Yesterday, I stopped at the mall to pick something up at the Apple Store. If you have one in your area, I'm sure it looks the same as the one where I live. It's a spacious store, white walls, white floors, wooden tables, the white Apple logo, and a few demo devices for each product (laptop, phone, watch, tablet, and some accessories.) It's probably the most uncluttered, simplified store I know.

Then, there are some of the other retail stores in the mall. Some follow Apple's decor philosophies: less is more, don't crowd anything together, be sure there's lots of empty space, and focus the customers on just a few products. This is the type of store that draws me in, because it gives me a sense of calm.

Others follow a totally different philosophy: pack as many items in as you can--floor to ceiling wall to wall--be sure most of the space is being taken up by items to purchase, play the music as loud as possible to create a sense of energy, and/or, the more choices we have, the better. I will generally avoid these types of stores because the shopping experience is then a very stressful one for me.

This is not to say that one philosophy is better than the other. Each store has a different mission, depending on their customer base...and both models can be very successful.

When it comes to an organized home, office, or environment, however, I lean more towards Apple's decor philosophy. This is not to say I'm living a 'minimalist' life, like an Apple store. I'm not. But my environments are definitely not chaotic or cluttered.

I wholeheartedly agree with less is more, quality over quantity, it's nice to have some empty spaces and empty surfaces, only have what we love and/or use, and focus more on experiences and memories, rather than stuff.

I always want it to have a sense of serenity, calm, and comfort. Here are 5 ways to accomplish that:

1. Add a weekly DECLUTTER entry to your calendar. Choose one day per week to conduct a 15-minute decluttering project. Grab a bag, choose a room, and add anything you're not using or loving to the bag. Set a timer and do this for 15 minutes. Then, drop the bag off at your local donation center. By having this decluttering project on your calendar, you'll be reminded to do this all the time. The less you have in your home, the more serenity you'll have in your life.

2. Clear the clutter out of your vehicle. Every time you stop for fuel (or to plug your car in), get rid of candy wrappers, straw wrappers, soda cans, old papers/magazines, receipts, and other trash. In addition, corral anything you store in the car, keeping like-items together and contained...such as kid toys, pet items, cloth shopping bags, etc.

3. Make your bedroom a restful haven. Remove the piles of paper. Clear off the dresser tops. Remove the dusty stuff stored under the bed and get rid of anything you no longer need. Every morning, make your bed right after you shower/get dressed, so it is fresh and ready for you when you are ready for bed that night.

4. Clear off your desk. Whether your desk is at home, work, or both, free it of all papers and other debris to set the stage for productivity and creative thinking. Every time you are working on a desk project, the only papers on your desk at that moment should be the papers that pertain to that one project. All the others can be stored in a project binder or your filing cabinet.

5. Think twice before adding more stuff. If you're always adding to your possessions, and never subtracting, that's how a whole lot of clutter begins to build up. This doesn't mean you can never buy anything. It just means that when you do, try to let at least one item go to maintain the volume of possessions you have. Or, better yet, let TWO items go. In doing so, every time you buy something, you'll actually have less stuff.

Striving to create a soothing sense of serenity, wherever you spend a great deal of time, is good organizing practice. There's enough chaos in the world. Don't invite more chaos into your life. Create serenity in your personal world. It's a wonderful way to increase both productivity and relaxation...the perfect balance that each and every one of us needs.

___ 1. Do today's task on my September Monthly Organizing Checklist. The September 12 TO DO focuses on computer files. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my September Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Create a sense of calm. Stand in one room of your home. Ask yourself what you can do to create a sense of calm. Perhaps clear a surface, put something away that's out of place, or add a calming element, like a plant or soft lighting.

___ 3. Say goodbye to something you own that you don't love and/or use. Undecided whether you should keep or toss? Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my Dirty Little Secret for an idea on this topic that may help.

'Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.' (Thich Nhat Hanh)

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Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
getorganizednow.com

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