24 March 2014 by

White space… of the physical kind

In Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Happiness Project, one of the actions she takes is to leave a shelf bare and clean, and not feel the need to fill every shelf with something.

I talk a lot about this with respect to time but I must confess, a physical shelf in my house without nothing sounds like a dream 🙂

But then we reorganised some things, tossed other things and we had TWO shelves free.

The kids had too many stuffed animals on their beds so I put some of them on the bottom shelf and then placed some wooden toys on the top one, mainly for decoration.

It’s not an entirely clear shelf but I can feel how this could become addictive because of that feeling of having the peace of space. It’s a little bit like how I don’t like ornaments in my house because I feel like I can breathe better.

Do you have empty shelves in your home?

Filed Under: Intentional living Tagged With: ,
21 August 2013 by 1 Comment

The best way to organise your home

Hi

We are so excited in Johannesburg as the weather gradually starts warming up.

Spring is nearly here.

I find the change of seasons to be so energising, don’t you? Both the going into and out of the cooler seasons.

It’s pure nesting time for me.

And also the perfect time to get your home organised. There’s a good reason why they call it spring cleaning.

The absolute best way to organise your home is the same way you eat an elephant – one bite at a time.

In the Organise your Home system I broke down the entire home into itsy-bitsy sections so you won’t feel overwhelmed.

Best of all, it’s a step-by-step way to organise your home in a few hours every week. Not every day but every week.

Take a look and see what you think.

http://www.marciafrancois.com/products/organise-your-home-2/

 

Filed Under: Organising Tagged With: , ,
20 February 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Best Way to Organise your Home

When we were on holiday at the coast last month, I was thinking about my home.

I love travelling but I also really love being at home. That wasn’t always the case but certainly for the last 7 – 8 years or so.

Our house is not fancy but it is comfortable and I like knowing that everything has a place and that it functions well.

Best of all, it actually feels like a sanctuary which is really what it’s all about, right?

The absolute best way to organise your home is the same way you eat an elephant – one bite at a time.

In the Organise your Home system I broke down the entire home into itsy-bitsy sections so you won’t feel overwhelmed.

Best of all, it’s a step-by-step way to organise your home in a few hours every week. Not every day but every week.

Take a look and see what you think.

http://www.marciafrancois.com/products/organise-your-home-2/

Filed Under: Organising Tagged With: , ,
23 July 2012 by 1 Comment

We’re half way through summer. Is it time to get organised?

 

 

Summer is an ideal time to get organised. Actually, so is winter. I’ve personally really enjoyed overhauling some systems over the last 4 – 6 weeks.

I’d like to invite you to have a look at Organise your home . You can get started whenever you like and take as long as you like too.

At the end of 12 weeks, I promise you’ll have a more organised home. Of that I have no doubt.

Who’s ready to get their homes organised?

 

Filed Under: Organising Tagged With:
16 April 2012 by 6 Comments

How’s that laundry working for you?

Dr Phil always asks this question (without the word “laundry”) and I love it.

I always say it doesn’t matter how people make something look on the blogs or in magazines or on TV, or even closer to home, if your friends and family do things a certain way.

It doesn’t mean it will work for you and your family.

Case in point – my overflowing laundry basket.

You all know I hate laundry more than any other chore so imagine how I was twitching when I saw this.

We have to have our laundry basket open otherwise it just doesn’t work for us.

I don’t want to throw the lid away because I may actually use it closed some day (or will I?) so I keep the lid under a dresser in our bedroom.

Recently I had this dresser painted so the lid found its way back onto the basket and this happened.

a mountain of laundry
another angle doesn’t make it look any better
I lifted some of the clothes from the top – ah, there’s the lid
pushed the laundry all down – would you believe that huge pile is all in there?

All that to say – even I need reminders to take my own advice sometimes 🙂

I was reminded that bad habits creep in so quietly – you have to be on high alert to keep your home organised!

Do you have open or closed laundry bins? And…. how are they working for you?

 

Filed Under: Time management Tagged With: , ,
28 March 2012 by 2 Comments

Spring into organising

All over the internet I’m seeing projects to do with spring.

Crafts, printables, clothes, decor, etc.

Wouldn’t it be fun to sort out our homes this spring? (Or autumn, if you’re in the southern hemisphere like I am)

 

Do you want to get your home organised?

When: 12 weeks beginning whenever you want

Where: Online, self-paced

How: A lesson in 4 parts delivered to your inbox on the same day every week.

Who: Anyone who wants to get their home organised, or more organised

What: 12 weeks of lessons, tips, tricks, pictures and practical help tackling all the rooms of your home

Why: So you can have the peace and calm that being organised brings

Price: $99 dollars – take $20 off when you use code SPRING20. Expires 3 April.

Get organised here

(if you’re not sure, download the sampler)

If this is not the right time for you, no worries. Just enjoy the weather 🙂

What’s your favourite season?

Mine is autumn, then winter, then spring 🙂

Filed Under: Organising Tagged With:
7 March 2012 by 2 Comments

Is your environment making you feel out of sorts?

A few weeks ago, I got annoyed one too many times by the cords under my desk.

I live in an old house (I think of it as having lots of charm!) and the study/ guest bedroom has only one plugpoint.

So we had a cord stretched across the carpet to reach the desk.

Well, when I got irritated with the cords, I decided there and then to switch everything around.

By the way, I recommend you measure first – I’m a move now and check measurements later kind of person which doesn’t always work out that well…

Fortunately the desk fitted the area well and I now look out the window as I work.

That is a real, work-in-progress pic of my desk - notice it's not styled to look pretty 🙂

 

I love it.

Not only is it functioning better with all those cords hidden but it feels more airy to me.

I dare say I’ve been more productive working at the desk in this position than against the wall.

Over to you –

  1. Think of a space where you spend a lot of time – kitchen, bedroom, kids’ play area, etc.
  2. Do you feel happy when you look at the space?
  3. Are you energised when you’re there?
  4. Does the space function well?
  5. Is it organised enough for your and your family’s needs?

Your coaching challenge

– If you couldn’t answer yes to at least 3 of the 4 questions, what are 3 small things you can do to brighten up that space and make it work for you again?

– Organise your home is a manageable, step-by-step system to help you organise all your spaces in just 20 minutes a day, for 4 days a week.

– Don’t get caught up in perfectionism – it doesn’t have to be pretty to be organised.

Filed Under: Organising Tagged With:
4 February 2011 by 4 Comments

Do you also have 3+ months’ worth of magazines?

I honestly don’t know how I always have TONS of magazines waiting to be read.

I don’t subscribe to a single one. And I only buy the occasional one every two to three months.

A couple of months ago I gave the last of my preggy ones away (and that publisher sent a letter saying, “would you like to renew your subscription?” – clearly a form letter) but I have baby ones, Oprah and some home ones to get through.

I’ve finally figured out how to keep up to date with them.

I simply have to read them immediately.

A very novel concept for me but a couple of weekends ago I bought a magazine because of the headlines on the cover and the feeling it evoked of simplicity.

Why do you buy magazines?


I got home and went about my business (running around after the babies) but the MINUTE the babies went down for their afternoon nap, I jumped onto our bed and started reading.

As I read, I pulled out one or two pages (a recipe that looked easy enough for me to try and a page of inspiration for my Good Ideas flipfile) but actually finished the magazine in about 40 minutes.

I must admit, it does help to keep focussed when you know one baby usually only sleeps for 45 minutes.

I thought that was a fluke but I started using that same afternoon nap every weekend since then to get through a magazine.

And it’s working.

My little basket is getting smaller and I’m loving it.

When I’m done, I toss it into my recycling bag. The bag then gets collected from in front of my house every week by the recycling company.

Do you have a system to get through your magazines? What do you do with the magazines when you’re done?

Filed Under: Time management Tagged With: , ,
30 January 2011 by 4 Comments

What are your organising goals for Feb?

I like to think of a few small things I want to do around the house every month.

I thought it would inspire and motivate you to also think up a few things and tackle one small thing every week.

This is how you purposefully create a sanctuary at home. By making decluttering and organising a regular, and not just a once-off event.

For Feb my tasks are:

  1. Weed out the shoe organiser behind the door in the study.
  2. Declutter books.
  3. Take the gazillion discs to the computer place and get them to transfer everything onto my external hard drive (they only charge R200 for all that!)
  4. Errands – drop off baby clothes at the hospital, return friend’s necklace and get together with friend (Maddy!!!) to give baby gift for 2-month-old 🙂

What are your 4 organising to-dos for Feb?

P.S. If you’re ready for about 1.5 – 2 hours’ organising over a whole week, have a look at organising your home

Filed Under: Time management Tagged With: ,
31 October 2010 by Leave a Comment

Put your goals back on track

I am an unashamed goal-setter.

Some people don’t like to call them goals so call them whatever you like. I like to think about them as things you want to be, do or achieve.

I’ve told you before that I’ve been setting and achieving goals for about 13 years now so I have just a little bit of experience in the area.

That said, I won’t lie to you – there does come a point during the year (around August usually) when you feel like throwing in the towel.

Don’t.

That’s usually when you’re about to get a breakthrough but only if you do these 3 things:

1. Look through your goals list and note down your achievements

Recognising your achievements makes you feel like a winner. Even if you only achieved part of a goal, you’re still streaks ahead of where you’d be if you didn’t do anything.

E.g. If you had on your list to get your entire home organized and you managed to do (only) two rooms, FANTASTIC! You rock!!!

2. Ask for the necessary help

This is a big one and oh-so-difficult for a lot of us women.

I’ll confess – I also hate asking for help. It helps get you out of the “I can do it all myself” mentality and best of all, it propels you forward.

I have a blogging goal on my list that I’ve made absolutely no headway on for 8 months so I’ve hired a blog coach. There is no shame in asking for help.

3. When you do start making progress, celebrate


I’m one of those people who talks to herself. Not in my mind, but out aloud. If I’ve done good work, I say to myself, “I did an awesome job today.” The first time my one colleague heard me, he couldn’t believe it.

But I don’t think there’s anything wrong – in fact, if you don’t pat yourself on the back, who will?

Doing these three things will start giving you momentum again and put you in a place of progress.

When you keep steadily on, you’ll be sure to reach your goals.

I would love to help you and be your cheerleader as you achieve your goals.

Your action steps

1. Be brave and choose just 3 things that you want to still accomplish this year
2. Book your Success Strategy Session now.
3. Tell yourself you’re awesome!

If you’d like help creating a life you absolutely love, contact me about my coaching services.

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