Plastic Shopping Bags are like Bunnies

Plastic shopping bags are like bunnies...they multiply. Decide how many bags you need to keep and contain them. (I suggest no more than 10.)









Contain them in a wall unit or under cabinet dispenser.



Here are some uses to recycle and use those bags:

• Carry dirty gym clothes or wet clothing


• pet waste container (at the park or on walks)


• small trash can liners


• extra odor protection for diapers in garbage


• give to the local farmers market to use for bagging produce


• ask if your library takes them for patrons' use


• keep a couple in the car for trash and wet umbrellas


• use for shoes in your suitcase


• take a few in your suitcase for soiled laundry

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.

10 Random Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself

Want to be healthier, more balanced, more peaceful and less stressed? Start taking time for yourself. Here are 10 ways to get started:

1. Listen to your favorite music for 15 minutes without getting out of your chair.
2. Read a book just for pleasure.
3. Sign up for a fun class.
4. Turn off the phones for a day.
5. Buy yourself a present...just because.
6. Watch an old comedy and laugh out loud.
7. Watch a sunset.
8. Watch a sunrise.
9. Call a long distance friend.
10. Make a list of what you would do if you had time.

Top 10 Reasons We Procrastinate

1. Fear of Failure
2. Feeling Overwhelmed
3. Avoidance
4. Low Self-Esteem
5. Undervaluing the Reward of Completion
6. Resentment
7. Low Priority
8. Perfectionism
9. Lazy
10. Lack of Commitment

From the No More Chaos Inbox: Email

Dear Beryl,

I was on vacation for a week and I have thousands of emails in my inbox. I am totally overwhelmed. How can I regain control? Help!!!

Susan


Dear Susan,

Schedule 15 minutes a day to work on your email. Focus only on emails during that 15 minutes. No phone calls, no interruptions. Take each email one at a time and make a decision. The decision: put it in a folder, respond to it or delete it. Do that with each email...one at a time. Do this for 15 minutes every day until the backlog is caught up. You will be amazed at how many you can get done in 15 minutes.

Beryl

Organizing Your Office – Top 10 Things Every Office Needs to be Organized

1. A good calendar to keep track of events – paper or electronic, whichever works for you.

2. A label maker. Label every cord, file and bin so you know what’s in it.

3. Action File. Portable file container that holds papers that correspond to appointments on your calendar. This file will hold play tickets, school forms, directions to client’s businesses or home, plane tickets, travel lists, etc.

4. A business card binder, file box or scanner.

5. Garbage can.

6. A shredder.

7. Supply cabinet/closet/drawer.

8. Off site records storage. Don’t keep archived files in with your active files. This storage could be a seldom used area of your office, a closet, or the attic, etc.

9. Small bins/boxes. They keep small things organized and together to maximize space in your drawers and on your shelves.

10. Letter opener. A letter opener may not be necessary, but it sure beats having paper cuts and they are so inexpensive.