February Tip of the Month:

Come February, it would be easy to become complacent about our New Year’s resolutions... but hang tough! Doing a little each month will lead you to your goals. Keep the life you want in mind, and keep moving forward!

For your Stuff...
MAIL MIGHT . Create a designated area for your mail. This will be the place to handle all incoming and outgoing mail. Have a recycle bin handy, so junk mail and envelopes can go right in- don’t even put junk mail down. Next to your recycling, I recommend a shredder for everything going that has your address or personal information. Stamps, envelopes, return address labels/stamps should all find a home here, and if you have space it’s a great place to keep stationary, birthday cards, etc. It’s necessary to have a place for correspondence (like RSVPs) or statements to call with questions, for all bills that need to be paid, etc. You may choose to have your communications area (for family schedules, upcoming events, messages) and bill paying (checkbook, files, calculator) in this same area, but if not, be sure to move any mail to the proper areas right away. Now, you are ready to keep the mail flowing, so it doesn’t pile up. For more ideas on how to reduce junk mail and manage home papers, see my article on Surfing the Ocean of Paper.

For your Spirit...
VISUALIZE. Take some time this month to visualize the life that you want to create. Let the image fill in with details… What does your home look like? What activities are you doing? How does your family interact? How do you feel as you start each day? Really let yourself relax into the images and let them come alive. Now, take a moment and acknowledge how you are already living that life, and simply recognize the places that aren’t quite there yet. Lovingly explore at least two simple steps you can take this month towards the life you want. If you are surrounded by clutter, set the intention to clear off one area (your desk, the bookshelf, the laundry). If you are overwhelmed by a hectic schedule, consider backing out of one time consuming commitment. If you are depressed because you don’t have the love of your life to celebrate Valentine’s Day with, make an appointment for a pedicure or have lunch with a friend, or go for a hike- find a way to love yourself and celebrate all the love that you already have in your life.

For the Earth...
COMPOST. Home composting is nature’s way of recycling; it’s simple and economical. You can turn your food scraps, newspaper, yard trimmings into nutrient-rich compost with just a little effort. You can start a compost pile now, and have it ready for your spring planting! Find all you need to know to start composting or attend a free workshop at the Griffith Park Composting Facility, where composters are sold at a discount. You can also pick up compost or mulch for free—just bring a shovel and a bag! (Many local cities offer composting, so check out your cities webpage for local information.) Can’t do the full composter? Try a worm box (see pg 5 of the linked PDF); this is a great alternative, especially if you have kids. With a box inside, a handful of worms and some newspaper, you can compost your kitchen scraps in just a few weeks and the kids get a fun and educational experience! If nothing else, most cities offer green bin curbside composting for your yard waste. Join in; Mother Nature is never wrong.

For your Work...
CONNECT. The key to most any kind of business is to make connections: with clients and customers, with vendors and contractors, networking, marketing, etc. So take time this month to update your contact lists. Compile them in one place (with a backup!) for easy access. Whether you use a PDA like a Blackberry, a traditional address book or Rolodex, or a computer spreadsheet, it should be easily accessible and updatable. While you’re at it, set the intention to use some of those contacts to connect with at least three people who can support or further your work endeavors.

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