Oops! Video link added: Are you an “active couch potato?”

September 22, 2022September 23, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Business tips, Changing habits, Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Productivity tips for work, Take care of your precious self! active couch potato, Changing habits, Decision making, forming a new habit, getting things done, Getting work done, Gretchen Reynolds, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organize your life, organized zen, organized zen now, take stretch breaks, tips to be more productive, tips to get organized, ways to improve your health

A new study out of Finland shows that even if you exercise for a half-hour to an hour each day, you can negate short-term and long-term health impacts of that activity if the other 23 hours of your day are spent sitting still.

The study showed that short activity breaks throughout the day help to lower cholesterol, reduce body fat, and lower your blood pressure. What’s cool about this study is that it shows you don’t have to do a lot during the day – but you need to do it often.

So set your alarm to remind you to take more breaks. And then make a list of things you can do to keep moving throughout the day. Want some ideas? How about take a coffee or water break. Tidy up. Take a walk. Make a call while you walk. Play with your pet. Or simply get up and stretch!

Organized Zen is about getting to your best work. To do that, you want to live a long, healthy life. Taking little breaks each day to keep your body moving is a simple way to help you get where you want to go today and WAY down the line.

What’s a baby step you can take today to get started?

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Time to stretch with a little Social Exercise!

September 2, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Community building, Decision making, Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work Changing habits, David Brooks, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, get more energy, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, open up your energy, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize your life, Organize your time, organize your work, organized zen, organized zen now, social exercise, tips to be more productive

Don’t you love it when you’re new to a group and someone makes an effort to get to know you and helps you feel welcome? We are a social species, and when someone is friendly, kind, warm, and welcoming we take a deep breath and are grateful.

In a recent article by David Brooks at the New York Times, Brooks cites a study that shows how much people underestimate the impact of talking to strangers. We underestimate how open most people are to having a conversation, how much we’ll enjoy a conversation, and how much we can learn.

I am a big proponent of trying out new things. So why not practice a little Social Exercise this week and see if you can be that warm and welcoming person in a group you’re part of at work, school, in your neighborhood, or at home?

Organized Zen is all about getting to your best work. Sometimes a stranger is just the person you need to help you figure out how to do that.

Click here for more thoughts.

How’s your work-energy balance?

August 26, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, energy builders, forming a new habit, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, increase your energy, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize your life, organize your work, Tips for work, tips to be more productive, work-life balance

Does the work you do for pay or as a volunteer boost your energy? Or drain it? Organized Zen is all about getting to your best, high-energy work. So what do you do if your work drains you?

I spent most of my career in the “creative” departments of two large direct marketers, but my work was far from creative. I excelled in my career choice because of my organizational skills. I was paid well. And I met some really terrific people. But my energy was drained by the work I chose. I needed something with a deeper connection and I needed to be more creative.

I filled those needs and lifted my energy through volunteer work, first at a Grieving Center, and then running a children’s acting workshop. The cool part about energy is that once you find it, it spreads. In my case, doing volunteer work that touched my heart helped me stick with energy-draining but lucrative professional work until my kids were raised.

In this talk, I share an exercise to help you figure out where and how you get energy. Then I encourage you to ponder ways to bring more energy into your life. Our time here on earth is limited. Today would be a great day to take a baby step that helps you bring out the best of what you have in you.

Cheers!

Find the Heat!!

May 23, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused Changing habits, Cheryl Strayed, Decision making, Defining who you are, find your passion, forming a new habit, Get organized, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, Maya Angelou, organization, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organized zen, organized zen now, tips to be more productive

People who are sure of themselves and love their work energize any room they come into. There is a joy to being around highly energized, grounded people, so why not be one of them?

When you tap into the “heat” in your life you find that energy. And maybe not just once. We’re not limited by decisions we’ve made in the past. What’s your heat today? What project, work, art, friendship, or ridiculous endeavor would you like to take on?

This talk was inspired by a weekend writing workshop with Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, and Tiny Beautiful Things. Cheryl’s writing is inspiring and you could feel the heat in the room at each session. Plus she’s funny and that’s always a bonus :).

Cheryl shared this quote from Maya Angelou that sums up this talk and is a great point to ponder: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Cheryl’s talk was on writing from the heart – but you can apply the heat test to any aspect of your life. Please don’t leave something you have to offer the world undone!

In this talk, I’ll give you ideas about how to tap into your heart to find the hot spots and take a baby step in a new direction. I hope this brings you inspiration to take a baby step today that sets you off on a new, HOT path.

Summer says: Time to slow down!

May 19, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Getting started, Meditation, Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, Get organized, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, healing with art, How to stay focused, organization, organizational advice, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organize your life, organized zen, organized zen now, slow down, tips to be more productive

I love it when I hear a message from one person. And then another. And then another! Sometimes the Universe has to stand directly in front of me to get me to pay attention. What message did I get this week? Slow down!

When you slow down you have time to make sure that where you’re going is a place you want to go. One very cool way to slow down is through art and music which can mendyour mind as well as your heart.

Okay, Universe. I am listening. I promise I’ll slow down. It just may not be until August :).

Here’s more.

I hope the start of your summer has been a joyous, slow time for you. 🙂

Feeling the quiet as you consider a leaf…

May 16, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Getting started, Meditation, Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! blissful zen, Changing habits, Consider a leaf, Decision making, forming a new habit, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, healthy living, How to stay focused, living healthy, Meditation, meditation ideas, organization, organizational advice, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organize your life, organized zen now, tips to be more productive, zen

Making time for quiet each day has all sorts of healing properties. Taking a deep breath and pausing to think and be in the space you’re in can help lower your blood pressure, improve your ability to focus, and elevate your mood.

Getting to your best work isn’t all about doing – sometimes it’s about stopping to “consider.” And sometimes, it’s about stopping just to stop. 🙂

Here are a few thoughts on finding ways to bring meditative moments into your day.

And I have to add a picture of my granddaughter Brooke as she considers her toes. Bliss 🙂

5 tips to get a better night’s sleep

May 9, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Planning impacts on your health, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! blissful zen, Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, getting sleep, getting things done, Getting work done, how to get more sleep, How to stay focused, impact of lack on sleep on your health, organization, organizational advice, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organized zen, organized zen now, tips to be more productive, ways to get more sleep, zen, zen bliss

Skipping out on sleep impacts your short-term productivity and can harm your long-term health. I hope you pick up a few pointers here to help you get a better night’s sleep!

Oddly enough, I recorded this in Maine while visiting with my daughter, Sam, her husband Andrew, and 4-month old Brooke. I may be a little sleep deprived by the time I return next week 🙂

Take care of your precious self!

May 2, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Changing habits, Decision making, Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, getting things done, Getting work done, healthy environment, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, Planning impacts on your health, reducing additives in your world, staying healthy, take care of your precious self, tips to be more productive

To do your best work you want to feel great.

Additives in food can bring you down and make you feel bad even if what you’re eating is “healthy.” And then there are the additives in the lotions and soaps you put on your body. Oh, and the scents manufacturers use to make those strong-smelling candles you love…

I’ll tell you a little about what you might want to look for in those. And then let’s talk about medicine. Is everything you were once subscribed still working for you?

There are lots of questions you can ask. I hope this talk helps you get started on a curiosity path when it comes to new ways to take care of your precious health!

Let’s talk about sugar…

April 28, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Changing habits, Decision making, Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, eating healthy, forming a new habit, getting things done, healthy eating, How to stay focused, impact of sugar on your diet, intermittant fasting, losing weight by eating less often, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organized zen, organized zen now, Planning impacts on your health, take care of your precious self, tips to be more productive, tips to stay healthy, ways to stay healthy

If you’re on a quest to eat healthier, I’m a huge advocate of paying attention to the ingredients of anything you ingest. What is in the food you eat and is that something you want to put in your body?

One of the easiest ingredients to understand is “sugar” and it is everywhere! In this talk, I share ideas about why this is a killer ingredient you probably want to avoid.

If thinking about reducing sugar in your diet is too much to deal with, in the second half of this talk I’ll share cool info about how eating less often during the day – or into the night – can have a weirdly profound impact on your health.

Click here to learn more!

Sending you big energy vibes for health, peace, and happiness.

Organizational Habits

Simple, practical tips and exercises to help you get organized

Baby steps to start getting organized