Ten Different Ways to Get more organised

When it comes to organisation I have to really drone in on my habits and I am avoiding my bedroom at the moment because of the heat wave I have gone through a lot of clothes, but I know in myself I will tidy them up but not just yet. 

Having Several Accounts Doesn't Work For me

Since watching many different videos on money, some saying you should have seven accounts or 4 to 5. To me that was too much and when I followed that I ended up in huge debt. 

                              

I have now two accounts and one is for money saved for holidays and my main account. I like it like that. 

Having my balance showing in my Wallet it is so easy to keep track of what I am spending and balance and like tomorrow I have cash ready and I will take a certain amount in cash and if I can use it I do and has been a good strategy. 

I can't handle so many accounts. Two is enough and my son has an account but that is for him for when he is older and credit cards are venom to me and glad I no longer have one. I would like to have my own home one day but now I am happy with my current situation. 

So my focus is to save for the Summer Holidays and for weekly expenses, like food shopping, coffees, even though most days I make my own, but love writing in a coffee shop at least once a week and I like to mooch but I can restrain myself and just like to be outdoors. 

I'm glad I no longer have an Overdraft and I am glad that I have unsubscribed from some companies and keeping what I know I am going to use and has value. I like the fact I have Journal APP, free fitness APPs and notes and TV APPs which are free and I am selective when it comes to APPs as they use up storage and if I have point cards for the coffee shops and supermarkets I use. 

I was thinking about it, because I am in a steady place in my life and when I get the urge for shopping my enthusiasm tends to go and feel good when I don't spend. Life is not all about Materialistic things. I feel once you love what you have that is the biggest incentive in not spending and having control of the spending bug. 

So have two accounts if you feel the same and having a daily check on your money. I am going to each day check my balance and set myself saving goals and I each week do a Buy List and this helps see where I have to spend money, like food, toiletries and cleaning products. The main things we buy and that I have money should something else come up, example: School uniform and go through my sons clothes, if we need toilet roll, sponges for washing up and laundry detergent. 

I have done some videos about Hoarding on my Youtube channel if you'd like to check them out and please follow me on X too: 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

Being Resistant To Doing Tasks

As soon as resistance steps in I get up and do that task. Example watering my sons plant. However going out today I felt resistant in buying another notebook. This is where resistance can be a good thing. It depends on the outcome. I know if I water my son's plant will keep it alive and grow.

One of the Places I like to walk in Epsomn

Buying another notebook will cost money and when I have plenty already and not gathering dust and once these are used then buy another notebook. It is good to journal. I journal every day and filmed my two favourite things on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmlsGjUCFY 

Resistant's is the mind saying "Be Careful" and can trigger anxiety and anxiousness. Thinking of the things I shouldn't do that I know will make me feel good, compared to what the consequences will be when I know I don't need another notebook and be tempted. I think of God testing Eve. Do I eat a poisoned apple or do something that won't lead to a good outcome. I write a lot but a blank piece of paper can still have the same benefits and yes I love a good pretty notebook but I have ones still unused and my one goal for me is to reduce waste and not keep adding more to landfill.

Also I have made my own and want to test these out and then sell my own. 

Walking for example is free, wakes me up and helps me feel peace in my mind and so can do this everyday, whereby spending money all the time it can make me feel sick at times because I know I don't need to spend money to be happy. Journaling has really good benefits but if someone asks what you'd like for your birthday then ask for a new notepad or when your on holiday save to buy a journal whilst away as to me now it has to have meaning. 

I find excuses as to why I need spend and then afterwards feel regret what I have purchased yet when I have cleaned the house and seen a result of a cleaner desk give me pride in having a shiny clean desk and cost me nothing. Cleaning products that actually clean is worth it, buying a cleaning device that was intended to clean sitting in the cupboard no purpose, when I have clothes and sponges do the same its just a fancy gadget that is a gimmick and not helped but add to more items I don't need. 

I wonder if you identify? Please fill in the comments box below if you do. It costs you nothing in doing so just would like to read other peoples stories. 

So manage your resistance as it can be a burden but it can also be useful in doing positive habits and stop negative habits. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I've got 4 pints of 4 pints milk

What to do if you have a high stack of food? Donate to friends and family or a too a local food bank?

This includes fruit and vegetables soups, stews and even curries. 

Made myself a Pimms and great for using up fruit and yes I ate the fruit once finished and so getting my Vitamins with a favourite drink of the Summer. 

I now going to have some scrambled egg on toast and use up the milk and my son drinks a lot of milk so not too bad and its good to have enough. My step dad would cook extra for lunches and to give to a elderly lady and call a friend to come over to have a meal with you if they're in need of company. 

If you have the crusts of bread why not make a bread a butter pudding and I am going to make a hot chocolate later or tomorrow with hot milk and so it has its uses over stocking and can help with being inventive and have fun when cooking to see what you can make.

If it is fruit and milk you can make smoothies or lollies as long as you have a freezer and ice cubes and with yogurts too and with meat can be frozen and having a good back up of food is good as then your not going over what to have and I like to trying different drinks and food. I like my cold coffee so I have ordered cans by Nescafe and see what they are like. 

I love a cold coffee this time of year and hot coffee in the winter and not going buy anymore coffee as I have sachets to use and a bag of coffee for my Cafeteria and love a milky coffee and so got some ideas of what I can have now I have a overstocked on milk and my son will be pleased. I did give my mum and step dad a four pint. 

My husband loves tuna and so these are good to have in the cupboard as great for sandwiches and dinners. I am not keen on Tuna but my husband does and we have plenty of peanut butter which we mainly have for breakfast and like to have fruit and use some of it for drinks. At the weekend I saw we had a bottle of Pimms still in the cupboard so made myself a Pimms and Lemonade and used strawberries, a quarter of a orange, cucumber and mint, with ice and not something I drink all the time but love one now and again and so refreshing. The only downside is that when buying oranges I couldn't just buy one which one is all I needed but going to have a quarter that we have left of one and is better than juice and great for cakes like spiced ginger cakes, with a dash of cinnamon and very good for the #autumn but still, I like an orange and having a lemon and lime for drinks. 

So not feeling too bad of having a lot of milk but will hopefully be good to have enough for us now so I only need to pick up one for the rest of the week and means I can do a morning walk to get some and learn for my next shop.  

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Summer Organisation things I do during the school holidays

So we have had half term here in the UK. The final one until the Summer Holidays and it can be tricky when it comes to organisation and so I have some tips that may help you.

Day trips: Plan ahead if you can and do a list a week before if not earlier and remember to pack a first aid kit, money should you decide to buy drinks and food where you are going and remember skin protection. So hats, goggles for swimming, sun cream, change of clothes depending how far you are  heading and open up the car to cool it down before getting in. If it possible see if you can park in the shade. Pack antihistamine and bite cream and if going in water, arm bands and floats and shoes the beach. 

#washing clothes: Do it in cycles and what do you want to take on holiday. I like to mix and match. I do where trainers with socks and pack plenty of underwear and that my son has clothes that can be for the day and evening. Have the washed clothes near the suitcase ready and I like buying packs of vest tops. I wear these all year round and so versatile. Check out my: https://carriesversatilefashion.com/ I will bring shorts. What I mainly where in the summer along with a pair of good walking sandals and trainers that can be washed and a couple of jackets for the evening. |Light jackets. I take my Denim Jackets. You can buy a bar of washing for clothes soap or take some washing tablets and find out what the accommodation has on site. I like to air dry my clothes and so make sure there is a place I can hang once washed. Soak the swimwear to get rid of the chlorine and salt from the sea. 

Guides: Get an idea of where the beaches or seaside is from where you are staying, unless you are holidaying in a city. There may be parks and lakes. So find out before booking, does it have a swimming pool, a restaurant on site and what the night entertainment they have. Can I do exercise? Are there good walks. Are there areas you should stay away from and when hiring a car find out what it is going to be as when we travelled in one of the Greek Islands with my mum and her friend, had this old banger and it was dreadful. I like to see how far it is from the town, I like self catering, so will check to see if there is transport available, supermarket, pharmacy and I love a tourist shop. I don't drive and often my husband doesn't like to always drive on holiday and check if there is parking and how much it is to park. I speak to people who to find if anyone has been there that I know that could give good tips of where to go and the Travel Information in the place you are visiting. Can you buy a guide? Also currency. How much is the exchange rate and the prices to eat out if you don't do self catering? 

Medication and toiletries: I take medication and it is a while since travelling abroad but have it in your luggage and in a clear bag and only take what you need. I like to take a first aid kid but no scissors or anything that is sharp as they will confiscate it, but things like bite cream, wet wipes, sanitizer and plasters for example and you can get travel size toiletries. Boots do a huge range, but find out from the hotel if you can of what will be provided in the accommodation. 

So I hope you find this blog helpful and it is back to school this week for my son and so making the most of the weekend. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Use One Place For Multiple Uses

I have read Atomic Habits. It talks about using one area for one habit, like using the dining table just to do work on my laptop, but I love to use the couch sometimes and when peeling potatoes love having my laptop set up whilst I prep my daily meal.

When it is summer time I like to use the garden to play sports, working on content, journaling and writing a book so I find that it is good to mix it up a bit.

It is good to have a desk and tend to use this as my son loves to use the dining table to watch his tablet, play a board game or his Tipping Point machine as he got back to playing with that, after a break of playing with his trains and buses and airplanes. 

I believe a Living room is to live in and we have a dartboard and often my husband and son will play and my husband and I will work out there too and my husband has a treadmill and so is used and it is good to have a room that is fun and functional too. 

A home to me is a nest, personal to you. I love having a place to read and that be in bed, on the sofa and out in the garden and my son loves to do a bit of DIY in the garden and paint something. 

He painted my bedroom shelves for me and the living room is where he will get dressed for school and where we eat and watch TV. I want to get Henry a TV for his bedroom and he has a desk in his room but he's not used this yet, but wanted it because it his personal space and if he would like to eventually have time in his room rather than the living room then he can. 

It is good to have a room that has personality and should be put together depending on your lifestyle and one of my friends loves to read in the bath, I like to listen to music or an audio book if I am having a bath and that the space can be for relaxing too and not just four walls but is liveable. 

I find having a space where you can be a safe haven. I was fearful at one point of my home but now I love my home and does for now until I can afford a place of my own and that it is personal to me and my bedroom is full of books, my toiletries and clothes. I love my bedroom and it suits me.  

So do you use one place for Multiple purposes or do you like to use difference spaces for one purpose?

You can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Giving yourself more time

How many of us rush only to find that we have forgotten our keys or you didn't have time for a coffee and you've missed the train or bus and now you are making up time. It can get to the point which you wished you hadn't got up or want to turn back the clock and start again. 

Neither are possible but doesn't mean that this continues. Start by doing one change. This can be take a coffee with you from home. Look where you put things. I make sure my bag is in the living room where I know I will pick it up and my coat in the hallway near the front door. 

The same with shoes and I love slip on trainers because they do save up time or sliders. 

I like to concentrate firstly on waking up and my son turns off my alarm. If I don't let him then it can lead to a tantrum and then he goes back to bed and waits for the second alarm for him and I don't do anything else once my son is up as I like to focus on getting my son ready for school. His uniform is laid out and so it is so he can get himself dressed and so I can focus on with filling up his water bottle and put it in his bag. I have create a travel kit bag for him, of wipes, Sun Cream, pocket tissues. Once he is off to school then I will either pop out or start writing a blog, work on a book and so just focus on one thing. 

Today I went out as I wanted a book from a Charity shop in Wimbledon and picked up some shopping and wrote in my journal and drafting the sequel to my new Book out When Mothers Are Real. 

I will batch some tasks. Today it was catching up on my weekly finances that I have missed and gone through my weekly expenses and caught up. I no longer going to use a spreadsheet because my laptop is no longer working and so using my husbands and lost many files and so writing it down. 

The issues with technology makes you go back to old school planning and keeping track of my money and using google docs for my books as not sure if they can be retrieved and it has made me still write things down and I know these won't suddenly crash.

I have an excuse to have a notebook rather than relaying on an online planner all the time. 

So save yourself time by making one change to your day or week and  eases stress and no longer forgetting what you need and have time for a coffee and never miss the bus, train or stuck in traffic again. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Use It Up and Reducing what I buy

I love it when I have an empty fridge because it challenges me to use what I have in my food cupboard and freezer. I have not bought anymore skincare until I have used up my creams and I have enough Shampoo to last me a life time and shower gel and so I can focus at the moment on booking things to do in the Easter holidays. 

It is good to have a back up of food especially when it is freezing cold outside or your cooker goes on the blink and we tend to have sandwiches or soups for lunch and so the two things we buy is milk as that is what my son drinks, along with water and bread. 

Breakfast is usually toast, yogurt or cereal. 

We don't do our washing everyday but this helps me wear the clothes I have and not buying any this year. I like the clothes I have and I rotate my clothes and I was watching a Sheerluxe video on youtube and a lady saying she doesn't allow the weather to dictate what to wear so challenging myself to wear all my clothes still even when it is cold and not stop the weather from wearing a skirt and I think it is a British thing to do to dress by the weather and I have enough for the year. I have clothes that I can layer up but I have a blog about Versatile Fashion and try to buy clothes that suits all seasons.  Carries Versatile Fashion – I love Fashion that can be mixed with all seasons

I am keeping my hair short now because I don't need to keep investing in hair bands and I will still wear my baseball caps and winter hats but I just don't want to have to tie it up. 

I have reduced buying biscuits and I am still ordering from Amazon but the fact that I almost up all night waiting for a notebook to be delivered is the spirit telling me to stop relying on Amazon and buy from the high street as I have allowed myself one notebook a month. 

I am trying not to buy reading books and this has made me listen to the audiobooks I have and so holding myself in from buying so many. 

It is good to have no more baked beans and use tin spaghetti instead to use, pasta is great for meals and my son and husband love salt and pepper and so we keep staples like that but not too many. We at one time had a collection of herbs and spices and they never got used and so had to be thrown. 

Instead of buying fresh garlic we use Garlic Granules and have sauces like Mayonnaise, Ketchup and BBQ sauce. These are always used and never go to waste. 

So if you use it all the time then it is good to stock up, but if it is only one recipe then buy less and make meals you know you will have. I feel that we buy, and this from my own personal experience for the "Ideal person" we want to be, so I am realistic now with what I know I will get consumed and to reduce waste. Keep it realistic and go through the diary to go through what you are going to be doing and what you will be using and I always have hand cream, a packet of tissues, wet wipes and an umbrella in my bag and my sons pocket money but not over doing it as my bags can be heavy. 

Also I like cloth bags and have one I use if we do need to pick up something from the shop.

We now have a mug we no longer use store money for shopping should we need more milk or bread. 

It is good to always have a back plan and I often will go through my stuff and what needs to be used up and keep a list. 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

Sometimes It is good to get away from #TODO lists

Today it is a lazy day. Not had one of these for a long time. My son is unwell so been making sure he is okay and was a day indoors but we changed our minds and went for a drive. His Hayfever really takes over and last year he was taken to hospital because it turned into a Chest Infection and so had to be put on antibiotics. So tomorrow when it is Monday will be contacting the doctors. Not an easy thing to do as you have to fill in a form and then await a phone call. 

A picture from our drive through #ashtead surrey

It has been good though not to have to wake up with an alarm and usually my son would be at his rugby club. He plays with an inclusive rugby team. He has ADHD and Development Delay and we would have gone but as he is not well, thought it would not have been a good idea so I have read my book, did my sons breakfast, listened to some music and an audiobook, watched Match of the Day and now got Sunday Brunch on and decided to go on my laptop and it is good to just have a proper relaxing day. I am watching, please no judgement, a lady stacking books. She sells secondhand books and something I would like to do. So have a good reason. 

I do like my to do lists and it is good to tick things off but it is good to take a break from that and catch up on TV, we watched the athletics lastnight, this morning watched an episode of the Apprentice and it has been a blissful day so far. I hope Henry gets better and we have a roast today so feel that even though its not gone as planned its good to be relaxing and be back on my to do lists once my son is better. 

Kids get sick as they're immune system gets stronger and they do change things. You do have to put your life on hold. I find it hard when he gets sick because rest of the time he is fine but he has been fine. He was able to sleep in and he is smiling and played with his trains but he is tired. When your nose is constantly running it can be exhausting and his nose has been like a tap and he was shivering last night and was alarm bells that his Hayfever has taken a turn and so he has had Calpol and just taking it slow. 

It is good we aren't far away from our local hospital and his GP so hopefully if I contact them all will be okay again. I do enjoy the weekend because it is like having a personal day, which some people call it and just enjoy each hour and minute. 

So if you want a break then do it. Honestly it will give you the boost to get back to the to do lists and allow some down time.

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Why I love my Mornings

I love my mornings and it is when I am most energized and I feel good in that I use my time to read, get dressed, do my sons breakfast and see my son off to school and then I will do a tidy up and may pop out for a walk. 

Took on one of my morning walks and love getting in touch with nature 

It is a good time to journal and go for a coffee.

On Wednesdays I go for a swim and just got back from swimming and achieved my steps.

Listening to Mel Robbins she is right about moving in the mornings as it really helps with fatigue and helps with the rest of the day.

I do have for me the perfect set up, because it gets over the tiredness and spending time putting the dishes away after breakfast helps clear that time to move onto the next time. I like getting up in the mornings where there is noone else up. I like watching the sun rise and today saw a beautiful butterfly and took a picture and it was if it wanted me to take a photo. 

Not loaded on to photos but see above of a Robin I took whilst walking outdoors in the morning.

I would argue with my friends who would call me a morning person but now they are right. I love the morning and having a whole day to write a blog, work on a book and sort out the home. 

It helps with my sleep. I have a overactive mind and as soon as I would put my head on the pillow my mind would become active. I would me ratty and found it hard to switch off and so now I listen to what my body wants and getting up early helps the energy in my mind. 

I properly relax in the evening. I scroll less too. I use my phone when travelling or when on treadmill to to play music or listen to a podcast and at the moment I play four songs whilst on treadmill and I really enjoy it. I find I do concentrate better, I look at the good things in my life and the mornings is when I am the most creative. 

So what time of day do you like? Do you like the mornings? 

You can leave a comment below. 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Shut things away if it helps

So when I think I have decluttered and getting things order there is more stuff and moving can really make you aware of the stuff you have. I was living in Wimbledon but that has changed, so we have moved. I do keep notebooks because they are my tools. I write blogs, create vlogs and a mum, so if there are some things I don't want to deal with then I will put them away and concentrate on what I want to deal with.

My Working Space how I plan my tasks and get stuff done 

I have been putting a plan together to get the spaces in my home together. The good list is to have to remind me of what needs to be done, is to create an Overdue list. I go through never used, sometimes use and always use. I use my notebooks and so going to use the notebooks still with pages available before using a brand new one and file notes for books, blogs or video ideas in a folder. 

My son has inherited some more books to encourage him to read. I am hoping my son would suddenly want to read. He loves charts and maps and now he is in school again hope this will give him some encouragement to read. His Tutor before he got a place in the school he is in now, really helped because he does not like to read at home however much I try. 

Getting back to organisation, it is good to priorities. My main focus at the moment is to get my son ready for school now he has now got a placement and using the time he is at school to do home projects. Tomorrow I am going to the shops. Really glad to be able to go on a morning walk and so putting things away is great for focus on my regular weekly tasks so I have clothes that are clean, for my son to change into when he comes home from school, food and so I like to have an excuse to walk outdoors to pick up some shopping and that my bed has fresh bedding to put on and my son has many sports clubs at the weekend and so making sure I have his football clothes and rugby clothes clean and back to school next week. 

Being enthusiastic does not mean you want to get it done, so I go on how I feel right now. I do change my mind and was going to tidy the living room but looking at my list today I have changed my mind so going to clean my bedside cabinet and clean my sons room and clean the fireplace in the Living room. 

I have to break it up as I know I will be on my laptop all day which I will change my focus so waiting for my camera to charge and vlog and check out my last vlog which features me sorting out my home and post a Vlog every Friday: https://youtu.be/Cl9ESwGVp60

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Carrie X 

Dealing With Avoidance

I think I have blogged this before, but it feels like it's a regular occurrence when I know that it will get done just not now. At the moment I am focusing on mainly getting my son settled now he is back to going to school and is an adjustment and some things I have to accept will have to be on hold. 

I love a list and it is good when things are ticked off but I have come to realise that it doesn't always have to be on a list. I do plan but often it can make me rebel. So now I use lists as a guidance and if I decide to do something else then so be it. 

As long as my son is ready for school then that is my focus at the moment. A plan is there to make space for things not listed, as there are items sometimes that take over. Like if Henry becomes unwell or has an event at school and been moving. This is a transition and so if something is causing you to be anxious then what would make it easier? Address your avoidance. Who can help you with it? 

I like to spend at least 10 minutes tidying and putting things away and when I got upstairs take something with me and I love pottering around the home and helps me take time off my laptop or go or a walk. Going shopping can help with fitting in exercise. Check out this blog: Get Active Get Fit : Shopping can have its benefits when staying Active

I am putting a declutter vlog together as I am altering my sons bedroom and my room in Epsom and I planned to do some today but as soon as a I do anything like that my son wants me and not in school today as he is doing a transition period as its his first week going to school again and so be back doing it tomorrow and today my mum was putting things away in the summer house we have and my needed new trainers and my husband wanted to do a dummy run to my sons school as the last two days it was my mum and step dad and so tomorrow me and his dad will be taking him and then next week, my son will going to school by taxi.

So in my journal I write what is my focus and what is worrying me and do it every morning now and helps to lower my apprehension and anxiousness. 

I'd recommend that. What one thing could you do, to stop avoidance and go through the weeks of the month and go through dates you already know you have set aside. Like a school visit. My son has world book day so need to find a costume and is going to be horrid henry. 

We aren't meant to to do everything. My husband will be doing dinner tonight and cooks on Sundays. So create a Rota and schedule and we just plan as we go, but if that doesn't suit you them do what works for you. 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I finally Cleared out my handbag

Why has it taken so long? Because I hold my hands up because of how long it would take and worried I'd get rid of something important. 

Did I though? No. 

My New Handbag 

I have other bags to go through and spent some time as I have gone upstairs clear some bits and doing some as I go, so going to go through one bag at a time. We are moving from Wimbledon, because my Mum and Step dad have moved to a new home where I will be still spending time, but not have to pack every week and because of the move we have had to sort a lot out. 

I am putting together some items for the charity shop or may sell, but it is working out what is the best for those items and skincare that has not been opened. I love a gift set because I like the lotions and some items I can give as gifts or donate or sell. I may give some items to my nieces.

When sorting out my bag I found a broken pair of sunglasses and receipts. How many can nod, who also keep a lot of receipts? I found some loose change. Some cream that lost a lid and tablets I take as some of the bottles of the pills have lost their lids and lipsticks and so it was good to have completed this dreaded task. 

I know Kon Marie says you should do it everyday but for me, just unrealistic, but going to see what I can do about receipts. If you have any tips please feel free to share. You can leave a comment in the box below. 

It is good to have a bag and I feel lost if I don't, so my a goal is to take better care even though I used it a lot and was a while, until I had to sort it out and it has been through many weathers and so it is time to use a new one and others that I have. 

I have my sons old bag to go through and donate as this as it is in good condition and sometimes it is good for items to go to a new home and I am a lot more vigilant in letting things go because of landfill and so I am becoming less wasteful. 

I ask myself "What use does this item have that I need?" So I am going to go through my bags and if they would be good for someone else, then it may be gifted, if it is in a good state wonder "Could it be recycled?" 

I love donating, recycle and I love to use some bits like labels and different type of paper to journal. I find it so good for my mental health and so going to sort more out and then I have clothes to be bought over. I may have to really decide on them because of space so lets see if I am strong enough to have less when it comes to clothes because I know it will be impossible to have them all even though I had done that but still got lots. 

Wish me luck and more blogs to come. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Make one change can make a massive difference

My Shelf

It is amazing how just putting up a shelf up, can make a difference, with set of clothes hooks, so I have a place for my books and my clothes for the day and no longer all over the bed.

Before my Shelf was put up 

                                                  

So just one change can make a difference. It helps me with my laziness and procrastination. If I do one thing I know it will get done, if I have to clean a whole room it makes me want to leave and avoid and so I will break tasks up. 

I will wash up and clean the sink one day. Last night I dusted my file boxes, as there was dust from when my husband put up the Shelf in my room and clothes hook. I now have cleaned the windowsill and my son done one too, later it will be dinner and then tomorrow will clean the windowsills upstairs. 

Check out this blog: https://neworganizedself.blogspot.com/2024/09/one-minute-tasks-i-do-to-stay-productive.html 

Change your sleep pattern. I have always suffered with Insomnia and getting to sleep. I have had weeks of bad sleep and not slept at all and it was really effecting me daily. I would get terrible fatigue and would watch the time. So I no longer have a clock in my room. I use my phone but I put it where I have to get up to turn it off. Or my son will come into my room to turn it off.

I do take medication as it was getting bad and it did effect my mental health. 

It could be organising time to walk. You don't need a gym. I love walking and so I always organise time to do this and it will be 10 to 45 minutes. I love walking up London and local parks. I will check out the shops and have a coffee whilst I walk and love being near the river and it is free. 

Changing your shopping habits. I now try to buy shopping once. I have set up a notebook for planning meals. I did have a folder full of recipes but I never used them and I love the English favourites, Toad in the hole, curry, fish n chips, ham egg and chips, sausage and mash and so I will make sure we have vegetables, but frozen, even fresh veg so it has a longer life span and tinned items of food and it saved me a lot of money. 

 My Clothes Hook

Organising my online planner. Notion. It has saved me a lot of time and have the APP on my phone too and really been a game changer and keep track of things and great if you are planning sort of person and saves me time and money. 

So just one change can make a huge difference. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Why I journal helps keep me Organised and address my fears

Since a child I have written down my thoughts and fears. I use my journal app on my phone also and I haven't kept them all. I have found getting rid of the ones from a child a way of letting go of the past and to focusing on my current thoughts and goals and about the challenges that are occurring and things I am putting off and my anxiety thoughts. 

It helps me to feel that I am okay to be natural in my appearance and not rush around. Now my son has learning at the library I have journaled a lot and it made me set out 2026 and my sentence for me this year is "Wait and see" and started to plan using too old letters or printouts, to recycle and things I want to get done and where my focus is at the moment. 

If I have changed my mind on what to do on some days. You don't always need a to do list to get things done or a fancy notebook. I do because I love a notebook. They help enthuse my feelings and my creativity. 

Journaling can be done using your Notes APP if you have enough space on your phone. You can use Notion or a plain notebook pocket size or bigger. I like it because there's no rules, just write what you feel or what you see your life going and address your fears. 

Allow your fears give your armer to take on the fears to prove that something is good. 

I went through all my fears. I have a radio show and I get so nervous and I sorry TMI but need a loo a lot before I go to the studio and feels good once I am doing my show and that I didn't bail out and I enjoy it. I really feel such pride about it.

My fear of being stranded when my son wants to go on a train or bus ride. I think of everything that could go wrong and then write what if it work outs? 

I go through what I can do to help to prevent things going wrong. Like I I worry about being late. Leave early. What if there are delays. Check to see if there is another route. Get my show all written down so I can set up my show ahead of time. It evaluates my fears and good to express what I feel and fear because it is my mind just weighing up and do and don't. 

If you feel uncomfortable about someone. What is it. Their manner, do they tut a lot when you speak? Do they huff when you try to speak to them? Where is it happening?

I find it makes me powerful. I focus on those like me open minded and those who also journal to learn new skills and to improve my wellbeing and this year it is about "Growing" and keep going. I love being a blogger, writing my books, I love putting my radio show together and I love to journal.

It really has helped me build good habits, like reading everyday. Decluttering and planning programmes and projects. It to me has been my ultimate discovery and want to help you all to enjoy life more and be good to yourself and what I have done to help build my self as a person, who is a daughter, mum, sister, niece and auntie.  

I hope you do enjoy these blogs and you can subscribe. Costs nothing and you will be alerted each time I post. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

What to do when is cold?

Living in the UK it is unpredictable the weather. There is always speculation of will we have snow? Well we did and now it is slowly fading but was a surprise and will it rain at some point?

It can have down pours and sleet rain and as a English girl I am a used to it and why it is good to have thing indoors to get through the rainy cold days. 

Who knows, so it is good to have rainy days activities. This morning I cleared out a cupboard, my husband did run on the treadmill and Henry played one of his new games. It is good to have a collection of items that can help the days when it is too cold to go out.

I am on a look out for a pack of cards so gonna look in the charity shop to buy a set as I thought we did have pack but not sure as to where they are.

Invite friends over and have a meal indoors or a coffee and chat. It is good to set up a playdate and one thing I'd like to have is a playroom, but now we spend our time in the Living room and so we have toys available such as a dartboard and an a indoor golf set. 

Having a bit of sports day. At the moment I am watching Birmingham vs Coventry and later watching the Chelsea game and so gonna have dinner early. It is good to just be with family and my son wanted me to watch it with him, before he begins to do his learning again with his tutor. It will begin either this week or week after. 

When my son has his tutoring at the local library I also will do some reading and learning and updating journal and planning shows, blogs and Vlogs. You can check out my content via my X platforms, Facebook or Pinterest. See links below:

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It is also a good time to have Facetime if you can't visit fiends or family in person or phone them for a chat. 

Allow for some TV time and I love watching concerts and documentaries and later will be watching some comedy.

So there is always plenty to do, whatever the weather. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X