You have a little downtime, all your own. And suddenly, there are numerous people ready to help you fill it with their projects. Can you say no and not feel guilty? Yes, you can.

First of all, remember, this time belongs to you, you alone, and your time is essential. Maybe you have been thinking of what you would do...read the novel sitting on your nightstand, work on the quilt you started two months ago, binge watch a TV series you missed. Maybe you had not decided what you were going to do with that free afternoon, or free day or days.

But now someone else wants some, maybe even all of the time you were saving for yourself. Maybe your sister thinks you could watch her toddlers on your afternoon off each week. Or, you are asked to be in charge of refreshments at church. Or, someone wants to draft you to help with costumes for the school drama department.

Do all of these people need help? Yes, they likely do. Does it really have to be you? No, no, it doesn't. While it is fine to help in an emergency, say if your sister's babysitter gets sick, and she absolutely has to be somewhere, unless there is a hugely good reason, you do not have to give up all of your free time to help with her childcare. If you lived in another state, she would have to make other arrangements. The same applies to requests from other people. If you cannot, they will manage to find someone else.

It's OK to say no and not feel guilty. Everyone needs some time to themselves, Doing so keeps us more emotionally (and likely physically) healthier. While a few people do seem to thrive on having several irons in the fire and going at full speed all the time, most of us need our downtime to recharge our batteries, to be good to ourselves. That way we can be more present for others at the other times.

One way to preserve your downtime is to be very quiet about it. Do not announce to anyone that you have scheduled an afternoon to yourself each week. Even otherwise darling spouses have been known to say, 'since you don't have anything going on this afternoon, could you...'

Have your answers to requests ready. 'I'm sorry, but I have already committed that bit of time to something else.' You do not have to say you have committed the time to read magazines while lying in a hammock. 'Thank you for asking me, but I already have enough commitments, I do not feel I could do a good enough job of that.' If pushed, keep saying no, politely but with conviction.

Of course, we all want to be helpful, and it's great to lend a hand and your time here and there, but sometimes the cost to ourselves is just too high. Guard your time to yourself like the treasure it is, and do not feel any guilt about making time for yourself.

To fast forward to the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer, visit:

www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html

Because it's impossible to stay on top of everything going on without writing things down, people are getting inundated with more and more paper every day.

You have to remember a birthday, so that gets written on a calendar. You have to make a grocery list, so you scribble down a few items and stick the list on the fridge. Someone gives you a phone number, and it gets written in the address book. You're planning your garden, and that information is stored in a notebook. You want to keep track of the movies you want to see, or the books you want to read--another sheet of paper. A friend gives you an email address on a sticky note that is now attached to your computer monitor.

Paper, paper and more paper--and it's all over your home!

Information is getting lost. Appointments are missed. Goals aren't being met. And all of this adds up to chaos and frustration.

This is where the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer comes in and saves the day. It allows you to organize all of your information so it's in one place and easily found when you need it!

Here's what just one customer had to say:

The Easy Organizer is just that--it's so easy. I've got lists now in one place that before I'd been carrying around in my head, my pockets, around my desk, in the kitchen... Before I had post-it notes all over the place. Now they're in the Easy Organizer. A lot of great ideas and important information have been lost in the shuffle before this! I love this thing. Knowing where to find things right away and having a very simple way of entering the info--many kinds, in many forms--is such a relief. This was a great investment...and, really, it's such a great value for everything it includes! Thanks so much!
Mary Hannick, Seattle, WA

For more details, visit:

www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html

P.S. When you get your very own copy of the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer BEFORE OCTOBER 11th, you can save an additional $10 off the already-discounted price.
USE and APPLY COUPON CODE: OCTOBER SALE

GON Printables Surprise Halloween package (boo!) for your neighbors
getorganizednow.com/printables-boo.html?



GON Dirty Little Secrets If you're going to use the space under your bed for storage, use these two tools...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-under-bed-storage.html



GON Organizing Quick Tip A, sad, but necessary organizing tip for anyone who uses social media
getorganizednow.com/organizing-quick-tip-social-media-death.html


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

New Web Poll: Upcoming Holidays Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years's...a whole bunch of holidays in a row. Which feeling, out of those listed in the poll, best describes how you feel?

GON Pinterest Feature Fun ideas I've collected for Halloween projects...

GON October Organizing Checklist Ensure your home, family, job, and life are all boo-tifully organized. Start today with our NEW October Organizing Checklist

GON October Mini Organizing Challenges For each week of October, our mini challenges will be focused on Improving Your Organizing Habits. Start with WEEK 2 this week


Access all of the above on my home page. Visit:
getorganizednow.com

'Spending time alone in your own company reinforces your self-worth and is often the number-one way to replenish your resilience reserves.' --Sam Owen

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 2019 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

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