Declutter
Your Health
Peter Walsch
I've talked about how a
cluttered house causes physical health problems, and I've talked about needing
space to decompress. Think of it this way: You need space to move, work, eat,
and live—step outside yourself and imagine what that space should look like.
Now clear away everything that stands in the way of your health.
Get Rid of Gimmicks and Gizmos
Don't let exercise gizmos,
diet books, or unused health club memberships stand in your way. If you don't
use it, get rid of it. Don't let fear or self-doubt prevent you from achieving
the healthiest body you can have. Keep clear health records and practice
preventative health care, visiting doctors for regular checkups.
Keep
Your Kitchen Organized
Commit time to clearing space
in your home to prepare and eat healthy meals. The kitchen is the place in your
home that is vital to the sustenance of your family. The counters should be
clear so you can prepare food in a clean, healthy environment. Make sure to
disinfect them daily as they are full of germs. The shelves should be neat so
you can find what you need. The refrigerator and pantry should be uncluttered
so good, healthy, and nutritious food is readily accessible and doesn't go bad.
Eat at the Dining Room Table
If you eat in front of the TV,
you will eat greater quantities of food with less enjoyment. It will be harder
for you to get your kids to eat the right foods in the right quantities. Don't
do it. Your dining table reflects your attitude toward your meal. A family meal
together is a great chance to communicate with each other, face to face instead
of face to TV. The space where you eat should be completely clear of everything
except the food you are eating.
Make Healthy Changes
Make changes. The practices
you implement to maintain good health should be ongoing. Your house needs to be
clean, safe, and well-maintained, and so does your body. It is tough ridding
yourself of bad habits but definitely worth it. Your body will thank you.
Take Care of Your Body
This is the body you have for
the rest of your life. Take active care of it and treat it with respect.
Discard medicines that are out of date and any other products that you no
longer need or use. Wash the shoes you wear to exercise. Get rid of clothes
that don't fit. Hang clothes up instead of tossing them on the floor.
Clutter-Clearing
Process – A Reminder
With these goals in mind, here
is the process for freeing your family of the stuff that weighs you down and
interferes with your vision.
- Create a vision for your children's rooms and the space they share with the whole family.
- Overcome obstacles that prevent you (and your kids) from letting go of items like toys, clothing, and artwork. If it doesn't serve your vision, it has to go.
- Commit time, even if it's only twenty minutes and two garbage bags every day. If you stop making purchases and purge a small area of your home for twenty minutes, you'll be surprised at how quickly you start to see changes. One bag for trash, and one for items to be donated. The results are cumulative. Just two of you, twenty minutes a day for a week—that's fourteen bags of trash and fourteen bags of items destined for Goodwill.
- Communicate with your children about your goals so they can understand and experience the benefits of being organized and build a foundation for a clutter-free life.
- Set boundaries. You only have the space you have acknowledge and accept this. You can only have as many books as you have feet of bookshelf space. The same is true for toys, books, CDs, clothes, holiday decorations, and on and on and on.
- Make changes. Only by changing the role stuff plays in your life and the lives of your children will you be able to stop buying more things and let go of the clutter that impedes your life.
- Live in the present. Don’t hold on to "memory clutter" that takes up so much room that you can't live your life. Don't hold on to articles in hope of one day living in a bigger home. Your life right now is the priority. Fix it by striking the right balance.
- Face fears. Sometimes clearing away the clutter with your children means that both or all of you have to learn to let go. Don't procrastinate by using your stuff to avoid dealing with reality.
- Celebrate successes. As you clear stuff away, the whole family will feel a sense of calm and renewal. Enjoy the space you now have to enjoy one another.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment