Tis the Season

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the pressure is on to create a perfect holiday for many people.

Do you decorate every room in your house? Do you bake dozens of cookies? Do you entertain multiple times between now and New Years Day?

This year, instead of arriving exhausted at the end of the holiday countdown, think about what you can do to make the season joyous for yourself, as well as the people you care about.

How would you feel if you gave up some of the things you typically do this time of year? Can you find someone else who can do them for you? Can you do some things as a group, with friends or family? Can you alternate hosting duties with someone else?

What are some activities you can let go of so you can enjoy your holiday more this year? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Tis the Season

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the pressure is on to create a perfect holiday for many people.

Do you decorate every room in your house? Do you bake dozens of cookies? Do you entertain multiple times between now and New Years Day?

This year, instead of arriving exhausted at the end of the holiday countdown, think about what you can do to make the season joyous for yourself, as well as the people you care about.

How would you feel if you gave up some of the things you typically do this time of year? Can you find someone else who can do them for you? Can you do some things as a group, with friends or family? Can you alternate hosting duties with someone else?

What are some activities you can let go of so you can enjoy your holiday more this year? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

The Holiday (shopping) Season Begins

I grumble about Christmas starting the day after Halloween, but Thanksgiving is this week, which means the shopping frenzy really is picking up now.

I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t remind you that the holiday season is not about buying presents. Too many people feel obligated to find “just the right thing” for multiple people on their shopping lists, causing themselves extraordinary stress. Additionally, the search leads people to spend too much money on things that really aren’t necessary.

Before I am labeled a Scrooge or a Grinch, I want to remind everyone how they felt after last year’s shopping madness. Did you feel exhausted? Did it make you cranky and irritable? Did it take you months to pay all the bills? It doesn’t have to be that way again this year.

Instead of buying lots of presents, think about buying gifts of experience that someone will be able to enjoy and not have to store. Can you cut out the gift exchange at work or with groups you belong to? Surely you are not the only one who wants to spend less time and less money on gift giving this year.

What are some ways you can spend more time with the people you care about and less time at the mall? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

The Holiday (shopping) Season Begins

I grumble about Christmas starting the day after Halloween, but Thanksgiving is this week, which means the shopping frenzy really is picking up now.

I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t remind you that the holiday season is not about buying presents. Too many people feel obligated to find “just the right thing” for multiple people on their shopping lists, causing themselves extraordinary stress. Additionally, the search leads people to spend too much money on things that really aren’t necessary.

Before I am labeled a Scrooge or a Grinch, I want to remind everyone how they felt after last year’s shopping madness. Did you feel exhausted? Did it make you cranky and irritable? Did it take you months to pay all the bills? It doesn’t have to be that way again this year.

Instead of buying lots of presents, think about buying gifts of experience that someone will be able to enjoy and not have to store. Can you cut out the gift exchange at work or with groups you belong to? Surely you are not the only one who wants to spend less time and less money on gift giving this year.

What are some ways you can spend more time with the people you care about and less time at the mall? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Do it Yourself or Pay Someone Else?

There are lots of times when you face a task that you really don’t want to do and can pay someone else to do for you. For example, when I work with clients who have lots of paper to be shredded, I offer them the option of taking the paper to a shredding company instead of doing it themselves.

You can have someone else clean your house, pick up your dry cleaning, deliver your groceries, do yard work, groom your dog or wash your car. Someone else can wait in line for you at the Department of Motor Vehicles or meet a service provider at your home. There are even companies that will pick up your dog poop.

You need to decide how much time and energy you are willing to spend on doing the routine maintenance that comes with having things. If you really can't stand to do the task or you don’t think it’s a good use of your time, you probably can justify spending the money to have someone else do it.

If you are not sure whether it makes sense to hire someone to do a chore for you, compare the cost to your regular hourly rate at work. If it costs significantly less than what you earn, your time could be spent better on more profitable tasks.

If you prefer to do routine chores yourself but you put them off, decide when you will get them done and put them in your calendar. If you don’t schedule them, they won’t happen.

Which tasks would you prefer to pay someone else to do for you? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Do it Yourself or Pay Someone Else?

There are lots of times when you face a task that you really don’t want to do and can pay someone else to do for you. For example, when I work with clients who have lots of paper to be shredded, I offer them the option of taking the paper to a shredding company instead of doing it themselves.

You can have someone else clean your house, pick up your dry cleaning, deliver your groceries, do yard work, groom your dog or wash your car. Someone else can wait in line for you at the Department of Motor Vehicles or meet a service provider at your home. There are even companies that will pick up your dog poop.

You need to decide how much time and energy you are willing to spend on doing the routine maintenance that comes with having things. If you really can't stand to do the task or you don’t think it’s a good use of your time, you probably can justify spending the money to have someone else do it.

If you are not sure whether it makes sense to hire someone to do a chore for you, compare the cost to your regular hourly rate at work. If it costs significantly less than what you earn, your time could be spent better on more profitable tasks.

If you prefer to do routine chores yourself but you put them off, decide when you will get them done and put them in your calendar. If you don’t schedule them, they won’t happen.

Which tasks would you prefer to pay someone else to do for you? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Defend Your Day

We each get the same 24-hour day, but some people seem to get more out of each day. The secret to making the most of your time is being aware of it.

Everyone has days when they go home feeling like they accomplished nothing, even though they were busy all day. The aim is to concentrate on meeting your objectives while also attending to the things that are important to your boss and your clients.

Here are some ways to advance your agenda:

• Protect your two-do list

No, that’s not a typo. Keep your must-do list to two things a day. Starting out with a list of 15 or 20 things that you want to finish within eight or nine hours is not reasonable. Ask yourself what are the two things you have to accomplish today and work to get them done. 

• Guard against interruptions

If you need a block of uninterrupted time, close your door, don’t answer the phone and turn off your email. Let clients and co-workers know when they can reach you by creating a specific voicemail message for the day and an auto-reply message for email. If you need quiet time for projects on a regular basis, schedule the time into your calendar so that everyone knows when you are unavailable. Although it may seem awkward at first, people will get used to leaving you a message or email if they need to contact you.

• Prevent multitasking

Doing two things at once that require concentration will prevent you from doing either of them well. By dividing your attention, you’re actually taking more time to finish both things than if you had done them one at a time.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, think about doing less and doing it well in order to finish what you need to. You avoid rushing and making errors, which take more time to correct.

 

What can you do, starting today, to regain control over your day? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Defend Your Day

We each get the same 24-hour day, but some people seem to get more out of each day. The secret to making the most of your time is being aware of it.

Everyone has days when they go home feeling like they accomplished nothing, even though they were busy all day. The aim is to concentrate on meeting your objectives while also attending to the things that are important to your boss and your clients.

Here are some ways to advance your agenda:

• Protect your two-do list

No, that’s not a typo. Keep your must-do list to two things a day. Starting out with a list of 15 or 20 things that you want to finish within eight or nine hours is not reasonable. Ask yourself what are the two things you have to accomplish today and work to get them done. 

• Guard against interruptions

If you need a block of uninterrupted time, close your door, don’t answer the phone and turn off your email. Let clients and co-workers know when they can reach you by creating a specific voicemail message for the day and an auto-reply message for email. If you need quiet time for projects on a regular basis, schedule the time into your calendar so that everyone knows when you are unavailable. Although it may seem awkward at first, people will get used to leaving you a message or email if they need to contact you.

• Prevent multitasking

Doing two things at once that require concentration will prevent you from doing either of them well. By dividing your attention, you’re actually taking more time to finish both things than if you had done them one at a time.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, think about doing less and doing it well in order to finish what you need to. You avoid rushing and making errors, which take more time to correct.

 

What can you do, starting today, to regain control over your day? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?

Lately I have had a number of people tell me they are dealing with the estate of elderly parents or other relatives. The big question they have is, “What should I do with all the stuff?”

 We can sort and donate clothing and most household goods, but if specific instructions aren’t given for the things a person owned, how does the family respect his or her intentions?

When you draw up a will, you usually think about real estate, bank accounts and big-ticket items. What about personal items that may have monetary value, but often are sentimental pieces? If you want your loved ones to know what you want done with your things, let them know now.

I am often called on to give people permission to let go of things they have been given but don’t want. Wouldn’t you rather have your things go to someone who wants them? Putting your wishes in writing will make it easier for family members and your executor to make decisions about your estate.

The University of Minnesota Extension Service created "Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate? Workbook: A Guide To Passing on Personal Possessions" to encourage conversation about future wishes and to allow the opportunity to share stories about family history. In addition, their hope is to avoid family conflicts when more than one person expects to inherit something.

To learn more about the project, and to view free articles about starting a conversation, visit the Web site www.yellowpieplate.umn.edu/indexB.html

How can you start to collect stories about things you own or about family history? Do you have a way to let family members know what you want when you’re gone? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?

Lately I have had a number of people tell me they are dealing with the estate of elderly parents or other relatives. The big question they have is, “What should I do with all the stuff?”

 We can sort and donate clothing and most household goods, but if specific instructions aren’t given for the things a person owned, how does the family respect his or her intentions?

When you draw up a will, you usually think about real estate, bank accounts and big-ticket items. What about personal items that may have monetary value, but often are sentimental pieces? If you want your loved ones to know what you want done with your things, let them know now.

I am often called on to give people permission to let go of things they have been given but don’t want. Wouldn’t you rather have your things go to someone who wants them? Putting your wishes in writing will make it easier for family members and your executor to make decisions about your estate.

The University of Minnesota Extension Service created "Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate? Workbook: A Guide To Passing on Personal Possessions" to encourage conversation about future wishes and to allow the opportunity to share stories about family history. In addition, their hope is to avoid family conflicts when more than one person expects to inherit something.

To learn more about the project, and to view free articles about starting a conversation, visit the Web site www.yellowpieplate.umn.edu/indexB.html

How can you start to collect stories about things you own or about family history? Do you have a way to let family members know what you want when you’re gone? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!