NEAT & SIMPLE LIVING

It's official! Neat & Simple Living Blog is winding down...but it has had a baby!

It's official!

 My exploration of Neat & Simple Living has evolved into Agile Living, Work Design and Productivity!   This blog is six years old and rather than move it, I decided to just leave it here and start fresh.  

The new blog is called "Becoming Agile"   and lives on my new website www.arianebenefit.com. By January 2012 ALL of my new work is going to be exclusively published there.

Has the vision changed? 

My ultimate vision is the same...help people heal chronic disorganization, overwhelm and frustration and design a simpler life that fits.  I'm still working with the same audience of highly creative, gifted, ADHD or ADHDish, highly technical, sensitive people who struggle with the stuckness of procrastination, clutter, disorganization, depression, anxiety and chronic overwhelm.  To embrace all of us without so many labels...I am using the term Neurodiverse Outliers. It just feels better - makes it easier to accept myself as I am, not as a set of labels that focus on what's wrong with me. Over-identifying with the labels reinforces them. Changing the label changes the way you see yourself.  It's powerful stuff.

The Agile Life Design philosophy, mindset, skills and processes is the distillation of everything I've learned about what it takes to have a simpler, less pressured more satisfying life.  The agile approach to designing life, work, systems and relationships that fit together - WORKS.  As I'm working on resources to share the concepts and methods with the world, I'll be blogging the journey.  If you would like to continue with me on this journey

 I warmly invite you to join my mailing list.  

Going forward...the only way to get new content by email is to subscribe to a convenient, single mailing list...no more subscribing to both a blog and a mailing list. YAY!  : )   Thanks to my new email system, you'll have a lot more say in what kind of updates you want to receive from me as well!   

Wishing you much peace and an ever agile heart and mind, 

Sign up here if you haven't already....

 

 

 

Living in a House Staged for Sale is NOT FUN! : )

If you follow me on Facebook, you already know that our house went up for sale on Friday!  The house across the street from us came up for sale a couple weeks ago but it was to expensive for us. Then the price was reduced and we couldn't resist.  It's a great house that just needs a bit of renovating to make it work for us. We learned so much renovating the house that we decided it would be a great investment and went for it. 

Moving this Summer? ADD Friendly Tips for Moving and Packing with Less Stess

Summer is a time when lots of people are moving and I've been getting lots of questions on the topic.  Since I've moved over 15 times in my life (many of the interstate moves) and also have helped several clients move, here are some of my best tips to help you make the transition to your new home with a lot less stress.

 

MAKE IT EASY FOR THE MOVERS AND YOURSELF BY PACKING WITH THE END IN MIND

Make a list of the rooms in your new home. Establish unique names for each room in your new home.  So if you have 2 bathrooms, you could say Master Bath and Guest bath.  Same with Bedrooms. On moving day you will put a Jumbo Post-it or sheet of paper with the room name on each door. As you pack, label all boxes with the rooms they will be going to - using the exact same room name.  Have the movers put the boxes in the appropriate rooms. (Same goes with furniture, you can pin room labels to things after wrapping them in cloth.)

 

MOVING AND PACKING SUPPLIES

I recommend creating a packing supply kit to keep everything you need handy.

• Bubble wrap / newsprint
• Markers
• Labeler (optional)
• Box sealing tape
• Donation bags and boxes for breakables
• Trash bags
• Recycling containers
• Scissors
• Furniture pads/Blankets (may be provided by your mover)

PACKING TIPS

As you pack:

1. Use 2-4 sizes of boxes and try to make them consistent so that they stack easily.
2. Mark the contents directly on the box with a marker. INCLUDE THE ROOM NAME they will be going to and a number. e.g. JJ's BEDROOM #4   Do not use Post-its on the boxes.   You can use labels.  I personally list as much detail as possible so that I don't have to open all the boxes later if I'm looking for one thing.
3. Start packing AS SOON AS you know you will be moving.  Shoot for 3 months before the move (if you can) so that you have time to declutter as you pack without stressing out.  
4. Set aside one room or area for all your newly packed boxes to be stored till moving day.
5. Start with long term storage areas / cabinets / drawers etc.  and pack things you don't use often into their own boxes.  Mark them as "OPEN LAST."
6. When packing things you use often (daily, weekly, monthly)  Label those boxes "Open First." 
7. Fragile, valuable items should be packed according to UPS shipping guidelines which include packing a smaller box inside a larger box filled with insulation.  If possible keep these items with you rather than shipping them with the mover.
8. Pack light.  Keep boxes under 50 lbs or if you are moving yourself, pack them so that you can easily lift and move them.  And I don't mean pack as much as you CAN lift.  If you are going to be moving 30 or more boxes, the first one feels fine, but they get heavier and heavier with each box!  So make it easier on yourself!

PREPARATION CHECKLIST FOR DAY ONE IN YOUR NEW HOME

I recommend creating "DAY ONE SUPPLIES" boxes for things you will need as soon as you arrive in your new home.  Also pack suitcases for each member of the family with what you need for at least a few days. If you don't have suitcases, perhaps you could borrow some or just use boxes. Here a few ideas for Day One.

• Sheets and towels
• Alarm Clock
• Favorite Music
• Phone (if you will have a land line)
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Medications
• Toiletries
• A Couple Games / Toys for the kids
• Basic dishes / silverware
• A frying pan and pot
• Shopping List and Take Out / Delivery Menus for the New Location

VITAL PAPERS & ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST

One of the most common complaints I hear about is vital papers getting lost in the shuffle.  Don't let this happen to you!  Create a single place for all your critical documents.  If they are in folders even better.  You can get a portable safe / document box or you can use a brief case.  But ideally, your documents container should be fireproof and water proof.  Here are some of the most common essential documents to keep in a special place.

• New House Keys
• Bills to be paid
• Emergency Contacts
• Phone Number List for Movers and all the new services you will need in your new home
• School Transfer / Immunization / Medical Records for the kids
• Birth Certificates / Adoption Records / Marriage records
• Passports
• Insurance policies
• Check book
• Legal records and papers related to your new home
• Add your own here....

 

Should you create an inventory?

I get asked this a lot.  The answer is: it depends.  For liability reasons, the proper way to do this for insurance purposes is to list all the items, estimate their condition and value, and take photographs.
However, for many ADDers the idea of this is overwhelming.  If you can't wrap your head around it, you can hire someone to do it for you before the movers come, or if you are willing to accept the risk, go simple.  Before the boxes are moved, a simple inventory listing the Rooms and the number of boxes per room could suffice.

 

MORE RESOURCES

I know it's tempting to research this like crazy....but don't get bogged down with this task.  Stay focused on getting packed, getting your address changed with all your billers, getting services shut off in your current place, and getting your new accounts setup in your new place and you will be fine!

HGTV's Front Door has a pretty comprehensive Moving Guide

Change Your Address Online with USPS  You can also pick up a Mover's Guide at your local Post Office.

26 Post I've written on Donating and Recycling Your Stuff

Wishing you a stress and hassle-free move!

 

Tips for Packing a Self Storage Unit

I don't as a regular practice, recommend people renting storage space to hold things they don't use, but there are many occasions when it's a necessary step in keeping your home liveable during life transitions.  For example, you live in a small home, a family member passes away and you need time to go through things and settle the estate.  Or perhaps you are closing a business and need a place to hold the inventory until it can be sold off. 

So, in the event you need a Self-Storage Unit to help you get through a transition, here are some great tips by guest author, Aaron Brooks. 

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10 Tips for How to Pack a Self Storage Unit

Once you have leased a self-storage unit the next step is to pack it right. Sit down calmly and make a list of what you want to store in the self-storage unit. Mark against each object when you are likely to need it. This will provide a kind of guideline on where to place objects you may need to retrieve fairly soon. The advantage of this exercise is that objects you are likely to need can be stored in front or at the top so that you can take it out easily.

Here are a few packing tips you may find useful:

1. Pack in boxes that are tough, water resistant, and of more or less uniform size. The trick is to stack heavier things at the bottom followed by lighter ones, and at the top stack fragile breakables.

2. If you are opting for a large unit then you can leave space between the furniture and boxes so that accessibility is maintained.

3. Fill all boxes to the brim and use old sheets, towels, and newspapers as packing. When boxes are half or three fourths full they will collapse when other boxes are placed on them.

4. Treat all metal objects with rust protectors and things like books with boric powder or tobacco leaves to protect them from insect attack. Look up preservation of books and follow the instructions.

5. To secure valuable things ensure they are put right at the back or at the very bottom. This makes it hard for thieves to take things away.

6. If you are required to provide your own locks then choose a padlock that is of quality and hard to open with a hair clip.

7. Put down de humidifiers and allow for air to circulate inside the locker. Lay down plastic sheeting on the floor of the unit and places the boxes on a wooden pallet this will keep boxes from suffering water related damage.

8. Leave the doors of all appliances ajar this prevents fungal growth. Use the space in appliances to store small things.

9. Refrain from storing any inflammables in the unit. Read the safety manual thoroughly before placing objects in the unit.

10. Maintain a diary and record which boxes are placed where and what each box contains. Stick labels on each box with a coding that matches your list. Never mark the contents on the label. Never say “painting by Monet,” on top of a box, will you just be asking for trouble.

Most companies charge extra for packing the units. So, if you want to make a saving then be prepared to do the packing yourself. Use the space efficiently, experts recommend that you fill the unit completely.

Take the advice of the storage unit staff. Since they deal with units daily they can offer you valuable advice. Always value the goods correctly this will ensure that you get sufficient insurance cover.

Observe all the rules of the units and always register at the reception when you access the self-storage unit. This procedure helps maintain safety and security.

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Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for http://www.1888movingcompanies.com, the premier website to find help on Moving including topics on moving companies search, compare movers, moving insurance, auto transport, moving tips and more. He also freelances for the premier Car Rental Site http://www.1866carrental.com

197 Tips for Improving Curb Appeal

One of the services I provide is helping people stage or present their home in the best possible light so that they can get top dollar. So I'm always looking for great resources to help me and my clients make sure they are doing everything they can to make their home look like warm and inviting.   

One of the most valuable things you can do to get the best price for your home is to improve it's curb appeal.  Real Estate Agents often give people lists of homes for sale to consider. Buyers then drive by the homes and tell their agent which houses they want to tour. So that first impression is critical to even getting someone to consider buying your home!

According to the National Association of Realtors, Curb appeal sells 49% of all houses. One resources I use to give clients an idea of the possibilities is this ebook. It has lots of before and after pictures and really great tips!

So if you are planning to sell your home, townhouse, or condo, or commercial property, or if you just want to improve your curb appeal, give this a read. 197 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal

Another really great affordable resource to help you get your home ready to resell is HOME STAGING, FIXUPS AND HOUSE MAKEOVERS It has lots of great ideas including pictures.

Wishing you lots of great curb appeal and a big profit on selling your house!

All the best,