GON Reader Letter #1
A Suggestion for Those Who Collect and Display Decorative Items
Maria,
Just a suggestion for the collectors out there. Depending on the size, divide the collection into 4 sections (boxes with lids if possible) and mark each box with a number.
Start with #1 and display the items in that box. In 3 months, pack those items away and bring in box # 2.
Each time will bring a feeling of excitement in seeing old pieces. When you do this, you
may also find that friends think you have purchased new items and take a greater interest in the collection.
I have found that this helps in corralling too much of a good thing and the fun is in changing out your environment!
-- Barbara, 82 years old and still learning
GON Reader Letter #2
Start with the End in Mind
Hi Maria,
You wrote a newsletter a while back about starting with the end in mind. My husband and I actually did this 35 years ago after a catastrophic event at work in 1986 made us realize that it was time to start seriously thinking about the "dream" we had for retirement. It involved moving over 400 miles away from where we had vacationed but knew no one
there.
We started by making a list of what we needed to do first - sell things we wouldn't need, prepare our house for selling, find a home in the area we wanted to move to and so much more. It took some time because it was a major life change but 3 years later, we
completed everything on the list and moved into our home in our desired area in a small town on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
I'm still here today. Unfortunately, my husband passed away in January of 2017 but he had 25 years of doing all the
things he dreamed of in retirement. I still have the list we started with and I've often shared our story with others who think "I couldn't possibly do that." You can if you have realistic goals and work one step at a time.
-- Becky Hurdle
P.S. Here is the article, from 3 years ago, that Becky is referring to for any of my readers who missed it.
A big part of getting organized is determining what you
want in your life. Do you want to go back to school? Do you want to start a new craft? Do you want to spend more time with your kids?
Make a list of the things you want by the end of this month, the end of this year, or even 5 years from now. Then, choose the top three items on that list. It's vital to focus on a few
things at a time. Then, work backward to determine what you have to do to achieve those wants.
If you're planning on going back to school, you probably have to begin doing some research. What schools might offer you this opportunity? Will you be able to swing the extra hours needed with your current job and your family?
Can you afford it? Would you prefer in-person or virtual?
Thinking about starting a new craft? What crafts are you most interested in? What tools and supplies do you need? What videos can you watch to get more information? What books will you read?
Want to spend more time with your kids or grandkids? What is stopping you from spending time with them now? What can be eliminated from your schedule? How can you streamline your time?
Starting with the end result in
mind will help you begin working backward to determine what you have to do to get to your ultimate goals.
GON Reader Letter #3
Project
Binders
Maria,
I have used Project Binders for years! They take my anxiety away as I can
write everything down and not forget anything. Some of my binders have been for:
Church Summer Camp (3" - managed camp for 1 year)
Used Book
Sale (3" - managed sale for 3 years with over 5,000 used books)
Gardening (2" - our new home had 7 different yard areas/zones to clean up and plant)
Cancer/Medical (3" - very useful when my husband was in treatment and going to many doctors; he is fine now)
Xmas Planning (1" - keeping track of gifts, cards, recipes, Xmas letters and menus, etc.)
Passwords (1" - I created a form on 8-1/2 x 11 paper which holds 3 different password websites and hand write everything in pencil in case my husband or daughter need to access my personal or business websites)
Medicare (1" - I'm at that age where I need to start reading about Medicare to set it up in a year or so and keep track of it all)
Your tips on using removable labels and a Sharpie are very useful. I look for binders, folders, and tab divider sets at my local thrift store which saves me tons
of money.
I also hole punch a 7" x 7" sturdy ziplock bag in the front of each binder to hold pencils, pens, whiteout tape, scotch tape, post-its, paper clips, etc. so I do not have to look for these items when I use one of my binders and/or take it with me to the Project.
I also have at the front of most of my binders a "To-Do List" and a "Buy" list before any dividers as those two lists seem to be used the most.
Of course,
purging and cleaning out each binder periodically is a must to keep them organized and current.
Keep sending your wonderful organizing ideas!
-- Daneen G., Monterey,
CA
