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Top 5 Ways to Make Cottage Living More Enjoyable
Mon 07 Dec 2009 - 10:46
Top 5 Ways to Make Cottage Living More Enjoyable
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hellen_Buttigieg]Hellen Buttigieg
More and more people are flocking to cottage country to enjoy the peace and tranquility of natural surroundings. However, cottage clutter and disorganization can interfere with this goal. These tips will allow you to leave the stress of the city behind and permit you to truly let go and relax.
1. Tie up loose ends at home so you won't have to worry about what you will be coming home to.
-Arrange to have someone cut your lawn, water your garden, and take the garbage out. You can relax at the cottage without worrying about your home being a target of thieves.
-Cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Arrange to have your bills sent to you electronically through Epost.ca. Pre-pay your bills on-line or through automatic debit. You can extend your stay at the cottage, knowing that you won't have to come back early to deal with pile of papers to read and stacks of bills to pay.
2. Know what to keep at the cottage.
-Keep a set of bed sheets for each bed, beach and bath towels for every member of the family (tell guests to bring their own), kitchen towels. Wash them once a week at the coin laundry in town while you enjoy some boutique shopping or a cup of coffee and a good book by the lake. When you get home, you won't have all the extra cottage laundry to do in addition to your regular loads.
-Games for rainy days. Board games are great because they stack nicely. Cards are even better because they don't take up a lot of space. If the boxes are falling apart, put the game board and all the pieces in extra large zippered bags (one bag per game). This prevents loss of any pieces and you save storage space; just store them all in one big container, like a toy box, extra luggage or even a plastic bin with a lid.
3. Know what to let go of.
-Toss out any cups, glasses or plates that have been chipped. You want to feel good about what's around you at the cottage. No only are chipped items unsafe when you drink from them or wash them, but they have a way of making us feel bad. You deserve better. That melted plastic spatula that isn't good enough for your kitchen at home won't work any better at the cottage, so let it go!
-Give away, sell or toss any knick-knacks that you don't absolutely need or love. You want to relax at the cottage, not spend your time dusting. Look at each item and take into consideration how much of your valuable leisure time is used to maintain it, when was the last time you used it and does it give you pleasure? The more stuff you have on the shelves tables and counters, the longer it will take to clean up. The less you have in your cottage, the more tranquil and calmer you will feel.
-If you've been holding on to broken things with the intention of repairing them someday, give yourself a deadline. If it's not done in a few weeks, admit that it will never get done and move on. Its okay, really, just let it go. What is your time at the cottage worth and how do you really want to spend it?
4. Just say 'no thank you'.
-Well meaning friends and neighbors will gladly give you all their cast-offs if you let them. When they start saying, "You have a cottage, don't you? How would you like a...." Politely say "no thank you, we don't need it there". Remember, the fewer items you take to the cottage, the less time you will spend packing, transporting, arranging, and cleaning them. That leaves you with more time to relax and have fun.
5. Make the de-cluttering process quick and painless.
-Most people go to the cottage to relax and have fun, not to de-clutter and organize. But if you can invest just a few minutes a day now, it will pay off in a lot more free time later. Break the job into small tasks or areas. Set a timer and power-clear your clutter. How much can you get done in 15 minutes? Challenge yourself and you'll be amazed at the results. It will add up quickly by the end of the week, and you won't feel like you missed out on any of the fun. If your floor is cluttered, deal with only the stuff on the floor before opening drawers and cupboards. When the stuff on the floor has been dealt with, then you can start dealing with the hidden clutter in cupboards. Focus on just one kitchen cupboard today and one bookshelf tomorrow.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hellen_Buttigieg http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-5-Ways-to-Make-Cottage-Living-More-Enjoyable&id=3348330
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