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Five Ways to Simplify Your Life
by Renee Roberson photography by Glenn Roberson
Start the new year stress free with tips from a pro
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f you’ve opened a closet lately and had to think fast before being buried under a pile of items that haven’t been used in years, you’re probably not alone. Today’s schedules are so hectic that we’re often lucky if we get the bills paid on time. Part of Huntersville resident Rebecca McAloon’s job as owner of Haven Lifestyle is helping people put their lives back together, one step at a time. Her company is a full-service lifestyle and design company that strives to simplify life in a stylish and beautiful way. Because the New Year brings the chance for a fresh start, we recently spoke with McAloon and compiled a list of five ways we can all simplify our lives. 1. Get rid of the clutter McAloon suggests scheduling an entire week (say Friday to Friday)
2. Organize Once you’ve literally lightened the load within your house and garage, organization will become a much easier task. Take simple steps to streamline everything, whether it’s rearranging your pantry to use all those jars of spaghetti sauce you didn’t realize you had or folding your sweaters neatly on the shelves in your closet. 3. Set up a household communication center This should be tailored to your specific needs. If you have small children, set up one place for their artwork to be displayed, whether it’s on a bulletin board in your kitchen or a wall in the playroom. Rotate the artwork on a regu-
Rebecca McAloon, owner of Haven Lifestyle in Huntersville, helps clients simplify their lives.
of the family to streamline the process. For example, McAloon says her husband is in charge of dinner one night a week, and it can be take-out or a grilled meal. But knowing dinner is covered that one night gives her peace of mind. She also helps her 6-year-old son shop and prepare one meal a week, as it gives him a chance to share his favorite foods and learn responsibility. 5. Prep for tomorrow McAloon is a firm believer in taking little steps each evening to organize the next day so the next morning won’t be so chaotic. This can include grinding the cof-
Put away laundry and linens immediately to prevent clutter.
Organize items in bins for easy access.
Lake Norman Currents | January 2010
to go through every bit of your house. Determine what items you no longer need or never use. While you’re doing this, don’t worry about how your house looks. Don’t worry about organizing at this point. At the end of the week, spend a few hours distributing those items to the appropriate places. For example, you can donate books you don’t read anymore to the public library, household furniture and other items to the Our Towns Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Cornelius, or unwanted clothing to your nearby Goodwill. 28
lar basis and determine what to keep and what to recycle. Next, set up three to four organizers (vertical boxes that hold magazines work well) and sort through your mail and paperwork that requires future action, such as permission slips or bills. Process your pile every day and get it to a place where you will address it later on. Pencil in one to two hours a week on your calendar to work on everything in your to-do box. 4. Plan your meals Many families find food shopping and meal planning to be one of the most difficult routines to stick with, and this can lead to unnecessary fast food runs or night after night of cold cereal for dinner. Take a few hours a week, maybe on Sunday afternoon, and go through your cookbooks and coupons while making your weekly grocery shopping list. Delegate dinner responsibilities to different members
Plan meals ahead of time.
fee beans, setting the table for breakfast the next day, placing oatmeal packets in each bowl, folding and putting away any remaining laundry and packing lunches beforehand. Enlist the other members of your family to help gradually put your new systems into place. “Don’t worry about tackling everything at once because you won’t last,” says McAloon. “It doesn’t have to be all on you or done at once.” LNC The Scoop For more information on Rebecca McAloon and Haven Lifestyle, visit www.havenlifestyle.com.