Comments on: Blog Action Day: Climate change and personal change http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:53:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Some thoughts on Change « Couch trip http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44805 Some thoughts on Change « Couch trip Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:34:16 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44805 [...] also read an interesting take on personal and climate change as part of this year’s Blog Action Day (the theme of which is Climate Change). I’ll be [...] [...] also read an interesting take on personal and climate change as part of this year’s Blog Action Day (the theme of which is Climate Change). I’ll be [...]

]]> By: Blog Action Day: Climate change and personal change http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44485 Blog Action Day: Climate change and personal change Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:33:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44485 [...] I thought the Blog Action Day post at Unclutterer was interesting as it deals with personal change and CREATING NEW HABITS – this could apply to anything, including being environmentally-aware, but it could also be losing weight, starting a new hobby, etc. Worth a read: HERE. [...] [...] I thought the Blog Action Day post at Unclutterer was interesting as it deals with personal change and CREATING NEW HABITS – this could apply to anything, including being environmentally-aware, but it could also be losing weight, starting a new hobby, etc. Worth a read: HERE. [...]

]]> By: Todd Peterson http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44091 Todd Peterson Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:10:33 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44091 There is of course no "climate change". As we all know (or don't you pay attention?), the temperature of the globe has gone down the last 11 yrs. There is of course no “climate change”. As we all know (or don’t you pay attention?), the temperature of the globe has gone down the last 11 yrs.

]]> By: Jennifer J. http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44082 Jennifer J. Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:51:06 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44082 I made a commitment about a year ago to stop using plastic bags. I turned some old T-shirts into bags by sewing the bottom hem closed and cutting off the arms, and enlarging the neck opening (a la Martha Stewart). I keep a few in the trunk of my car, so that I don't forget them at home when I shop. It was fairly easy to incorporate this change. Harder is figuring out what else to do. We have solar panels, we harvest water from our roof, etc. Thanks for the nudge to start thinking! I made a commitment about a year ago to stop using plastic bags. I turned some old T-shirts into bags by sewing the bottom hem closed and cutting off the arms, and enlarging the neck opening (a la Martha Stewart). I keep a few in the trunk of my car, so that I don’t forget them at home when I shop.

It was fairly easy to incorporate this change. Harder is figuring out what else to do. We have solar panels, we harvest water from our roof, etc.

Thanks for the nudge to start thinking!

]]> By: Barbara Tako | Clutter Clearing Choices LLC http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44067 Barbara Tako | Clutter Clearing Choices LLC Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:12:06 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44067 I agree with Anita. Some things can be changed instantly if we are motivated enough. Some habits take longer. With clutter, or weight loss, or anything else, I think we might do better if we beat ourselves up less for backslides when they happen and simply recommit. As I learned in Weight Watchers, it doesn't really matter how many times you slip up. What matters is that you recommit and get back on track each time. I agree with Anita. Some things can be changed instantly if we are motivated enough. Some habits take longer. With clutter, or weight loss, or anything else, I think we might do better if we beat ourselves up less for backslides when they happen and simply recommit. As I learned in Weight Watchers, it doesn’t really matter how many times you slip up. What matters is that you recommit and get back on track each time.

]]> By: Anita http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44065 Anita Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:53:36 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44065 Thank you for this post, Erin. And also, thank you for using "climate change" instead of "global warming". Up here in my corner of Canada, where winter seems to come earlier and leave later every year, and 2009 has had about 2 weeks of summer, it feels more like the beginnings of an ice age :P As for how long it takes for form a habit, I think it obviously depends on the habit and on the person, so it's hard to come up with a universal formula -- just as it's hard to come up with a universal formula for uncluttering. But if you stay motivated and you keep up the effort until the new habit takes hold, nothing's impossible to achieve. Thank you for this post, Erin. And also, thank you for using “climate change” instead of “global warming”. Up here in my corner of Canada, where winter seems to come earlier and leave later every year, and 2009 has had about 2 weeks of summer, it feels more like the beginnings of an ice age :P

As for how long it takes for form a habit, I think it obviously depends on the habit and on the person, so it’s hard to come up with a universal formula — just as it’s hard to come up with a universal formula for uncluttering. But if you stay motivated and you keep up the effort until the new habit takes hold, nothing’s impossible to achieve.

]]> By: Malcolm http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44059 Malcolm Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:19:53 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44059 How irritating to see my favourite blog (Unclutterer) associated with a piece of nonsense like the worldwide hysteria about the climate (or is it climage now). Of course the climate is changing - always has and always will. The idea that humans have enough understanding of the world's weather systems to control it is laughable. As always, any changes will be good for some people, bad for others - the challenge is to adapt. Being adaptable will certainly involve changes in energy use and so on, but let's not get sucked in to wrecking our current economies for a will-o'-the-wisp chase in search of control we do not have! How irritating to see my favourite blog (Unclutterer) associated with a piece of nonsense like the worldwide hysteria about the climate (or is it climage now). Of course the climate is changing – always has and always will. The idea that humans have enough understanding of the world’s weather systems to control it is laughable. As always, any changes will be good for some people, bad for others – the challenge is to adapt. Being adaptable will certainly involve changes in energy use and so on, but let’s not get sucked in to wrecking our current economies for a will-o’-the-wisp chase in search of control we do not have!

]]> By: Michele Connolly, Get Organized Wizard http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44058 Michele Connolly, Get Organized Wizard Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:04:33 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44058 Seems 66 days might be a better aim for habit change for the average person. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/10/change-your-life-habit-28-day-rule BTW, I kinda like climage as a neologism for the phenomenon. Erin, maybe you should coin this term. :-) Seems 66 days might be a better aim for habit change for the average person.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life.....8-day-rule

BTW, I kinda like climage as a neologism for the phenomenon. Erin, maybe you should coin this term. :-)

]]> By: Loren http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44046 Loren Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:36:31 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44046 Got to remind myself to recreate some of these habits. Used to unplug TV and DVD player every time I turned it off, and shut down the computer every night. I keep forgetting to do these things. Got to remind myself to recreate some of these habits. Used to unplug TV and DVD player every time I turned it off, and shut down the computer every night. I keep forgetting to do these things.

]]> By: Danny http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44042 Danny Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:41:54 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44042 It took me well over 12 weeks to get in the habit of taking my reusable grocery bags to the store. I'd arrive at the store, and say "D'oh! Forgot them again." But it did finally become a habit. Now it's: "Going to the store? Get the bags!" It took me well over 12 weeks to get in the habit of taking my reusable grocery bags to the store. I’d arrive at the store, and say “D’oh! Forgot them again.” But it did finally become a habit. Now it’s: “Going to the store? Get the bags!”

]]> By: Cindy http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44035 Cindy Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:12:22 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44035 Like chacha1, I was also indoctrinated over the years with the "21 days to make a habit" idea and I never seemed to be able to get a new habit going in such a relatively short period of time. (Or I was quite possibly not motivated enough to make the change.) I'll have to think on this and figure out what I could change in my life. Like chacha1, I was also indoctrinated over the years with the “21 days to make a habit” idea and I never seemed to be able to get a new habit going in such a relatively short period of time. (Or I was quite possibly not motivated enough to make the change.)

I’ll have to think on this and figure out what I could change in my life.

]]> By: chacha1 http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44029 chacha1 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:33:10 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44029 The old "3 weeks/21 days to a new habit" standard always seemed kind of reasonable to me, but I guess that's because I've never had to face a situation where I wasn't 100% in control of the habit I wanted to change. I know it's really hard for mothers to change their own eating habits, for instance, because they typically have to work around their kids (and, sometimes, husbands). Climate change is one of those things where I feel guilty about the amount of time our entertainment system is turned on every day, but not guilty enough to turn it off! At least we both drive efficient cars (not optional for us) and use CFLs wherever we can, barely use heat/AC, and don't leave lights on. Our community does not have public recycling pickup; it turned out our public is too lazy to separate its own trash, and the city now does it centrally. We did start collecting cash-deposit bottles, though, and we also faithfully separate our hazardous waste. Thanks to two Action Day posts I've come across, I am going to get myself a coffee thermos so I don't use a fresh disposable cup every day here at the office. It's a little step, but better than nothing, right? The old “3 weeks/21 days to a new habit” standard always seemed kind of reasonable to me, but I guess that’s because I’ve never had to face a situation where I wasn’t 100% in control of the habit I wanted to change. I know it’s really hard for mothers to change their own eating habits, for instance, because they typically have to work around their kids (and, sometimes, husbands).

Climate change is one of those things where I feel guilty about the amount of time our entertainment system is turned on every day, but not guilty enough to turn it off! At least we both drive efficient cars (not optional for us) and use CFLs wherever we can, barely use heat/AC, and don’t leave lights on.

Our community does not have public recycling pickup; it turned out our public is too lazy to separate its own trash, and the city now does it centrally. We did start collecting cash-deposit bottles, though, and we also faithfully separate our hazardous waste.

Thanks to two Action Day posts I’ve come across, I am going to get myself a coffee thermos so I don’t use a fresh disposable cup every day here at the office. It’s a little step, but better than nothing, right?

]]> By: Vicki K http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44027 Vicki K Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:04:01 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44027 Erin, do you write about your personal previous cluttersome days in your book? Just as it is fun to see before and after weight loss photos and read the stories, I love a good before and after clutter story. (...which is not to imply that either feat is done once and for all...) Erin, do you write about your personal previous cluttersome days in your book? Just as it is fun to see before and after weight loss photos and read the stories, I love a good before and after clutter story. (…which is not to imply that either feat is done once and for all…)

]]> By: Erin Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44024 Erin Doland Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:44:38 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44024 @Martin -- Oh MAN! The typo is fixed now in the headline but will forever be incorrect in the URL. Hysterical. This reminds me of a twitter message David Allen posted this morning: "Getting right with everything is an elegant possibility; getting everything right is not." @Martin — Oh MAN! The typo is fixed now in the headline but will forever be incorrect in the URL. Hysterical. This reminds me of a twitter message David Allen posted this morning: “Getting right with everything is an elegant possibility; getting everything right is not.”

]]> By: Martin http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-climage-change-and-personal-change/comment-page-1/#comment-44023 Martin Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:41:39 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6878#comment-44023 Climage? Climage?

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