OverHall IT!
Vol. 6 Issue 1
Just reading this newsletter won't get you organized...
YOU must take some action!
Organizing Newsletter for Your Life - OverHall IT!
Circulation 7,397
Vol. 6 Issue 1
Publisher: Janet L. Hall mailto:janet@overhall.com
http://www.overhall.com
(c) OverHall Consulting 2005
Administration information located at end of newsletter
Help Me Help Others Heal Their Environments and Get
Organized - Please forward my newsletter onto those you know
who might need or like OverHall IT!
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Welcome and Happenings
2. OverHalling and Balance
3. Tips for Professional Organizers
4. Organizing Tips and Tools
5. Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes
6. Guest Article
1. Welcome and Happenings
Did you see the article in Sam's Club Jan. magazine, Source:
Office Version that had me in it? (
http://samsclub.richfx.com/catalog_samsclub/magazine6/index.asp?
Pages 8-10 ). Wow, how exciting; however I haven't been
able to get a print copy of it. I'd greatly appreciate it if you have
a print copy of the above magazine and wouldn't mind sending it
to me. I was also written up in the Charles Independent in Jan.,
almost two whole pages! I've got copies of that thanks to
professional organizer Betsey Campaigne sending them to me. I
want to thank both reporters for a fabulous interview and write
up!
Every Friday this past month I've been conducting a webinar, a
workshop over the Internet, live. It's been a lot of fun and the
CD's and workbooks will be ready later this week for purchase
(email me if you want to be alerted when ready).
In the meantime, while creating this workshop I developed some
new pages on my site that are worth checking out:
http://www.overhall.com/books.htm Here you'll find
recommended reading on topics for organizing your home,
children, classroom, photos, scrapebooks, documents and Feng
Shui, Space Clearing, Time Management and Change.
http://www.overhall.com/feng_shui_scents.htm that offers
candles, incense, oils, and diffusers and
http://www.overhall.com/feng_shui_sounds.htm that offers wind
chimes, gongs, table top fountains and music. In the weeks to
come I'll be adding tips to those pages to help you along.
My email course of how to sort and organize all your home
papers is a great success, thanks to many of you. To read about
how it works, what you can expect, and to sign up for it please
see my newest web site
http://www.paperclutter.com
I just started my first blog on paper clutter. Check it out and
save it in your favorites as I'll be posting paper tips and how to's
there:
http://papermanagement.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your support and for being a subscriber,
Janet L. Hall, The Organizing and Feng Shui Wizard
Now, on to the articles!
2. - Transportation of Your Stuff
By: Janet L. Hall
Your home and office contain several circulatory systems.
When you 'ask' for water, pumps, pipes, values and heaters
transport and manipulate the water to get to you; when you 'ask'
for electricity, power stations, power lines, electrical boxes,
fuses, wiring and switches transport and manipulate electricity to
get to you.
Clogging or break downs can come from lack of maintenance
and /or lack of knowing what is good or bad input for your
systems. Flooded rooms, backed up toilets or an electrical
shutdown or fire can occur.
You are the transportation system of your belongings. You
transport stuff into your home or office (or someone transports
stuff to you) and you then circulate this stuff throughout your
home or office. And if you don't circulate your stuff to the right
room or person it gets tossed "wherever," causing clogs and
breakdowns.
Before You Bring Stuff In, ask:
=>Who is going to use this?
=>What contribution does it make in your life or others?
=>When will you use it?
=>Where will this 'live'? In what room or area of your home or
office?
=>Why do you want this in your home or office?
=>How does it fit into your home or office?
When the circulation of your stuff is impeded your home or
office is besieged in clutter and chaos. Your transportation
system - you - becomes clogged and breaks down.
If not taken care of quickly those small piles become stacks and
overwhelming. The energy of the room and you take on
a different energy and attitude. Efficiency is greatly reduced.
When the stacks become hills, health: physical, mental, and
spiritual problems can develop: depression, allergies, and low
self-esteem to name a few.
Knowing this should lead you to conclude that continually
circulating, up keeping and maintaining will decrease your
chances of clutter and unhealthy situations arising.
However does forcing you to move your stuff or doing it alone
improve the circulation of your home or office? Not necessarily.
If you approach these tasks without a clear vision of 'what it is
you are working on accomplishing' with resentment, anger or
ungratefulness - you will not have accomplished anything, nor will
'it stay that way' until you are clear, happy, care for and grateful
for the stuff in your life. Doing these tasks with awareness, joy
and a goal in mind can help bring about improvement. It's not
what you're doing it's "how" you're doing it.
This can be quite a feat when you already have stress, strain,
tension, overwhelm and no help.
To keep the transportation of your stuff moving you'll need to
work on your circulation systems, attitude, and health or perhaps
of those around you. No benefit will be obtained unless the tasks
and attitudes 'are in union.'
Let's say your clutter or lack of organization and time
management - control - is so out of control you need help. Yet
you or others around you are having a difficult time
understanding the true problem or can't 'justify the cost' of hiring
a professional. Now what do you do? How do you feel? Stuck?
More than likely your circulation systems become more clogged
pushing you towards your breaking point.
This happened to Lynette:
If you are a fan of "Desperate Housewives" you will recall this
happened to the mother, Lynette, with three out of control boys
and a chaotic home. In one show her peers compared her to
another mother that 'seemed' to have her life and household
under control. Not so as we saw later that the 'supermom' had a
"mother's little helper," drugs. Lynette also started taking the drug
and her life and household soon became stress free and
organized. She was finally in control until she ran out of her drugs
and then realized she had another problem, addiction. Lynette
finally realized drugs were not the answer to the chaos in her life
and finally stepped up and got help. She hired a nanny to help
her.
Now I'm certainly not suggesting you medicate yourself,
although I'm sure many of you are, possibly treating the wrong
'symptoms' because it's easier and less expensive than hiring a
professional or for that matter, admitting you need help (to
yourself or others). Medication, rather than facing your clutter
and organizational challenges can leave you with a blase attitude
- nonchalant, who cares, not so bad outlook. Medication can
become a crutch and additive and I wouldn't want this to happen
to you.
How then do you get your circulation systems unclogged and
your transportation systems back on track?
1. If you're medicating yourself or using illegal drugs please talk
with your doctor for help to stop this insanity.
2. If your doctor has prescribed something, please review and
be honest with him about your situation, challenges and health.
3. If you need help - admit it. Admit it to yourself and others. I
know this can be very difficult to do, we all think we are
'superwoman' and can do it all; however once said out loud
you'll be amazed at your attitude transformation.
4. Research and be prepared to answer the following opposing
questions you might get from yourself or others:
YOU: I need help with ......
Why?
YOU: State your reason, dilemma and feelings.
How long do you need help?
YOU: State if the help needed will be permanent or temporary.
How much will this cost?
YOU: Do your research BEFORE this question is asked so you
are prepared to answer.
Is it really worth it?
YOU: You should be prepared to answer what the value will be
to you, your health, your sanity, and your family.
In Feng Shui and other modalities we see how your external
environments, your home, office and spaces, are a reflection or a
mirror of your internal environment - your physical, mental and
spiritual health.
What internal issues, fears or challenges do you need to work on
- get better - to gain an uncluttered, in control external
environment?
Can you work on the two together?
Yes, with professional counseling and a certified professional
organizer.
Transport yourself and your stuff into a new era this year. Call
me, I can help you.
============
Janet Hall is a Certified Professional Organizer,
Certified Pyramid Feng Shui Practitioner, Speaker, and Author
and can help you regain control of your life, your time, your
stuff, and your environment. Organizing By Phone and in person
at http://www.overhall.com
Copyright (c) 2005 OverHall Consulting
P.O. Box 263, Port Republic, MD 20676
All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy,
or distribute so long as this copyright notice and full information
about contacting the author is attached.
Have You Gotten Your *Tickle* for the Day?
Check out the secret organizing tool that ALL organized families
and successful people use on a daily basis at
http://www.overhall.com/tickler_file.htm
3. Tips for Professional Organizers
Are you going to get serious about your organizing career this
year? What are you going to do or say when your clients start
asking you if you're a certified professional organizer? What are
you going to tell them when they ask for your education, training
and experience?
Don't let jobs slip away because you feel your career isn't worth
investing in. Get the education and training you AND your clients
deserve.
International Assocation of Professional Organizers:
http://www.organizingtheworld.org
Janet Hall:
http://www.overhall.com/organizers_tools.htm or call me at
1-800-687-3040
4. Organizing Tips and Tools
I have discovered and reviewed a new product, If Something
Happens to Me. Check it out at:
http://www.overhall.com/if_something_happens_to_me.htm
OverHall Special:
Check out our special and save $3.00 on the Safe-Deposit Box,
Fireproof Safe Organizer: Guide to Protecting Your Valuable
Personal Records at:
http://www.overhall.com/organizing_special.htm
(Please refresh your screen if you have visited this page in the
past).
OverHall Events:
Turn Your Life Around - Harmony and Balance Workshop
http://www.overhall.com/harmony_balance.htm Feb 1st-Live in
Solomon's Island, MD and Feb. 3rd-teleseminar:
Creating Space for Love
E-books and Books:
An associate, Ron Mueller, is the co-author of
"It's How Much You KEEP, That Counts! Not How Much You
Make". It's the ULTIMATE Tax-Reduction System For Small
and Home-Based Businesses! Reading one chapter has already
helped me and I'm sure it will help you also. Check it out at:
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=137136
Jeffrey J. Mayer, president of Succeeding In Business, and
author of many books, has an ebook, "Winning the Fight Against
You and Your Desk," that I highly recommend. This inexpensive
52 page ebook is jammed packed with time saving tips so you
can get more done in less time. I urge you all to download this at
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=25003
Software and Downloads:
Get this inexpensive Spam Filter at
http://spamarrest.com/affl?930907
If you've been wanting a web site and aren't sure how to build
one check out my latest multimedia CD, FrontPage Show and
Tell. You will see my screen and hear my voice telling where and
why to click to build your web site. Introductory Special at
http://www.frontpageshowandtell.com
5. Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes
~~America has more transportation facilities than any other
nation, but they're so crowded we can't use them.
--Unknown
6. 6 Steps to Get into the FLOW
By Dr Jill Ammon-Wexler
Pioneer brain/mind researcher
www.quantum-self.com
© 2004 All Rights Reserved.
You've heard about how a musician loses herself in her
music, or how a painter becomes one with his painting.
Time stops, and only total focus on the activity
remains.
This is "flow," an experience that is both demanding
and rewarding -- and perhaps the most enjoyable and
valuable experience you can have.
Learning how to enter into the "flow" has the potential
to immediately improve the quality of your life.
**The Father of "Flow."
Hungarian-born psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi
(pronounced "chick-SENT-me high") thought about the
meaning of happiness beginning in his early childhood
in wartime Europe.
His pressing question was: Why, despite all the
conveniences and comforts and opportunities of our
modern times, are so many people so very unhappy?
And why do they "end up feeling their lives have been
wasted -- that instead of being filled with happiness,
their years were spent in anxiety and boredom?"
He resolved to get an answer, and spent twenty-five
years interviewing literally hundreds of people all
around the world from all walks of life -- from artists
and chess masters to janitors and the homeless. He
asked each of them to recall the happiest moments of
their life -- then to describe what created those
moments.
He discovered an amazing uniformity in their answers.
"The best moments," he writes in his best-selling book
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, usually
occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its
limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something
difficult and worthwhile."
"Such experiences are not necessarily pleasant at the
time they occur," he continues. "The swimmer's muscles
might have ached during his most memorable race, his
lungs might have felt like exploding, and he might have
been dizzy with fatigue -- yet these could have been
the best moments of his life."
** Characteristics of the Flow State.
Csikszentmihalyi describes the experience of being in
the flow as "being completely involved in an activity
for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every
action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from
the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being
is involved, and you're using your skills to the
utmost."
He determined that flow occurs when we are totally
absorbed in some activity that is neither too easy nor
too difficult for us. If the activity is too easy, we
fall into boredom -- while if it's too difficult, we
become anxious.
But if the activity is just right we find ourselves in
the state of flow, just like children at play.
**How Flow Builds Brainpower.
Csikszentmihalyi found that being in the flow actually
increases your brainpower, and that the longer you
remain "in flow," the more complex your mind becomes.
The easiest way to understand how flow increases
mindpower is this: When you perform a task that is too
easy, your mind wanders from your work, and you have
low mental focus. When something is overwhelmingly too
difficult, on the other hand, anxiety and frustration
set in.
Neither boredom nor anxiety lead to good mental focus.
Most often we move in and out of flow without realizing
it. Any stimulating activity that completely fills your
conscious attention can put you there. But the minute
you feel worry, boredom or insecurity creeping in --
you are out of the flow.
Here's a reliable method of achieving and sustaining a
high state of flow in your life:
Step 1. View your task as a game. Like any serious
game, you need feedback to keep yourself challenged --
and the most basic form of feedback is keeping score.
Establish the objective of your selected task as an
actual goal, recognize the challenges to be overcome,
and decide on any rules and rewards.
Step 2. Decide on and focus on your purpose. As you
play your game, constantly remind yourself of the
underlying purpose that is driving you. This goes
beyond the goal -- it is the reason for the goal.
Step 3. Practice focus. Become aware of your thoughts.
If you find your mind drifting or filled with anxiety,
you have moved away from the zone. Refocus on the task
at hand, and adjust the difficulty until you become
fully engaged in the details of the task.
Step 4. Surrender to the Process. This is perhaps the
greatest mystery of the flow process. As you practice
Step 3, you will find yourself enjoying the process of
simply focusing completely on the task without
straining or undue effort. As you do, you will begin
to experience periods of timelessness.
Step 5. Embrace Ecstasy. The most interesting part of
this process is the natural result of the previous four
steps. You are going to be suddenly hit by surprise
with a feeling of ecstasy. You'll recognize it. When it
happens, you are solidly in the flow.
Step 6. Peak Productivity. The state of ecstasy is
actually a whole brain phenomenon in which your entire
cortex vibrates at one coherent frequency. It is
unmistakable. You will have the sensation of creating
without thinking, and your productivity will attain
unheard of heights.
**Flow and "The Zone"
The state of flow has direct ties to the state of being
athletes call "the zone," and also to the desired end
state of Zen Buddhism. But the experience applies
equally well to any endeavor, however simple or
complex. Think of the minute complexity of the Japanese
Tea Ceremony, and the intense mental focus required to
perform it correctly.
If you want to immediately eliminate boredom or anxiety
in your life, pick a task and teach yourself how to
enter into the flow. But remember -- it's a game, and
you are to be rewarded, and not criticized or judged by
anyone (including yourself).
**Increase Your Flow Probability
An excellent [way] to increase your probability of entering
into the flow is to train your brain to release stress
-- since only then can you achieve the required clear
focus. One excellent way to do this is a daily 10-15
minute brainwave training sessions in the Quantum
Brain Gym.
==========
Come visit the exciting Self Discovery Community.
Discover the most interesting, unusual, stimulating and
creative methods of self discovery on the web today!
Free sizzling weekly ezine, and the web's first Brain
Gym ezone.
http://www.quantum-self.com
So you want to be a Professional Organizer?
Check out my one-of-a-kind system, The Wizard's Professional
Organizers System that will give you a jump-start on your
organizing career at
http://www.overhall.com/professional_organizers_system.htm
NEED a speaker for your next event? Download my speaking
packet at:
http://overhall.com/Seminars.htm
Harmony and Balance to all,
Janet L. Hall, CPO/CRMS (tm), FSII/FSIA
The Organizing and Feng Shui Wizard
Let me work my "magic" on your Clutter, Life, and Environment!
http://www.overhall.com
"If your current life isn't working for you... get an
"OverHall"!"
Janet L. Hall is the owner of OverHall Consulting, and
Organizing By Phone, which is based out of Southern Maryland
and can be reached at 800-687-3040 or 410-586-9440, or e-
mail her at mailto:janet@overhall.com
Janet can "OverHall" your office, home, and computer clutter
and can deliver a customized speech or seminar for your next
event.
Copyright (c) 2005 by OverHall Consulting
P.O. Box 263,
Port Republic, MD 20676
All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy,
or distribute OverHall IT! or any articles by Janet L. Hall so
long as article(s) is kept intact, this copyright notice, and
full information about the author is attached.
ISSN # 1533-0702.
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http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm to subscribe.
Here in OverHall IT! it is my hope to help you stop juggling
areas in your life around and help you "OverHall" the areas that
might have become cluttered, ignored, or put on the back
burner. I want to help you bring back into focus the things that
are important to you. I want the chaos to stop for you and help
bring you some structure and hopefully some useful advice and
systems so you can accomplish the most important task...running
your life!
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