Blog about decluttering your home, life and business strategy

Vacation Time Or Is It Time To Get Organized, Upgrade Your Home or Feng Shui Your Space by Marla Stone, MSW

7/10/2025

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Vacationing costs time and money and yes creates memories however getting your residence and work space organized, upgraded, and designed can take a holidays place and last a life time. I suggest do a little of both and by the holidays coming up you'll be rested and more settled than ever!

Getting decluttered and clutter free often goes hand in hand with upgrading cabinets and creating interior storage space such as improved kitchen bathroom cabinets, and closets. Getting optimal storage options such as Costco’s five tier gorilla rack only sold in your local store for around 99.99 is my favorite. It holds twelve 66-quart Sterilite bins with the purple lock handles which are my favorite bins.

Once you have more storage items and a new or used armoire, dressers, end tables with some storage opportunities you can categorize your belongings and give them a fresh new home. This extra space also makes seasonal organizing by season a cinch.

Next designing your space and furniture with some new paint, fabric, redesigning furniture placement, tiling, fresh carpet or exploring Feng Shui can make your space aesthetic and exciting as a five-star suite at a luxury hotel or airbnb.

Whatever you decide remember www.i-deal-lifestyle.com in the US and globally www.theclutterremedy.com will help you transform your life and space, forever!
Contact: [email protected]

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Ten Steps To Knowing When Your New Relationship Will Last Forever: by Marla Stone, MSW

4/25/2025

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I often have clients who feel overwhelmed by personal issues. They call me to check out their space, and they can organize independently with a few simple space planning strategies. Yet these clients don't only contact me for a bit of clutter and Feng Shui. They call me because they are lonely, unsure about their careers, or, often, worried about their love lives. So, I give them some great exercises and coaching on how to find an ideal partner.

So, what is an ideal partner? It is different for everyone. Everyone will want to figure out 30 things they want in a perfect partner and go BIG! Fairy Godmother Big! Also, do not put any no, non, or not words on the list. So instead of saying not an addicted person, you would write it as addiction-free. Figuring out what you genuinely want in another human you want to partner with is like having a map on a treasure hunt. Without a criterion, you're going on blind dates blindly, and you won't know the correct questions to explore the person you're meeting with. Think about it: when you look for a car, a home, or a new career, you check off boxes and make lists to make a great decision. Why not do that to find the love of a lifetime? Once you make your list, email me at [email protected], and I will tell you parts two, three, and four of this miraculous exercise.

Next, knowing these ten most important things about someone you become interested in will tell you if the person can become a lifetime partner.

1. Did you have similar parenting styles growing up? This is very important. When the parenting styles of each person are completely opposite or different, it will often impact their ability to have a long-term relationship.
2. Knowing about this person's childhood, family relationships, friends, and how they got along with others is essential to knowing how they will get along with you, your family, and your friends. Will they enhance or hurt your current and future relationships?
3. Mutual physical and mental attraction is a significant factor in a couple's lasting love rather than only for a while. It's okay to love how someone looks to you; an IQ difference of even 5 points can dampen conversations, how you view the world, and communication.
4. Sexual compatibility and monogamy versus non-monogamy are huge. Get that straight as soon as possible. Ask the person if they have cheated on other partners or have been comfortable with open relationships. Ask them Are you monogamous? Don't use the word "faithful, " since it has a different meaning. A dog can be faithful, but it doesn't mean it's not going down the street to screw a poodle.
5. Knowing the habits, hobbies, favorite foods, and music will be something to discover before getting too cozy. When you find out the person loves to sit around watching TV in their underwear, play online poker daily, eat llamas, and listen to death metal at the highest volume, it can be a deal breaker when you realize this is their ideal lifestyle.
6. Make sure your family, friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins love your prospective partner as much as you do. If your choice of partner is someone who rubs everyone the wrong way, or even a few of them, you can be sure to feel the same way about them when you open up your eyes and see them clearly. Your family often knows and loves you more than you know and love yourself, especially when you're reeling in an emotional love tidal wave. Your loved ones can see the Tsunami mismatch even though you can't.
7. Spiritual, moral, and political disparities can wear on a couple long-term, eventually leading to frustration and dismay. When you like to go to church every Sunday and your partner is more of a pagan, the relationship will most likely come apart at the seams. When there are varying degrees of moral ineptitude, respect for each other will wane, and when there are extreme political views, debates will turn to loud arguments, fraying any sense of security and well-being.
8. Knowing about their childhood and the close friends/relationships they had throughout their lives will help you understand how they got along with people and how they will get along with you, your family, and your friends. It will also tell you about how they view relationships in general. Understanding their support system and how they communicate with others will create a long-lasting relationship.
9. Understanding traumas, wounds, past break-ups, mental health challenges, and personality challenges (there are nine different personality disorders people can suffer from) will be imperative to knowing if you or your partner can handle the sticky stuff later in life. Too many couples get hitched without knowing each other's complex past issues. Most people don't unpack this until after marriage or moving in together. One or the other may be unable to handle the emotions that arise, and the togetherness will not remain intact.
10. How will you parent when you choose to have kids? This is a big thing to discuss prior to getting into a serious relationship. When there are two different parenting styles, the divide in the family is destructive, and the kids suffer the most from two different parental foghorns. Hence, number one is so significant on this list.

For coaching, email [email protected]
www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

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Wake Up and Be Organized by Marla Stone

12/16/2024

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Are the Relatives Coming for the Holidays? Tips to cope with getting ready! By Marla Stone, Owner of The Clutter Remedy

12/4/2024

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Okay, I'm sure the panic is just starting to creep up! It is inevitable; the holidays
are here! Holiday parties have already begun to show up on your calendar. Cards are starting to show up in the mail. You're feeling pressured to shop, clean, organize, cook, and get all the holiday gear out and up. I know because I am feeling it, too.

I started preparing and getting things done earlier this year than
ever before because I am 60-plus years old now, and I can't afford to
stroke out over Santa and burnt-out bulbs. I also decided to downsize some of
the hoopla. Instead of unpacking all the holiday stuff, I kept it
simple and put out about half the trinkets and decor. I strung only half
the lights around the house and garden than I usually would hang. I used the
tiniest fake Christmas tree for our official tree this year. Usually, I make a
huge plate of Latkes (painstaking potato pancakes), and this year, I bought
them from a woman who makes them way better than I do. Also, Trader Joe's Latkes are spectacular.

We celebrate Hanukah and Christmas in our home, which can get complicated. This year, I did not let that happen. A Menorah here and a Santa there, not the gazillion items I usually put out, and the house still looks, smells, and feels like the holidays. And I feel more rested and at ease during this hectic season.

When I discuss easing up around the holidays with friends, family, and clients, I usually hear the heavy-hearted whine about "doing it for the kids." Well, let me tell you, having your kids watch you spaz out about what tree to buy, where to put it, what to put on it, and hunting down the dreidel from Aunt Ida while drowning in butter cookie dough does not make them feel warm and cuddly. Do you really think they are enjoying watching you have a merry meltdown? No, the kids would rather see you relaxed, communicative, and well MERRY. Take a sip of that good ol' fashion...ol' fashion.

In the old days, we just did not have that much stuff. We had one lovely dress or suit to wear. One dressy shoe choice to put on our feet. We had one tree, one Menorah, a few candles, one wreath, one Dreidel, and very few presents around that tree, mainly consisting of what we could use, like clothing, shoes, books, and specific items that we would buy regardless. Today's holiday celebration has become so large, fast, and furious that it is like a heart-thumping marathon, ending with a meal that would cause most people heart pain and indigestion. It starts to feel so overwhelming and stressful that it takes the "holi" out of holiday, leaving "day." Just another day of stress, strategies, and desire for sleep, nutrition, and to be in better shape!

This year, take it easy and don't use the kids, Martha Stewart's latest Christmas articles, or the neighbor’s neon holiday front yard displays as an inspiration to push you over. I always say, "If you push, you fall." And remember, we are going into another seasonal change...Winter. Read this article on how seasonal shifts affect our mood and demeanor. https://www.i-deal-lifestyle.com/blog/transitioning-with-the-seasons-by-marla-stone

Winter will be on December 21st, 2024 this year, so enjoy the fall's end without falling on your face. Clown around more, talk to more friends on the phone instead of texting, have a holiday potluck dinner instead of putting it all on your shoulders, and just sit with your kids and talk about the loftier aspects of the holidays and why and how they started in the first place! Put things into perspective when it comes to spending and giving. Donate items you no longer want to a charity, especially those that support the homeless, around the holidays. Know how fortunate you are, and be grateful for a new year to come!

Marla Stone, Ideal Lifestyle Expert

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Meet Marla Stone

10/31/2024

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There are many valid approaches to creating neat spaces, but these approaches fail over time because they suggest that we dispose of our stuff and most of us love stuff! Based on her work as a professional organizer and a former psychotherapist, Marla Stone’s fresh and friendly approach goes beyond tidying up to offer the Clutter Remedy strategy to create spaces you love and keep you perpetually organized.

Marla walks you through getting to know yourself and your values and then helps you visualize your ideal lifestyle and surroundings. From that perspective, you'll learn step by step (and room by room) how to create your ideal lifestyle and organize your space to support it.

Marla Stone, MSW, Author, and Mental Health Advocate, owns I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc., which provides space design, corporate training, and lifestyle coaching services. As a former psychotherapist, she helped veterans of Fallujah to Orange County Housewives.

WHAT’S THE STORY: Marla Stone, MSW, Lifestyle Organizer and author of The Clutter Remedy, is a Mental Health Expert and Advocate. She is a former social worker, psychotherapist, Author, Professional Organizer, and CEO of I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc., a behavioral training company that has revolutionized decluttering. In the past 30 years, Stone has helped over 30,000+ people declutter their emotions, communication, and lives. Her discovery of how changing your language will change your life has helped human productivity tenfold. Her training and development programs include clearing and healing strategies to cure trauma, understanding differential diagnoses, and relationship repair. Her themes always result in learning how to live an ideal lifestyle. During Fallujah, while treating military personnel at Camp Pendleton, she developed metaphysical interventions for PTSD.

MAIN TALKING POINTS:
• Understanding the primary goal of decluttering is to have a more ideal lifestyle. Figuring out what you value in life helps you decide what to keep in your life
• healing inner emotional clutter and understanding the language associated with needs vs. wants, becoming decisive about what you want in life, and sharing feelings is critical to responsible decluttering and not having regrets
• Step by step, room by room, on how to declutter using the clutter remedy strategies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Book Synopsis: There are many valid approaches to removing stuff and creating neat spaces. But like many diets, most of these approaches fail long-term. That’s because lots of us like our stuff. Whether it’s books or photos or tchotchkes, the things we choose to surround ourselves with are often essential to us. Marla Stone, a former therapist turned professional organizer who works with individuals and corporations at all levels, helps readers create spaces that look and feel like readers at their best. She focuses not on throwing stuff out but on understanding what will stay put and why. Stone walks readers through knowing themselves and their values, summoning motivation, and visualizing their ideal lifestyle and optimal surroundings. Armed with this understanding, readers are empowered to approach every room in their house, every aspect of their workspace, and even every aspect of their health and well-being with energy and clarity. Whether it’s the refrigerator or New Year’s resolutions, piles of books, or boxes of heirlooms, Stone helps readers eliminate physical and emotional roadblocks and guides them toward surroundings that reflect who they are and who they want to be.

PRESS RELEASE:
Marla Stone, Chief Executive Officer I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc., Author of THE CLUTTER REMEDY: A GUIDE TO GETTING ORGANIZED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THEIR STUFF and Mental Health Expert and advocate
(949) 709-7000 / [email protected]

Organizing and Cleaning Offers Opportunity to
Tackle Trash and Past Trauma

Psychotherapist-Turned-Professional Organizer Helps Clients Unpack Mental and Emotional Attachments to Clutter This Season and Beyond

IRVINE, Calif. -- A recent Clorox survey showed that 60 percent of Americans take on the task of organizing and cleaning before major holidays. However, Marla Stone, chief executive officer of I-Deal-Lifestyle, reveals that for many, simply tossing out the old won’t be enough to feel renewed.

Stone, a former social worker and psychotherapist for 17 years says that the reasons for over-collecting can be complex and deeply emotional, requiring a much more compassionate response to clutter. She’s long observed the power struggle between people and their objects, which is one of the reasons she launched her career as a professional design organizer in 2010.

Her proprietary approach to helping people find a long-term solution to clutter and organizational challenges is designed to leave clients with a clear space and mind.

“When we don’t acknowledge what’s led to the disorganization and chaos in our homes, even when we get things organized, the results are often only temporary,” said Stone. “I work with clients to help them understand the symbolic meaning of stuff and engage in peaceful de-cluttering. In cases of hoarding disorders, I help clients to evaluate when and how to take on large projects.”

Stone’s first client was a woman who had collected enough clothes to fill over 40 large bags due to a failing marriage. Since then, she’s helped over 4,000 people get and stay organized.

Stone is challenging men and women seeking a clearer space and mind to learn to change their language this season. According to Stone, “stuff” is not a need; it’s a “want” or “don’t want.”

“When we are emotionally attached to the objects in our homes, we want to reaffirm that the only things we truly need are air, food, water, sleep, shelter, sunlight, and, well, elimination,” she said.

“It sounds simple, but this is the first step to regaining perspective and beginning the work of moving past perpetual disorganization,” she continued. She proposes, “A know thyself, know thy stuff philosophy.”

Stone offers a wide range of corporate services for residential and corporate clients and transition and support services for individuals who are downsizing or upsizing to a new lifestyle. More information is available at www.i-deal-lifestyle.com.

Bio: Marla Stone, MSW, owns I-Deal-Lifestyle INC, which provides decluttering, design, corporate training, and lifestyle coaching services. She is a former social worker and psychotherapist turned professional lifestyle organizer who helps people live an ideal lifestyle by getting to the root of their mental, emotional, and environmental challenges.

Check out her new book, The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Remedy-Guide-Getting-Organized/dp/1608686299

SOCIAL MEDIA and LINKS:

About Marla: https://www.i-deal-lifestyle.com/marlas-story.html

Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Remedy-Guide-Getting-Organized/dp/1608686299

Book Reviews: https://www.newspiritjournalonline.com/the-clutter-remedy/
https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-clutter-remedy/

Media Appearances

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUXW_FmRcVw&feature=youtu.be

https://www.newschannel5.com/talk-of-the-town/organizing-your-home-and-still-keeping-the-things-you-love

https://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Remedy-Guide-Getting-Organized/dp/1608686299

Blog:
https://www.i-deal-lifestyle.com/blog

Print Articles about Marla:

https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-03-27/expert-tips-on-decluttering-your-home-during-the-coronavirus

https://www.ocregister.com/2012/09/03/busting-clutter-is-her-business/

http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-marla-stone-deal-lifestyle-southern-california-los-angeles-orange-county-san-diego/

https://www.wgvunews.org/post/clutter-remedy

Podcasts:

https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/spreading-the-green-love-with-chelsea-young

Youtube videos:

Marla Stone, MSW Pro Organizer to the stars shows you how to organize your ...YouTube › watch

https://youtu.be/XLRhIqm9SPo

Decluttering with Marla Stone Professional OrganizerI-Deal-Lifestyle methods Part 2 ...YouTube › watch

https://youtu.be/4HJoxz2l6AQ

https://youtu.be/-XJ-hcGb888

https://images.app.goo.gl/iWYpTMxKr3AetPaN9

Conferences:
Speaking Engagements
Barnes & Noble from 2019-2024

National Association of Social Workers - Continuing Education Provider 2018
Philharmonic Society - Organizing with Feng Shui 2017
Philharmonic Society - Organizing Your Language Organizes You - 2016
17th Annual Hoarding and Cluttering Conference - Mental Health Association of San Francisco - Organizing Self and Space - a Guide to an Ideal Lifestyle 2015
Villa Park Women's League, Jeannie DeSantis 2013
Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution 2013
15th Annual Hoarding and Cluttering Conference - Mental Health Association of San Francisco-Protecting Our Stuff That Matters 2013
14th Annual Hoarding and Cluttering Conference - Mental Health Association of San Francisco - How to Organize Your Space With A Feng Shui Template 2012
Napo Conference Sonoma - Organizing Your Space With Feng Shui 2012
Desert Horizons Women's Club Anne Foster, Program Co-Chair - Feng Shui to Clear Your Clutter 2012

https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/presenters-2015/

Getty Images:
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/professional-organizer-marla-stone-left-speaks-with-client-news-photo/1032277342

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/professional-organizer-marla-stone-left-talks-with-client-news-photo/1032278210

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How Marla Stone Revolutionized Decluttering Your World

10/24/2024

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Hoarding is a bad word to use in conjunction with humans, Marla Stone, MSW reveals. “It was initially a term for animals. Hoarders is a lousy word for humans as well.”

Stone claims over-accumulating and collecting can be an “embarrassment” for people who have too much stuff. According to statistics, around 5% of the world population displays signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder. That means the number of people suffering from Hoarding Disorder is two times those diagnosed with OCD and four times those with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Hoarding behaviors can be a sore subject for families and neighborhoods. When you have a loved one suffering from over-accumulation and collecting behaviors, your options are minimal. Researchers, therapists, hoarding task forces, and professional organizers are still scratching their heads to figure out how to help people in the long term.

The current interventions often involve a lot of drama and a reoccurrence of the behaviors. According to Stone people tend to reclutter even after expensive professional organizing companies and therapists have come in to help. Stone explains her background as a mental health expert and psychotherapist of 17 years allowed her to see how to help people stay organized long-term, even with the more serious cases. I-Deal-Lifestyle founder Marla Stone said of her almost 15 year-old company. ”I realized that forcing someone to get rid of things or encouraging purging was more cruel than curative, and so I created a simple and easy way for people to live clutter-free, without a tug of war.”

The decluttering and organizing business is a million-dollar-a-year industry. I-Deal-Lifestyle - The Clutter Remedy Experts owner Stone confirms it is a busy business with a constant flow of people who want help to stay organized long-term, not just a quick fix.

Stone has some words of wisdom for people entering the industry. “Know that a background in mental health is as important as a background in business administration and spatial design. When you don’t understand Hoarding Disorder and the mental health challenges that go along with a cluttered life it will be like stepping into quicksand.”

Stone learned how to build websites and increase SEO, and she believes the organic word of mouth has helped her serve over 3500+ properties in 15 years. She has been filmed during tough jobs by the USC film department and has published a book called The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff. Stone has written over 1000 articles online and has a current blog. You can easily search for Marla Stone and organizer on an internet search to learn more about her strategies or buy her book The Clutter Remedy.

Suggestions for starting a professional organizing business are, first of all, you want to love helping people at your core. The following recommendations are:

Learn about the industry. Attend conferences, talk to other organizers, therapists, and researchers, and see if you can handle mild to extreme hoarding cases.

Work with a professional organizer who has been doing it for at least five years. Choose someone who has successful techniques, cares about helping long-term, carries liability insurance, and has a sense of design and business operations. The broader the services the organizer offers, the more you will learn. Go to the clutter remedy.com to learn more about becoming a certified clutter remedy expert.

Learn how to market yourself by building a platform, starting a blog, and becoming an expert in a niche area or broad if you have a solid background in many things. Develop techniques and a structured way of doing your jobs so you can walk your talk. Create an uplifting and catchy name, domain name, and logo. Design a website that emanates from you and what you have to offer.

No shame, no harm policies are the most critical aspect of the decluttering industry. You want to clear yourself of any misperceptions, misunderstandings, and judgments. It is not your place to tell someone what to do with their stuff. It is your job as an organizer to figure out where everything will go so the customer can easily access their property without stepping over everything they own.

Become an expert at space design and going paperless since everyone is looking for solutions to display their objects and put away their personal items.

Your clients want their homes or business offices to look aesthetically pleasing, and they want to keep their stuff close at hand. A professional organizer’s job is to clear the space of cluttered piles, junk drawer chaos, and personal piles. The organizer's next job is to categorize all objects and help the person calculate what will be kept. Next, all kept items are finely tuned and contained and put away in a home designed for them based on how often, when, and where they use their stuff.

Figure out a product line that works and is cost-effective for professionally organized homes and businesses. Stone has researched organizing products and knows the amount and what will work to remain organized. The clients I-Deal-Lifestyle have worked with, kids, moms, dads, CEOs, and people who love to collect, have been happy with their strategies and have remained organized for years.

It is not about expensive baskets, boxes, or bins. It is about quality and usefulness when it comes to products. Stone explains, “Decluttering/Organizing services are a high-end, luxury service that lasts longer than any spa treatment or vacation. Stone’s clients are often so grateful they cry and revel that they can keep up the organization system themselves.

Stone opened first in Irvine, California, and serves San Diego, Los Angeles, the greater Los Angeles South Bay area, and the San Fernando Valley, Riverside, and Palm Springs. The website is the fundamental way people get the services, but the benefits speak for themselves and keep the clients coming. The philosophy is to help people understand their space and stuff and that getting help is not shameful.

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Transitioning With The Seasons by Marla Stone

10/2/2024

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Hold on, here comes another seasonal transition. Fall is here for real. Seasonal transitions can bring on intense, tiring, and moody feelings. You may feel a drag in your step and wonder why you're so tired. Well, you just went through a busy and active summer, and now you are headed for the busy season of the holidays, and it just makes sense that you want to rest and take a breather. We are not energizer bunnies, are we? We are human, and we demand transitional rest periods.

Seasonal transitions can be daunting if you are unaware of what comes with them. Even if you do not meet the criteria for seasonal affective disorder, you can have cranky, tired, and restless behavior due to the seasonal change. The most challenging change is Winter to Spring, then Spring to Summer, and the most effortless seasonal change is Summer to Fall. Getting the kids ready for school, planning a fall vacation, or recuperating from a summer vacation is not the end of the earth, but here are some tips to make it easier.

STAY HEALTHY

The most significant factors in staying healthy and balanced are eating well, sleeping well, having good relationships, exercising, and staying active and social. Also, recognizing and realizing that you are entering a new season will remind you to increase your coping strategies.

One of the great gifts you can give to yourself every season is an organic fruit and vegetable basket from your local Farms. Getting on an organic delivery service will help you eat vegetables and fruit that are in season and save you lots of time grocery shopping. The size of the basket depends on the size of your family. You also want to eat cage-free organic eggs, grass-fed meats, organic meat, and fresh-water fish. Ingesting liquid amino acids, taking hot baths, taking care of your teeth, getting regular massages, and practicing general good hygiene will help you feel renewed and rejuvenated.

Taking vitamins and minerals regularly, eliminating harmful sugar substitutes, hydrogenated oils, too much alcohol, and smoking while increasing exercise will also be helpful.

Getting counseling and/or coaching for any emotional challenges will also clean out the pipes, allowing for a fresh new look at old challenges.

SLEEP WELL

Sleep cycles vary with each season. Usually, people require less sleep in summer, although some people run on an opposite clock....we all tick differently. Fall, well, you fall asleep...pretty great sleep. Fall is a pretty easy-going time in the beginning. Then you want to gather energy, momentum, and discipline to prepare for the hustle and bustle Fall brings with school starting, preparation for the holiday season, and shorter days/less sun. Winter brings on some sleep challenges when you're not careful. Too much sleep in Winter leads to decreased motivation, depression, and weight gain. Insomnia leads to irritability, reduced concentration, and apathy. Prescription sleep medications and over-the-counter remedies increase mood instability and cause only more disturbance to your sleep cycle in the long run. Winter also brings stomach issues from too much sugar, alcohol, and heavier food consumption. None of us can stay away from the table around the holidays.

Higher sugar consumption starts with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and the finale is Christmas and by New Year's Eve, you could be crashing while forcing yourself to stay up until Midnight.

Ironically, Winter is also when we think about our New Year's Resolutions yet we can't think since we are tired from all the parties. You will best think about your life and the New Year in February.

Remember, sugar is terrible for you, even in small amounts. As a medical social worker, years ago, I worked on a skilled nursing floor where people get increased hospital care due to surgeries, serious illnesses, and accidents. I performed discharge planning. I would look at the patient's chart to link them to resources while discharging them, and crazily enough, 85% of the elderly patients had diabetes. Epidemic proportions of people will end up with diabetes from ingesting too many processed, high-sugar foods and drinks.

Also, think smart about drinking plenty of water, decreasing dairy or eliminating it altogether (fresh fruit sorbet instead of ice cream), eating lighter food fare with more fruit, decreasing alcohol, resting a lot, and wearing sun-protective eyewear and clothing. Increase exercise, drink more water and more sunscreen (keep applying; it is not waterproof), and then just kick back and enjoy the changing leaves.

Marla Stone owns I-Deal-Lifestyle, a Lifestyle Consulting and Professional Organizing Service. Find more articles on www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

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Increase Your Productivity and Efficiency Tenfold by Marla Stone, MSW

9/13/2024

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While Behavioral Techniques such as setting timers and giving yourself deadlines can be fantastic for achieving goals. Eliminating impeding and indecisive language will increase productivity tenfold. #Productivity #GoalSetting

The Pomodoro method is excellent for behavioral motivation to set a timer and take breaks to increase the flow of energy and focus. It is essentially an external intervention. Yet, it does not get to the intrinsic part of a person so that ADHD symptoms will be remedied long-term. I not only treated ADHD, but I suffered from the symptoms until I realized it is Impeding Language that truly thwarts our ability to follow through and become more productive. I created a better way for people to love finishing projects and loving their lives in a new way.

Changing how you communicate will help increase your productivity, timeliness, and creative life processes and allow you to live an organized life. The number-one cause of perpetual disorganization is using what I call “impeding language.” Impeding language: How you talk to yourself and others directly impacts your behavior, motivation and follow through. Impeding language also leads to overcollecting, overaccumulation, and cluttering in the most insidious and derailing ways.

“I need” is the most overused phrase in our language. We say “I need” all the time: I need to get out of here; I need to pick up the kids; I need to call that company; I need to do something with my hair; I need to exercise; I need new clothes; I need a new car. I need, I need, I need! But the truth is, “I need” is a white lie. Saying you need something that is not an essential need instead of stating you “want” something or that you will “do” something is a way to avoid recognizing or admitting that you are making a choice. It will disrupt your ability to remain organized and productive. We are, in essence, “needling” ourselves to death. Needling yourself to do things instead of willing yourself is the barrier to following through. Needling is the cause of tension, worry, and nervousness.

We only have seven essential needs: air, food, water, shelter, sleep, elimination, and sunlight. These are the seven things that keep us alive. Nothing else is a “need.” This disorganized thinking leads to chaotic behavior and usually neglect of one’s actual needs.

Listen to others and track how often you hear people say, “I have to,” or “I gotta.” How frequently do these phrases pertain to the necessities that keep us alive?

You can view this change to your language as semantics, but it’s not. When you deliberately make conscious choices — by saying “I want” or “I will” rather than “I need” — you emphasize the positive reasons, values, and motivations that are important to you. This helps keep you from feeling trapped by obligations.

For example, when you consider working and finishing projects with a “need” consciousness you will always feel pressured. When a company has a "need" protocol and push, the pressure is felt top-down. When a "will and won't" attitude exists it gives back the power to each individual. It’s freeing to not be driven down by meddling needy desperate for action boss.

After “I need,” the most common phrase I hear when helping people become perpetually organized is “I’ll try.” I'll try to get to work on time, finish by the weekend, and curb my spending. Indecisive language is part of impeding language.

Indecisive language keeps you chained to unfulfillment. It makes decision-making impossible. Using decisive language helps you fulfill your dreams and goals. Indecisive language signals indecision, doubt, resistance, reluctance, or fear. It expresses a lack of commitment or self-confidence.

When you hear yourself saying, “I’ll try,” recognize that you are sidestepping the things you want in your life. Know that you will either accomplish your goals or not. Don’t “try” to succeed; be decisive. Saying, “I’ll try,” indicates nonaction; it means nothing to the subconscious process.

When people don’t finish something they set out to do, they often say, “I tried,” to excuse themselves or escape blame. For instance, when someone misses an appointment, they say, “I tried to get to my doctor’s office today,” as if attempting is what’s important. It is a way to blame circumstances instead of taking responsibility for not following through on goals you set for yourself: “I tried, but there was traffic,” “I lost track of time,” or “I took an important phone call.” None of those reasons add up. Not when it comes to following through and accomplishing tasks. The appointment was missed, and the person did not see the doctor. That someone “tried” does not change the outcome.

Again, this is more than semantics; impeding language will jeopardize going forward toward a positive outcome. In addition to “I’ll try,” listen for these other indecisive phrases: If, but, could, should, might, maybe, probably, possibly, perhaps, someday, sometime, somehow, we’ll see, and I’ll think about it. Finally, the two most popular indecisive words I hear constantly are “kinda” and “sorta.” To increase their impact, these are often combined as “kinda sorta” or “sorta kinda.” Imagine two new phrases that mean nothing are now cluttering how we speak. I recently talked to a woman who used “kinda” and “sorta” in every sentence, saying, “I kinda sorta need to get organized.” How much more indecisive could she be?

Distinguishing wants from needs, using decisive language, eliminating indecisive language, and putting adjectives or feeling words and the word "will" back into your language will ensure ease with your personal and business life projects. Changing your language will also improve your productivity and help you fulfill your goals before, during, and after any projects you want to finish in a timely manner.

Setting clear goals and committing to them will improve organizational success. One thing that helps is specifying a time frame. Say, “I will get organized within the month.” Eliminating impeding language will help you become more confident about your dreams and goals.

Check out www.theclutterremedy.com to learn more about finding pros to help you with changing up your personal and work environment.

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Corporate Space Planning & Design Will Affect Productivity - Here’s How! Marla Stone, MSW

1/17/2024

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How Does Corporate Space Planning & Design Affect Productivity?

When things are lopsided in your business offices, the employees will look at the world through a skewed lens. Having a good flow and energy in your space using Feng Shui principles ( I know it sounds like hocus) helps everyone in the space surge with good energy, forward and clear thinking, and a thrust of productivity. The idea that the outer is a reflection of the inner is an absolutely true statement. After my teams organized and decluttered over 3500 commercial and residential properties in the past 14 years with my company, I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc., I can attest to that type of life-changing, and my clients all will, too. Obviously, when the furniture is in the incorrect place, and people are huddled together or facing each other, it does not lend to the creative flow, and energy will decline. The environment you want to create for increased value to your employees and customers will be aesthetically beautiful and functional. The space will put a smile on your face as soon as you walk through the door, and the desire to work, engage in team building, and discover new business will flourish. To change your space/life/work philosophy and manifest growth and fruition in your business, we will help at www.i-deal-lifestyle.com.

The inner process of employees' well-being is certain to improve with an optimal environment, yet that new and awesome office design will not fix poor communication, unsavory strategies, and a "think outside the box" unfocused, confused, non-solution-based operation. I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc. offers C-Level, Management, and Employee improvement programs that will shift and shake up low energy, missed appointments, slow follow-through, miscommunication, and tremendous fowl ups. We declutter the funky strategies you want to fix for everyone's benefit. We unlock clumsy communication, send low production to the curb, and instill C-level leaders, managers, and employees with new assertive and helpful language.

We cover the outer and inner/emotional processes for your entire corporate experience.

Email us at [email protected] for a free presentation of our services.

www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

www.theclutterremedy.com

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Feng Shui Your Bookshelves by Marla Stone, MSW

1/19/2023

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Did you know you can use Feng Shui to enhance bookshelves? Marla Stone, MSW and Declutter Your Strategy expert, says, "Yes, you can Feng Shui your Bookshelves." Use the Bagua above as your template. Place Bagua upright in front of your bookshelf so you know where your books can be placed to Feng Shui the bookshelf. So, when facing your bookshelf, big or small, rectangular or square, simply divide the bookshelf into nine (9) equal parts.

The far left-hand corner on the shelf's top is for all your money books. This is where you would put books by billionaires, smart financial people, or books that state something positive about gaining wealth.

The middle top of the shelf is where you place awards you have received, and you can put a little décor into the shelf that signifies fame and recognition of you and your family. Any bright-colored books on what you are famous for or what you would like to be recognized for can also go into this area.

The top right-hand side of the shelves is where all the Love and Romance books go. I do not recommend Romance Novels since they can actually create depression if you become too involved in them. But go ahead and put Romantic Poetry, anything shaped like a heart or red or purple décor.

The middle left of the bookshelf is an excellent place to put some family pictures since that is the family area, where you can put "getting along with family" books, and books related to family ties.

The middle of the shelf is for spiritual books, spiritual awareness books, and books related to health and happiness.

The far right middle is for Children's books, books that promote creativity, art books, or any books that make you feel more creative. This is also a good place for artwork décor.

The bottom left is for books that increase your skills and knowledge. This is where you put books or information on a subject you want to improve on.

The middle of the bottom of your shelf is where you put books related to your career or building a career, and last but not least, the bottom right is for books related to helping people or support books that uplift you and help you feel more supported. It could also be a great place to put books from your ancestors, pictures of angels, or uplifting spiritual leaders.

Organizing your bookshelf according to Feng Shui Principles helps you get organized and feel organized and impacts the nine areas of your life that Feng Shui addresses.

Take some time to Feng Shui bookshelves, and your life will Change!
CEO, I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc
& Author of
The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff

www.i-deallifestyle.com  [email protected]

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How Does Corporate Space Planning & Design Affect Productivity?

Feng Shui Your Bookshelves by Marla Stone, MSW

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