Do you know when enough is enough?

Your husband surprises you with tickets to the symphony for tonight.  Your friend, Mary, asks you to go to the movies with them.  What’s your normal response to these types of surprises?   You’re too tired? You have too much to do?  If you’re saying “no” too often to these kids of request, you may be turning into a task oriented vs. people oriented person.  Just as Jack was a dull boy with all work, the same is true for Jill.  Take time to play!

How are you on the emotional scale?  Do little mishaps throw you into a tizzy?  Are you angry and don’t really know why?  Do tears come all too easily lately?  These expressions of being uptight may very well be coming from an over extended schedule.  To get back on track, try cutting back on work only activities, sleep a little more, and allow for more leisure in your life. 

What about physical symptoms?  Stress overload shows up in the form of headaches, skin rashes, twitching eyes, upset stomachs, irregularity or chronic fatigue.  If you stay on this fast track you may just derail ahead with bigger problems.  Get a physical, then slow down to remedy this dangerous scenario.

Are you missing the joy of giving?  Do you find yourself dreading meetings?  Is helping out a hassle?  Are you in a count-down ‘til it’s over?  Is your family frustrated that you’re never home?  Feel like you’re caught in a crossfire?

When involvements become a burden and you sense an imbalance, you need to reevaluate your commitments.  Enough may be more than enough!

                                                        

       

Toy Pickup Can be Cured by the Sunday Box

Years ago, Dr. Ogden Lindsley, a Kansas educator, came up with a way to inspire excitement for cleaning with a simple tool he called “The Sunday Box”.  Here’s how it worked:  Anything left out when it was pickup time was deposited into the Sunday Box.  The items remained there until the following Sunday when the confiscated items are returned. 

Before you implement this procedure, you need to advise everyone about this new family activity, otherwise your kids may balk at the perceived injustice of withholding their toys.  Using the old phrase of “forewarned is forearmed”, you can prepare them for what’s to come if they violate the new rules. They may not believe you the first day, but they certainly will by the third day!

To reinforce his point, Dr. Lindley would deliberately leave his briefcase in the living room.  His daughters were delighted to deposit it into the Sunday Box!  To the girl’s amusement, he would moan, “What will I do!  I have tests for students in it.  My day tomorrow will be ruined.”  The next morning when he went to work, he saw the curtains in the widow flutter, and eyes peered out to see if he really did go without his briefcase. 

Lindsley claims that this kind of strategy is what makes the Sunday Box effective.  It is similar to the mayor of the town being seen in traffic court paying his own ticket.  Now that’s being a good administrator.  It’s also a clever way to clear the clutter.

As Mark Twain once said, “Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but it is lightening that does the work.”  And one of the best forms of lightening for kids clutter is the Sunday Box!

The Night Before Clutter Class

'Twas the night before clutter class, and all thro’ the town

Not a pack rat was stirring or dejunking around;

The stuff all over was causing despair,

In hopes that St. Cleanup soon would be there;

The children were playing with toys scattered about

Their mess was endless without a doubt;

And ma in her curlers and pa in his cap

Had just settled their brains for a long evenings nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

They sprang from the sofa to see what was the matter.

Away to the window they flew like a flash,

Tripped on the toys and slipped on a stash;

The moon on the crest of the newly stacked paper,

Gave luster of midday to objects like the stapler. 

When what to their wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature maid ready to clear,

With a waste can and shredder tucked under her arm,

They knew in a moment she could do harm.

More rapid than a tornado her movements they came,

And she whistled and shouted and muttered, “This is insane!

Now trash this!  Now toss that!  I’m becoming a Vixen!

Out clutter!  Out junk!  Let’s really get blitzen!

To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall

Now trash away, trash away, trash away, all!”

As piles of files before the cabinet lie,

When they meet with no system the mount to the sky,

So up to the desktop the coupons they flew,

With a bag full of newspapers and that tiny maid too.

And then in a twinkling, they heard from above

The sorting and tossing books that they’d loved.

As they twisted their head and both spun around,

Dow the clothes shute St. Cleanup fell with a bound.

She was trimmed up with bell bottoms from 1960,

And that old letter sweater that once was so nifty;

A bundle of shoes she had flung on her back,

And she looked like a salesman clearing the rack.

Her eyes – how they twinkled!  Her spirits – how scary!

Her arms full of trinkets, all the gadgets she could carry;

Her wrinkled neck was laden with cheap jewels,

Now those feeble excuses were no longer the rules,

The stump of a doo-dad she held tight in her teeth,

And old scarves and ties encircled her head like a wreath;

She had city tags and a rolling garbage dolly

That shook when she filled it full of man’s treasured folly,

She was lean and mean, a right dedicated gal;

And they laughed when they saw her, tho' she was no pal.

A wink of her eye and a twist of her wrist,

Soon gave them to know their junk wouldn’t be missed.

She spoke not a word, but went straight to the drawers

And emptied them all; then turned on all fours,

And grabbing broken parts left on the table,

And stacks of disposables some yet with a label.

She sprang to her car, to her driver gave a whistle,

And away they both flew, with the speed of a missile;

But they heard her exclaim as she blew out of sight;

“Happy De-junking to all, it’s time to get out of your plight!”

By Judy Warmington,

Woman Time Management

WRINKLE PROOF PACKING

Taking a trip this spring or summer?  Let me help you with some packing tricks for staying unruffled on the road or in the air and help you smooth out the wrinkles of packing problems.

After you’ve weeded down to the essentials, you need to choose the correct size suitcase to hold them.  Cramming clothes or allowing them to move freely, are equal culprits when it comes to wrinkling.  If you plan to add purchases as you travel, pack a folding bag rather than carry a bigger suitcase.  

Before you begin packing the suitcase, divide the things you’re taking into four groups:  heavy items, soft items, clothing that may wrinkle, and small or fragile items.  A well-balanced suitcase is easier to carry or roll, thus heavy items like shoes go along the outside of the case.  It also helps to put shoes in plastic bags to avoid dirtying clothes. 

Soft items like lingerie and stocking can be rolled to help fill in mall spaces.  The key to preventing wrinkles is to guard against creasing when you fold, and there are several ways to accomplish this.  Some packers save plastic bags from the dry cleaners and use them to cushion important garments.  Plastic bags can also be used to protect clothing hung in garment bags.  Other travelers prefer to use tissue paper generously laid out to cushion each fold and stuffed in the sleeves of garments, the way department stores pack clothing for delivery. 

When all is said and done, packing boils down to two simple common sense rules:  Be wise about what you bring and cushion creases as you pack.  That’s really all it takes to keep you smooth and unruffled on the road or in the air.

TIME FOR THE ANNUAL IRS TREAURE HUNT!

If you’re sensing the need for a better record keeping system, review last year’s tax return for clues on what information you should have on hand.  Keep in mind that you should be able to document every item listed on the return, including all sources of income and any tax-deductible expenses.  Most tax records should be maintained for at least three to six years, however, some tax consultants are now saying they should be kept a lifetime should any federal charges be brought up against you. 

Included in what you should save are cancelled checks and other papers related to medical bills, charitable contributions, rental expenses, alimony payments or business expenses.  Also, keep careful records on where you deposit and how you spend loan proceeds since this information determines the tax treatment of the interest you pay. 

As for insurance purposes, you should maintain accident reports, policy statements, an inventory of assets and receipts for any major purchases.  Where and how you store your files is almost as important as what you save.  Store your finance related files in one specific location.  A file cabinet is the best choice or, at least, an alphabetized accordion file folder kept in a desk drawer or office closet. 

Separate records in a way that means something to you.  It doesn’t matter the method you choose, just make sure that you clearly label all folders.  Then when you’re asked for any particular document or paper you’ll be able to put your hands on it within 5 minutes or less!  Taking time now will save you lots of anxiety ridden time in the future!

Help to organize your finances:  Before the Other Shoe Drops