Greener light bulbs

Have you switched out incandescent bulbs in your home for LEDs or CFLs? There was an interesting piece in the LA Times, which says most people who use the newer, greener types of bulbs prefer CFLs to LEDs mainly because of price even though LEDs have better light quality. I have some CFLs in my home, mostly in lamps as there are some sockets in my old apartment that don't work with CFLs, unfortunately.

I've been kicking around the idea of have a one-word theme to my year next year, a la Gretchen Rubin. I think that word might be green.

Creative Commons photo posted to Flickr by Joe Goldberg

A little Christmas cheer

I never understand in movies when in order to truly celebrate Christmas, the characters have to decorate every object in their vicinity with tons of lights, fake snow and holly and greenery and mistletoe all over the place. When did decorating for Christmas become a contest in gaudiness?

I'm not saying I don't like Christmas decorations. I love the lights and shiny ornaments and wreaths. But, as usual, more is not better. A little goes a long way when you have to look at it for the protracted holiday season. If you are craving a little more flair in the decorations department, you can always find a mall or park with its own huge Christmas tree, or drive into those neighborhoods where the neighbors delight in covering their properties with decorations galore.

For a little Christmas cheer, try getting a small, living Christmas tree instead of a huge cut one. Put up one string of twinkly lights on your front porch instead of six. Fill a bowl with oranges or pomegranates as an edible centerpiece instead of glossy wrapped candies or greenery imported from a state away.

How do you simplify your own holiday decorating?

Want assistance cutting through the holiday clutter?

Call Lelah at 818.269.6671

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Turn on the light

Sometimes it's the simplest things that can make the biggest difference in our lives. Like ordering side salads instead of the french fries, or getting a pair of shoes that really fit and also match our wardrobe (Well, finding that pair isn't always simple, but it's amazing what it can do for the quality of your day.).

Small changes that make a huge difference can be as simple as turning on the lights. Having a well-lit workspace can make a tremendous difference to your mood, health and of course, productivity. Often I've come into a room where someone was working, and flipped the lights on, and the person reacts as if I've found a cure for cancer. It's easy enough to turn the lights on if it's so dark you can't see, but sometimes, maybe it's laziness, or distractedness, or an over-zealous desire to save electricity, if the light is so-so, we leave it off. Don't. Help your eyes out and give them enough light. If you find yourself not turning the lights on because you dislike the type of lighting, find a way to make it better. A super bright fluorescent light isn't necessarily best for your eyes, either.

Why force yourself to do things in half-light, when illumination is just a light switch away?

Creative Commons photo posted to Flickr by Luke Wisely
Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. To discuss your organizing needs, call her at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com