Tips on using a planning calendar

7 steps to create a nice mess

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If you’re serious about cleaning a room, make it messier before you clean it up. Pull things out of drawers. Empty closets and shelves. And clear off the tops of every horizontal surface.

Then sort out what you have by putting similar items together, looking at each item to decide if you want to keep it (because you really love it), pitch it, or give it away.

Then clean all the surfaces, reassemble putting everything in a thoughtful place, and throw out the trash.

Easy peasy – the room is decluttered and all is well.

Except if you still have an edgy feeling that you aren’t doing something, or that you’ve missed something big. Now the issue isn’t a room that needs to be decluttered – it’s your head and heart that need a cleanup. Continue reading →

Deadline!

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Do you have something you really want to do but never seem to make time for? Here’s a simple idea: Set a deadline.

deadlineRight, you say. I’ll just break it if it’s my deadline.

How about this?

  • Get a clear picture in your head of what you want to get done.
  • Set a realistic deadline for when you could complete this awesome thing.
  • Tell a friend what you’re going to do and what your deadline is.
  • Write out a check that would hurt financially to pay to an organization that you’d HATE to contribute to.
  • Give the check to your friend.
  • Full of incentive, go do the work you’ve always wanted to do.

Continue reading →

Tackling organizational basics

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Organizational Zen is about knowing the work you want to do, and then getting it done. You don’t have to organize the world. You just want to start and finish the good work that’s bubbling up inside you.

On the road to Organizational Zen, make sure you’ve got a handle on these organizational basics.

back-to-basics

  1. Take care of yourself. If you don’t feel well, aren’t eating right, aren’t getting enough sleep, or are feeling generally stressed out, guess what? It’s going to be very hard for you to get organized. Being organized takes focus and energy. If you haven’t already done so, make health your #1 organizational priority.

Continue reading →

The possibilities of tomorrow

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History is filled with facts which makes it really solid. When we look back, it seems like what happened was the only possibility, that what happened was inevitable.

Baby stepsBut then there’s “today”. You look ahead. You wonder what will happen. And you know it’s not pre-ordained because there are so many potential threads. Tomorrow could take you south, or west, or north. It could be wild or calm. Big things could happen. Or nothing special could happen. Continue reading →

Make one New Year’s resolution

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Here are the top four New Year’s resolutions. How many of these have been on your make-and-break list?lose-weight

  • Lose weight
  • Get organized
  • Spend less/save more
  • Enjoy life to the fullest

I’m not big on making New Year’s resolutions because I don’t like to waste time. Statistics say that only 8% of us stick to New Year’s resolutions. Why spend time wishing for something that doesn’t happen most of the time for most people?

But these are great goals! So what can you do to make a resolution stick this year? Continue reading →

The disorganization habit

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Have you ever uttered these words?

mrmessy

  • I’m not messy – I’m creative
  • I’ve always been disorganized
  • Someone will remind me if I forget
  • I run late – people are used to it
  • Don’t mind the mess at my house – it’s my mess and I love it

Then you may be in the disorganization habit. And maybe it’s working for you. But if you’re reading this post, then maybe you’re looking for a change. Continue reading →

Holiday organizational tips

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Getting through a holiday-laced December can be fun – and it can be exhausting. Having a plan in place will help you feel more in control and help tilt things more toward fun and less toward stress. Planning also helps you stick to your priorities rather than making last-minute decisions on the fly.

plan-aheadGood planning starts with a schedule. Take a look at December and block out time now for:

Special events and family events
Is there anything that needs to be done or prepared before the event? Games? Food? Decorations? Invitations?
Plan in time to clean for any events that are at your house – but know that this is probably not the best time of year to start a big decluttering project!
If you have a special family event, try to keep a solid block around that time so you can focus on family and be present! Continue reading →