DON'T PANIC - SIMPLIFY!!!

My guiding word of 2024 is SIMPLIFY. 

When I start to get stressed, when I realize I may be over-thinking a project, when I tackle a project I abandoned last year, I will look for ways to simplify. 

 How can I simplify a busy, stressful week? I can, for example, ask myself if there is anything I can put off until next week. Is there anything I can ask someone else to do for me? Can I group errands? Must I make lasagna from scratch, or will a frozen lasagna be good enough?

When beginning a project, I can brainstorm different ways to approach it and look for the simplest, least time-consuming way to tackle the new endeavor. I can look for a friend or relative to help me. I can see if I can pay someone to help me or do it for me. I can consider different places where I can work and not have to put everything away every day.

ORGANIZE MY OFFICE?

I can set myself up for success when re-starting a project I abandoned by analyzing why I didn't finish it. Did I have an inappropriate workspace? Did I get stuck and not see a way forward? Did "Life" just get in the way? Did I run out of money for supplies? Was I entirely out of my element? Did I hate the work?

Then I can brainstorm simple ways to overcome those obstacles, or decide this project is not one I want to complete. 

ORGANIZE THE STOREROOM?

Hopefully, finding ways to simplify will help me to accomplish more while stressing less. We'll see...

Now, to start a new project: A Simplify Vision Board to hang over my desk!!! ~ Sarah

What project are you itching to begin? How can you simplify your approach?

Opening Your Heart and Your Space

When one door closes another opens. I've been told this phrase all of my life and never really realized what it meant. I had thought growing up without a father would keep me from learning what it felt like to loose him to death, but after having him back in my life and facing his mortality I think about everything I've learned from him.
My father is an amazing man; stubborn as all heck, set in his ways, and very minimalist. But what can I say? He was raised by a grandmother who hadn't wanted him after his mother died when he was eight, did three tours of Vietnam, and spent most of his adult life living on the streets. You're doing the math aren't you? He's 75 in case you're wondering. And during that time he's fought cancer seven times, currently in his throat and lungs.
Seventy-five is a long life, even longer when you've endured the things he has. He's a fighter but even then you can only fight for so long. And when he's done fighting he'll need a place to find peace and joy for those last days, weeks, months, possibly even a year or two.
And that's where we come in. They will be returning home to live with us. Which leaves a whole new problem right? Seven people in a three bedroom two bathroom house. Yep. That includes three kids and adult who all have their own hobbies, and gadgets. Which made me realize how much supplies I had for my hobbies and how much room we need to make.
What are my hobbies? Well, of course my career of writing, but I also scrapbook and do just about anything crafty as well as my husband and my kids do Cosplay. Which leaves a lot of things laying around. So with this knowledge urging me on I decided to tackle getting organized.
Step one, get my office back into order and trim down my scrapbooking supplies.
Step two, make sure the kitchen, living room and garage are organized and labeled so that anyone can find and put away things.
Step three, find a way to turn the bonus room into a suit for them.
Step four, take joy with whatever time he has left.

What do you do to keep organized? What are your hobbies?