My Wardrobe, Myself

Full Life Goal Update – April 2014

Debbie Roes

April 25, 2014

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

Earlier this week, I posted an update on how I’m doing with my shopping and wardrobe goals for 2014. In today’s post, I’ll share my progress thus far with what I’ve termed the 2014 “Full Life Project.”

Many of you have praised me for my honesty, so I’m going to level with you. I wrote the other update first because I had more glowing progress to report. Although transforming my relationship to shopping and my wardrobe is definitely not easy, it’s far more straightforward than improving my life at large. The steps involved may require dedication and willpower to undertake, but at least I’m mostly aware of what I need to do in order to shop less, buy smarter, and streamline my closet.

Creating a New Life Continue reading

What Else Do You Overbuy Besides Clothes?

Debbie Roes

93 comments

March 31, 2014

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

This blog focuses mostly on the issues of buying and having too many clothes and what to do to address these concerns. But from time to time, I receive a comment or email from a reader asking about other types of overshopping. So I decided to address today’s post to the topic of the various types of overbuying and excessive accumulation in which many of us engage.

I know that not everyone who reads this blog is a shopaholic. Some of you are just looking to better manage your closets and cultivate more workable wardrobes. While not all of us overbuy clothes or even have packed closets, I’d venture to guess that most of us have some areas in which we over-consume or over-accumulate items. In this post, I share my personal examples, of which there are more than a few, and offer some tips that have helped me to pare down.

Do you over-accumulate too much stuff in your home?

The 2014 “Full Life Project”

Debbie Roes

25 comments

January 31, 2014

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

In my last post, I outlined my goals for the year related to shopping and my wardrobe. Although those goals are ambitious, they weren’t difficult for me to write. I am aware of the changes I want to make in those areas and I have a concrete plan for how to make them happen.

Today’s post focuses on my goals for the rest of my life and it wasn’t nearly as easy for me to write. While I am aware of my discontent with various aspects of my life and I have some sense for what I’d like to see change, the route I need to take is unclear. It feels as if I’m walking through a deep fog with little sense of the path in front of me.

What life goals do you have for 2014?

The Joy of No

Debbie Roes

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September 24, 2013

NOTE: This post was originally published on my newsletter, The Balancing Act.

No…. Just hearing that word brings a feeling of joy to my heart. Why? Because I now know the freedom and peace which uttering this one simple word can bring to my life.

I have had to learn the hard way the pain of being a “yes woman” and piling too many projects and responsibilities onto the plate of my life. But I am now enlightened to the power and serenity that becomes possible when one replaces “yes” with “no” on a more regular basis.

The word “No” can bring us freedom and joy.

A Simple Phone Call about a “Good Cause”

Let’s begin with a simple scenario… You receive a phone call from a local organization asking you to participate on a committee or a fund-raiser. It seems innocuous enough and besides, it’s for a good cause. So you say yes and feel good about it at the time.

Then the other shoe drops… You learn that you’ll need to attend bi-weekly meetings plus spend numerous hours working on projects related to your newly appointed role. The nice idea of helping out turns into almost a second job and you find yourself spending more and more time on your new project.

Sadly, you find that you now have less time for your hobbies, your family, and your friends. This may be okay if you feel passionately about what you are doing and if it’s in line with your highest values or fulfills one of your most important goals. But often, that is not the case.

Time Management – or Life Management?

Debbie Roes

no comments

September 19, 2013

NOTE: This post was originally published on my newsletter, The Balancing Act.

Time management … Like work/life balance, it is a term which is frequently quoted and often misunderstood. It is actually kind of a misnomer, as we can’t really manage time. We are all given the same number of hours in a day, week, or month, and we cannot change this number. So what we want to manage is not time, but our lives.

We can’t really manage time, but we CAN manage our lives.

A Few Questions For You…

On how many days do you start out with a “to-do” list and good intentions to accomplish all of the items on the list?
On how many evenings do you feel disappointed and discouraged when there are still outstanding items?
Do you think to yourself, “I really need to manage my time better”?

If so, I understand. I have said that same statement to myself many times and have felt the accompanying dismay and self-criticism for not getting everything done.