I know this sounds crazy (and maybe it is) but sometimes I think there's a link to how we're feeling inside and the surroundings we create around us. It's more than just if we're depressed we may not be keeping up with our work, housekeeping or bill paying.

There's something intrinsic about being in the flow of life that seems to make other things work much more easily. You've experienced that before. If things are going well at work, you have more patience with your kids. Since you have more patience with your kids, then their behavior "magically" improves. Since their behavior is improved, you're calmer. Which makes you more serene at work and improves your peformance there.

It's that sort of positive cycle that we want to create with our surroundings in our businesses or home offices, not to mention our homes themselves.

Now, when I say spirituality, I don't mean one specific religion or belief. I do mean feeling that (as much as possible) all's right with the world and you're headed on the path that you yourself need to be on. That's hard for others to determine for you. One person may be destined to be a poet, while "temporarily" working as a ceo. Another may currently be a maid, but ultimately be destined to be an actress. Our outside appearance to the world does not always meet up with what our ultimate destinies are.

A status check that we can do, though, since we can't always measure by how well the world says we're doing is this: Am I stressed? Is my home or business therefore distressed? (Or  maybe, you feel it's the other way around, that one causes the other) Either way, it's a sign to take a moment and think about if you're getting what you need in life.

Are you giving too much? Is that why you don't have a moment to sit down and pay those bills that would help you settle debt that would allow you to move into the next step of your life? Are you underearning? Are you not valuing your labor to the point that you must exhaust yourself trying to make ends meet? Or, maybe you have a different idea of what's troubling you on a level that's hard to discuss with others.

Regardless, what's a tiny step you can take to bring a bit more serenity into your life? So tiny it doesn't even count is just fine. (Those are often the most important changes, believe it or not) Can you take a small break in the middle of work for a much needed snack to bring your blood sugar up? If you do that, you might find you don't avoid that next project lined up on your computer as much. And, since you're not feeling guilty and overwhelmed by that, you might even put things back on your desk where they belong.

Similarly, if you can find a way to practice whatever type of spirituality, philosophy or religion that means something to you during your day, you may find it helps you keep a bit more organized. Those happy thoughts, meditations or prayers can be like the snack that brings your blood sugar onto an even keel. You don't even realize you need it until it's too late. So, why not act first? Do a little something nice for yourself, take a moment once an hour or so to just refocus on whatever you believe in to help keep you feeling loved and safe during your daily work.

Your business (and your family) may just thank you for it.

Did you remember to reset your clocks this past weekend? I didn't! I did, however, reset my closet. A lot of folks use the time change to remind them to change the batteries in the smoke alarm. Why  not use the same day to remind you revisit your closet?

Spring is a great time to purge. Or, if you're not ready or willing to do that, then consider putting away your winter clothes and giving the spotlight to your warmer weather clothes.

The large plastic boxes from the discount stores are a great storage alternative for your winter clothes. There is a slight controversy here, though. Some folks think you should not store clothes in airtight containers, while others feel it's the best way to keep critters, crumbs and kids out. (We'd love to hear which side of the controversy you come down on)

However you choose to store them, get your winter clothes out of your closet as soon as you can. Why? It's time to start a new approach to how you organize your current season's outfits. What's the new twist?

This time, hang up all your clothes with the hanger facing backwards. When you've worn it, then hang it back the normal way. At the end of the season, you'll have an easy time telling instantly which clothes you've worn and which you've ignored all season long. (Thus making them easier to delete by donation!)

It's also a good idea to consider which styles of clothes you look best in. You may unconciously already be doing this. The Stuff Whisperer went through her closets and got rid of all her jewel necked shirts. She realized one day that she'd avoided wearing t-shirts because that particular neckline was unbecoming to her. In total, she was able to jettison 70 plus tops that didn't make her look her best. 

What styles do you avoid? A certain neckline? Cap sleeves? Mid length skirts? If you can figure out the type of clothes you can avoid, you can not only figure out what probably doesn't suit you, but also declutter your closet at the same time.