5 Tips and Tricks for Time Management

/3 Comments/in /by

 

time management

 

Are you at a loss at the end of a busy day and feel like you have accomplished nothing? Feel distracted by interruptions including co-workers and email?   Whether you work at home or work outside the  home, it’s time to be proactive about your time.  It’s the distractions and interruptions that take away a lot of our time, as well as the last minute requirements from those around us.  Here are 5 tips and tricks for time management to get you started on difficult tasks and project.

 

Time assessment

It can be hard to know how long a project will take.  Mapping out a plan can help.   Write out each step and the amount of time it will take to complete.  Assign completion dates, including the final completion date.  Get started on your project by breaking this into manageable pieces on your calendar.  Start early to give yourself a buffer.

Time blocking

Setting a specific time can help you start or complete a project. Just like an appointment with a doctor,  setting an appointment with yourself helps you work on a specific task.  Block out the time and keep it sacred to use for a task that requires lots of brain power.  Start with the first time slot of the day so you can be sure nothing interrupts you too.

Day of the Week

Our jobs require so many different activities and focus.  Set a day of the week to do a certain task or project all day.  It might be Money Monday or Financial Friday.  By having a priority for the day, you can put aside other details and distractions.  Or leave Monday or Friday open just to close the loops and projects.

Timers

A time timer or kitchen timer can help you start or finish a task.  Set it for 15 minutes and just do it.  Set the timer three times like this and you have worked 45 minutes total.  If you need more time,  start this process again the next day.

Power periods

My favorite tip for starting and completing projects is a power period. It is a one hour slot of uninterrupted time to work on difficult and thoughtful projects. It works for me because in an hour I feel I have accomplished a great deal. Then I can give any project time to percolate and some back refreshed with a new perspective on the work.  I use as many power periods as I need to reach completion.  I start very early on projects so I have time to add at the end, just in case.

What tips and tricks do you use for  productivity and time management?

Don’t miss out on upcoming organizing tips and techniques! Click here to subscribe to my monthly newsletter.

 

Time Management and Your Weekly Planner Printable

/8 Comments/in /by

weekly planner printable

 

Weekly_Planner

Try a new view of your life this year! The weekly planner printable page will help you create order in your life.

  • Set aside time before the week begins for your weekly planning time.
  • Write everything down.  It’s much easier to get tasks done when you are not trying to remember everything.
  • Prioritize what is most important this week to keep on track.
  • Lines for writing 6 To Do items each day. 
  • Jot down Phone Calls to make.
  • Schedule and record Meetings and Meeting times throughout the week.
  • Plan your dinner ideas, including main and side dishes.
  • Sections for daily exercise.
  • Track your cleaning schedule for the week.
  • Make note of items To Buy and bills To Pay.
  • Get ahead for next week with notes about upcoming events, tasks, and calls.

Enjoy your weekly planner printable! Let  me know how your week is shaping up and how things are going.

 

Want more ideas on productivity? Check out my pinterest board!

Don’t miss out on upcoming organizing tips and techniques! Click here to subscribe to my monthly newsletter.

Small and Big Changes for 2014

/4 Comments/in /by

change

One of the most powerful parts of social networking is the connections and collaborations we make! I asked my social media peeps to share their small and big changes this year.  I loved learning a little more about each of them and what the new year holds for them.

The one change I would like to make in 2014 is to change my way of thinking.  I’m generally a positive person, but as a woman, a wife and a mom, I see images of perfection everywhere. I want my change to be from within myself. I want to eliminate the negative self-talk that is so damaging. I want to practice more thankfulness and gratefulness and I want to be more present in my life and slow down to simply enjoy the little moments that make up each day.”

Joanie Zisk, Food/Travel Writer, Blogger at www.zagleft.com

Twitter: twitter.com/ZagLeft

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ziskjm/

Facebook: facebook.com/zagleft

 

 

My expectation for 2014 is to train myself to just “GO”… When it comes to projects/ideas/dreams, I am strong at “ready” and “set,” but often flail in the action. Fear and self-doubt are two big enemies. What am I afraid of? I plan to achieve both personal and professional growth this year taking “go” to the next level. I will stop second-guessing the outcome and just do it!

Vicki Powers

Journalist, Blogger

@HOUcheap, facebook (HoustonOnTheCheap), Pinterest.com/HoustonOnTheCheap 

 

 

One of my three words for 2014 is Nourish. For me, this covers a multitude of areas – health, fitness, stress management, life management and self-care. Instead of saying I’m working out so many days a week, I have opted for the overall theme of Nourish. As I make both small and big decisions in 2014, I ask myself: Does this Nourish me? As Jason Womack says, I’m giving myself the gift of my own attention.  

Janice Marie Simon, MA, CPO

Certified Professional Organizer

Twitter @janicesimon

Linked in: www.linkedin.com/in/janicesimon

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/janicesimon/

 

 

This year I have sent my mind to become better at 3 things:  golf, yoga and painting.

 Geralin Thomas

Organizing Consultant

Twitter:  @Metrozing,

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+GeralinThomas/pos

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/Geralin/

 

2013 was a big year of change for me both personally and professionally which left me working all the time! One big change I am taking small steps to do is to not work as much. I only have a few years left before my kids head off to college (or whatever awaits them after high school) and I don’t want to look back and say “I wish I had spent more time with them”. So far it is going well… keep your fingers crossed.

Kathy Jenkins, Certified Professional Organizer and Certified Family Manager Coach

Professional Organizer and Student Organizing Expert

@ComeToOrderVA

Facebook.com/cometoorder

Pinterest.com/cometoorder 

 

What are you small and big changes for 2014?

14 Productivity Tips for 2014

/9 Comments/in , /by

 

productivity tips to help you be more efficient and effective

A new year means a fresh start! Each year we want to be more efficient, effective and productive so we can be more balanced and be our best.  It’s the combination of many tools, tips and techniques that help us with our productivity.  Review this list of 14 productivity tips for 2014 and see the strategies you are already using  and those you would like to use to create a new habit.

1.  Commit to a calendar you love.  A calendar not only helps you keep track of meetings and tasks, it also helps you create a plan for your week, month and year.

2. Record recurring events on your calendar to remind you about important dates.  These can include credit card and bill paying dates, expense and health flex plan due dates, and birthdays.  Using your calendar as a tool for tracking doubles its value to you.

3. Lists make life easier. Write stuff down to be free up your mind and be ready to work.   Use a spiral notebook or Evernote for lists.  Move tasks from email, post-it notes, voice mail or texts to one list to keep track of all you need to accomplish.

4.  Create checklists for weekly and monthly activities at home and at work.  Checklists are a great way to not re-invent the wheel.  It keeps you on track for projects and tasks that occur regularly, as well as getting things done throughout the week.  Easy to use checklists include grocery lists, travel lists, bill paying ledgers, and end of the month work checklists.

5. Choose the top  three of your Most Important Tasks (MITs) each day to accomplish.  How do you know what’s most important? It is the priorities you set.  In business it is usually about finances. Personally it is about family and values.  Choosing just three MITs a day ensures your success.  Whatever is the first task of the day is the one task you can be sure will be accomplished.

6. Set up a Power Period each day, as least once a day, without distractions.   A power period helps you get tasks done, helps you be more creative, and helps you complete difficult tasks and projects.

7.  Triage email three times daily and add tasks from email to your action list.  It’s easy to spend too much time on email so keep to a schedule to use your time more effectively.

8. Create a command center for your papers.   Triage papers daily and set a one hour weekly admin time for paper at home.  Having a center where papers that require action are altogether makes it easy to find them and do what is required.  Spending a little time daily and one hour weekly helps make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

9. Establish weekly routines at home and work.  At home these include what days are grocery shopping and laundry.  At work these include weekly reports and staff meetings.  You can assign days like Money Monday, Wash it Wednesday or Financial Friday to keep it fun too! Write these on a checklist where you can see your assignments for you and your family.

10.  Leave a little white space in your calendar for relaxation and rejuvenation.  Many tasks do not go as planned.  Back to back activities wear us down.  Having a little time between tasks and activities lowers your stress.

11. Declutter your purse, satchel, backpack and your car weekly.  Declutter your purse at your command center.  Declutter your car while you are getting gas.  Help your kids declutter their backpacks into their binders.  It takes just a few minutes to do. Sometimes it is just trash that needs to be tossed, addresses and contacts to put in your smart phone, and cosmetics to put away.  Just five minutes makes all the difference.

12.  Host a weekly family meeting.  Family meetings are when everyone shares what is going on and what they need to accomplish.  It creates family cohesiveness and a team effort.

13. Post a family calendar in the kitchen for everyone to add their activities and remind everyone of upcoming events.  Your family calendar helps everyone work together and be on top of upcoming activities.

14.  Create partnerships at home and work.  We are all especially good at some things and not very good at other things.   When you are partnering, both you and your partners strengths come out, work gets accomplished more quickly and its more fun.  Partnerships at home include making dinner, doing the laundry and doing the dishes. Partnerships at work include all types of project management, weekly meetings or monthly or annual reviews.   The key is to communicate clearly and work together cohesively.

Nothing feels better than getting things done!

Want more ideas on productivity? Check out my pinterest board!

Don’t miss out on upcoming organizing tips and techniques! Click here to subscribe to my monthly newsletter.

Save

3 Tips for a Productive Family Meeting

/22 Comments/in , /by

 

3 tips for productive family meetings

 

 

School is in full swing.  Your kids have after school scouts and ballet.  Your work requires extra hours and your partner travels. How do you pull together your family for cohesiveness an collaboration? It’s time for your family meeting!   Follow these three tips for a productive family meeting.

What is a family meeting? It’s a time everyone gather together to share their upcoming activities, share family responsibilities, plan ahead as a family and have some family fun.  Set aside the eye rolling from either your kids or your partner as family meetings are an important way to stay on top of what is going on and prioritize your family unit.

 

Keep it short

No one wants to sit for hours in any meeting. Keep a quick agenda for your meeting. Start the meeting promptly and run through the calendars of each family member. Record this on a month at a glance calendar, either digital or paper.  This part of the meeting should be limited to 20 minutes max.Post it prominently where everyone sees the calendar regularly.   (Near food is good!)

 

Focus on positive communication

Next move on to family fun. Alternate who gets to choose the fun, including mom and dad.  Have a list of possible activities, in case there is dissension.  Whether it is a good old fashioned kick ball game, a walk, or a fabulous dessert, focus on positive communication and sharing.  There are no wrong answers to having fun! Acknowledging feelings and active listening create collaboration in families.  Promote a team attitude by working together and playing together.

 

Set a time that works

Family meetings can be any time of the week.  Setting aside a time to meet consistently is important.   It can be when your family is gearing up for the week, such as early Sunday evening.  It can also be when you are gearing down from the week, like Friday evening. Be sure it is a time everyone can attend and guard this time from other distractions.

 

My own kids recall our family meetings to this day! It has sparked their own versions in their homes, including High, Low and Dirt. This nightly conversation starter in my son’s  home has to do with what was good, bad and just plain interesting in their and their kids’ lives that day.

 

When can you start hosting a family meeting in your home?

Join me on my pinterest board with Command Center for Communication.

Don’t miss out on upcoming organizing tips and techniques! Click here to subscribe to my monthly newsletter.

 

Happy Holidays!

/0 Comments/in /by

holiday 2013

 

 

Wishing you a holiday filled with hope, kindness, friendship, love, joy, comfort and laughter! 

Organizing the Holidays as a Singleton

/0 Comments/in /by

 

organizing holidays when you are single

Thanks to Janice Simon, owner of the Clutter Princess, for sharing her holiday tips as a singleton. 

 

Singletons can have their own challenges when it comes to managing the holiday season.  Organizing the holidays when you are single takes a on new twist.

When you’re single, you don’t have someone to delegate to so you have to do things yourself or hire out. Here are a few tips to organize your holiday – whether your single or not.

Use your resources. I have nieces, nephews and godchildren who live around the country, and I use the Post Office and other delivery companies frequently during the holidays. When it comes to presents, I order items online as much as I can and have them sent directly to their home. I send an email or text to the parents and let them know to expect a box.

If you hate shopping but have a friend who loves it, ask them for help and do a trade. Maybe they can shop for you, and you can do something for them. When I was a reporter in Galveston, I would go Christmas shopping for the guys who needed help getting presents for their wives, and they would buy me lunch.

Stockpile a few bottles of wine or boxes of chocolates to use as host and hostess gifts for any soirees you attend.

Hire out. The two teen-age daughters of a friend have been my holiday “staff” for several years. They have stuffed, labeled, and stamped Christmas cards and wrapped presents for me.  If you’re a perfectionist, this may be difficult for you, but I operate under Donna Smallin’s “Done is perfect” mantra. It doesn’t matter if the labels and stamps are crooked or if the presents aren’t perfectly wrapped. A majority of my presents are for my nieces and nephews, and their priorities aren’t examining the wrapping job. I’m just happy that the projects are done.

Don’t want to cook and don’t have a chef at your beck and call? No problem. Order a dish or holiday meals from restaurants. For holiday potluck gatherings, offer to bring pre-made dishes or utility items such as plasticware or plates.

Simplify your processes. In my apartment, holiday decorations were stashed on the top shelves of closets and were a pain to get into. When I purchased my house several years ago, I was excited to have a “holiday closet,” the place where I can store all of my holiday decorations and my artificial Christmas tree. A couple of years ago, I purchased a tree with the lights embedded in the branches so I wouldn’t have to wrestle lights onto the tree. Because the branches fold up, I don’t have to dismantle the tree and can keep it upright. I just cover the tree with a sheet in my holiday closet.

Take your time. When I put up Christmas decorations and decorate my tree, I take my time and break my decorating into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, I may focus on decorating the tree one afternoon, and use another afternoon or evening to put up other decorations. There’s no law that says everything has to be done in one day.

To prepare for holiday cooking, I may gather up recipes and make a grocery list one night or chop vegetables to cook the next day.

Gather your friends. If you don’t want to decorate or bake by yourself, create your own traditions and invite some friends over for a decorating or baking party. It’s more fun to have your friends around while you all decorate, bake and chat. It’s a great way to get together before everyone goes their own way for the holidays.

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Organizing: Keep It Simple Santa

/2 Comments/in , /by

 

holiday organizing

Lots of us have heard of the KISS principle. You may know it as “keep it simple sweetie” but I like to apply this mantra to the holidays.  Keep it simple Santa keeps us from overdoing, over committing and over thinking the holidays.  Holiday organizing is best when it’s simple.

  • Keep it simple with holiday gifts.  Finding the perfect gift, finding gifts for a large number of family, and finding a way to finance gift giving can be stressful.  We are saturated with the idea that bigger, brighter and more bling are the way to go with holiday gifts.  Keep your gifts simple and clutter free.
  • Keep it simple with holiday decorating.  Adding to your collection of Santas each year? Think about donating some less loved Santas to local charities to sell or give.
  • Keep it simple with homemade goodies.  Cookie swaps are a great way to share the fun of baking.  Choose a signature recipe you make each year to share with family and friends.  Set aside a time to share the fun of baking with your family and friends.  (I am sharing my signature cookies below!)
  • Keep it simple with commitments.  It’s easy to over commit to holiday gatherings.  Write in your calendar what is most important to you and your family during the holidays. With these dates guarded, you are ready to enjoy the season in a meaningful way.

holly cookies

Holly Cookies

Ingredients:
 35 marshmallows
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons green food coloring
4 1/2 cups cornflakes cereal
1 (2.25 ounce) package cinnamon red hot
candies
Directions:
1. In microwave, melt together the marshmallows and butter.  Add in food coloring when melted. Mix in the cornflakes cereal.
2. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper, and decorate with red hots. Set aside, and allow to cool in the refrigerator.

 

Holiday organizing at it’s best!

 

holly cookies easy to make and share

Meet the ADHD Expert Laura Rolands

/4 Comments/in , /by

Laura Rolands

 

Throughout the month of December, I am honored and grateful to share posts by ADHD experts.  In this series of  Meet the ADHD Expert, our experts are sharing their thoughts about ADHD.  Let me introduce guest blogger Laura Rolands.

 

 

Laura Rolands of MyAttentionCoach.com is an ADHD Coach who helps adults with ADHD/ADD pay attention, improve their time management skills and increase productivity.  Her clients include students, adult and organizations looking for help with time management, productivity, organization, procrastination and other challenges related to ADD or ADHD.  Register for Laura’s free time management guide on her website at www.MyAttentionCoach.com and listen to her radio show archives at www.PracticalADHDStrategies.com. 

 

What was your first experience with ADHD?

I first learned about ADHD when talking with teachers at my child’s schools about attention challenges that we didn’t know how to resolve at the time.  It was a frustrating experience in the beginning, but we worked together to develop strategies that have helped my child succeed.  In reality, I saw ADHD, however for years in my work as a Human Resources professional.  I just didn’t know how to recognize it at the time.

 

What was is one thing you want everyone to know about ADHD?

While it can happen, ADHD challenges do not typically go away with age. New challenges can present themselves later in life after the structure provided by parents is no longer applicable.  Being aware of this can help the adults with ADHD to identify and develop strategies to assist them personally and professionally.  Taking proactive action can also help build self-confidence.

 

What is your best tip for ADHD?

Be on the lookout for overcommitment and learn how to say no.  ADHD can cause impulsivity that can lead to a calendar and to do list that is literally overflowing. Learn to say “no” to gain positive control over your commitments and schedule.  Follow these skill-building steps:

  • Identify situations where you make impulsive decisions to accept new projects or tasks..
  • Rehearse saying “no” before entering the situation.  For example, saying, “No thanks, I just can’t add anything new to my plate right now.”  Avoid long explanations; they leave too much open to debate with the requestor.
  • Practice your statement five times before entering the situation.
  • Evaluate your progress and praise yourself to celebrate success.

It takes daily practice to build this skill.  Start practicing today to “no” into a positive!

 

What is your morning like?

Mornings are relatively long at my house with the first alarm sounding at 5:10am and the last person leaving the house around 7:45am.  There are 4 of us who wake up, get ready and head to work and school at various times.  Mornings are rarely hectic though and I am thankful that my kids get out of bed without too much prodding.

 

Stay connected to Laura

Website:  www.MyAttentionCoach.com

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/MyAttentionCoach

Twitter:  www.Twitter.com/LauraRolands

 

 

 

Elf on the Shelf ® Organized

/3 Comments/in , /by

 

elf on the shelf organized

Each year right when the holidays begin,  families meet their personal scout Elf who joins their family for the holiday season to help Santa with his naughty and nice list.  Each day their Elf moves around their home watching them from different spots to check on the kids.  It is a tradition to locate him.

Throughout the holiday season, I’ve seen dozens of pinterest pages and blogs devoted to Elf on the Shelf ®.  Adding in a little practicality and organization adds to the fun!

  • Set a time each day or night to follow though.  Busy days with wrapping, shopping and cooking can leave you drained.  Set a time each night, such as right after tuck in, or set an alarm on your phone, to remind you to get set up.
  • Be sure everyone is in.  Spouses, partners, grandparents, extended family and friends can all be helpers for you.  Just in case time gets away from you and things did not go as planned, text a family member or friend to help out.
  • Elf antics can be simple or elaborate.  As one mom says, her family purposely kept things simple just to keep the tradition easy to accomplish each evening.  A simple addition can be a short note too.  Whatever you choose, remember to follow through.
  • Store your elf in a remote location and add a reminder to your digital calendar for next year where he is stored.

 

 

Join me on pinterest to enjoy more holiday ideas at Happy Holidays!

Don’t miss out on upcoming organizing tips and techniques! Click here to subscribe to my monthly newsletter.