How setting limits helps us be more organized and productive

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HOw setting limits helps you be more organized and productive

We live in a world with few limits. There’s unlimited information on the internet. There is no limit to the number of projects we can start.   There are few limits to the amount we can purchase.  No one wants to hear about the limits we put on ourselves or others put on us.  It’s against our nature to accept limits at times.   However, setting limits can make life more organized and productive.

 

Why limit ourselves?

Is it possible that we need a relief from all the options?  Studies show that when faced with an overwhelming number of options, we have an overwhelming amount of decisions.  Each day we make up to 35,000 decisions in a day, ranging from what to eat for breakfast to whether to continue a relationship to where to invest for marketing your business.  With all these decisions, we tire through the day with decision making.  Can we really make all the good decisions when faced with so many decisions? That’s where limits come in.  Maybe what we need to focus on is our priorities for the sake of good decision making.  Save your best decision making for what’s most important to you.

What should we limit?

There are empowering positive limits for our space, our time and our relationships.  Think of your home as a container filled with items.  There is a finite limit to what you can easily access with storage in your home.  The same applies to our time. There’s just 24hours /7days a week and that’ s all the time we have.  Here’s some ideas to get you started on limits.

 

For clothes and closets:

  • Purchase 50 hangers and that’s the limit of blouses you own.
  • Wear only dresses to work so that you have ready to go, ready to wear clothes each day.
  • Go with only a capsule wardrobe of color.  That’s where all your clothes coordinate and can be work interchangeably in your closet.
  • All your clothes must fit in one or two closets.

 

For offices and work:

  • Set Monday or Friday as an administrative day for paperwork, calendaring and other small tasks
  • Set a “closing time” at the end of the day for writing tomorrow’s plan
  • Use one drawer only for personal items.
  • Keep only one photo of your family on your desk.

 

For productivity:

 

If you find life and work too complicated, setting limits helps us keep things simple. By simplifying you are making it easier to be organized and productive.

 

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Using Your Strengths to be More Productive

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Using your Strengths to be more Productive

 

I recently completed Coach Approach for Organizers coaching class named Strength Based Coaching.  I have always thought about using your strengths to maximize productivity and organizing.  A strength based effort felt right, much more so than focusing on weaknesses.  Strengths capitalize on success, while weaknesses may make us feel like we are not capable. While learning, I thought of my clients and how they focus on strengths to get more done.  Here’s 4 ways to use your strengths to be more productive.

 

How do I know my strengths?

When you look back at your schooling, what did you find worked well to learn?  Did you see it, hear it, do it, talk about it, write about it, think it through or just feel it was right?  There are many modalities we use to learn with and those are the same strengths we use as adults.    Look back and reflect on what was easiest for you.  Whether it’s learning new technology like a smart phone  or learning new tasks at work, we are always learning. For me, I learned that I am a visual and tactile learner. I like to see information to learn it and write out information to solidify my learning.  I use my cognitive modality to create frameworks and systems to incorporate learning.

 

How do I use these strengths for planning?

The debate continues for paper or digital planners.  Look to your strengths to help you decide what works for you.  A paper planner works well for visual and tactile learners.  You can easily see all the details on paper and write in your dates and tasks.  A digital planner works well for auditory learners.  Auditory reminders make it easier for auditory learners.  For verbal processors, that being people who like to speak to process, setting up a family or work meeting helps.  Verbal processors are talking through the upcoming dates and plans.  Setting a consistent date, like every Sunday evening, commits you to planning as well.  Think through the ways you can use your strengths to determine your planning tools.

 

How do I use my strengths for maintaining a task list?

There’s oodles of choices for list making.  With a visual or tactile strength, a basic notebook can help you get started.  Post it notes can be an option for kinesthetic modality.  You write one task on one note, post them, and then tear them up once completed. If you are an auditory learner, using reminder chimes help you get tasks done.  If you a cognitive processor, one who thinks through the options,  you want to categorize your list.  It’s easier to be productive with a framework. A verbal processor will want to talk through the list as it is created. For cognitive processors who like a framework, establishing a system for tasks is just what’s needed.  We can all approach tasks differently using our strengths to be successful.

 

How do I use my strengths for organizing?

An organized person is a productive person.  Getting organized is a basic step for being more productive.  What does organized look or feel like to you? That’s the key!  Organized is different for each of us. For those who are visual, it can be a minimal environment with few distractions or a lovely aesthetic.  For auditory strengths, you might have classical music in the background.  Based on the kinesthetic strength, you may want a standing desk.  Keeping aware of your modality helps you maintain your organized space too.

What about all these other things I am not getting done?

When your productivity is lagging despite using your strengths, delegating and collaborating are options. Find an assistant , team member or colleague who has strengths that match your weaknesses.  When you delegate, start with a small, specific, deadline driven task.  When you collaborate, be sure everyone knows their specific job and when it is due.  Keep your deadlines short so you can communicate and stay on track.

 

I have not shared all the modalities we explored. To learn more, check out Denslow Brown’s book, The Processing Modalities Guide. I know it will create curiosity and interest for you.

 

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The ONE Question to Ask Yourself When You Declutter

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Only question needed to declutter

 

Decision making can be paralyzing when you declutter.  It’s all the questions, decisions and options that weigh you down and bring organizing and productivity to a halt.  How long have we had it? When did we use it?  Do we love it?  How many do we need? When we are faced with decision making back to back, we shut down before we start.  How can we pare down the questions to just one question?  Here’s the ONE question to ask to declutter.

 

Would I use it today?

 

Would I wear this today?

It’s a combination of do I fit in it? Is it my style? Is this a color the complements my hair and eyes? With all these questions, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and make no decision.  If you put on an item, and decide you can’t or won’t wear it today, it’s time for that item to go.  It’s just that easy.

 

Would I use it today?

Would I baste a turkey with it? Cut up veggies with it? Can I use it today to cut down a tree or hammer in a nail?  If I can’t use it today because it requires repair or it’s not useful, it’s time to let it go and make room for another that can be used right away.

 

Would I refer back to it?

You’re about to start a landscaping or repair project, but would you refer to the article you cut out a while back to do that work?  Often when we collect service people or clip articles from a magazine, we are thinking that we would use this information later.   We have to admit sometimes it’s hard to find that information again and it’s easier to find it online.  If you can admit that the information will not be used or easy to find when you need it, you can let go of that paper.

 

Would I start this project today?

So many project, so little time! You may have started a project and it became complicated, unwieldy, or boring.  If you have moved beyond the project, you can let it go.  It can be donated if there are unused resources.   It’s completely okay to let it go as pieces.

 

 

Reflect on this question, “Would you use it today?”  It’s going to simplify decluttering, help you eliminate more, and get you started on organizing.

 

I look forward to hearing you and learning more about your organizing and decluttering.

 

More ideas on how to simplify and declutter here on my newsletter!  Join here!

 

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Restarting routines

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Restarting routines

 

You’re cranking stuff out at work.  Your completing tasks at home.  Your calendar keeps you on track and your lists are serving you well.  Routines are working for you.  Then, all of a change happens.  Summer or Christmas holidays come along. There’s a new employee at work you have to train. Your job responsibilities shift.  Your routine does not exist anymore.   Here’s ways to begin restarting routines.

 

Assess your tools

What’s going on with your planner and your lists?  Have you lost your favorite mini notebook that held your lists? Did you have weekly planning time or fill in your calendar this week?  Look at the tools you use and be sure you are using them wisely.  If you have let these lapse, start here with restarting routines that served you well.

 

Improve your tools

Maybe it’s time to make a small improvement to your tools.  The Japanese concept of kaizen, making small, gradual improvements, could help you with productivity.  The small improvement to your tools could be learning technology. At times when we have a change it’s about learning and practice to master a new skill.  It takes time to learn new technology to be agile.  A small change could also be hooking a new habit to an existing well established habit.  That habit might be making a list each night for the next day right before you brush your teeth.  Just a tweak can help you with restarting your routines.

 

Automate your tools

I don’t like to reinvent the wheel. I like to “automate” when I can to save my thinking for the bigger picture.  I use tools like checklists to automate. I have a checklist for activities that are new to me.  It’s easy and simple to complete a task this way.  There’s a checklist for things I do infrequently just so I don’t forget a step in a project.  My packing checklist helps me remember all the little stuff that make a big difference when I am away (like all my electronic chargers). Another way I automate is my routines is smartphone reminders.  An alert helps me remember the next step.  The reminders are recurring so you keep on top of your intentions.

 

Take the opportunity when you are stuck and not feeling back in the groove to assess, improve and automate.  While it’s uncomfortable, it’s also a time to make necessary changes that might not have happened. That when the break makes for greater productivity.

 

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Healthy and Organized: Setting up for Success Getting Dinner on the Table

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ADD and ADHD Healthy and Organized

 

Setting up for Success

Getting Organized to Get Dinner on the Table

 Register at www.adda-sr.org

Saturday, January 28, 2017

9:00 – 11:45

Memorial Drive UMC, The Gate

13194 Memorial Dr    Houston, TX 77079

 

Is your new year challenge to eat a healthier diet or have dinner together more often? Do you struggle with how to organize your pantry or kitchen? What about foods that help or hinder the symptoms of ADHD and related disorders? Can supplements help?

 

Join Certified Professional Organizer and Family Manager Coach Ellen Delap to learn about healthy food options, supplements, meal and grocery planning, organizing your kitchen and pantry and better family routines.

 

Often the biggest challenges we face in the new year are our goals for health, wellness and organizing.  Take a first step in creating new ways to meet your goals with this event. Leave the class with new tools and tips for wellness, as well as new perspectives on getting dinner on the table.

 

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7 Simple Steps to Achieve any Goal in 2017

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Get Organized Month. Be organized and productive!

 

In honor of national Get Organized Month, I’d like to offer you a simple, organized strategy to achieve your goals in 2017.   A template can be the best practice for achieving any goal.  It’s a standard that  you use to accomplish a task, series of tasks and goal.  More than ever, we have many goals and not much accomplished. Celebrate national Get Organized Month this year by applying this strategy each day in January and assessing it’s value on January 31.

 

Step 1:  Identify your goal

 

Write down what you want as a goal.  Be specific, measurable, realistic, and detailed to make accomplish the goal.  By writing it down, you are also committing to success.

 

Step 2:  Write out advantages for accomplishing your goal

 

Each advantage gives you justification of why to accomplish this goal now and how it fits your values and needs.  The more advantages you write down, the more likely you will keep working the system.  These benefits justify your time and energy.

 

Step 3:  Note obstacles to reach this goal.

 

What stands in the way?  Spell out obstacles to overcome and what will hold you back.  Identifying a challenge early on keeps you from being discouraged or giving up when the obstacle occurs.

 

Step 4:  Add in skills or knowledge required to reach this goal

 

There is more to accomplishing a goal than just desire.  At times, it requires higher level skills and learning.  Identify what you need to learn or what training is needed to reach your goal.

 

Step 5:  Create a team to reach your goal

 

Look for support and assistance around you.  There’s others who have strengths and skills to be collaborators.  With this in mind, who can be part of your team to assist you to reach this goal?  Reach out and partner up to reach your goal.

 

Step 6:  Plan your work and work your plan

 

Write down your detailed plan of action of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to reach this goal.  Go beyond the planning phase and be sure to execute each step as planned. Assign a completion date for your goal. Every task and project requires a deadline.  Set a realistic deadline for you to complete your goal.  Your deadline keeps you accountable to accomplishing your goal.

Step 7: Assess your success

There’s an equal amount of learning both strengths and fails in accomplishing a goal. It’s important to celebrate the accomplishment. Just as important is reviewing attaining the goal. When you assess, you are looking for continuous, small improvements, also known as the kaizen method.

 

I’d love to hear about your progress in using this system. What flaws are you encountering? What’s holding you back?  What’s working well?  Your daily practice during Get Organized Month for 31 days will serve you well to create a new habit.

 

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How to Set up Successful New Year Goals

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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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Family Holiday Traditions

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family holiday traditions

 

Family holiday traditions are what make memories.  It’s experiences and gifts you remember for years to come that are repeated annually.  There’s lots of family traditions including annual cookie swaps, trips to the Nutcracker Ballet, or Ugly Sweater competitions.

Every tradition requires planning and organization.  Most important are dates and deadlines. When will you host your tradition? Invite early to be sure your guests are available.  Be sure to make a list of what you need and have it available.

 

Here are my family holiday traditions.  Each family holiday tradition shares memories of the year that has passed.

Annual Dinner

Each year we take our grandchildren for a fancy holiday dinner in downtown Houston.  It’s just the grands and Gigi and Paps (that’s us!).  It’s our time together to enjoy the holiday lights and drive.  We spend the dinner talking about our holiday together and each of their interests.  It’s a special night together.

holiday dinner

Christmas ornament

Since each grands birth, we have given them an ornament for Christmas. I order these around September in be sure they arrive early.  The theme of each ornament depends on something special each year. Some year’s the ornament is about a special activity that year, like baseball or gymnastics. This year it was an beach ornament for each grand celebrating our beach trip together.  These ornaments are a treasure each year as they place them on the tree. The ornaments have their names and year on each one.

 

personalized Christmas ornament

Pap’s Photo Album

My husband, aka Paps, only Christmas gift is an annual photo album.  I started these albums when we had print photos!  It takes time to gather the photos from the year.  I gather these from all the spots that photos comes from including my camera, my phone, his phone, and all my family.  I upload these and create an annual photo album filled with all the year’s fun.   Throughout the year I organize the photos with this album in mind and work on it throughout the month of December.  It’s the gift cherished by my husband everyone in the family looks at it all year.

 

I’d love to learn about your family holiday traditions too!  Post these in the comment please.

Happy organizing and Happy Holidays!

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My holiday wish for you!

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the-holiday-season-is-the-time-to-reflect-on-our-blessings-and-seek-out-ways-to-make-life-better-around-us

 

Wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons!

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Happier Holidays with ADHD

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happier holidays with adhd

 

The holidays add extra activities and extra stress to already busy lives.  It’s a marathon of gifts and giving, baking and sharing, and decorating and wrapping.  There’s planning and executing of lots of activities. The joy intended can often devolve into obligations.  How do we keep the happy in happy holidays?

 

On Dasher, on Dancer: Continue on self care

Keep up with your self care through the holidays. Get to bed on time.  Attend your pilates class.  Drink plenty of water. All these ways you take care of yourself keep your spirits and energy up.  These activities also keep your routine in place during this busy time.

The Twelve Days of Christmas: calendar it all

Your planner is crucial during the holiday season. Add all your invitations, special events and activities right away.  Next add in dates for cookie baking, gift shopping, decorating and other holiday related tasks.  Finally add in time to rest and rejuvenate. A calendar can be your guide for all holiday actions.

 

Silver Bells: Stick to your budget

During this gift giving season, it’s easy to justify extra gifts and purchasing.  Start with a financial plan and stick to it while you shop. It’s especially easy to overdo your purchasing online.  Make it easy to stick to your budget with a gift giving list. Homemade gifts can help you stick to your budget too.

 

Santa Claus is coming to town: Find your elves to delegate

One of the most important ways to get through a long holiday list is to delegate.  Start with small things, like purchasing cookies.  Add on a helper who can wrap.  Gather your family and ask who wants to do what job and post the list to check off. Be creative about who to delegate to and when to delegate. Delegating can be the hardest part of the holidays but the benefits of a team effort makes it worthwhile.

Dreaming of a White Christmas: Let go of perfectionism

We have an idea in our head just how perfect every part of our holiday season might be.  It could be the delicious food, the 10 foot elegantly decorated tree, or the gifts wrapped with big bows.  Think about the one thing that makes this holiday so special for you.  Host a family meeting for your family to find out and share what’s most special to them. By simplifying your holiday and prioritizing what’s most important,  you share the joy of the holiday season.

 

More tips on holiday organizing, planning and productivity here!

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