We've all heard it before. In order to be successful at anything you first need to set goals. Having goals creates a sense of purpose and gives us a feeling of accomplishment when those goals that we set are finally met.

But is there such a thing as setting too many goals for ourselves? Should we limit ourselves on how many goals we should take on simultaneously? I think I can answer that question with a very resounding YES!

While having goals is a good thing, having too many objectives on your plate at the same time can actually have more negative effects than positive ones. Let's say, for example, that you wake up one morning and decide that today is the day you are going to create, and then begin working on, some personal goals that you want to set for yourself. You grab some coffee and your laptop, and begin pecking away, making a long, extensive list of all of the things you want to accomplish in the next six months: paint the bedroom, save more money, lose ten pounds, read two books per month, clean your closet, volunteer at school at least once, cook healthier, spend more time with your family, learn how to fix your finances.

All good goals.

BUT, six months later you find the list you made...and guess what? The bedroom is still white. Your checking account is overdrawn. Clothes are spilling out of your closet. The only thing you've read is the cable bill. You've GAINED five pounds.

I think you get where I am going with this. You thought you had this list-making thing all figured out, but what happened exactly? Setting goals for yourself is a great thing when you do it with the correct mindset and within reason. Setting up a long list of goals all at the same time is an easy way to set yourself up for certain failure.

It's like they say (whoever 'they' is...but 'they' always seem to say smart things!), Rome wasn't built in a day. Having too many irons in the fire will not allow you to focus on any one thing. I find it best to focus on only one or two goals at the same time. First of all, zoning in gives you better chances for success. It always feels better to succeed than to fail. So, set yourself up to succeed.

Not focusing may very well translate into not getting where you want to go.

Stagger those goals so that your goals are achievable. It doesn't make sense to focus on saving money in the same month that you decide to fork over extra money for quilting classes.

Everything has a time. Think through what you want to achieve and when you can realistically get where you want to be. Don't make it so that your goals unintentionally cancel each other out. It is much more satisfying at the end of the day to know that you've reached one goal that you've set for yourself, rather than that you've failed at all ten.

P.S. By the way, speaking of goals, if the goal you plan to focus on this month is losing weight and toning up, it's actually the perfect time of year to do this. The holidays aren't here yet. You can't use eating out at summer festivals as an excuse. September rocks for this goal...and I have a NEW resource to help you. Visit this link to fast forward to it:

getorganizednow.com/rd-maw.html

Do You Have Menopause Belly?
If So, Here's Why You May Be Struggling With Your Weight?

It's humiliating... confusing... and often painful. For women over 35, it can be infuriating. And a total nightmare once you hit menopause. You eat less and exercise harder, yet still put on weight, especially around the belly.

Add in the hot flashes, disrupted sleep and mood swings, and life can feel unfair... like your body has betrayed you. What the heck is going on? It's called hormonal burnout... and it can wreak havoc on your female metabolism. Fortunately, research shows a clear way to reverse its effects.

The #1 Cause of Female Fat Gain Over 35...

While hormonal burnout can strike at any age, it affects all women as they mature through menopause. And some even a few years earlier. It's caused by declining levels of estrogen and its sister-hormone, progesterone. Normally, they go up and down naturally like a see-saw. However, by 35, as ovulation slows, hormonal burnout begins:

1) Progesterone plummets
2) Then estrogen starts to drop wildly
3) And fat gain around the middle kicks into high gear

When hormonal burnout strikes, your menopausal metabolism becomes vulnerable to two major threats.

Threat 1: You Become More Carb-Sensitive

First, the decline in estrogen hurts your ability to process carbs. That's because estrogen helps your body manage blood sugar. So less estrogen leads to higher blood sugar. And higher blood sugar turns into fat, especially around the belly. That's why an evening bowl of pasta can result in an extra pant size in the morning!

So should you cut out carbs completely? Absolutely not. That just stresses out your metabolism even more. And that brings up the next threat

Threat #2: You Become More Stress-Reactive

Once you're through menopause, your stress-hormone cortisol spikes up to 74%. That's unfortunate, as a woman's metabolism is already more sensitive to stress than a man's. But the drop in estrogen and progesterone makes matters even worse. That's because they amplify the effects of your brain's "feel good" molecules, serotonin and GABA. Those molecules help you stay happy, relaxed and sleeping well. That acts like a shield, protecting you from the damaging effects of stress. So with a weaker stress shield (due to lower estrogen and progesterone) you're much more vulnerable to cortisol:

* It can break down collagen, making you look 5-10 years older
* It can eat away at muscle and bone, making you soft, saggy and brittle
* Worst of all, it can act like 'Miracle-Gro' for belly fat.

And that's not the kind of miracle you want.

The Menopause Belly Solution...

Fortunately, there is a way to conquer these dual threats: Turn your natural hormonal rhythms into a metabolic advantage. This something women can do... but men can not. By working with this advantage, one study found women can burn 65% more fat during exercise than men. Plus, they can have more control over where that fat is stored. And when this advantage is combined with a special type of exercise, it can really help your mid-section slim back down. But every woman has a unique set of hormonal rhythms. So to tap into this advantage, the first step is to understand your specific hormone type.

What's Your Hormone Type?

That's where my good friend Dr. Jade Teta comes in. He's an expert on women's metabolism. He's developed a tool that will reveal your hormone type in 60 seconds. To discover your hormone type to conquer menopause belly, visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-maw.html

But he doesn't stop there. He also gives you a customized plan for your exact hormone type. It acts like an instruction manual for your body. It's based on his proven 4M framework developed over the last 25 years and includes:

* Best foods to eat and when (the right amount of carbs is critical)
* Simple daily habits to keep a lid on cortisol so you keep burning fat
* A great workout that works wonders on the 'menopause belly'

This action plan will help protect you from those dual metabolic threats. And help you feel what it's like to work with - instead of fight against - your hormones. I hope you enjoy!

Maria Gracia

P.S. Every woman has a unique hormonal signature. But clinically, most women fall into 1 of 7 core Hormone Types. Interestingly, your type can change over time. This Hormone Type quiz will help you stay in sync with those changes so you can thrive. Visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-maw.html

Reader Tip: A GON reader shares an excellent system for storing family medical information
getorganizednow.com/reader-organizing-tip-medical-information.html



Featured Recipe: One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies: On busy weeknights, I need something I can whip together quickly...and that tastes amazing. This dish is it.
getorganizednow.com/recipe-honey-garlic-chicken-veggies.html



Dirty Little Secret 1: I don't store flat items, like cookie sheets and cutting boards, flat. Here's what I do instead...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-flat-items.html



Dirty Little Secret 2: I love these multi-use, inexpensive, household tools to help me stay organized...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-inexpensive-organizing.html



Dirty Little Secret 3: Prevent clothes from slipping off hangers.here's my secret...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-slipping-hangers.html



Repurpose/Upcycle: Tired of spice clutter? Organize spices 1-2-3 with scrap wood
getorganizednow.com/repurpose-upcycle-organized-spices.html



Mini Challenges: Sometimes Being organized is simply saying NO to habits that cause you to be disorganized
getorganizednow.com/organizing-challenge-habits.html



In ADDITION, on our home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

Social Media Spotlight: No storage space? Are you sure?
getorganizednow.com



New Web Poll: Our question is, What holidays do you decorate for? Please take our poll and let us know. It only takes a few seconds, and you can see up-to-the-minute results
getorganizednow.com



September Checklist: Autumn is the perfect time of year to turn over a new leaf and get organized.
getorganizednow.com



Theme of the Week: Doubt. Enjoy our home page quotes, that reflect our theme, for added inspiration and motivation this week
getorganizednow.com

1. Recommit to your health. September is the perfect time of year to recommit to your health and well-being. Eliminate unhealthy foods from your house. Shop for healthy foods. Start exercising a little bit each day...working yourself up to 30 minutes daily, and then 60 minutes. Make health screen appointments with your doctor. Take care of your skin, nails, hair, and teeth.

2. Change a filter. Is there something you have that can use a filter or part replacement? Perhaps it's your air filter, furnace filter, water pitcher filter, or refrigerator water filter? Change it this week. If you don't have a replacement, pick one up or order online. Then, replace it as soon as you have it.

3. Begin a project you've been procrastinating on. We all have those projects that we've been putting off for one reason or another. Commit to working on whatever it is for an uninterrupted minimum of 30 minutes this week, even if it's simply working on a written or typed list of mini-goals that must be accomplished.

4. Buy or make something Halloween- or Fall-related. Halloween is next month. Buy or make costumes for your kids, grandkids, or yourself. Alternately, put away your summer decor, and unearth your fall decor for display.

5. Donate a percentage of your summer wardrobe. What summer clothing, sandals, bathing suits, and other summery attire or accessories did you NOT wear this summer. Those are your 'Donate Items.' Gather them...and bring them to a local charity...or get a donation pick-up service if offered in your area.

Being defeated is only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.

---Marilyn vos Savant




I'd love to hear from you.
Comments, suggestions, or just to say hello. Just REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

getorganizednow.com

(c) Copyright 2017 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

* Copyright, contact and reprint information:
getorganizednow.com/contact.html

* You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in.

* We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.

* If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, its likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, I only recommend stuff that I truly believe in and share with my friends and family. If you ever have an issue with anything I recommend please let me know. I want to make sure I am always serving you at the highest level.

* To subscribe, visit:
getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html




* To unsubscribe, if you absolutely must go, please click the link below. However . . .

YIKES! - If you unsubscribe, you'll lose all the complimentary organizing resources I share with my loyal readers each week. You'll lose the Weekly Tips, Reader Tips, Reader Clinics, complimentary videos, ebooks, resource recommendations, and the many valuable bonuses I offer each month (some totaling hundreds of dollars). Please don't go. I love sending you all of this free training. I'd be lost and lonely without you. If there is something more you would like from my newsletters, then please reply to this email and let me know.
-- Maria Gracia