Ideas

Ideas come and go all day long. Make a habit of writing down all your ideas as you think of them. You can revisit them later and screen out the bad ones.

First Things First

You have a long to-do list for the day. Where do you start?

Do the most important task first. Schedule and complete the most important task on your To Do list during the first 15 minutes of your work day. Not only will get the most important task done, but the feeling of accomplishment will set the tone for the rest of the day.

#1 Productivity Tip

If I could only give you one tip to help you be more productive, it would be...WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

Don’t rely on your memory. You run the risk of letting tasks and appointments fall through the cracks. The best way to never forget an appointment, a deadline or a detail again, is to write everything down.

Clear Your Desk and Brain, Too

An uncluttered desk frees your mind from distractions and keeps you focused on tasks that require immediate attention. Keep only the items on your desk that relate to your current project.

Your Peak Time

Are you alert in the mornings? Hit a second gear in the afternoons? Use your most productive time to do your most productive work.

The "Key" to Keeping Up with Your Keys

Have a central location for keys. Have one place to store keys and make a habit of putting yours there when coming home. Some suggestions for key storage:

• Designate a small kitchen drawer as the key drawer
• Hang a decorative key board near the door you enter
• Have a decorative storage box on the entryway table to drop your keys into
  

Laundry Tips

Laundry Tips:

Have a wastebasket next to the clothes dryer for discarding lint balls and used dryer sheets

Hang a towel rack in the laundry area for hanging wet things that can’t be dried.

Establish a regular routine for laundry. For example, do one load each morning or each evening, depending on your schedule.

Finish. Think finish when doing the laundry. Get the clothes into the dryer. Set a timer so you get the clothes out of the dryer the moment the time dings. You are not finished until the laundry is folded and put away.

Folding and putting away a load of laundry actually takes no more than five minutes, so just do it.

Find Your Organizing Style

There are many different ways to be organized. Do what works for you. Some people like their papers filed out of sight, others need to have certain papers visible. Some like color-coding, others find it too much of a bother. Some people like to keep their calendar on a computer, some prefer a paper planner.

Are your employees very busy doing paperwork which is no longer necessary?

Questions to ask to answer this question:

Why are we collecting the data?
Where does the data go?
Who uses the information?
Even if we continue all or part of the process, what shortcuts can be taken?

Two Quick Organizing Tips

Another Use for a Favorite Gadget - The Timer. Set the timer for 15 minutes and close your eyes until the timer goes off. You will feel revived and function better the rest of the day. If at work, you can do this during your lunch period or afternoon break time.

Refrigerator Have a Bad Smell? Add a teaspoon of lemon or vanilla extract to a solution of mild soap and water and wipe down the insides of the unit.

Time, Money & Energy

Time: If you want to have enough time for the important things in life, you have two choices:

1. Use your time more efficiently.
2. Decrease the activities in your life that require the use of your time.

Energy: If you have adequate energy, you have two options:

1. Increase the activities that generate energy for you
2. Decrease the activities that drain your energy.

Money: If you want to have an adequate supply of money, you have two alternatives:

1. Make more money
2. Decrease things in your life that require money

5 Ideas to Help You Remember

1. Believe in Yourself. If you keep saying you have a bad memory, then most likely you will have a bad memory. Motivate yourself by having an I CAN remember attitude.

2. Write it down. I say this over and over, but we all have way too much to remember to fill our heads with trivial matters. Write them down and clear the brain for the important stuff.

3. Record yourself. Sometimes you have a thought and want to remember it, but writing it down isn't possible (like when driving). Use a little tape recorder to record your thoughts, your parking space number or a phone number you see advertised while driving. Check your cell phone. Many of them have a video feature that will record your voice.

4. Call yourself. If you are at the office and want to do something when you arrive home, call your answering machine and leave yourself a message.

5. Set timers and alarms. Keep yourself on task by setting a timer or alarm for how long you want to work on the project. Need to leave at a certain time for an appointment? Set an alarm for a few minutes before to remind you it is time to go.

Lesson Learned!

Even us organized types mess up sometimes. Last week I went to my filing cabinet and got out my auto policy. The file was right where it should be, in the personal files, in a hanging folder labeled insurance with the file folder labeled with the car information. So far, so good.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband was driving north on the interstate to pick me up at the airport. The car was hit by a rock and it chipped the windshield. I was checking the policy to see what our coverage was for that.

I didn't find the info I needed on the policy to answer my question, so I put the file folder in my inbox to email our insurance agent. I got busy with other things and didn't do the task that day.

Today, I finally got around to emailing our agent. I completely forgot that I had pulled out the folder and spent a good five minutes looking to see if I had misfiled that file, before remembering I had taken it out of its home.

If I had just left it in its home and put the task on my list of to-dos like I normally would, there would have been no problem and I would not have wasted time.

Oh well, I am human...

How Not to be Late for Your Next Appointment

Leave time to get there. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your
destination. Don’t underestimate traffic time or try to squeeze in a stop to the
bank or dry cleaners. Think in terms of when you need to leave in order to be
there on time, every time.

Be considerate. Squeaking into a meeting or event at the last minutes looks
unprofessional and insensitive to the host. Show courtesy to others by
respecting their time. If something unexpected does arise, call immediately to
let your party know you are running late.

Write down all appointments and meetings, the dates and time. Don’t
rely on your memory.

How to Create a Gift Wrapping Station

1. Find a gift wrapping storage container that you like. Here are some terrific ones that can be bought at http://www.containerstore.com/.

I like and use the hanging one.

2. Stock your wrapping station.

• Gift tags


• Wrapping paper


• Gift bags


• Gift boxes


• Ribbon


• Bows


• Pens


• Markers


• Scissors


• Tape


• Tissue paper
  

3. If you have out of town packages to ship, also include:

• Shipping boxes


• Shipping tape


• Stamps


• Mailing labels


• Packing materials, such as packing peanuts

Now! You have all your wrapping stuff in one place. No searching for the tape or scissors. Your gift wrapping time will be reduced by taking the time to organize your gift wrapping supplies first.

3 Tips for Getting a Head Start on the Holidays

I know…you are not ready to think about the holidays yet. However, the key to having a wonderful and stress-free holiday is planning ahead.

Here are three tips for making your holidays a bit more organized and a bit more enjoyable this year:

Holiday Tip #1: Holiday cards and gift lists. If you haven’t already, save your Christmas card list names and addresses on your computer. You can print labels or envelopes quickly and easily. Address changes are easy to handle and won’t get messy like trying to change addresses in a handwritten address book.

If you use a PDA, save your loved ones gift wish lists on the PDA. You will have the lists with you whenever you go shopping, so you can take advantage of a good deal when you see it. Keep a list of sizes on the PDA as well.

Holiday Tip #2: Take notes. Pay attention to friends and family during conversations. You’ll be surprised at how often they mention items they would like to have or plan to buy. The person receiving the gift will be grateful for a gift they truly want.

Holiday Tip #3: Consider “experience” gifts rather than things. Try something different this holiday season by thinking of what the gift recipient might enjoy. What about a concert, play tickets, spa certificate, tickets to a sporting event or a donation to the recipient’s favorite charity in their name?

5 Ways to Remember Everything

You are busy and have so many things on your mind. Keep your memory sharp by using these ideas to remember what you need to and free up memory...brain memory, that is:

1. Believe in yourself. Attitude means a lot. If you continually say you are forgetful, then you will be forgetful. Instead change your attitude and think about having a good memory.

2. Write it down. No one can remember everything. Writing down everything - your appointments, your schedule, your families schedule, your work schedule, your grocery list, things you need to do, tasks you need to delegate, etc., frees up your mind to think about whatever is happening in the present.

3. Record your thoughts. Sometimes you want to remember something, but can't write it down at the moment. Record your thoughts. Carry a little hand-held recorder or check to see if your cell phone has recording capabilities (many do).

4. Call yourself. Call your voice mail and leave yourself a message. Then you can listen and write it down when you get home or are in a place to be able to write down the message.

5. Set timers and alarms. Alarm clocks are not just for waking up. Use the alarm clock, the microwave timer or computer alarms a reminder.

Thankful and Organized for Thanksgiving

When I was single and living in Austin, Texas, my family was far away in North Carolina. I had a lot to be thankful for and having a lonely pity party was not on my Thanksgiving to-do list. So I found other ways to enjoy Thanksgiving.

I love to cook. I found a service agency that paired me up with a family that needed a helping hand for Thanksgiving. I was given the family’s name, their situation, how many to cook for and directions where to drop off the Thanksgiving dinner. That first Thanksgiving I was paired with the Johnsons, a family of five, the youngest being about two years old.

I cooked the traditional turkey, dressing and veggies and had picked up a couple of pies at the store. (As much as I like to cook, I don’t bake.) Almost as an afterthought, I picked up ice cream, some fall flowers, and some inexpensive candles and candleholders.

I made my delivery that afternoon. When I knocked on the door, Mr. Johnson and his oldest son came out to help me carry in the boxes of food. Mr. Johnson was quick to tell me that his family didn’t usually take hand-outs, but that he had been injured on the job. I told him he was doing me a favor…giving me somebody to cook for because my family was far away and that was all that talk we were going to have.

Inside the house, I was helping Mrs. Johnson unpack the boxes and the little two-year old spotted the ice cream. Her eyes got huge and she said, “Mommy, look! I-queem!” About the same time, Mrs. Johnson was unpacking the candles and candleholders and we both got emotional. We cried and hugged and the Johnsons’ insisted that I stay and eat with them. I wasn’t supposed to. I was supposed to just deliver the food and leave, but how could I refuse such a gracious family?

I signed up to do this for the five years I lived in Texas and it was some of the best Thanksgiving holidays I ever had. Now I have a wonderful husband to share Thanksgiving with. No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, the holiday can be less stressful if you use some of the following tips:

- Make a plan: Decide what you are going to do for the holiday now.

- Start a tradition where each guest or family member shares one thing they are thankful for.

- Get the house cleaning out of way early in the week. Book now if you plan to have a professional clean for you.

- Prepare side dishes and desserts ahead of time and freeze.

- Plan a menu. Decide what you are going to serve, write it down and stick to it.

- Frozen turkeys take 3-4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to take your bird out of the freezer in time to allow for the thawing.

- Consider inviting a single friend or neighbor to join your family.

- Have some games on hand for the children to enjoy so the adults can watch ballgames, converse or nap after dinner.

- Make a grocery list and shop for non-perishables early.

- Have some disposable containers on hand so everyone can have a “to go” snack.

- Get out your serving dishes several days ahead of time. Label them with sticky notes. Others can help you dish up just by putting the stuffing in the bowl marked stuffing and so forth.

- Set the table the day before or at least early Thanksgiving morning.

- Mashed potatoes or other vegetables can be made ahead and kept warm in the crockpot.

- Cut up vegetables the day before and store in the fridge in zip bags.

- Consider just fixing the turkey and make the rest of the meal potluck.

- If you are terribly busy, most grocery stores sell ready made holiday meals. If you decide to use this option, keep in mind you still have to put in your order several days to a week ahead of time.

- Start yet another new Thanksgiving tradition by taking a walk after the meal.

10 Tips to Work More Effectively at Your Desk

1. Handle each piece of paper only once, keep paperwork moving.

2. Remove all the papers from your desk you are not working on. This prevents lost or mixed up files.

3. Put limits on visits and phone calls, if you can.

4. Use your high productivity hours for your top priority projects.

5. Establish a place for everything and put it back in its place.

6. Concentrate on one task at a time.

7. Do not over schedule. Leave some time each day free from appointments.

8. Tackle time-consuming projects in stages.

9. Plan your day the last 15 minutes of the day before.

10. Write down your ideas.

10 More Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself

1. Have lunch with a friend.

2. Visit a pet shelter and pet an animal.

3. Try a new restaurant.

4. Spend time with a child doing something childish.

5. Work out.

6. Give a hug.

7. Pick something off your list of favorite activities and do it.

8. Blow bubbles

9. Color in a coloring book.

10. Fix something that is broken.