Brava

August 2014

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22 BRAVA MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2014 THRIVE DWELL CLEAN DESK, QUIET MIND There's something stress inducing about those piles of paper that grow every day on your home office desk or countertop. And the longer you wait to take control, the more disquieting they become. "Organizing projects heighten mindfulness. They force us to slow down and identify the process and find solutions," says professional organizer Claire Matejka, who runs the Madison-area business Life: Organized. How to tame that stressful mess for good? Matejka offers these simple tips: ƹReply to solicitations and ask to be removed from mailing lists. ƹGo paperless. ƹOnly keep and file paper you need to retrieve. ƹSet up a mail station. Keep all your basic supplies for bill pay and disposal in one place. ƹDesign a filing system around the main user. If you pay the bills, keep the system in a place you find comfortable and convenient. ƹTake pictures of catalogue items you want with your smart phone rather than bringing home a bulky brochure. ORGANIZATION A CALM ESCAPE 'INDPEˬCERESTˬNDENERGYrJUSTBYWˬLKINGOUTYOURDOORŀˬTmSTHEGOˬLOFCREˬTING a mindful, or even meditative, exterior space. Landscape architect John Gishnock III of Formecology in Evansville specializes in natural and eco-friendly landscaping and suggests several ways to create a sustainable, healthful landscape of your own. The stepping stones in this whirling backyard design mark a path leading to a small lawn pad with a central focal point, which can be a sculpture or a water feature—any figure that captures the attention, calms a busy mind and focuses on simple beauty. GARDEN ILLUSTRATION BY FORMECOLOGY KEEP IT SIMPLE; CLUTTER INCREASES STRESS. THEN ADD JUST A FOCAL POINT OR TWO. THINK ABOUT WHAT PEACE AND QUIET MEAN TO YOU. CREATE A SPACE WHERE IT'S EASY TO STAY FOCUSED AND RELAXED. PERSONALIZE IT WITH DÉCOR, LIGHTING, SCULPTURE, ALTARS OR FURNITURE THAT HELP YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE SPACE. USE YOUR FAVORITE CALMING COLORS. ADD GREENERY TO ENCLOSE THE AREA AND MAKE IT FEEL SAFE. KEEP OR ADD SHADE TREES FOR COMFORT. MAKE A LABYRINTH. A CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE WALK- ING PATH HELPS YOU CONCENTRATE ON YOURSELF AND ERASE DISTRACTIONS.

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