We have about a month until the 2020 presidential election. The country is polarized and people are on edge. And to make things worse, President Trump has just tested positive for Covid-19. Won’t it be great when the election is over, and we can stop fretting about who will win? But, we still have a month of social isolation until that happens. How do we keep our minds off politics between now and then? My solution is keeping busy with a project: decluttering one drawer, one day at a time, until the election.

Just counted: I have 27 total drawers exclusively holding only my belongings. : Bedroom dressers, eleven. . Bathroom vanity, seven. File cabinet, three. Desk, six. When I run out of my own drawers, I can find plenty in the kitchen to take me through the next thirty days.

Sorting out drawers is a formidable task. There are so many small, miscellaneous items . Today, I started with my top bathroom vanity. Like most junk filled drawers, it is hard to separate the items into categories.

Ansious about the election? while away the time, one drawer at a time

Only a 30 days until the2020 election. While away the time by decluttering one drawer at a time.

Since my bathroom is also my plug in station, the drawer is full of various wires and ports for recharging phones, kindle, hearing aids, TENS, MP3players, and therapeutic devices for my knees. Those are keepers.. They stay, but they don’t occupy an entire drawer. Other things were dispensable: Tubes of old cosmetic items , never used up: hair mousse, lipsticks, creams and lotions; worn out nail boards. You get it. The list goes on and on. I ended up with full bag of trash. When finished, it still didn’t look like a Martha Stewart drawer, but least it’s not a jumbled up mess.

All of this is giving me a feeling of accomplishment, which is a mood booster. What will you do to get through the next 30 days? Just take it one drawer at a time.

Are you tired of dreary winter days? Do you remember the song, ” Hello Walls?” Yes, you’re looking at those same walls, and windows and ceilings, day after day, You wonder if you can hang on until Spring without having a minor meltdown. Cheer up! There is one thing you can do to brighten your life right now. You can go to the store and buy a bunch of daffodils or daisies, and enjoy the solace of fresh flowers.

Fresh Flowers can boost your mood if you're winter weary — SCIENTIFIC STUDIES SHOW THAT FRESH FLOWERS CAN BRIGHTEN YOUR MOOD

Many years ago, we visited East Germany right after the Berlin Wall had come down. It was shocking to see evidence of bombings from World War II still intact—broken out windows, shattered buildings. Those people were just coming out of a very dark period in their history. And yet, everywhere you looked, you saw men and women walking along the streets with bouquets of fresh flowers. That sent me a message I’ve never forgotten. When times are tough, take the time to stop and smell the roses.

You may think of flowers as a luxury or an extravagance. I suppose they are, since they will start to wilt in in a few days. But so what? By then, they’ve done their job of boosting your mood every time you gaze at them, and smell their lovely fragrance.

Several scientific studies have proven the health benefits of fresh flowers.

The Journal of Evolutionary Psychology reported that women who received fresh flowers felt happier for up to three days, and that flowers given to elderly people boosted their memory.

Another study showed that hospital patients who had fresh flowers in their room recovered faster, and felt less pain, anxiety and stress.

In Tokyo a Japanese study offered proof that office workers felt more positive and relaxed after just four minutes of looking at a bouquet of roses. The effect on their mood was similar to the positive feelings you experience while walking in a beautiful park.

If you’re sick of winter and looking to boost your mood, flowers are a better investment that chocolate or wine. They last longer, and don’t have any calories.

Tag: Mood boosters

ONE DRAWER AT A TIME UNTIL ELECTION

All of this is giving me a feeling of accomplishment, which is a mood booster. What will you do to get through the next 30 days? Just take it one drawer at a time.

THE SOLACE OF FRESH FLOWERS

The Journal of Evolutionary Psychology reported that women who received fresh flowers felt happier for up to three days, and that flowers given to elderly people boosted their memory.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

To-morrow will be dying.