Starting 2022 Clutter-Free

/4 Comments/in , /by

 

GO Month 2022

 

Starting the year clutter free gives you the opportunity to live your best life throughout the year. During the last year, you may have purchased too much stuff, paper may have become overwhelming, and you may have lost track of our planner. There are many feelings that come into play with too much clutter, and you may have experienced sadness, hopelessness or being weighed down. Decluttering is the best path to empower you and help you accomplish your daily tasks and your yearlong goals. To move forward, it’s best to release what is not loved, used, or needed. If you are bogged down with paper, learn what you need to keep and shred the rest.

Decluttering tips for ADHD Brains

  • Keep a bag or box in the laundry room to drop in clothes are are ready to donate.
  • Set a 10 minute reset time to get started on organizing. Bring items together that have been distributed throughout your home together. Decide on what to keep once things are together.
  • Gather your family and send them off to their rooms with a plastic bag to let go of what they don’t need or love.
  • Write an appointment with yourself in your planner to declutter.
  • Work during your high energy time to declutter. If you are a night owl, bag up and place in the car right away that evening.

Donation tips for ADHD Brains

  • Give to a charity you feel most connected to and make this your “why” to let go.
  • Give to a person who helps you regularly, like your cleaning person or lawn person.
  • Ask a friend to partner with you and together donate together on a Saturday.
  • Use the donation boxes located in parking lots.

 

Get started with these “no decisions items” to let go.

  • Extra paper and plastic bags
  • Magazines, catalogs and newspapers
  • Out of date and unused electronics
  • Additional linens and bedding

 

Learn more here from my professional organizing colleagues!

Rules for Life 2021

/5 Comments/in , /by

 

2021 simple rules for simple living

 

I have been inspired this year with many ways to be positive and resilient.  Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper has a Sunday To Be list each week that is a synopsis of a person’s goals.  Tim Denning recently wrote a his Overly Simple Rules for a Good Life focusing on rules. His new mantra included “Rules provide constraints in your life. Constraints help you focus. Focus provides clarity. Clarity helps you take badass actions.”

 

Entering 2021, I wanted to create some life guidelines aka rules that help me be my best and make a difference for others.

 

Keep it Simple Sweetie

I have to start here. Life is getting more complicated so I want to have a rule that helps me keep focused on simplicity. When life is simple, we enjoy our time with others and live life to the fullest.

 

Talk less, smile more

These words from Hamilton resonate with me.  I love to learn about the back story, what motivates others and who supports who.  That is when can connect in the most rewarding and authentic manner.

 

Curate incoming information

We have a lot information coming from a lot of sources.  We must review and process the quantity and quality of this information. Know what are your trusted sources and who you can rely on for truth.

 

Limit decisions

I like to keep it to only three choices.  I apply that to every decision, whether it’s paint color or breakfast.  Having fewer choices keeps us from being overwhelmed.

 

Plan and pause

Strategic planning, weekly planning and a daily task list keep me organized.  Adding a time to pause weekly also keeps me organized. This pause happens every Sunday when I take time to reset and rejuvenate.  Life is a balance of moving and stopping that keeps us organized and productive.

 

Family first

Knowing my family comes first makes it easy for me to prioritize.  Each decision is run through this filter of why I do what I do.  Having this priority makes it easy for me to make decisions, as well as plan my week.

 

I encourage you as the new year is about to begin to write your list of rules.  It is your way of affirming who you are, what’s important to you and shaping your every day.

How to Set up Successful New Year Goals

/3 Comments/in , /by

start with the end in mind

 

New year goals have had a bad rap for a long time. It’s the natural time for a fresh start. We have goals for health, wealth and relationships.  However, each year 1/3 of American’s make a goal but that goal is dismissed in 6 months.  It’s not only the goal that’s important. It’s how to keep on track all year long with it.  Here’s how to set up successful new year goals.

Why define the goal

Stephen Covey, productivity guru, writes all about how to be your personal best.  Habit #2 of Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is to “start with the end in mind.”  When setting a goal, to “begin with the end in mind”  helps us chart a course for success. When we define the goal, we have a clarity.  What does the end look like?  What does the end feel like?  It’s a reminder of a road map analogy where you can’t travel to your destination without a road map.  Making sure your goal is well defined to get to the end.

 

goal setting measure your success

 

How to define the goal

Metrics are an important of defining your goal. How do you know you reached your goal? By setting up simple measure-able steps.  It’s part of the SMART goals acronym: Specific, Measureable, Achieveable, Realistic and Time based.  Be as specific as possible, with a measureable, realistic, achieveable time based goal.  In addition, write down your SMART goals to see these each day.

Make yourself accountable every day.  Keep a money log of where you spent every dime and a food journal for every bite.  Share your successes each day with supporters who help you stay on track.  It’s keeping your eye on the prize every day that helps you measure your success.

 

goal setting work as a team

 

Work in collaboration

There are lots of pieces to reach your goal. You may not  have all the skills to reach your goal.  Working in collaboration makes reaching your goal more fun and easier to accomplish.  The best practice is to seek out others who have a strength you need to reach your goal. At home and at work, your team helps you accomplish your goals.

When you work as a team, the energy of your team makes the difference. Research shows that positive thinking helps you view more possibilities. With more possibilities, there’s greater probability for reaching your goals.

 

goal setting keep your skills sharp

Sharpen your skills

Your goal may require more education, more organization, or more practice. You may already be aware of obstacles to your goal that can be avoided by learning more, taking a new track, or being more skilled.  In all these cases sharpening up your skills gets you to your goal.

Take a class to learn something new this year to make you more productive. Your business can expand as you read a blog, view a TEDx talk, or participate in a Mastermind group.  And besides, you are probably someone who loves to learn so feed that part of your soul!

 

What goal to set

Typically our new year goals are lose weight, get organized, or save money.  Choose a goal that has compelling reason with a great end in mind.

  • If it’s lose weight, what realistic number of pounds by what date do you want to lose?Who else is on your team who also wants to lose weight? What combination of tools will you use?  What skills can you sharpen to help you?

 

  • To be more organized, decide what space, what it will look like, and how many hours a week you will work toward the goal. Who can be your clutter buddy? What strategy will you use to declutter?

 

  • To save money, use a tracking tool to see where you spend money now, review what can be cut down, and create a place where will the savings be held.  How much do you want to save?

 

Reaching your new year goals doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to be strategic. While having a goal is important, what’s more important is to have a compelling reason to accomplish your goal.  Losing weight is really about living life more fully. Being more organized is really about being less stressed and sharing experiences.  You save money to be more secure in our chaotic world.  Find your compelling reason for your goal and it will make it much easier to stay committed.

 

More tips and tricks for productivity, organizing and related ideas here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How dSave

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

4 Rules for Organized Living

/4 Comments/in , /by

organized living

My own personal mantra has always been “Keep it simple sweetie.”

No matter the situation or the conversation, my life works best when I keep it simple. What happens when it’s not simple? Stress from clutter, frustration from lack of time, or feelings of being overwhelmed are common when life is complicated. A focus on simplicity brings life into balance.

How do you keep it simple?

• Ruthlessly look for ways to cut down on clutter.

Set up a bag to drop in unused items to donate to our local philanthropies every week. Keep a shopping list of only what’s needed. When something new comes into your home, let go of something else. Simplify by letting go of MORE than you think you can.

• Prioritize you and your family’s commitments.

There are lots of “good” things we “should” do. Know what’s most important to you and your family and align your activities with these priorities. Keep up to date on your personal and family calendars to know what your commitments are.
• Know what papers to keep, what to shred and what to recycle. Set up a command center for papers that come in and triage paper daily. It’s a station in your home and office where paper is kept and categorized. Each day you go through paper and file, shred or recycle. Once a week have an administrative time to go through the remaining paper, pay bills, and do what’s needed.

• Host a weekly meeting for you and your family.

Building your team makes your efforts easier. Having everyone talk through upcoming activities and plans makes for good communication. Add time to your personal calendar for your own weekly planning as well where you consolidate information from papers, kids, email and more.
Have simple systems and routines in place to reinforce your new mantra. Your sense of efficiency, productivity and positivity will grow as a result too!

 

organized

10 Tips to Live the Life You Imagined

/4 Comments/in , /by

live the life you imagined

 

 

 

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.”

 

We can spend our days not following our dream or our path.  Move forward in your personal direction by having a plan for your day.

 

1. Start the day with meditation, exercise or spiritual pursuits. It will start you on the path you want for the day.

2. At the end of each day write down your 3 most important tasks for the next day. You will start the day knowing and being productive.

3. Let go of activities that have become meaningless or lost value. Not really into knitting but now love cross stitch? No longer biking or lifting weights at home? Not loving the volunteering you used to love? Share them with other who love that activity.

4. Create a routine then ensures connection to others. Have a weekly Sunday supper with your family. Call your Mom and Dad every Tuesday when you drive home from work. Go to the waterpark with your grandkids every Friday afternoon.

5. Practice an attitude of gratitude. Write a thank you note, text to say thanks, and start a phone conversation with a thank you.

6. Be fabulous.  Keep only clothes, shoes and accessories that make you look and feel fabulous.  Have nothing in your home or office that is you do not believe to be useful or beautiful.

7.  Take good care of yourself.  Eat and hydrate well. Nourish your insides with water, fresh fruits and veggies. Get a great night’s rest.

8.  Take extra care to be kind to yourself.  When a bump in the road happens, graciously accept it as a small stop rather than the end itself.

9. Pace yourself.  Build in transition times during the week, between activities and meetings and between the week and weekend.

10. Surround yourself with positivity.  Nurture and support others and accept the same in return.

 

 

It’s truly about not only creating a life you envision, but acting on your plan too.

Your Most Organized Year Ever

/0 Comments/in /by

Your Most Organized Year Ever

Each year as we start the new year, we think of ways to make a change and improve our lives.  Did you know that organizing is one of the top three goals each year?  Throughout the month of January, I will be offering 31 tips to help you have Your Most Organized Year Ever.  Implement just one of these tips, tools, techniques or tweaks this year. 

 

My own personal mantra has always been “Keep it simple sweetie.”   No matter the situation or the conversation,  my life resolves around keeping it simple.

 

What happens when it’s not simple?  Stress!  It’s that simple.

 

How do you keep it simple?

  • Ruthlessly look for ways to cut down on clutter.
  • Break away from complicated commitments that drag you down and have no meaning.
  • Keep decision making to three choices.
  • Simplify by letting go of MORE than you think you can.
  • Set limits on how much comes into your office or home.
  • Look for ways to streamline your life.
  • Streamline all processes at home and work.
  • Set aside time for organizing, prioritizing, processing and planning.

 

This is the last post of our 31 day series.  Let me know what has been most valuable.

Keep your organizing and productivity all year! Join my newsletter.

Your Most Organized Year Ever

/1 Comment/in , /by

Your Most Organized Year Ever

 

Each year as we start the new year, we think of ways to make a change and improve our lives.  Did you know that organizing is one of the top three goals each year?  Throughout the month of January, I will be offering 31 tips to help you have Your Most Organized Year Ever.  Implement just one of these tips, tools, techniques or tweaks this year. 

 

Your task list is a mile long! You know you won’t get it all done, but you have magical thinking that it will be all done.  What’s the best way to feel accomplished?  Prioritize your top three tasks for the day.

 

Find your 3 Most Important Tasks (MITs)

Your three tasks may be the most urgent due to the deadline. Your three tasks might be the ones that bring in revenue.  Your three tasks might be established by your boss.  Write your three tasks out the night before so you are ready to work the next day.

 

Start your 3 Most Important Tasks (MITs)

The only task you can be sure of each day is the first one you start that day.  Get started with your tasks before you review email so you can use crucial thinking time when you are at  your best.  Start with a timer if you need to jump in right away.  Work for an uninterrupted hour and see how much you accomplish.

 

Make this Your Most Organized Year Ever with prioritizing your 3 most important tasks (MITs).

 

Join my newsletter for a boost of productivity!

 

Your Most Organized Year Ever

/1 Comment/in , , /by

 

 

Your Most Organized Year Ever

Each year as we start the new year, we think of ways to make a change and improve our lives.  Did you know that organizing is one of the top three goals each year?  Throughout the month of January, I will be offering 31 tips to help you have Your Most Organized Year Ever.  Implement just one of these tips, tools, techniques or tweaks this year. 

 

Getting a good night’s sleep is critical to everyone, including parents, singletons, grandparents, and kids.  This is especially true in the ADHD home.

 

Why are we bedtime procrastinators? 

 

Setting yourself up for a good night’s rest

  • Get ready for bed way ahead.  When you are in your jammies with your teeth brushed, you are more likely to get in bed at  your designated bedtime.
  • Set the mood for sleep in your bedroom. No paper clutter, your clothes folded, your room cool and your room dark.  You can set up a great space for sleeping this way.
  • Calculate your bedtime for 8 hours of sleep. Get in bed 30 minutes before.  Have the same bedtime nightly.

 

Set your family up for a good night’s rest

  • Eliminate blue light from e-readers, phones or other tech equipment with a central family charging space.
  • Start early with baths and tuck in time to have a relaxing bedtime ritual.
  • According to a National Sleep Foundation (NSF) survey, only 20% of adolescents get the recommended nine hours of sleep per night on school nights. The NSF recommends that children ages 3 to 5 need 11 to 13 hours; ages 5 to 10 need 10 to 11 hours; ages 10 to 17 need 8.5. to 9.5 hours; ages 18 and above need 7 to 9 hours.

 

Sleep helps our productivity and efficiency.  A productive day starts the night before.  Make this Your Most Organized Year Ever with everyone having a good night’s rest.

 

Check out my pinterest page for Family Manager. 

 

Your Most Organized Year Ever

/1 Comment/in , /by

Your Most Organized Year Ever

 

Each year as we start the new year, we think of ways to make a change and improve our lives.  Did you know that organizing is one of the top three goals each year?  Throughout the month of January, I will be offering 31 tips to help you have Your Most Organized Year Ever.  Implement just one of these tips, tools, techniques or tweaks this year. 

 

Rejuvenation time is time for you to relax and gain back energy.

 

Do you give yourself time to rejuvenate?

 

Research shows rejuvenation is important in order to regain focus, invigorate creativity and be more organized.  It’s a way of taking care of ourself to do our best.

 

Create rejuvenation time in your week. Set aside time each week to have unstructured time.  Set aside time to play and be creative. Set aside time for meditation. Set aside time to be in green space.  Set aside commitments that keep you from having rejuvenation time.

 

Rejuvenation time won’t happen without your mindfulness. Your energy will soar as well as your positivity.  Make this Your Most Organized Year Ever by inserting time for rejuvenation in your week.

 

Boost your organizing and productivity skills with 31 tips to Your Most Organized Year Ever.

 

Join my monthly newsletter!

 

Your Most Organized Year Ever

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Your Most Organized Year Ever

Each year as we start the new year, we think of ways to make a change and improve our lives.  Did you know that organizing is one of the top three goals each year?  Throughout the month of January, I will be offering 31 tips to help you have Your Most Organized Year Ever.  Implement just one of these tips, tools, techniques or tweaks this year. 

 

Your productivity depends on setting up a well suited work space.

 

For most of us, an uncluttered desk in a well lit office creates an efficient and effective work space.

  • Keep only on your desk what you use each day.
  • Create a command center for action papers.
  • Set up easy to access files for references.
  • Clear your desk daily to keep it efficient.

 

If you work at home, your work space might be mobile.

  • Set up a portable command center for papers.
  • Include electronic cables and other essentials for mobility.
  • Take time out during the day to eat, take a walk and be sociable.

 

Make this Your Most Organized Year Ever with a well suited work space includes elements that make you happy and productive.

 

Need a boost of organizing energy? Join my newsletter!