Category Archives: productivity

My Decluttering Challenge how am I feeling

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Hello and welcome and thank you for the continued support on this blog. I today uploaded my first video on my March challenge which is to declutter for an entire month to get some order in terms of clothes and areas of my bedroom that continues to be cluttered.

Check out my video here: https://youtu.be/djrCPs1JTFQ

My enthusiasm is not good. I want to be “Yeah lets this decluttering done” and then I pick up my camera to film and see my battery needs charging and sigh with relief. I know I will get more of it done, its for me not being a natural declutterer, not naturally an enjoyable task but I know it needs to be done and who else is going to do it?

I do watch youtube to get inspired and been watching the programme on BBC 1, Sort your life out with Stacey Solomon but I have to really kick myself up the bum to get it done. Sorry for the rhyme, but How many people can identify with that?

Please help me Mary Poppins, check out my previous blog I do not want to declutter and its only the beginning

I want to be excited but I am not but seeing the untidiness behind me I just got up and tidied this space but its my workout clothes as I was running again, but looked at it and asked “Do I plan to run tomorrow, this week? I want to but whether I do is another story. I will see, but for now as I am not running so put the items away hanging up in my wardrobe in my bedroom, and if I do run this week, I have hung it together can take out easily and put it on.

I have begun and inventory list of what I have got, this is in terms on food, clothes, toiletries and skin care and going though what still to be used and got plenty of. This is to make sure I use what I have got before buying any more, and seeing I have enough and that actually gives me comfort.

So once my camera battery is charged will be filming more and doing a bit more each day. I have to do it a bit at a time because if try and do all in one go, will make me avoid it, so lets do this together and if you have any decluttering tips please share I am welcome to suggestions, and you can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for watching,

Carrie X

I do not want to declutter and its only the beginning

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Yes I am now regretting my March challenge to declutter because now I am like “Can I be bothered?” feeling, but I know it has to done and this week I have free, well kind of, because I have been doing a course, but I really don’t feel like decluttering.

Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com

Since beginning of this blog I have sorted out my sons pants and sock draw and so one part done, and it was me saying to myself “Do it now and then its done”. I am not a natural organized person and looking at my desk where I type my blogs, as that is where my Laptop sits is well overcrowded and so this area is going to need a change.

This is what month challenge is going to be, me getting more out of the space I have and working to have a better set up, that makes me feel good about and excited about using that space doing the thing I love, writing and so for this I know I need to make changes, and so I have the time so I am gong to do it.

I do feel that I have begun, sorting out my son pants and sock draw, and next gonna sort out his nightwear and gonna take my time, and gonna try and make mornings my mornings decluttering rather than later.

For me I need to take baby steps and get in touch like running, how I feel once it is done. It helps boost my energy and one step further to where I want to be. I like having the things I love and use around me but in a less crowded space.

As I just wrote this section of this blog tidied one area of my desk and feel better just by taking that step.

House work I don’t enjoy, but the feeling I get once it is done, is where I do feel good. I like the outcome not the doing. How many of you feel this way? I know I am not alone here.

God bless Mary Poppins, she was a terrific woman and I wish she was real as I could do with a spoonful of sugar, or actually less sugar as my downfall is sugar, but its the organizing skills, one click and then its done.

You may like to read my EBook where I talk about making one change a day and not doing it in one go, if that makes you feel overwhelmed.

Things to Change one day at a time : Life doesn’t have to be fast pace but easy, simple and flexible Kindle Edition:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Change-one-day-time-ebook/dp/B0916KDN9H/ref=sr_1_20?crid=1FEZU3534W2HU&keywords=carrie+holmes&qid=1678184811&sprefix=carrie+holme+%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-20

I have written others too like this one, under the names, Carrie Challoner, Carrie Lee Holmes and Carrie Holmes.

It is all about making changes that are easy to do, and feeling calm and not that life is hectic, when we have a cluttered space and being able to open a draw without having a fight to open it or shut it. Opening a cupboard without all the clutter falling on your head, and make it a useful happy place.

With the challenges it is the outcome that I want and to keep building a better place where I have my stuff in order, I have money in my bank account that will be forward and be out of debt and excited about the next stage of my life and keep building and learning. Learning is key to living calmly and what we will do from this point forward and not on what we will not.

Please follow if you want to keep updated of my blogs and like, so I know my blogs are helping you.

Lets work together and build a community that is full of happiness and posibility.

Check out my Youtube channel to as I share videos on resetting, being a parent and life coaching, and filming my challenges to help you do the same: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Reflecting one Monthly challenge and new challenge for March 2023

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Posted by in Autumn Reset, Everyday living, Financial Living, monthly challenges to manage my work, New Beginnings, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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Before I begin this blog, this is to remind you if you didn’t know I have a new book out called Mum&Me and so check out Amazon.co.uk and so click here, and is available in Kindle and paperback, it will really make you laugh, and your feedback is welcomed: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mum-Me-Gucci-Tits-Virtue-ebook/dp/B0BGSS7H9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2021TKH0IEJLU&keywords=Mum%26Me+Carrie+Holmes&qid=1677848585&sprefix=mum%26me+carrie+holmes+%2Caps%2C289&sr=8-1

So it is the end of the month and I have two videos to be put together and one them is my last what I bought video for my February challenge and need to film my reflection,. which will be on my main Youtube channel that I have linked below @typicallondongal under my name Carrie Holmes. It was good to see what items I needed if I could get a good deal and feel I did, but I had to buy a few items for my son, and not sure if I should take these amounts into his monthly allowance I give him to spend, or as my home products and in my home budget. What would you do.

It has really helped me financially to see my spending habits and if there are other things I can cut back on or cut out.

I would recommend trying it out. I spent more than I wanted so gonna reduce on snacks and this month is going to be declutter month and so this is managing productivity and will include reset videos. and post on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/typicallondongal/) aswell as on this blog site.

There will be areas in which need to be done first and that is decluttering first my son’s underwear and socks, and it is little changes like that, that can free up space and does ease the mind when you see the results and why not when it is now spring time, I know the weather doesn’t match the new season yet at the moment, and for those you live in Australia and it is Autumn and if you are from the land of oz check out my Autumn Reset videos and blogs and sorting out my life to get things completed and tying lose ends.

I do write a blog on google blogspot called Organize4thebetter. and will be posting on there too.

Check this link of these videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P27aM5Zing&list=PL0AyektQNGDEj9y0CRT4kwPJRu4p-2D5W and here are the blogs: Autumn Reset Printable 2022 End of Autumn Reset 2022 Autumn Reset Day 14: When you can’t get out of the bed Autumn Reset Day 13: Having a bit of peace Autumn Reset Day 12: Managing your Mental Health and learning how to help it #Mentalhealthawarenessweek Autumn Reset Day 11: Letting things go Autumn Reset Day 10: 5 Tips on How to have a good day off Autumn Reset Day 9: The Imposter Syndrome habit/Changing your feelings Autumn Reset Day 8: Moving back into normality Autumn Reset Day 7: Going through different cycles/Seasonal habits Autumn Reset Day 6: Clearing anxiety by making changes going on through a different season Autumn Reset Day 5: Spending time with the ones you love Autumn Reset Day 5: Letting things go Autumn Reset Day 4: Managing life Autumn Reset Day 3: Developing Positive Outcomes Autumn Reset Day 2: Finishing Tasks Autumn Reset Day 1: Sorting out my life and getting balance

I hope you find these useful.

I am late in starting as I did a course this week, but will begin as of next week and so lets get rid of what we no longer want and bring home stuff we do, and it also means sorting out my laptop and phones I no longer use, that are lying around. Even those things can cause or mind to feel cluttered aswell as rooms and homes.

If you have a office the one thing many companies I have worked for, would make sure we cleaned our desks, as it good to work in a clean and tidy environment.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Things I want to cut out of my life

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Posted by in Dreams and ambitions, Everyday living, Financial Living, Goal setting, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset, Youtube videos

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It is coming up to the end another month of 2023 and I have been going through my finances for this year. and I did a video on my channel My Way of Living, about spending Productively. Check out here: https://www.youtube.com/@mywayofliving1602

In this blog I am talking about Things I want to cut out of my life as I continue this year and want to pay off my Credit card, and plan days to take my son on train trips during the summer holidays. This means being sensible with my money and live consciously, and spend consciously and ask myself “Should I give them my money?” “What difference will it make?” and “Are they worthy of my money?”.

I know a lot of shops like Paperchase for example I closing and I loved that store and was going to buy some items from them and may still do so as I would like to see if I can get a better organized system on my desk and it is cluttered and want it to be clearer.

I want to use what I have got and that is notebooks, clothes, skincare and toiletries and have a clear and get rid of items that no longer have any purpose in my life, like buying certain foods, like crisps and want to lower my sugar in take, and focus on doing long walks again and running.

I am no longer going to spend a lot on fitness equipment because when I was living in Epsom we had a lot of items that we saw on info commercials and now are gathering dust but do use the Crosstrainer that has been put in the living room and want some bands to do my floor exercise, and do want to pay as you go in a gym, when I feel I want to do more, and may think about paying a membership, depending on costs. There are gyms where you can go at anytime like The Gym and Pure gym, but I do also got points from the leisure centre I take my son to, and take him swimming, and so will be thinking about this and if it is logical. As writer this I am asking myself in my head, “What will I get out of it?”.

It is to be around other people not necessarily to know who they are but to see I am not on my own and we all have a reason to be there and I do like the gym environment.

The other things I want to cut out of my life is clothes, I am sure I have spoken about on my blog site: https://carriesversitilefashion.wordpress.com

This is not forever, as I still need clothes, but at the moment I have enough and so this year is a big challenge but one I know I wanted to do, to be wise with money and concentrate on other things, like going out and taking my son up London and would like to go to more shows and take him to watch a rugby match as he is a sports lover and take him to football matches too, so I am enjoying the challenge and will make a difference in how I shop for clothes. “If I don’t need it why have it? “.

Then there is crafting. I was really into making cards and I enjoyed it but no longer got space for those items and so until these items get used and want to give some to my nieces but keep some for my son to do, am I going to buy anymore, because these items can lead to clutter, but keep my stickers sets, it’s different type of paper, and have some use for them.

To make changes in your life you do have to let areas in your life go so you can continue to grow, and it doesn’t have to be long time but for now. “What is important to me now?”

So you know I do have three Youtube channels and do write other blogs. and I have created some pins on my Pinterest on financial living and planning my life, check my Pinterest site below:

If you’d like to keep updated of my blogs on this site then please remember you can follow me and subscribe and like it so I know that my blogs are helping you and I’d like to know what you are cutting out this year. you can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

@typicallondongal

Goal ideas for Spring 2023

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Posted by in Creating a vision, Dreams and ambitions, Financial Living, Friendships and relationships, Goal setting, New Beginnings, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Printables, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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Thank you once again for liking my blogs on this site. If you didn’t know I am doing a monthly challenge where I am finding deals of items I need for the month and have two new Reset 2023 videos up too, so please check my channel to see them: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

This blog I am talking about goal ideas to set for spring and I have created a new printable.

spring-goalsDownload

When it comes to Spring we begin to have longer days and I find it makes me feel I have more time to do stuff and that means a good spring clean, take on a spring challenge if you haven’t begun challenging yourself. It is all about being SMART which I am sure you have heard before, but is important. example when the weather gets nicer to have a meal outside a local pub or restaurant with friends or join an outdoor exercise class. When my son was a baby I would go to Buggyfit and it such good fun, and it is good to spend time outdoors and not something you don’t always can do in the winter time.

Setting goals for me is important to help me grow and learn. I set them quarterly and make them realistic and reachable. For example: I want to do more runs.

Where would you like to run?

How far you’d like to reach?

So put, build to doing 5km of running and around my local park or common. I do write a sports and fitness blog, see the link here if you’d like to read these blogs too: https://sportsandfitnesspassion.wordpress.com

It is a good season to decide on what you want to let go of and what you want t let into your life now we heading into a new season to start a fresh for the Spring. I am doing more RESTS because I want less and continue my goal for this year, which is not to buy anymore clothes, and concentrate on paying off my Credit card and so where I can save I will. I am continuing on having no spending days too. I feel good not buying things everyday.

I do have a printables page on this site if you wanted to check this page out: New Printables Page

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

@typicallondongal

How to be super productive in 2023

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Being the week of a UK school holiday (so kids are off from school: February 2023) and my son is at a holiday club called Youngstars I planned the week before of what I will be doing whilst he is at the holiday club. Today I did a reset and went through my make up and toiletries cleaning the shelf I use to store these items, I then cleaned the skirting boards, went through my son’s books and vacuumed and went for a walk as I needed some bread and sat in a local park whilst listening to music and then came back, and worked on my EBook called How I like to live, and updating it and make it into a bigger book and worked on my new Novel When mothers are real and now watching Gillian Perkins on Youtube where this idea of this blog post was created.

Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com

Sorry if that tires you out, this blog is not supposed to cause fatigue or make you feel like you haven’t done anything, but it is possible for everyone and who has kids off from school too, and when we get some hours to ourselves.

This is no way showing off, as you should have seen my room, it was a mess and could have easily gone back to bed, but no, there was no time like the present. So I chose today whilst I had the chance and more in the next two days. Time is precious and if I don’t do it today, when will it get done? This is a question I ask myself a lot when I think of others things I could of be doing. This question stirs me on to get my stuff together. I don’t like living in a mess, and I know if I was in bed I know that guilt of not doing anything would sink in, and then comes my negative thoughts, so being productive helps with my thoughts and anxiety.

Now being 2023 there is a lot of resources like different cleaning products and organizing digitally and using APPS, but lots of these new items come with cost and how functional are they? I could put it all on Notion, which I did use but already had OneNote on my computer and works well with me rather than paying to use Notion. Just say that is having an issues with it, I just trying not that works, but may still use Notion in the future, but not right now. OneNote is free I use it, like Notion to make lists rather than a notebook, but my question is, what if they stop working which my laptop does crash at time? It is technology and means losing all my lists and notes, so I still convert to paper, because I still find this method more resourceful and I don’t need to clog up my phone with a loads of APPs or have the latest appliances, they can cause clutter and be counter productive because they take up so much space, so in 2023 is keep it simple and still have a written plan and to do lists and for working on projects. I know we need to save on paper because of the environment, but I find it better to jot down rather than type all of the time, and what if I lose my phone and that means not having the APPs to help me, so for me, being productive in 2023, always have a back up plan written and stored so you can see it and notes for books is important because it helps me keep on track of where I am and brainstorming. I do like using my laptop but I like writing things down especially for when I write a journal and creating stories. I find it relaxing and great for on the go and save the space on my phone. Its not what an item can do but how resourceful it is, does it make life easy?

The items I do like are the cordless items, like I bought a wireless keyboard and mouse, and I do have access to a cordless vacuum which I did use, but don’t need tones of appliances, and so it is using what I have already got and this saves me money and time.

So, lets get productive and take that time to sort our lives.

Many thanks for reading

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

Start the day as you wish to end it

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Posted by in Everyday living, having bad days, Personal Development, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts

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When I worked at a Holiday Camp back in 2002 to 2005 was told when working in the Residential Catering Department working with the chefs, that a sandwich should taste good from the first bite to the last and life for me should be like that too. How you feel when you wake up can affect you when you go to bed, whether it has been a good day or bad day.

Routine: I live by a routine and one day a week I will go for a run, or do a workout indoors or later in the day by using a Crosstrainer and has made a massive difference and had reminded me of how much I have missed it and exercise in the morning really wakes me up. There are days when I don’t because I need that balance, but I make sure, if I don’t workout indoors or running I at least do some walking. Each day I have to have my first cup of tea and some breakfast. I make my bed except Saturdays because I am out with my son and wants to play as soon as it he gets up, I know say it “It shouldn’t make a difference and can save play until I have made the beds” This will be changing. I don’t feel right too if I don’t have a coffee at least one and make sure I hydrate throughout the day. Very important to me. I do have a bedtime routine too, whereby I will plan the next day using my diary I keep on my desk, my Reminder APP on my phone and on OneNote. Then I will take my medication that helps me sleep and then read, and if my mind is starting to come active again, and I do have a overactive mind, usually at bed time, I will get up like this evening and empty my mind, onto paper or on a blog, before the idea goes out of brain and forgotten by morning.

Rhythm : I have to have a good rhythm, to push down anxiousness I feel growing inside me each day and that I have quiet time aswell being super productive and have that time to myself. On Sundays I love getting outdoors with my son and go for a long walk and he will count the door numbers as we walk and enjoy the fresh air and love the peace, especially when we walk along the river. It is so nice to just let our feet travel while we take in what is around us. We will look at the different wildlife we see, like the birds, squirrels and ducks and watch trains as they go passed and just enjoying our surroundings.

Family time: It is good to spend time with family and so we all today as I continue to write this blog spent time watching the Rugby o the TV, along with a nice roast dinner and when my son goes home, which this week he is staying with me, but will make sure I have tidied up. I am still going to do this but when my son is at a school holiday club and going to do a total reset this week whilst he is there and doing a reset. THIS WILL BE FILMED!

Food: I know, I have already talked about this one, but having a good meal in the morning, through to the evening really good to fuel and I love dinners and is my favourite meal of the day and so make sure I am hungry to have dinner and am thankful that I don’t have to cook each day as I live with my Mum and step dad, but if they are out then I will buy food for myself, and try to use what is already indoors that I can have. I love leftovers so I do take advantage, and never rush but eat making sure I food is properly digested.

So how do you like to start the day and end it? You can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

Reducing clutter From your life

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Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

You can reduce clutter from all areas of your life, like your computer/laptop, the kitchen, wardrobe, draws and cupboards and set a date of when you plan to do this and stick with it and start with one area at a time.

Living with clutter can be too much and we dread going back to the mess, and so if you want to clear it do it step by step and if you have someone to help you, take advantage and delegate.

I like having a sort through and do a weekly reset, where I will put my clothes away and quickly go through and take anything out that is worn and that you have no use for anymore and taking such steps can really help your wellbeing and I did a whole reset and had a complete sort through of my stuff and once I saw the clear space I had, made me feel relieved and so much better.

Clutter can build and build and so set it all out from the area you have chosen first to sort out and be realistic in making the choice to keep it or go. I am conscious of landfill and so if it is in a good condition like a piece of equipment, interior or furniture and clothes, donate and or sell. I know many people sell items on Facebook so check that out.

Set up a plan and challenge yourself to clear one items a day, or area.

I hope you find this useful and never fear, if I can declutter so can you.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

Reset for 2023

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Posted by in Dreams and ambitions, Everyday living, new year, Personal Development, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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Are you ready to make some changes in your life? I am and started a Reset for 2023, starting with tidying my desk that I use for writing, doing courses and as a dressing table and so needs to be functional and has everything placed at arms length.

So check out my video and remember if you Subscribe to my Youtube channel you will notified of when I put up a new video and currently put up 2 to 3 videos a week.

This means sorting certain areas of my life and really helps to get different projects and tasks done and really helps achieve my goals.

I hope you like this video and there is more content to come.

Many thanks for reading and watching,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

My Challenges for 2023/What can make a real difference/No spending January

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Yes it is 2023 and my first challenge for this year for January is going to be no spending. Now yes I have been out and bought a few bits today, but they were items I needed, and it is not buying items that aren’t a need, and avoid the impulse buying. Plus I do have a birthday coming up, but have already reserved money for this and planning what I will be using my money for, like travelling that I do each day to wait at my son’s home to come home from school, food and that is what I did today and want to buy items for lunches to be a bit more healthier and be vigilant with what I want to put into my body.

I am not going to buy anymore clothes and wear what I have got and not spending money on coffees at a coffee shop. Making a small changes make a huge difference and doing no spending days, that I did last year really help prepare me, and it helped me manage my habit of buying coffee from a coffee shop and use instant or from the coffee machine I have where I live. I will be vlogging it and so will do this as of tomorrow as I should be able to speak as I have had a stinking cold, and just want to get over the first day.

I have just written my financial target to pay off my debts and almost paid one off, just got to make another two payments and then that is then complete, and all I have to worry about is my credit card, and so plan to pay off £1200 by the end of this year, by paying £1200.00, which will take my debts to zero. I feel so good about that, because debts has had an effect on my wellbeing and mental health.

All challenges have to lead to a good result that make you feel good about life. Getting as much out of life as much as possible and feel good about yourself and give you a buzz, and stir you on for building your life every year. Making good positive changes. I want to start running again and do some fundraising events and do a fitness class that helps me to fight fatigue and to help me build up my energy levels, to feel fitter and reduce my sitting down time.

I am trying stop having my phone near by all of the time, as it does make me procrastinate and has made me feel more present. I think we get so sucked in when it comes to social media so monitoring my phone habits, when I have tasks to do, having my phone away from me has made a difference and getting jobs done.

I am not sure what I plan for February, but going to see how my no spending January goes first, and looking at the thing I want to invest in and was going to book an exercise class, but got a bit nervous about doing so and so going to concentrate on not spending money on clothes and see how much I can save for items I want, and what I need and would like it to continue in being logical when it comes to money.

I have put together a set of Pins which has some Life coaching advice and tools to help, check out my life coaching tools I have put together on my Pinterest that may help you set some challenges for yourself, and have already putting items ready for my Life coaching programme, “2023 Project” too, so you can whilst you are there checks these pins too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal