Organized Living

Where To Start

2010-04-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking about getting organized but just don’t know where to start? Are you learning about the importance of life organizers? Do you have an organizing system, but don’t know what to do with it? Does the job seem overwhelming? Does it seem like you could do a little here or a little there, but it really wouldn’t make that much difference? Here are a few tips that will help you take the right steps to get you started, help you see that little things really can make a difference, and help you feel in control about the task at hand.

Every job takes a little planning. Take a few minutes to picture your house. Imagine yourself going into each room, opening the cupboards or closets or drawers. Walk through your house in your mind. If you need to, really get up and walk into each room. Think about how it makes you feel. What areas make you feel frustrated or nervous?

When you get ready to leave the house in the morning, do you notice that your closet is too full, or that you can’t find what you want in your dresser drawers? Are the drawers stuffed with clothes or other things that you never use? Are you shoes all together in one place?

Is there a certain drawer in the bathroom that has become a catch-all for everything that was on the counter top? Is your hall coat closet so full of everything else that you can’t find the coats? Are there so many knick-knacks in your china closet that none of them seem special?

As you ask yourself these questions, or a few of these questions, don’t get stressed out. Relax and imagine how this can help you manifest abundance in other areas of your life, too. Once you determine which are you want to work on right now, don’t worry about the rest. Just decide which area you want to focus on. You’ll get to the others when you’re ready. What we’re doing now is doing one thing. That’s all that matters now.

Let’s say you’ve decided to work on that kitchen cupboard that has way too many pots and pans. You know the one. It’s the one next to the stove. You try to get just the pan you want, but it seems to have developed a close relationship with a couple other pans and a few lids because they all seem to want to jump out of the cupboard together.

Now comes the fun part. Actually, it can all be pretty fun. Take everything out of that one cupboard. And has you’re doing that, put the things you never (or seldom) use into a big box. Give some of the extras that your kids at college might need. But don’t give them things they don’t need either. Decide as you’re going through things. Are there things that need to be thrown away or given away? Pack them up and put them in the garage or better yet in your car. Don’t just put them somewhere else to stay. Decide to get rid of them.

The next time you go to town, take them to the Good Will store. Be decisive. Don’t wait. Don’t let them sneak back into your cupboards.

Once you’ve gotten rid of things the next part is even more fun. Put back what you use. Put the most frequently used items near the front where you can get to them easily. The other things go near the back. And that’s it. Every once in a while use these same techniques on another area. Choose that places that are bothering you the most, draining your energy, and have at it.

Good luck!

Give Yourself the Gift of Space

2010-04-02T12:35:00.001-07:00

I just can't emphasize enough the importance of creating more space in your home and therefore creating more space in your life. Too much of our lives are spent feeling crowded.

Our top dresser drawer is crowded. Our pantry is crowded. Our closet is crowded. The garage is crowded. The attic is crowded. I think you get the crowded picture.

The feeling of having more space, even more than you feel you need right now, is so calming. That feeling is an important part of utilizing your organizing systems and organizing solutions you’re discovering.

If you feel your schedule is too hectic, there are too many places to be at the same time, it's your turn to carpool - again, there's not time to have a meal together; then you'll be glad to know there's help that you probably haven't considered before.

Take time to clear out some space in your physical environment. Get rid of some of the things you don't use that often. Take just a little time today to throw away or give away three items. See how much easier it is to clean the space that's left. Arrange things a little differently in a drawer or cupboard or closet. Then notice how you feel.

Ah, now doesn't that feel better? Keep it up. Just a little bit every day or every other day or every once in a while. Notice the good feelings. Notice the feelings of abundance.

The Right Supplies

2010-04-02T12:34:00.001-07:00

The right supplies really do make any job easier. Whether you’re looking for just the right organizing solutions or looking to be more organized and learn to manifest more abundance in your life, the right supplies are key.

I cleaned the bathroom yesterday. And I mean I really cleaned. I also organized. It took me most of the day. I enjoyed it. I had done a little cleaning in a kitchen cupboard before that.

I was so glad I hadn't thrown away those plastic containers that didn't have lids. They fit perfectly in some of the bathroom drawers to keep small items together and easy to get to. I had also bought a few other storage containers. They came in handy and made such a big difference.

There are probably many items you already have and more you can purchase for not too much that will make your organizing chores so much easier. I've listed just a few on my website. www.whynotrightnow.com.

And while you're doing all this, don't forget the number one help in getting organized: create more space, get rid of stuff you don‘t use. Happy Spring Cleaning and Organizing!

Creating Space

2010-04-02T12:33:00.002-07:00

How are you doing? Have you decided on some organizing solutions or organizing systems to follow? Have you located a few organizing supplies? You probably have some empty containers, boxes, cartons, folders, etc. around your home. Use them to put like items together.

Next, get ready to manifest abundance; get ready to create. It's something you probably don't often think about creating. I'm talking about creating space. This is such a huge factor in getting organized, and making it easier to keep things where they belong.

Creating space is especially important when you make a new purchase. When you bring something new into your home, make sure you take something out. And even when you're not making a new purchase, take something out.

Make it a habit to get rid of stuff, stuff that takes up space in your home and in your mind. When you're saving something, remember it's not just the item you are saving. You are also saving an important place for it that might be better used for something else. And you are devoting, even when you don't realize it, mental energy to that item.

Only give your space and your energy to what is very most important to you. If you are making room for too many unimportant things, the important things are being neglected.

Keep the things you use closest to you, easiest to get to. Keep the things that you use infrequently where you can still get to them. Do what makes things easiest for you.

Take good care of yourself and enjoy the creative process.

Enjoy Yourself

2010-04-02T12:33:00.001-07:00

The whole point of getting more organized is being happier. You’re happier when you have some good organizing solutions or organizing systems to follow. You're happier when you can find what you need. You're happier when your closets and drawers and cupboards look neat and orderly. And you should also be happier while you are getting your closets and drawers and cupboards orderly.

So enjoy yourself. Don't tackle too much at one time. Don't be afraid to leave your current project and go onto something else for a while. Don't feel you have to make excuses to yourself or anyone else as to why things are a little disrupted right now.

Do what you can when you can. Take it a step at a time. If you start feeling overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and remind yourself that you're doing fine. Give yourself credit for what you're accomplishing. Enjoy yourself!

When You're Not in the Mood to Organize

2010-04-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

What if you would like to be more organized, but you’re just not in the mood? What if the organizing solutions and organizing systems you’ve read about just don’t speak to you right now? Well, you could do several things. Here are a few ideas.

Don’t do it.

Don’t do it right now.

Do a little bit.

Ask someone else to help you.

Ask someone else to do it for you.

Make a list.

If you’re waiting for me to tell you which idea is the best for you to do, wait no longer. Every idea is great.

Don’t do it. I find I really need to be in the mood for getting more organized. Sometimes I’m excited to clean the pantry or the garage or my top dresser drawer; sometimes I’m not. When I’m not, I don’t. Usually. Trying to get organized all at once is very overwhelming. That’s why you shouldn’t do it. And sometimes you just need to put your mind at ease, and don’t worry about it right now. This brings us to the next idea.

Don’t do it right now. You’ll probably feel like doing it later. So, do it later. It’s not like you won’t get another chance, and it’s certainly not like that task will disappear when you’re not looking. Don’t stress out about it. But also just don’t worry about doing it right now.

Do a little bit. Doing a little bit is a wonderful thing to do because it helps get you in the right frame of mind to do a little bit more. So if you’re not in the mood to organize, but would really like to get something done; just do one little thing. It can be whatever you want, wherever you are. Do one thing, or part of one thing. Clean and organize the silverware drawer. Arrange all the shoes in the porch in a neat and eye-pleasing order. Clean your purse. If you want to, set the timer for 10 minutes and clean and organize a particular area until the timer goes off. Be creative. Do a little bit. You’ll feel better.

Ask someone else to help you. This is a great idea. If there’s something you’re dreading, enlist the help of others. Give each of them a part of the job to do. Kids like having a specific assignment. “Clean your room” sounds a lot more foreboding that “put your shoes in the closet.” Ask for help. It’s the way to go.

Ask someone to do it for you. This is even a better idea that asking someone to help. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to do something you don’t want to do. Maybe they are in the mood to organize. Maybe they’re not. Offer a reward, or what I like to call a bribe. If it works, it’s a good deal.

Make a list. Make a list of what you plan to do later. I love lists. I make a list for everything I do. It’s fun. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. And when I actually do something on my list, it gives me an even greater sense of accomplishment. If you’re not in the mood to organize right now, just write it down.

Getting organized isn’t as hard as you thought it would be. Life organizers are easier to understand and follow than you thought. So go ahead; get started. Or not. It’s up to you.

Left-Overs

2010-03-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here's my left-over story. There are just a few left-overs after dinner. They were pretty tasty, and I just can't throw them away. I put them in a little plastic container. Somehow the container seems to gravitate to the back of the refrigerator. I plan to use the left-overs again soon. But as luck or something would have it, I don't even notice them in a remote shelf of the frig until it's too late. I won't bother to describe the left-overs, but "edible" is not one of the adjectives I would use. What do I do? Probaly what I've done countless times before. Probably what you've done. I throw them away, wash the plastic container, and get ready for the next course of left-overs.

Now comes the good part. I mean the really good part. I do it differently now. If you already have the left-over dilemma solved read no further. But if you often find yourself saving those little tidbits only to find them in an undesirable state in the back of the frig, read on.

Designate one shelf or part of one shelf as the Left-Over Shelf. Put all left-overs in see-through containers on that shelf. For every meal you prepare in the next couple of days, check the Left-Over Shelf. Use the morsels there first. If you don't use them in a couple of days, throw them out.

I know it sounds so easy and so obvious. But the Left-Over Shelf might just be what you've been looking for, too.

"The Weather Outside Is Frightful"

2010-01-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

Not really. The weather isn't frightful at all. There IS a lot of snow on the ground here, and it IS kind of cold. Sixteen above to be exact. But there's not even a hint of wind, which is very unusual here in Montana.

It's perfect weather for getting a little more organized. But then most weather is. Here are just a few tips to get you into the getting-organized mood a little more quickly. Remember, just take it a step at a time.

-Keep a box in the laundry room for things you need to take to Good Will or Salvation Army, OR

-Plan to throw away three things today. More if you can. Remember to created more space whenever you can, OR

-Do just one thing to get more organized; clean one drawer on cupboard one shelf, OR

-Make a list of a few of the things you'd like to do to get more organized.

There you have it. Hope that helps. Have fun!

The Next Step

2009-12-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

The first step in getting more organized is to create more space. In other words, get rid of stuff. Throw away, give away, whatever it takes. This is so important. The next step is to find places for what you've kept.

In most instances you already have places. You have dressers and shelves and closets and drawers and containers and labels and bags and boxes. And since you've already gotten rid of things, you have even more places. Now that you have more room, you might want to do some re-arranging.

You've taken all the old magazines, empty kleenex boxes, cough drop wrappers, and plastic drinking cups off your nightstand. Now there really is room for your reading glasses, a magazine and a favorite book, maybe even a candle. Now that you've given away all the shoes you never wear, there's nothing under your bed. A nice, neat, enclosed storage box would fit nicely under there.

A word of caution here. Don't feel obligated to fill up empty space. Empty space is wonderful. It really does create a feeling of calm and control, so don't be afraid to leave some places empty. I know it will be hard at first, but you'll get used to it, and then you'll love it.

After you've noticed and utilized (or ignored) your newly found space, we'll talk about adding shelves or hooks or closets. We'll also talk about some wonderfully useful storage items, what might work well for your particular circumstances, new products that are practical as well as beautiful, where to buy them, and how much they cost.

A New Year!

2009-12-28T12:18:00.001-08:00

I love this time of year. I always look forward to a new year, a new start, a new twist on the old way of doing things. I've heard several people say their New Year's Resolution is to be more organized. That is great. Being organized makes you feel better. Getting organized makes you feel better. Every little improvement we make really does make a difference. A lot of little differences add up to some pretty cool improvements. Do what you can when you can, and don't forget to enjoy yourself along the way. Be happy by doing things that make you happy. Others will notice and want to be happy, too. Clean your top dresser drawer. Get rid of 20 or 30 pair of shoes you never wear. Put up a shelf in the garage. Do it; you'll like it. Read my book, "Why Not Now?" and learn even more. You can find it at www.whynotrightnow.com. Make a comment. Sign the guest book. Let me know what you think. Here's to being more organized and loving it!

Time To Get Organized

2009-11-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

It's always time to get organized, even if you've been getting organized recently. It's because the things you organize, like your desk and your kitchen and your files and your life; don't stay organized. But that's okay. If you haven't been doing any organizing for a while, whatever you do now is going to be great. It will be an improvement. If you do organize regularly, then what you do now will also be great. You'll find little ways to be even more organized. You'll be happy either way. Here's a book that will help you get started or help you keep going. Go to www.whynotrightnow.com.

Write Things Down

2009-09-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

First of all write down the things that you have to do. If you have a job, that part of your list is already decided. Other things are also already on your list, things like helping the kids get ready for school, getting meals, doing laundry, going shopping. You get the picture. Now put that list aside for the time being and start another list. This time write down the important things that might be neglected. You decide what goes on this list. I would suggest time for yourself, whether it’s time for a pedicure or time to read from you favorite book; more time with your spouse and kids; time for exercise and fresh air; time for service; and even time for meditation.

I know what you’re thinking. After I fill my schedule with the things that HAVE to be done, then the things that SHOULD be done, how in the world am I going to have time to get more organized? I don’t know. I can’t explain how it works. But I do know that once you set out to schedule your time a little more efficiently, the time will be there. I guess it’s magic, or something.

So now you have your assignment. Make a list. Write down your schedule. Write down what you would like to add to your list. Then write another schedule and add those things. Once you do this, you will see that there really are some blocks of time you can use to get more organized.

Make a List

2009-09-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

I happen to love lists; and I love checking things off my list even more. Sometimes I write down the things I’ve already done just so I can check them off on my list.

What I want to talk about now is your daily schedule. Because before we can find time for doing some serious organizing we need to give some attention to our day to day schedule.

Now since everyone’s schedule is different, you’ll have to use a little creativity and fit this information to you individual situation. But hopefully this will be general enough to be beneficial in multiple situations.

Get a notebook and take a little time to write down your daily schedule. Be honest. Write down what you really do, not what you want to do. After you do that you can make some changes. The changes will come in your mind first, then in your notebook, then in your home.

Get your notebook ready and we'll decide what to put in it later. And while you're at it, let me know what you think.

Before We Get Going

2009-09-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

Before we really get into getting organized there are a few things we need to do, and to think about. First of all get rid of stuff. Get rid of everything you don’t need, or haven’t used for years, or that is taking up space that could be used for something else you really need or want or like. This is a step that can be taken even before you start the actual process of getting more organized. Create lots of space. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when there is more space in your life. You’ll be able to bring more peace, love, and happiness into your life, more simple abundance.

I’m going to give you a few organizing tips:

•Do small organizing tasks whenever you can.
•Do big organizing jobs when you’re rested and ready.
•Don’t expect to get it all done at once.
•Store things you use near the place you use them.

I know this sounds obvious, but take a look around. Is your toaster close to your bread drawer, your books close to your favorite reading chair?

Here are a few more tips:

•Take care of things after you use them.
•Delegate. Assign tasks to family members or co-workers, especially tasks you don’t want to do.
•Take mental notes of how you feel when you are more organized.

And, of course, my all-time favorite that bears repeating:

•Get rid of stuff!

Soon we’ll talk about where we can start, what we can do next. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of getting organized. I can hardly wait.

A Few Simple Things

2009-09-20T16:20:00.001-07:00

We can arrange our lives, our schedules, our homes so that the keeping up is easier, even fun. We can do a few simple things, take one step at a time, and arrange our environment in such a way that it’s easier to maintain.

That being said, there is another area of getting organized that is also repetitive. You’re going to be given the same advice over and over again. There are only so many ways you can organize your desk. There are only so many handy containers you can use. If you’ve read articles or books on getting organized, you know that this is true.

So I’m fully aware that what I’m going to tell you in the weeks and months ahead is not new. But the day you read certain tips or strategies might just be the day that you will hear what you need to hear. Tomorrow I’m going to tell you about a few things that work for me. Maybe they’ll work for you, too. Maybe you’ll read tomorrow’s post another time and find something else you can use. See you tomorrow.

Repetition is Required

2009-09-15T08:51:00.001-07:00

I've been reading some articles about getting organized, perusing some blogs, and checking out some sites. Here's something I've noticed: It's all old news. But a lot of it is very good news, very good information. Life is all about repetition. I don't think I read anything really new. But many things were presented in a new way, a way that made me think "Hey, I like that idea. I'm going to do that." And so it is with all of life. We learn by repetition.

Be Kind to Yourself

2009-01-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today is a new day, and even more so for me because I just feel good about some new goals I've set. And here's something I read from LDS Living that helped me. Hope you like it:

Breaking Bad Habits (By Ashley)

Bad Habit #2: Perfection

As a culture, we are encouraged to always do our best. Even at a young age, we get the message to be perfect from our parents. We think mistakenly that we are accepted only after doing something right, like earning straight A’s. “Perfectionism is a lifestyle issue that often has to do with how you view yourself,” MacArthur says. “Perfectionistic people often find themselves unacceptable if they don’t do everything right.”

How to fix it: Redefine your self-image so it is more self-tolerant, reasonable, and flexible. MacArthur says to tell yourself, “I’m okay ‘in process’; it is okay to make mistakes.” He adds, “Mistakes can be part of learning. They can be stepping stones toward growth.” Try to remember life is a growing process, and don’t expect to be fixed the first time you try. Give yourself time limits for projects so you don’t spend unreasonable amounts of time doing something until it’s just right. Try letting some unimportant things in your life go. Let the dishes pile up in the sink. You’ll see that the world doesn’t come to an end, and that some things just aren’t that important. It’s okay not be perfect in all aspects of your life; in fact, it’s normal.

Is the Pursuit of Happiness Making You Depressed?

2009-01-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

Don't you love this title: Is the Pursuit of Happiness Making You Depressed? Someone else is always giving us advice. Do this or that to be happier? Eat or don't eat this or that to be thinner. Use this exercise equipment to get in better shape. Take this pill to increase your will power. Etc. Etc. Etc. Maybe we need to take our own advice more often. Figure out what makes you happy and do that more often. And don't forget there's a difference between being happy and having your own way. Often life deals us a blow, big or little, that makes happiness seem unreachable. Real happiness comes from inside, and can quitely be there ready to comfort us even when outside happiness is momentarily absent.

Check the Psychology Today link and read "The Pursuit of Happiness" by Carlin Flora.

Words of Wisdom

2009-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote from a wise young mother on stress and weight and happiness:

"And let us not forget that stress is one of the big reasons why we gain weight. So if we can find happy moments or places every day to help relieve stress, it will be easier to lose weight. Like the article yesterday about being happy. If we're happy, we'll be less likely to get stressed. If we can look at the positive instead of the negative, turn a bad situation into good or not so bad, that can help to. Yes, easier said than done! But that's one of my New Year's Resolutions. TO BE HAPPY! No, I'm not depressed or sad. But I want to be more outgoing and be one of those kind of people that I always want to hang out with. Not the downer that I tend to be now. It's so easy to get into the habit of always complaining. And I don't want to be that anymore. I want to be happy and helpful and postive, without being extreme. I want to like my kids more and enjoy being with them. I want them to be happier and kinder to each other. So I guess it starts with me!"

Get Happy!

2009-01-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a wonderful article on being happy. You can check out more happiness ideas on the LDS Living Link. You're going to love this:

Get Happy! 10 Strategies for a More Joyful Life
by Jamie Lawson Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Research shows that happy people are healthier, more successful, and more creative. And with the right tools, being happy is well within our control. So go ahead—try these proven strategies for bringing more joy into your life, and make 2009 a truly happy year.

Everyone wants to be happy—and for good reason.

Happy people earn more money and are more likely to get married and stay married. They also attract more friends, are more productive at work, and even outlive their gloomier counterparts by about nine years.

So how do you become one of the happy people? It may be easier than you think. Experts agree that small acts can make a big difference when it comes to life satisfaction.

Here are ten suggestions to get you started on the road to a more joyful life.

1. Choose to be Happy (Nature vs. Nurture)
It turns out you can blame your parents for your unhappiness—genetically speaking, at least. Just as depression runs in families, some people are genetically predisposed to be happier than others.

In 1996 University of Minnesota researcher David Lykken published a landmark study examining the influence of genes on one’s happiness. He gathered information about 4,000 sets of twins (both identical and fraternal) born between 1936 and 1955, and concluded that genes determined a person’s happiness more than any other factor, including income, education, or social status. In fact, researchers agree that about 50 percent of your happiness baseline is genetic. (Life circumstances only account for about 10 percent.)

But what if jocularity doesn’t run in your blood? Despite nature’s role, there is still plenty you can do to nurture your own happiness, starting with consciously choosing to be happy and adopting a positive attitude.

John Haidt, author of The Happiness Hypothesis, uses the analogy of a man riding an elephant to describe the way we can control our attitude. The elephant represents the thoughts and feelings that drive our behavior; even though the man is not nearly as strong, he can still control the elephant—just as we can control our thoughts. What we see depends on what we look for. If we seek out the good, we’ll find it; if we search for the negative, we’ll find plenty of that, too.
Psychologists suggest that we change our thinking about happiness, viewing it as a state of being, not a thing to be obtained. Happiness must be nurtured as an attitude. Simply put, instead of pursuing happiness, you need to consciously choose it.

2. Count Your Blessings

Researchers agree that one of the best ways to keep a positive attitude is to focus on your blessings. Robert Emmons—a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, who has done groundbreaking research on gratitude—says people who are grateful enjoy higher levels of happiness, optimism, joy, and love. Conversely, those who are ungrateful experience feelings of loneliness, depression, and lack of meaning in life.

So what is the best way to express your gratitude? Experts have discovered several effective exercises, ranging from keeping a gratitude journal to writing a thank-you letter to someone deserving. Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness, suggests writing down three blessings each day. In a study where people performed this exercise, 94 percent of severely depressed people became less depressed, and 92 percent became happier, with an average mood improvement of 50 percent in just over two weeks.

3. Spend Time with Friends and Family

Most researchers believe the largest single contributor to happiness (aside from genetics) is meaningful relationships with other people. The stronger the social network of friends and family, the happier a person is.

Friends
It turns out stepping outside your comfort zone to make new friends is definitely worth your while. In fact, studies show that a person with more than ten close friends is twice as likely to be very happy as someone with no close friends; those with five or more close friends are 50 percent more likely to rate themselves as such. And though people with more friends are happier, don’t forget why that may be: happier people attract friends much more easily than people who dwell on life’s disappointments.

Marriage
In addition to friendship, marriage has also been proven to be an essential part of lasting happiness. In 2004, 42 percent of married Americans described themselves as “very happy,” compared to 23 percent of never-married people. Twenty percent of those who were widowed gave themselves the same rating, as did just 17 percent of divorced people. Married people were also six times more likely to say they were “very happy” than they were to describe themselves as “not too happy.”

“There is significant increase in happiness after people get married, but happiness also brings marriage,” says Arthur C. Brooks, author of Gross National Happiness and president of American Enterprise Institute. “Happy people are more likely than unhappy people to get married in the first place.”

Children
While marriage increases happiness, having children has been shown to actually lower a person’s happiness—at least for a short while.

“Kids are hard,” says Brooks. “But that’s part of our mission in life—to do hard things, to perfect ourselves. The Mormons are very clear on this. The fact that children give you hard times is part of the deal.”

Brooks goes on to say that while happiness may be lowered initially, parents find great meaning in providing unconditional love for children, and meaning is the highest form of happiness.

“Unconditional love itself is a source of happiness,” he says. “Paradoxically, your happiness is raised by the fact that you are willing to have your happiness lowered through years of dirty diapers and tantrums. Kids are an important part of a happy lifestyle.”

A 2004 poll conducted by Time magazine supports this theory. When people were asked “What one thing in life has brought you the greatest happiness?”, the number-one answer was children, grandchildren, or both.

4. Buy Some Happiness
The relationship between money and happiness is a complicated one. Many people think that more money guarantees more life satisfaction, but studies show that once a person’s basic needs are taken care of, more money doesn’t necessarily mean more joy.
Consider the following data: In 1972, when the average salary was equivalent to about $25,000 by today’s standards, 30 percent of Americans rated themselves as “very happy.” Fast forward three decades and the percentage of very happy Americans in 2004 remained nearly stagnant, hovering at just 31 percent, despite the fact that the average annual income had jumped to $38,000.

“Most people fool themselves into thinking they need more money than they actually do,” says Brooks. “At about age 34, a lot of [people] realize what they do to make a living doesn’t have anything to do with their passion. We make superficial choices. That’s the tragedy of materialism—it holds us back from our most creative nature, to create value, to serve others.

The data is very clear on this one.”

Even if you do get the big raise you’ve been dreaming of, odds are the happiness that comes from it will be short lived. “Humans tend to adapt to their circumstances very quickly,” Brooks says. “Almost immediately the increased income becomes the new ‘normal.’ It takes just three months for the happiness of the salary increase to wear off. And you’ll get used to the big fancy house within six months.”

Interestingly, studies show that regardless of what income level people attain, they still usually report that their “required income” is about 40 percent higher than what they are currently earning.

The good news is that money can buy happiness—as long as you give it away to someone in need.

“Giving away money will bring you happiness,” Brooks says. “People who give are richer, happier, and healthier. The data is undeniable. Happier people give more, and people who give are happier and earn more money.”

Experiments spearheaded by Elizabeth Dunn, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, measured how happy people felt after either spending money on themselves, or giving money to pro-social causes, such as paying for someone’s meal or donating to charity. One experiment measured the change in happiness of workers after they spent a bonus of between $3,000 and $8,000. Those who spent more of their bonus on others were happier. In fact, those who spent one-third of their windfall on others experienced a 20 percent increase in happiness compared to those who spent nothing on pro-social causes.

In another experiment, college students were given a small amount of money with instructions to spend it that same day. One half of group was told to spend the money on themselves, and the other half was told to spend it on someone else. The study concluded that students who spent the money on others felt significantly happier.

Other studies, cited in Brooks’ book, show that people who donate are less likely than nongivers to suffer from depression—people who donated each year were 34 percent less likely than nongivers to say they had felt “so sad nothing could cheer [them] up” in the past month; they were also 68 percent less likely to have felt hopeless.

5. Volunteer

Volunteering also leads to happiness. “When you give something away that you value [like time or talents], you become the primary beneficiary,” Brooks says. In fact, volunteering once a week can raise your odds of being very happy by 50 percent. Similarly, blood donors are 50 percent more likely to be very happy than those who don’t give blood.

In one study, volunteer work produced more joy than anything except dancing. In another, volunteers were 42 percent more likely to be very happy than people who did not volunteer. Likewise, a 2002 survey of 2,000 people conducted by the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index revealed that those who volunteer are the most satisfied people in the country, being the group happiest with their work, community ties, and spirituality. In addition to life satisfaction, recent research sponsored by the Economic & Social Research Council revealed that people who live in areas with high levels of volunteerism enjoy better health and experience fewer burglaries; students even earned higher grades.

6. Settle for Good Enough
Generally there are two types of people: satisficers and maximizers. Satisficers are those who are happy once they have found a certain level of quality that meets their criteria. Maximizers, on the other hand, insist on having the best of everything and are more prone to get overwhelmed by endless choices, exploring every possibility. And while maximizers are usually the ones who end up with the best jobs and the best cars, they also tend to be more stressed and unhappier in the long run.

“Past a certain point, choice overwhelms us,” Brooks says. “The costs of processing all the information outweigh the gains from having more options.”

That’s not to say you should never insist on the best. Sometimes you should—but only when it really counts. Finding the best health care for your child is one thing. Choosing a paint color or a cell phone is other. Such efforts can drain countless hours from your life that you could be investing in more important things, like strengthening relationships with family and friends.

7. Fake It Till You Make It
“Feelings follow actions,” says Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project (to be published by Harper Collins later this year). Rubin, who spent a year testing a slew of happiness theories from the Buddha to Oprah, has first-hand knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. “You need to act the way you want to feel. It’s crazy how effective it is.”

There is plenty of data to support Rubin’s finding. Research shows that simply going through the act of smiling actually makes you happier. In one study, people who were instructed to smile while watching cartoons rated them to be funnier than other subjects who were told to furrow their eyebrows.

But why is it so effective? When you feel depressed, your brain sends signals to your facial muscles, telling them that you’re sad; the face responds by adopting an unhappy expression, in turn signaling the brain that you’re in a miserable mood. Consciously choosing to change your facial expression so it doesn’t reflect your negative emotions is one way to change the message to the brain, which will then respond by changing your mood.

Another sure-fire way to boost your mood is to laugh out loud—whether you find something funny or not. Laughing releases endorphins, oxygenates the blood stream, and strengthens abdominal muscles. If you don’t want to laugh alone, you can even attend laughter yoga classes, where people get together and do laughing exercises. Practiced in 53 countries around the world, laughter yoga is now a growing trend in the U.S. as well.

8. Try New Things
Humans are generally creatures of habit. But adding a new activity to your routine can pay big dividends.

Psychologist Rich Walker of Winston-Salem State University reviewed 500 diaries, covering timeframes from three months to four years, and examined 30,000 memories of events. He found that people who participate in a wide variety of experiences are more likely to enjoy lasting happiness. Conversely, those who stick to the status quo tend to struggle with minimizing negative feelings.

“Novelty and challenge make people happier,” says Gretchen Rubin. “If you can find ways to try new things, it’s a huge source of gratification.” She also says not to worry if you’re not very good at something. “I often remind myself to enjoy the fun of failure,” she adds.

According to psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, applying yourself to something challenging can eventually lead to what he calls a state of “flow”—a balance between difficulty and pleasure that allows you to get completely absorbed in what you’re doing; that flow leads to increased happiness.

So go ahead—invest in the voice lessons, or sign up for that pottery class you’ve been thinking about.

9. Utilize Your Strengths
Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, have identified 24 personality strengths, or “signature strengths.” Seligman theorizes that when you use these strengths at work, in your personal life, and in the service of others, you can increase your happiness dramatically. But how do you know what your signature strengths are? Yours are those that energize and uplift you, the ones you yearn to put into action.

Visit viastrengths.org to take a survey and learn which of the following 24 signature strengths you possess (although you can be capable of any of them with enough effort): 1) appreciation of beauty and excellence; 2) bravery and valor; 3) capacity to love and be loved; 4) caution, prudence, and discretion; 5) citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty; 6) creativity, ingenuity, and originality; 7) curiosity and interest in the world; 8) fairness, equity, and justice; 9) forgiveness and mercy; 10) gratitude; 11) honesty, authenticity, and genuineness; 12) hope, optimism, and future-mindedness; 13) humor and playfulness; 14) industry, diligence, and perseverance; 15) judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness; 16) kindness and generosity; 17) leadership; 18) love of learning; 19) modesty and humility; 20) perspective (wisdom); 21) self-control and self-regulation; 22) social intelligence; 23) spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith; and 24) zest, enthusiasm, and energy.

10. Go to Bed Angry
Contrary to what we’ve been told for years, bottling up anger, frustration, or sadness may actually be a better option than venting every negative emotion we experience—findings reveal that expressing emotion actually magnifies the feeling. So just as expressing gratitude brings more happiness and a variety of positive emotions, venting anger and frustration will only intensify what you were already feeling.

“Slamming doors or throwing pillows only stokes your anger,” says Rubin. “Catharsis, the theory that if you act out in a rage you’ll somehow feel better, is poppycock. Managing anger is a big issue for me, but if I can keep a lid on it, a lot of times it will just go away.”

In the end, happiness is something that is well within our reach. And when we become happier, we not only improve our lives, but the lives of others. After all, happy people are more likely to change the world for the better.

So what are you waiting for? Start getting happy today!

Will, Not Want

2009-01-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

Here's some good advice I got from my brother this morning. He got it from someone else. We need to replace "want" with "will" in our vocabulary more often. Not I "want to exercise three times a week, but I "will" exercise three times a week, or whatever. You fill in the blank.

I remember reading many years ago about how much we accumulate. We get this and we get that and we get more. Then I read this line, "With all thy getting, get going."

So there are my helpful hints from others to me and from my to myself again:

I "will" be healthier.

I will "get going" more often.

I wish incremental success to all.

Resolutions

2009-01-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

Here's something I just read from LDS Living (check my links). From now on I'm think of my resolutions as Stars rather than sticks.

The fear of failing (again) to not reach our goals is the only thing that holds us from making them. But, as former Relief Society General President Barbara B. Smith put best, goals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat yourself with. Here are some tips for effective steering:

1. Set realistic goals. It is easier to set a goal than execute one. Start small, and once you achieve your goal, you can extend it by adding another level.

2. Share goals with your spouse or a close friend and help each other follow through with your resolutions. Set a schedule for checking in and reporting your progress with each other. This will help you stay motivated and give you something fun to do with your friend!

3. Make a short list of resolutions. You’ll be overwhelmed enough with one resolution; you won’t need twenty to keep you busy. Sometimes people set numerous goals, hoping to achieve at least one of them. Instead, they usually put a little effort into all of them and don’t achieve any. Set one or two realistic goals, and follow through with them.

4. Even if you don’t completely reach your goal, recognize the progress that you have made in working toward it. Feel proud of yourself for your accomplishment, and reward yourself accordingly!

Great Advice

2009-01-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

Here's an e-mail I received from my aunt this morning. It really is great advice.

1. Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a heart-felt expression of gratitude.

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)

Still No Candy

2009-01-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

It might not seem like a big deal to you, but today is my third no-candy day on my way to a record month without out. It helps that I've been really busy and that there is no candy in the house, unless you count the sour gummi worms that Rick keeps on the cupboard above the refrigerator to give to the grandkids. I can say no to gummi worms must easier than I can to hershey's kisses.

No Candy?

2009-01-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

All right, folks, this is a BIG deal for me. I set a goal this morning, even spoke it out loud to my daughter. Now I'm telling you (Although, since my blog is new without any comments yet, I'm not telling a ton of people - yet.): I'm not going to eat candy for a month! I even got my hidden Salted Nut Roll out and gave it away.

More Goals

2009-01-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

I got an e-mail the other day with the message that there were two inspirational videos to watch. As it turned out, they were before and after pictures about weight loss. Being healthier is definitely on my agenda. How I go about it has yet to be determined.

Here's a picture of Rick and me in Hawaii, fall of 2007. I'm going to try to look more slender in a picture I'll post at the end of this year. Wish me luck, or whatever.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's 2009. I love the new beginning of a new year. I plan to keep up the good habits I've managed to establish, and add more that have been neglected. I also plan to do things carefully and little by little. I guess I've decided to work on my feelings first, probably first, last, and always. It's because I've learned in my years that unless I'm in the right frame of mind, not much gets done. So my first goal is to feel and express gratitude as soon as I wake up in the mornings, even before I get out of bed. Try it. It works wonders. And if you don't feel very happy, just pretend. That's something I learned from my dad. He was a farm boy at heart, who grew up on a small farm with his mom and dad and six younger siblings and lots of grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins nearby. When Dad went away to college, he got so homesick he thought he would die. His solution? He pretended he wasn't homesick. And after a while, he wasn't. Good lesson. Attitude is everything. How is yours? Do you want to be happier? Or do you kind of enjoy the dreary, "poor me" outlook? I once read that a man is just about as happy as he makes up his mind to be. I think that's very true.

There's More To Come

2008-12-31T14:55:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted to this blog for a while. But watch out for more to come soon. I'm thinking about coming up with a lot of self improvement, goal-setting categories; then putting them in some kind of order and working on one or two at a time. Since tomorrow is the first day of 2009, I'm reminded of my annual New Year's Resolution: weight loss/exercising/healthy life style changes. But I want to expand on that and find out more about fun improvements in many areas. Stay tuned.

Goals

2008-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

One of the things that make us happy is to set goals and reach them. A sense of accomplishment is so important to our mental and emotional well-being. But we don’t often remember that in order for the accomplishment to be of lasting value it must be our own. While reaching a goal that someone else, whether of a family member or of “the world,” sets for us might give us a feeling short-term satisfaction; real joy, real satisfaction comes from reaching our own personal goals. It is true that at times these goals will be the same. But as we strive to make and reach goals that we feel others expect of us, we become disillusioned. If you are looking for direction in your life, which we are all doing to one degree or another, look to yourself. If you haven’t been doing this for a while, or perhaps ever, it will take some serious readjusting. But the results of your efforts will be rewarding beyond your imagination. Look deep inside yourself and decide what really makes you happy. What brings joy to your heart of hearts? What makes you feel alive? What strikes a chord so true within your own soul that is floods you with emotion that you may have forgotten?