While I'm not a fan of colder weather, I love when the leaves begin changing color. This transformation is beginning where I live in southeastern Wisconsin. During the summer, trees were working hard to keep us shaded and cool, and now they're getting ready for a long winter's rest. But before they do, they're ready to dazzle us with their magnificent colors. I'll be looking forward to getting outside, camera in hand, and enjoying!

But, for me, it's not just about the leaves this season. It's also about some 'leaf changing' in our own lives. After all, we could all use some change in direction or a refocusing from time to time.

So, how do we begin a transformation? Here is a quick outline to get you started:

1) Decide on one thing you'd like to change or improve. Examples are being more organized, losing some weight, saving more so you could go away for a weekend or two, spending more time with your spouse, taking time to enjoy a hobby, helping your aging parents, or whatever it is you'd like to choose. Note that these are all 'major' goals. How can you tell? Because every single one of them requires more than one step to accomplish.

2) Make a list of 15 minute 'actionable' goals. Once you choose your major goal, it's time to begin breaking it into doable, actionable pieces. This means every TO DO that takes you from start to finish with this goal, must be preceded by a verb (an action word). For instance, if your goal is spending more time with your spouse, some 15-minute actionaable goals might be:
a) 'Set' a date and time to discuss this revelation with your spouse so you're both on the same page
b) 'Determine' possible dates and times to go out this month
c) 'Check' both your calendars to be sure there aren't conflicts
d) 'Work out' any conflicts (e.g. other commitments, like work)
e) 'Finalize' dates
f) 'Make' any necessary reservations (dinner, tickets, hotel reservations, etc.) ...and so on and so forth.

3) Set time aside to work on those goals. This doesn't mean, 'when I have time' or 'when I could get to it.' It means specific dates and times. The only goals you'll reach are those you actually commit to. Committing to goals doesn't mean you just 'believe' they should happen...it means you're actually doing something to make them happen.

4) Track and help yourself visualize your progress. It's always a good idea to have a visual of where you are with your goals. One of the easiest ways to do this is to make a chart. Very often, fundraising companies use pictures of 'thermometers' to help folks visualize how close they're getting to their financial goals. You can use the same concept to help you picture where you are with your goals.

5) Celebrate...a lot. Most important, celebrate along the way. Mini- rewards for mini-goals accomplished...bigger goals for bigger goals accomplished.

Finally, be kind to yourself as you go through this transformation process. Along the way, you may have some setbacks, and you might have to tweak some goals. But it's OK...because turning over a new leaf now and then is what helps us continue to grow and succeed in life.

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

Scroll down to the bottom of this issue for more details.

I have a tip to share now that school is back in session.

I have had my grandchildren all summer long and have found that having multiple pizza cutters was a blessing...to cut waffles and French toast in the morning, for cutting grilled cheese sandwiches at lunch, and chicken nuggets in half to cool quickly

I have arthritic hands and very hungry mouths to feed, so this worked like a charm for me! I use it for pizza, of course, as well!

--Deborah Reeves

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

Be like a tree. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique natural beauty. Keep growing.
---Joanne Raptis




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

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

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

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-- Maria Gracia