and in
their bedroom on his night stand and his half of the bookcase
headboard.
Any of his stuff that slithered and oozed into other areas,
Becca could do with it whatever she wants. After about a week of
this new system, her husband lobbied for the garage and the
basement.
Becca showed him that if he took over the whole basement, she
wouldn't be able to get to the washer and dryer (his clutter
tended to become very-hard-to-navigate-around stacks and piles)
and that maybe he would have to take over doing the laundry. So
he agreed that he got most of the garage but only one section of
the basement.
At first he tested the system, letting his stuff prowl & meander
past the boundaries. Becca scooped up all his clutter and kept
it for a week, then returned it to him.
But the next time she did the scooping, she didn't give him back
his stuff, and he couldn't find it. Then she reminded him that
he had agreed to this new set-up. Now, they have settled into
a system that seems to work for them. Becca is able to have the
fairly neat house she wants, he has his beloved clutter, but
unfortunately, now the car doesn't fit in the garage.
Becca is satisfied with this and is no longer having anxiety
attacks over clutter.
Life is good.
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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
Rita Emmett Moves Into The 21st Century!!
Want to see & hear Rita speak? She is now on YouTube.
Here is a clip of Rita talking about:
SENTIMENTAL CLUTTER
How much stuff do you keep because they are your memories? What
can you do with all that stuff you inherited or was passed on to
you or gifts given to you ..... but you really aren't crazy
about it? "Recovered Pack Rat" Rita Emmett is a Professional
Speaker who explains that memories are in your mind and in your
heart, not on that sequined velvet Elvis pillow from Las Vegas.
Here she helps you figure out what to do with that sentimental
stuff cluttering up your home and your life.
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Fabulous FREE AUGUST Teleseminar on AGING PARENTS
"Navigating the Aging Parent Journey without Driving off a
Cliff!"
Rita will interview gerontologist and Author Cheryl Kuba to help
us find "Eldercare without Despair."
By using many of the skills and tools that Cheryl will share
with us, you'll be able to:
* heed the warning signs about lifestyle changes as loved ones
grow older
* navigate the twists and turns of the "double-tiered" sandwich
generation
* avoid road rage and accept feelings of guilt, role reversal,
and loss
* enjoy the ride and keep a sense of humor during this
inevitable passage
* STOP taking full responsibility for your parents' troubles.
* take the driver's seat as enriched and empowered care managers
Pull over. Help is on the way!
This Free Teleseminar will be presented on
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 at
8:00 PM Central (Chicago) Time
Mark your calendars now.
For more information about what a Teleseminar is, see our
FAQ
page
Go here to register:
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A tip from a reader
Rita,
You and my husband astound me with your email purging methods.
He tells me of hours he spends at work deleting old emails, and
finally it dawned on me and I said, "You mean you OPEN and READ
every single e-mail?!??" I suggest my purging method: anything
still in the inbox after 2 years gets highlighted and
unconditionally deleted. Do you know, I've never missed a single
one of those deleted, un-re-read emails? And it takes less than
a minute to do! I've got better things to do with my hours than
re-read old emails, and I'm sure you do, too. Like coming up
with more of your great workshops!
Thanks for always making me smile.
Jean Wentz
Archives Librarian
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
P.S. After reading this, immediately delete it -- really, I
won't be offended. Or, if you have such a folder in your email,
move it to your "Really Good Advice" folder.
P.P.S. Do husbands count as clutter?
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Please share this Tip Sheet with 2 or 3
friends who would be interested. And feel free to use this
message in your blog or newsletter, as long as you include my
bio and contact info:
