Category: Time Management

Organize Your Kitchen in Little Nibbles and Big Bites

Our kitchens are truly the hearts of our homes, which means any time spent organizing this very important space is time well spent.  However… organizing our kitchens can seem really overwhelming, since there are things, both useful and scary, behind every door and in every drawer!

So let’s break down this big and useful project into several little projects, instead:

  • Food and Pantry Items
    Tackle your food storage areas first.  To minimize the overwhelm, review your kitchen a cabinet at a time.  Start with grouping your food categories (canned goods, boxed pastas, baking supplies), and review all your items for their expiration dates.  It’s likely at least a few items will be expired, and those will go in the trash.
    Decide, too – even if a food item isn’t expired, will you and your family ever eat it?  (For example, when my sons were young, I bought a 10 pack of boxed mac and cheese and then they announced they didn’t like it).  If an item is still within code but of no use to you, share or donate it to a local food pantry so it doesn’t go to waste.
    Plan your next week of meals around the food you have on hand, to continue the clutter clearing!  And always check your cabinets before you grocery shop, to avoid having to throw out expired foods again.
  • Reusable Water bottles and Coffee Mugs
    To get started, pull them out of ALL THE PLACES THEY ARE STASHED, and pair up the bottoms and tops.  And Yes, if you’re asking, you probably have too many of these.  Decide just how many you feasibly need.  I’m the only one that uses go-mugs, and I use the same 2, rotating them daily.  We have a few more than 2 water bottles, but not too many.  And next time you’re at an event where they are giving away free water bottles or can wraps or coffee mugs, just say “No, thank you”.
  • Cleaning supplies
    Good golly.  I’m always amazed at the full inventory of cleaning supplies most houses hold, and most is stashed under the kitchen sink.
    Which makes no sense, because you can’t really see it under there.
    Take everything out, line up the items by category.
    See anything you can just toss? (why are there always a few empty windex bottles?  Go fig.)
    Are there any items that are clearly past their prime?  Off color, bad odor, rock hard, etc.?
    Any partial bottles you can combine?  (The dribs and drabs of dish soap or hand soap?)
    Look around your kitchen or pantry, and see if there is a better place to store your cleaning supplies.  If there is not, corral the different categories into plastic baskets and store them under the sink so you more easily access your supplies when you need them!
  • Spices
    Here is the link to my recent article on organizing your
    spices!  
  • Junk drawer
    Here is the link to one of my most popular articles ever,  “If You Call It A Junk Drawer, Guess What Ends Up Inside?”
  • Plastic storage containers
    Yes, it is time to organize these, too!  Click here to read my recent article “What to Do With All These Storage Containers”!
  • Top of the fridge?
    Ohhhh, yeah.  This space can be great storage or it can be a crazy no-man’s land of scary stuff.  Click here to read “Reclaim The Top of Your Refrigerator”.  (And there are even some words about Cookbooks in this one!!)

Fight the overwhelm, and tackle these projects one at a time to get your kitchen on track!

The Unexpected Benefit From Email Problems!

Did you know?  It’s “National Clean Out Your InBox” Week.

An interesting phenomenon occurred a year ago.

I had a handful of tech issues.  My website was down for a few days, and in getting it back up and functioning, my email then disappeared for a few days (Heres’ a shout out for my web guru at Amplify7 who saved me!).

It was a fun time, let me tell you.

Ok, it wasn’t.  A terribly frustrating and unproductive 10 days.  But that is not the point.

The interesting part was this:  apparently, when my business email addresses were down, they generated “undeliverable” auto-replies to emails, newsletters and retailers that tried to send me messages.

And for those few days, the “undeliverable” auto-replies served to unsubscribe me from most of my daily / weekly blog followings and newsletters, as well as retailers and their daily advertisements.

Oops…

Since I send out an email newsletter every week, I understand how this happens.  When I check my statistics for each newsletter, I am prompted by Constant Contact to delete any “undeliverable” email addresses as well.

It was interesting, though.  Once the challenges were resolved, I was so appreciative to return to my normal productivity that it took me a few days to realize WHY my inbox seemed so uncluttered and calm.  For example:

…Actual emails from actual people rose to the top of the list like rich cream to the top of milk.

…I could actively seek out information I DID want without looking at the information I didn’t want.

…Distractions were diminished, and there was just LESS.

 

I DO NOT recommend shutting down your email just to clear out your inbox. With far less drama and frustration than I experienced last year, you can achieve a similarly Calm and Clutter Free InBox with these suggestions:

  • Unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe.  This is a favorite suggestion for this time of year.  My friend Jan calls it the gift that keeps on giving.  Let go of subscriptions that no longer appeal to you, remove yourself from retailer mailing lists, or choose to receive fewer emails on the preferences page.  A client is having her teenage daughter help her with this on their regular commute to school.
  • If you have GMail, there is a Promotions Tab that automatically filters out email advertisement and promotions from your general in-box (google or you-tube for directions if you don’t have this yet).  If you are using another email platform, check for this type of option, though unsubscribing may still be the best option.
  • Learn from my most recent (just this past week!) email challenges – what is it about this time of year?  Set up your email addresses with recovery information that get’s texted to your phone or is directed to a different email.  I had these safeguards in place, of course, but when Yahoo switched over to a new business email platform last week, POOF!  those safeguards were gone (all is well again, thank you Customer Service).
  • I occasionally suggest creating an alternative free email address (like gmail) just for subscriptions and retailer messages, but ONLY if you plan to check it at least once in a while.  Some folks use these alternate email addresses for their bill-paying and notifications, but again – ONLY if you will check them regularly.
  • Passwords.  Oi.  This will be a future article just on getting our Passwords under control, like Password Management Apps to track such info.  For Clean Out Your Inbox week, I’ll remind you to keep track of your email passwords and log-in info, and while you don’t have to grant others access, let at least one trusted person know where you keep your info.
  • Don’t use your in-box as a to-do list, a place holder, a keepsake box, or… well… anything other than an in-box.  The term “in-box” leads us to believe there should be an “out” box as well.  Items should come to our in-box, be completed, and then moved OUT of the IN box.

Spend just a little time this week cleaning out your In-Box, and reap the benefits for a long time to come!

Managing Transitions: Change of Seasons – 85 Tuesday, 40 Thursday

It’s October in the Midwest, my favorite time of year.  One of the traits that makes it my favorite is its capricious nature.  Take, for example, the second week of October, when I started this blog article.

  • Tuesday, October 9 – sunny and 85 degrees…
  • Thursday, October 11 – the low temperature was around 40 degrees  overnight.
  • Less than 48 hours, 45 degree differential.   Wow.

The onset of cold weather can trigger a number of events.  For example:

  • That week, the cold weather triggered my van’s low tire pressure sensors, since cold air contracts.  A quick and free stop at the Toyota dealer on my way out of town on a road trip took care of that in no time!  Or…
  • Friday evening that week, when it was 58 degrees inside my house and only getting colder overnight, it was time to turn on the heat.

From an organizational point of view, there are a number of tasks that come with colder weather!  Tackle a couple of these this week, and get a handle on your Autumn!

Transition your closet for colder weather.

  • Review your summer items.  Donate or toss anything that is too tattered to wear again, or that no longer fits or appeals to you.
  • Take special items to the cleaners, making sure to pick them up again in a week!
  • Pack up, or move to the back of the closet, any clothes that you know you want to keep but that you won’t wear again until Spring.  And then finish bringing forward or unpacking your colder weather clothes!
  • Practice the same review and rotate process with your shoes, too!

Check out that basket or pile of things by the door.

  • In  my house, there’s a basket near the back door, and this week we swapped baseball caps and rain ponchos and to stocking caps, ear muffs and gloves. It’s time to put away the beach towels and summer sports gear, as well.
  • Review the pile of shoes.  As much as I love wearing sandals (And I do. love. wearing. sandals, like these in the picture – my new faves!), it’s time to put the summer shoes away for the season.  Toss or donate shoes that are too small, too beat up, or without a mate.  Wash what you can, take in any items for repairs, and put away the summer stuff.  I store my off- season clothes and shoes together, on the top shelf of my closet.  Not so far that I can’t get them out again if I really need them, but certainly not in the way.

Transition Your Home, and Get Cozy:

  • Get your furnace cleaned and checked out;
  • Switch your fans to spin clockwise for winter;
  • Empty your garden hoses and turn off the water to your outdoor spigots;
  • Put the “cold weather bag”, as one client calls it, back in the car filled with an extra blanket or 2, Clif or granola bars, window scrapers, jumper cables, etc.;
  • The first weekend in November, change your clocks, change your smoke detector batteries, and test your CO2 monitors, as well; and
  • Get cozy.  Last week, I bought new pillows for our family room couch and added comfy throws to a couple of arm chairs, plus I checked my inventory my tea and cold weather beverages!

Look around and see what you can do to manage your seasonal changes this week!

Managing Transitions: Work? First 5 Things, Last 5 Things

I’ve been talking with folks a lot lately about their Routines.  We often talk about morning or bedtime routines, to make those times run more smoothly.  But we can also create Get To Work or Leaving Work routines, to make those times run more smoothly, too!

We’ve all had those busy days!  Once you start your work day, you may have a hard time stopping.  So, this week, let’s think about how organize the start and of our work day to stress less and get more done!

I know, this may sound counter-intuitive, but focus on Yourself for the first few minutes you’re at work.  And if that means you also need to arrive a few minutes early, that will be time well spent.

First things first,

  • Grab your cup of coffee or tea, and refill your reusable water bottle.
  • Unpack your work from your work bag (if you carried any with you) and chill your lunch.
  • Hang up your work bag, your coat, your umbrella and whatever else you bring with you every day.  Clip your car keys in the proper spot (in your bag, on your purse, in your pocket) so that you can find them again when it’s time to go!
  • Take a couple of deep breaths.
  • Now, and only now, look at your task list, email or workload for the day.  Pick your three most important tasks and make a space on today’s schedule for progress on those tasks.  Then jump in!

Last 5 things:

Conquering these super busy times of your work day will help you work better and feel less stressed throughout your day!

Managing Transitions: Get There First and THEN Goof Off.

This past Monday, I spent half an hour working from a local park.  It was a lovely early Fall day, so it was nice to be outside with a great view.  I checked my email, scheduled and confirmed client appointments, checked in with a couple of program sites about upcoming classes, .

More importantly, the park was exactly 4 minutes away from my next client’s house.

Why did I have half an hour to goof off at a park in the middle of a weekday?  Well….

I had a morning client appointment that ended early.  According to my GPS, I had a 35 minute drive from client #1 to client #2’s house, and about 75 minutes to make the 35 minute drive.

The first inclination, of course, is to stay where I am.  Right?  Now that I have a few extra minutes, perhaps I find somewhere to grab a snack, run an errand or two, make a couple calls and then get on the road about 35 minutes before I need to arrive at my 35-minute-away destination.

But you know what happens, right?  The logic seems solid and then you run into traffic,  or the errand takes longer than it should or you run into a friend at Panera and chat, and now POOF! that extra time you thought you had is now gone, and you run late for an appointment that you TOTALLY could have made on time.  You’re left apologizing to the client or the office staff at your doctor’s office for running late, and feeling frustrated because you HAD left on time but…

Even my son pointed out something funny the other day.  He had seen a meme on YouTube, where a guy showed up late for a work meeting complaining about the traffic with an iced Starbucks in hand.  My son is 14, and even he can see that it’s not necessary to be late.

So, as we learn to manage our transitions better, I suggest getting to your destination FIRST, and then if you have extra time, spend it around your destination so that you can still arrive on time.

A dear client of mine once had to explain to her houseguest WHY I was sitting outside of her house at 12:50 pm for a 1 pm appt.  She knew my habit of ARRIVING first, and then using any extra minutes to check email, make phone calls or check texts.  At the stroke of 1 pm, I knocked on the door and we all had a good laugh about my habit, but I still stick with it!

Before the play last week, my friend and I made sure to get to the theater and pick up our tickets before the show and THEN we found some lunch.  I’m not suggesting skipping the lunch or caffeine break or whatever else altogether,  just use your smart phone to scope out places near your destination to visit if you have the time.  Life and traffic and planning and everything are just too uncertain sometimes, so get where you are going and THEN goof off!

Managing Transitions: Get Up and Get Ready!

Teaching a time management class last week, I reminded everyone that, from an organizational stand-point, our daily times of transition can make or break our schedule, our stuff, our brain and our peace of mind.

We all meet many transitions every day: sleeping to waking; home to work or school or both; arrival at work or school; leaving work or school; arriving home; leaving again for the evening; bedtime.  And conquering these transition times will bring us ease, help us be on time, get and stay organized, and get more done with less stress.

Let’s start with the first big transition of the day: Transitioning from Sleep to Ready to Leave!

Over the last week, I’ve run into the two extremes around Morning routines.  One client had no morning routine at all, and one had a routine that was too complicated and overwhelming  to succeed.  Let’s find some middle ground, and make this happen!

Keep it simple, Sweetie.  Start with Need To / Must Do Tasks.

  • And, start with things you can only do at home!
  • Shower (though I suppose you could do this at the gym!);
  • Get dressed (unless pajama day every day is the policy at your office. For the rest of us, though, we have to get dressed);
  • Fuel yourself with breakfast;
  • Brush thy teeth / comb thy hair / shave thy cheeks, etc..
  • If your getting ready routine is still too complicated, consider what tasks you can redistribute to other times of your day, like showering or exfoliating at night, for example.

If that is all you have time for before you leave the house, so be it.

What can you take on the road, if need be? 

  • And, NO, you wacky people on the toll road last week, shaving and applying eye liner while driving are NOT things you should take on the road!  However:
  • drinking your second cup of coffee, in a spill and leak proof go-mug;  or
  • eating your breakfast bar; or
  • reading the newspaper on the train (on my IPad’s Tribune App) are all tasks you can take on the road! 
  • I spent many days on the road this summer.  I still have the habit of carrying a small bag of essentials like lotion, toothpaste/brush, comb, etc., and each has come in handy in the last week!  Pack your little bag of little things, and take that on the road, too.

Get really good at completing the essential tasks EVERY DAY and in a timely manner. THEN… add in the optional items, the Cans and Shoulds and Just Maybes.  These may include:

  • pack that lunch and think about dinner;
  • office tasks like checking email;
  • house tasks like laundry, washing dishes; and
  • whatever other tasks you may tackle regularly but are not truly essential.

Give some thought to your short list of MUST DO tasks this week, get really good at completing those completely and on time, and then add in some of those optional items if you have time.  Conquering this first transition of the day will start you on the right path to a great day!

To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
www.Facebook.com/MColleenKlimczakCPO
Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO

My Message to the Graduates, As We Start a New School Year

This past  May, I had the distinct honor of giving the following commencement speech for a middle school graduation.

“My name is Colleen Klimczak, and I am a School Board member of Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124.

On behalf of our school board and superintendent, I would like to welcome you all.

More importantly, and this is more important, especially tonight, I am also a parent of one of our graduates this evening. My Son is sitting out there, robed in green and probably shaking his head at his mom right now.

Sorry, kiddo. I wish I could say that this is the last time I will embarrass you, but we both know that is probably not the case.

I want to say
Thank You
to all of you here
for coming.
And not just coming to this graduation ceremony.

You see, as a parent – my graduate this evening is my youngest of three – I know all that goes in to getting to this point.

Thank you to our teachers and staff who have instructed and guided our kids along the way. These students have benefited immeasurably from these dedicated, passionate educators.
As a board member, I thank every one of you for your service.

And as a parent, I thank each of you that has had a hand in guiding my son.
These educators arrive early, stay late, they’re in the classrooms and hallways, at extra events on evenings and weekends, they are always available via email. Trust me, I know.
And they truly have our students’ best interests in mind. We are so fortunate, and I am so grateful.

Thank you, parents. And grandparents and aunts and uncles and all those folks who also show up.
Every.
Day.

I’m not even going to finish the equation, of number of mornings multiplied by number of school years so far! Lunches packed, backpacks, homework, gym uniforms, sport uniforms, band instruments, car pools, field trips, forms completed. Then there are the games and concerts and events that we are seriously SO happy to attend. A shout out to John’s grandparents who are here, and who have showed up to EVERYTHING for my three boys over the years.

Students – yes, tonight is about you, but some time this evening, please stop and look your parents and grandparents and significant adults in the eyes and thank them for helping you get to this occasion. They love you so much, trust me.

And now, Students!

All of you here may not know this, but this an amazing group of young people.
I have known some of them since kindergarten, and even before that.
I’ve been so blessed to spend time with some of them over the years, and watch them all grow. They are smart, funny, engaged and curious, civic minded and involved.

Students, I have three things to ask of you this evening.

First, Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Don’t bother with easy, or just skating by, just because you think no one will notice.

YOU will notice.

And once you know you can count on yourself to do the right thing, your confidence and capacity for doing the right thing will grow.

Perhaps you’ll find yourself in a situation and you’re not sure what the right thing to do is?

Go with kindness. Justice. Fairness. Thinking and thoughtfulness. Those are always going to be the right thing. And the Right Thing might not be what everyone else is doing, but that’s ok, they are just waiting for you to set an example.

Second, Find your people.
Look around, and see the people that are doing what you want to do, what you aspire to do.

Surround yourself with good people who will lift you up, build you up.  Who aren’t about drama, who are also the ones doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

Find and appreciate those people, and
more importantly, strive to be that best person for others.

Finally, Start and end with gratitude.
Be grateful for your natural born talents and your diligently honed skills.
Be grateful for your family who loves you, for the education you are working for, for your friends and our community.

Imagine, remembering just one thing you’re grateful for as you start and finish your day every day.  Imagine how great that would feel, and how much that small habit would positively impact your life.

So:
Do the Right Thing; 
Find Your People; 
And Start and End with Gratitude.

I’m going to take my own advice here, and say thank you, Central Middle School class of 2018, for letting me get to know you. I can’t wait to see what each of you will continue to achieve in big and small ways, in the years to come. Congratulations and Well Done!

To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
www.Facebook.com/MColleenKlimczakCPO
Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO

Did You Know? August Is National Wellness Month

Did you know?  August is National Wellness Month!   Let’s take an organized look at wellness!

What does Wellness look like to you?  When I talk to clients about time management and strategic planning, there are recurring wellness themes that often accompany clearing clutter and getting organized.

 

Nutrition.   

Get back on track:  Perhaps you had healthy habits working for you earlier in the year, but maybe you’ve lost intensity or focus.  Every day is a great day to start fresh!

Let today be the day to: order a salad for lunch instead of a sandwich and chips; make an effort to increase your water consumption; check out your local farmers market for seasonal produce; or get back to tracking your food choices (my personal plan for this week!)

Better yet, set some goals:  Setting a deadline can boost your motivation, so choose a date in the next month or two to achieve healthier outcomes or weight loss, and map a plan per week to achieve those goals!

 

Better Sleep

We read articles in August about adjusting children’s sleep schedules for Back To School bedtimes.  Let today be the day we try this as adults, too!  Binge-watching summer shows messing up your sleep hygiene (Game of Thrones for me)?  Or maybe those yummy iced coffees?  Back off the caffeine, step away from the screens, head to bed a little earlier!

Traveling last week, I was reminded how much I really love my bed.  Now is also a great time to review your mattress, pillows and sleep environment in general, and make sure everything is working towards the goal of better sleep!

 

Appointments and Screenings

We’re over half way through 2018 (unbelievable, right?!).  Grab your calendar and make some phone calls or go online to schedule any remaining required screenings or appointments for the year, such as:

  • your annual physical;
  • suggested preventive health screenings, appropriate for your age; 
  • your annual flu shot;
  • an annual eye doctor appointment, especially for students and teachers heading back to school;
  • your twice annual dentist appointment;
  • visits to the chiropractor, podiatrist, etc.

 

Exercise.

What activities do you like?  How can you weave them into your schedule as exercise?

Our morning walk today was pleasant, with the cooler morning temperatures. I enjoy seeing my community’s lush yards and beautiful flowers.  I read a book while on vacation called Deep Work, and the author was just talking about the benefits of being outside in nature to boost our moods and productivity.

Last week, we rented bikes and biked the 8.2 mile loop on Mackinaw Island (see picture!).   I highly recommend the experience, and it reminded me how much I love to bike.  So on my August list is “make sure my bike is road ready”, and start biking for errands and leisure!

Now is a great time to sign up for exercise classes for Fall, too!  Some local yoga classes have caught my eye, and are starting soon.  What is calling to you?  Go and do it!

Get up, get out, get involved!

 

Self Care

I am negligent when it comes to self care, but I am working on it!  It has been an stressful summer for me, and I have come to realize that Self Care can’t be optional!  Yesterday, I had a massage along with my chiropractic adjustment, and made sure to schedule my August appointments for both before I left the office.

I talked to a friend about meditation yesterday, and she suggested YouTube for short meditations for affirmation and for better sleep, so I will check those out.

Other components for self care for me have been respecting my boundaries (and occasionally saying No), fueling my body with healthy foods and relaxing with reading.  That may not seem like a lot, but for me, it’s progress!

What could you do this week, to treat yourself kindly?

 

For National Wellness month, set goals and take action, or at least get back on a healthier track after some summer shenanigans (or is that just me?)!

Any Day – EVERY DAY – Is A Good Day to Start Fresh

It’s a new week.  A new month.  For some, it’s a new fiscal year.  It’s the second half of the calendar year.  It’s a holiday week.  It’s a Tuesday.

Some of you may say, “Whatever, Coll.  It’s a Tuesday.  What’s your point?”

My point is… well, I guess I have a couple of points.

First, time is completely arbitrary.   It’s all relative.  

I know, that is a weighty statement.  But, weighty or not, it’s true.  Time is a human construct, a way of conceptualizing the phenomenon of Time Passing.  Even though I coach lots of people in Time Management, I am still the first to say that Time is arbitrary.

However, and here is the real point of today’s post, Any Day – EVERY DAY – is a good day to start fresh.

We’ve had a busy few months.  I’ve mentioned the two graduations and accompanying round of award banquets / events / concerts / ceremonies / parties.  We’ve also had a health challenge or 2 (everyone is fine), some work and service challenges, and everything in between.  And it’s all good, and we’re doing fine.

Everything I mentioned has required mental and physical energy, and I have been glad to spend both!  But this week, after a big event this past weekend, I am feeling a shift in my focus.  I must admit, yesterday I was just feeling a lack of focus :), but today  – I am looking forward with a new vision.

I am feeling motivated to mentally clear clutter and make plans to move forward in a number of areas, and I invite you all to do the same!

Accept that time moves, and moves quickly, whether we want it to or not.

I was chatting with a friend yesterday, her oldest son and my youngest son are both heading to high school in the Fall.  I was talking about the boys preparing for college, and then apologized for rushing, to which she wisely replied “It’s 4 years, we have to think that way.  Just yesterday, they were in 5th grade”, and it really does feel that way.

Take a few moments to appreciate where you have been.

One of my favorite exercises around Time Management and Productivity is writing my Done List.  Mine is typically a day or week at a time, but imagine what your list of major accomplishments in life so far would be!

Appreciate all the moments that lead you to this place in this time today.  Be grateful for the good, forgive the bad, and learn from both.

Next, take stock of where you are today.  How are you doing?  What is awesome, and what could be a little better?

What areas do you want to work on?

  • Personal Wellness
  • Financial Wellness
  • Work, in general
  • Professional development
  • Nuclear family
  • Extended family
  • Fun!
  • Spiritual development
  • Community Service
  • (Fill in yours here!!)

And, Where do you want to go? Looking at your focus areas above, what more do you want to do with your

  • week?
  • month?
  • summer?
  • year?

Today (and this week, this month, this season) is a new opportunity to make positive change.  What will you do with your opportunity? 

A new idea occurred to me the other day, to change our shopping habits to save time and money.  EXCEPT… that is not actually a new idea.  It’s a goal I stated wayyyyy back in January (and probably last year), but I think it’s time to create a plan and task list and deadline for it, and make some progress in that area.

Same thing for my personal wellness.  Good habits slip sometimes when life is especially crazy, so this week, I am also re-committing to some neglected wellness goals.

These are just a couple of examples from my own mind.  What will yours look like?  What do you want to do with your time, arbitrary or not?  Today is the Day!  Any Day – EVERY DAY – is a good day to start fresh!  Got get ’em!

Things We Adults Have To Do Sometimes: The Ultimate “What-If?”

A conversation about life insurance turned to a serious statement for me and my husband – we needed to update our wills.  Our sons are older, our needs have changed.  It’s time.

Regardless of age or situation, organized people get their affairs in order.  We needed to make that happen.

But who wants to tackle the tough subjects, right? Either for our self or with a loved one? It can be difficult, uncomfortable, upsetting and even depressing. But we have to do it, for the Ultimate What If.

These are tough topics, I know.  But I also know that making decisions for yourself and your stuff can be a positive experience, bringing peace of mind, comfort, clarity and relief.  Here are some ideas about the process.

Make sure someone knows where your vital information is.  You don’t have to share it all, but a trusted friend should know where it is.  Your vital information might include:

  • Password info for your online information
  • Banking, tax and financial highlights
  • Your Will and Powers of Attorney for Health Care, Financial or Legal Matters, etc.
  • Anything else you would like someone to know about you, should you no longer be able to speak for yourself.

Find and Utilize Your Expert.  Last week, we met with our lawyer Eileen (http://kerlinwalshlaw.com/) to complete our Will and Powers of Attorney.

I wish I could take credit for the hard work, but our attorney took care of that.  We delivered our information and answered questions, then she and her wonderful office turned our information and decisions into the finished product.  We explained our needs – in the event of a tragedy, we need to provide guardianship for our youngest plus for the educational needs of all three sons. Beyond that, we also talked about health care decisions and planning for the future.  And since she is our expert, she was able to explain different strategies and options to us to meet our goals.  Find your own expert (or contact Kerlin Walsh Law), and make the call.

Make Decisions About Your Health:

  • One of the documents we signed was our Power of Attorney for Health care.
  • A few years back, a client asked me if I would sit and read through her own Power of Attorney for Health Care and Finances, plus her End of Life directives with her.  The topic upset her children too much to talk it through with them, and she really wanted closure with the process.  Conveniently, I’m a notary public, so I could notarize her signature while we were working.   She also recommended “5 Wishes”, https://fivewishes.org/, as a guide to help with these tough decisions.

Make Decisions About Your Stuff:

  • If you have specific items to share, write a note now about who should get the item, but more importantly – write a note about Why?  Why do you want the crystal vase to go to your niece, and what makes it important to you?  Tell your story, and the story of your gifts.  I would even suggest  – if you are downsizing or just in a mood to purge, give the treasure to your loved one now, while you can share a story in person.

Make Decisions About Your Service: 

  • The Dress.  Early in my career, I cleaned out a closet with a dear client.  There was a dress hung in the back of the closet, with the dry cleaner bag still on it.  The client was active and healthy at the time, but she told me that was The Dress, and if her family asked, that was The Dress she wanted to be buried in.  I respected her wishes, and we talked a little more about her plans, and then moved on.  She had many more good years.  Last summer, at her wake, seeing her in The Dress made me cry and smile at the same time, I was so glad she had shared her wishes with her family.
  • You may not know this, but in addition to a certified professional organizer,  I am also a liturgical musician and have sung for dozens of funerals.  If you have a favorite song or scripture reading, let someone know now.

This is a weighty topic, I know. But taking a calm and organized approach to getting your affairs in order now will save everyone stress or heartache later.  Just do it!