[PODCAST 85]: Put Out Fires and Take Care of YOU – Home Organizing Party, Lesson #2

Welcome to Lesson #2 of our Step-by-Step Home Organizing Party! Below is a brief outline of this week’s podcast, and if you want to officially sign up for the party–and receive all the bonus worksheets associated with the nine lessons–please go to https://LearnDoBecome.com/party. Those who sign up will receive the worksheets and updated links by email. Thanks!!

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The fact of the matter is that you have important things to do in life. Never before have the needs of the world been more pronounced—job loss, poverty, health problems… And I believe that each one of us can be part of the solution. But we can’t do it if we are paralyzed, and we can’t do it if we are drowning in piles of clutter.

Today we’re helping you to handle any of the urgent “fires” in your life AND giving you simple strategies to take care of yourself in the midst of the challenges in life. Come listen in–just click ‘play’ above!

Lesson #2 Worksheet Overview

(These have already been emailed to you, if you’re part of the LearnDoBecome community…. It’s totally free to join! Just sign up at https://LearnDoBecome.com/Party, if you’re new, and you’ll get immediate access!)

“Put Out the Fires” Worksheet

Step 1: You’ll start by doing a Mind Sweep of all the things that are driving you crazy. (Teenage issues, marriage issues, finances, health, inadequate supplies, anxiety, etc.)

Step 2: There are probably too many “fires” to put out right now, so you’ll identify the ones that must be managed BEFORE you can organize your life (2-3, hopefully) and write those down as your top priorities. Listen to the podcast for more on this!

Step 3: Fill out the chart in the worksheet where you identify the challenge, brainstorm the ideal outcome, and then record how to “satisfice” in this situation (which means you will accept an available option as satisfactory–without expecting perfection). Here’s a great quote to explain “satisficing” a bit more:

For things that don’t matter critically, we make a choice that satisfies us and is deemed sufficient. You don’t really know if your dry cleaner is the best–you only know that they’re good enough. And that’s what helps you get by…Satisficing is one of the foundations of productive human behavior; it prevails when we don’t waste time on decisions that don’t matter, or more accurately, when we don’t waste time trying to find improvements that are not going to make a significant difference in our happiness or satisfaction.

Daniel Levitin, The Organized Mind

For the final column in the chart, you identify the Next Action. What is something you could do in 10 minutes or less to get you moving on finding a solution to that problem?

That column of Next Actions becomes your “To-Do” list, and your mind can rest!

Self-Care Worksheet

What personal/self-care needs MUST happen so you aren’t pulling water from an empty well? Sleep? Physical health? Nutrition?

I created my own Stabilizing Mechanism years ago (that I use virtually every day). It’s a routine checklist containing the key items that help me to feel calm and on my game. Its main purpose is to keep me stable–before I even get close to a meltdown. But it also pulls me OUT of the craziness, which is why I love it so much. (You can learn more about my Stabilizing Mechanism in the resources linked below!) Here’s what it looks like (we created a version of it for you to download and personalize):

Here are some other great ideas from our STEP Mastery community that you could use as you personalize yours:

And here are some great quotes from some of our community members in the group that were posted when I asked, “What are your non-negotiable routines?” I think you’ll love them:

Getting up extra early, on occasion and enjoying the quiet before dawn, a good skincare routine, always getting dressed as nice as I can for my day (dependent on the tasks of the day) but the thing that makes me feel the best (other than sprituality) is riding my motorcycle, it brings positive thoughts; clarity, dreams and challenge, all at once.

Julie

Spending time with my horse…grooming, brushing, walking her. I don’t have to be the saddle. Holding my dog in my lap or snuggled up on the sofa together. Enjoying time curled up in the sun together basking in the quiet.

Penny

Meditation, painting, cooking – eating clean really helps. Connecting with family at end of school/work day. Exercise helps me sleep better, and I regret the days I don’t make it happen. Also the opposite – ordering Cinnamon rolls from favorite bakery, sleeping in, not stressing about doing what feels like nothing.

Carrie

Plan at least one fun/quirky/new thing to do. First on my list was learn to put on false eyelashes😆. I’ll keep that one on the rotation until I master it! Others are: take a bath with Epsom salts, spend 20-30 mins purging my closet, read a “just for fun” book, meditate 20 mins..

Raquel

These are the things I am doing as self care. Brushing my teeth with a sonic style toothbrush. Flossing. Taking my RX meds- yes I have to remember every day- been on meds for 44 years. You would think it was a habit by now! On days off- getting dressed. Getting 15 min of natural daylight, as many days as possible- even in the winter. Airing out the house with fresh air, 15 min every few days. Praying. Practicing gratitude and positive thinking daily. Using the bathroom when the urge hits. Reevaluating how many irons I have in the fire. Having fresh flowers in the house. Drinking water.

Sandi

Naming my feelings and letting myself feel them (even if I think they aren’t rational). This is one way that I am trying to be kind to myself. We can’t help our emotions, but we can choose how long we stay there.

Marilyn

My self care item is looking at family pictures and reminiscing. Each picture brings back a memory that reminds me of the great family times and love we share.

Ami

Grounding is becoming more and more crucial for my nervous system. Today, on a walk, I took off my shoes and socks and walked in the grass at the school near my home. Then I lay down for 20 minutes, facing the sun…. sensing my body sink into the ground, feeling the sun’s warmth, absorbing the energy around me. It’s extremely calming. A dance party – even solo – is also helpful when I feel like I need to expend excess energy.

Karen

…Laughter is a big self care for me- telling jokes or something funny on television. One of my colleagues posted on our wellness email this week (our wellness committee does blurbs each month that will be seen on the directors weekly emails) an Irish proverb: “a good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything”—Sleep is another self care I have been paying attention to: I use the AutoSleep app with my Apple watch and it tells me how long I slept, how much deep sleep, etc. I am much more focused on getting to bed earlier now that I use it!….

Sabrina

Before I rise, I ask myself three questions: What do I have to do today? What am I grateful for? What brings me joy? My answers today were “my list” “my parents” and “the rain.” I find these three questions help move me away from dark troubling thoughts to thoughts of kindness and compassion and help me set my day for the good. I also find meditation, texting my two spiritual friends each morning, and reading contemplative tracts helpful.

Vicki

I need to get outside at least once or twice each day. Usually I work in my vegetable garden or weed in my yard, so I’m making progress as well as getting sunshine and listening to the birds! Today I’m eating my big salad outside while listening to Mary Poppins Comes Back!

Pat

We want you to feel calm, peaceful, and ready to get your life organized, and we hope that these worksheets, ideas, and step-by-step instructions are helpful for you!

Again, if you’re already part of our community, these worksheets are on your “Party Homebase” page that we emailed to you.

If you’re NOT on our list, simply sign up at the party link below! Enjoy, and good luck putting out the fires in your life–and taking care of yourself this week!

Related Resources

Click this link or the image below and then enter your name and email–we’ll send you your start-up worksheet, this week’s worksheets, and all the bonuses waiting for you!

Related Podcasts:

• Stabilizing Mechanism Post: A Daily Routines Checklist to Keep You SUPER Happy
• Introduction to Our Home Organizing Party!
• Create Your Ideal Family Routine–Home Organizing Party, Lesson #1

Related Books:

• First Things First by Stephen Covey

• The Organized Mind by Daniel J. Levitin

• When Panic Attacks by David Burns

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If you’re new here, our free one-hour training will show you exactly how to set up your Next Actions and get control over the piles of clutter: