Our annual Mother’s Day gift guide was so fun to put together! It gives me great ideas for gift-giving while hoping to inspire our readers with theirs. I hope you find something for that special mom in your life.
For most Americans, your home is your biggest investment. Just like your car, boat, and heck, your body, you need to invest time and care into its upkeep. Sometimes this will cost, if you need to hire a professional, or buy/replace something. This upkeep goes beyond just changing your air filters (though that’s important, too). There are many other things that need to be done regularly. It all sounds so daunting! However, if you schedule it and keep on top of things, you don’t need to spend every Saturday doing home maintenance. Use our schedule and keep your home safe, functioning, and wonderful for many years to come. We recommend actually adding these as repeating appointments to your calendar.
September 13, 2022
by Kara Cuzzone
from WonderMind
If you’re one of the millions of U.S. adults living with ADHD, you’re probably no stranger to feeling super disorganized and overwhelmed at times (or even all of the time). And there’s a reason for that: ADHD affects the brain’s executive functioning skills, which can make organization, planning, and following through with tasks more difficult, says clinical psychologist Karen Caraballo, PhD.
Paper. It’s one of the things we just can’t live without, though most of us try to minimize our use of it, and recycle or shred what we can. The U.S. Mail brings us an excess of paper daily, most of it junk. When any major life event happens—marriage or divorce, purchasing or selling a home, starting a business—there will be a small mountain of paperwork to contend with. And when tax season rolls around, the paper pile-up is inevitable, especially if you’ve got a complicated tax situation requiring receipts and forms. Should you keep all this paperwork in a giant file cabinet, or can some things be digitized or shredded? Our guide will help you begin the process of lightening your paper load.
by Sofia Medina
March 10, 2023
from Porch
In recent years, the minimalist lifestyle has gained significant popularity among individuals looking to simplify their lives and reduce their environmental impact. Minimalist living refers to the intentional decision to live with less regarding material possessions and commitments. It’s about prioritizing what truly matters and eliminating distractions and clutter that can weigh a person down. At its core, minimalist living is a philosophy that promotes mindfulness and intentionality in all aspects of life. In this article, we’ll share tips from experts in the minimalist community to help you embrace this lifestyle and enjoy its many benefits as you create a more intentional and fulfilling life with less.
by Shelby Deering
February 27, 2023
from RealSimple.com
Some symptoms of depression are well known: lethargy, a loss of interest in things you once found enjoyable (known as anhedonia), hopelessness, and deep sadness. But there are other depression warning signs you may not be aware of: stacks of dirty dishes in the sink; a towering pile of unfolded laundry that you washed days ago; boxes, wrappers, and bags dotting the disheveled landscape of your home.
We’re all prone to messy moments, but when intense disorganization is accompanied by symptoms of high stress, anxiety, burnout, or depression, it’s often an indicator that you may be struggling with your mental health.
Do you have a Last Will and Testament? Excellent! It is an essential part of your estate plan, and will make things clearer and easier for those you leave behind. “I’m not rich, I don’t have an estate, so I don’t need a will,” you might think. An “estate” in this situation is considered as, “a person’s belongings, physical and intangible assets, land and real estate, investments, collectibles, and furnishings.” You don’t need to be a bazillionaire to have an estate.
Your will does need updating from time to time. Estate lawyers recommend updating your will every three to five years, or any time you have a major life event. Read on for situations when you should update your will.
by Laura Wheatman Hill
December 17, 2022
from Apartment Therapy
I recently started seeing videos in the ADHD corner of TikTok about “doom boxes,” an ominous name for something I thought everyone did, regardless of their neurotypical or neurodivergent status. Turns out, maybe not.
“Doom” is an acronym for “didn’t organize, only moved,” and a “doom box” is a space where you store these random unorganized items, just for the sake of putting them away. I have a doom closet, and I know people with doom rooms too. While a doom box may seem like an organizational no-no, you can make this habit work for you.
It’s cold, it’s wet, and it’s oh-so-very cozy inside your warm and inviting home! This doesn’t mean there’s nothing productive to do. Mid-winter is an excellent time to tackle a few indoor home organizing projects, before the sun starts making a regular appearance and you’ll want to be outdoors. We’ve got some ideas for this—some will take only an hour or two, while a few could take a day or a weekend.
October 29, 2022
from RealSimple.com
Raise your hand if you’ve had a tube of (definitely expired) mascara knocking around in your makeup bag for over a year now. Or how about a lipstick you’ve been swiping on for a decade? Unless you routinely set aside time to clean out your cosmetics stash, it’s all too easy to keep makeup, toiletries, grooming tools, and medications long after their expiration dates. We’re all guilty of it—but it’s time to make a change.
