It’s Okay to Say No

This time of year you may find yourself overextended because you’re trying to attend every event, continue every family tradition and create a holiday season that is memorable.

Staying organized during this time of year takes some effort.  One of the tools you already own is the ability to say “no” to commitments that don’t add value to your life.  Consider which activities are the most meaningful to you and let go of the rest.

I recently saw this article, which is aimed at people who have ADHD, but the message is beneficial for everyone.

Take advantage of one or more of the phrases that the author offers.  Set your boundaries early and often so you have time to enjoy the people and things that are important to you.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

It’s Okay to Say No

This time of year you may find yourself overextended because you’re trying to attend every event, continue every family tradition and create a holiday season that is memorable.

Staying organized during this time of year takes some effort.  One of the tools you already own is the ability to say “no” to commitments that don’t add value to your life.  Consider which activities are the most meaningful to you and let go of the rest.

I recently saw this article, which is aimed at people who have ADHD, but the message is beneficial for everyone.

Take advantage of one or more of the phrases that the author offers.  Set your boundaries early and often so you have time to enjoy the people and things that are important to you.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Happy Shopsgiving?

It’s that time of year again; time for people to lose their senses when they spot a “bargain.”  Not only are people seduced by the idea of saving money, but stores are making it seem even more important to start shopping sooner.  Not content with luring people in at 5 am or 3 am on Friday, many national stores are opening at midnight or earlier on Thanksgiving day.

Before you get carried away by all the stores promoting their holiday deals, read Michelle Singletary’s article about why the promotions are a bad idea.

Have a happy Thanksingiving and let us know how you were able to avoid the lure of shopping (if you did).

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Happy Shopsgiving?

It’s that time of year again; time for people to lose their senses when they spot a “bargain.”  Not only are people seduced by the idea of saving money, but stores are making it seem even more important to start shopping sooner.  Not content with luring people in at 5 am or 3 am on Friday, many national stores are opening at midnight or earlier on Thanksgiving day.

Before you get carried away by all the stores promoting their holiday deals, read Michelle Singletary’s article about why the promotions are a bad idea.

Have a happy Thanksingiving and let us know how you were able to avoid the lure of shopping (if you did).

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Maintaining Habits

Once you commit to starting a new habit, the hard part is maintaining it.  Reminding yourself to repeat the new behavior may be the best way to keep it up.  In the past, I have written notes to myself and posted them in places where I would be likely to relate them to the new habit.  Unfortunately, they turn into wallpaper after a while and I would ignore them.

In The Clutter Book: When You Can’t Let Go, I refer to “hooking” a new behavior to one you already have.   My challenge is flossing my teeth.  I can’t explain why I don't do it; I have the tools, I have the skills, I just never committed to it.  Sure, the week before my dentist appointment I’d floss like a maniac, but I didn’t keep it up afterward.

Last week I decided that it’s time to start flossing daily.  My goal is to do it once a day, when I brush my teeth before bed.  If I don’t do it, I have to make a deliberate choice and not just shrug it off because I don’t feel like it.  One night I got back out of bed because I forget and two nights I put the toothbrush down and got the floss because I overlooked a step. 

This may not seem to be a big commitment, but for someone who despised flossing, it’s a huge change.  Most research shows that it takes a minimum of 21 days of repeated behavior for a habit to take hold.  A little more than a week in and it’s starting to become routine.  Before I pick up the toothpaste, I pick up the dental floss; if I don’t, it feels wrong.

In fact, I’m so proud of myself, I want to start another habit.  I know, however, that you need to work on one new behavior at a time.  It makes sense to take on a new challenge only after you’ve fully integrated the previous one.

What do you do to help yourself stick to a new habit? Are you working on changing something now?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Maintaining Habits

Once you commit to starting a new habit, the hard part is maintaining it.  Reminding yourself to repeat the new behavior may be the best way to keep it up.  In the past, I have written notes to myself and posted them in places where I would be likely to relate them to the new habit.  Unfortunately, they turn into wallpaper after a while and I would ignore them.

In The Clutter Book: When You Can’t Let Go, I refer to “hooking” a new behavior to one you already have.   My challenge is flossing my teeth.  I can’t explain why I don't do it; I have the tools, I have the skills, I just never committed to it.  Sure, the week before my dentist appointment I’d floss like a maniac, but I didn’t keep it up afterward.

Last week I decided that it’s time to start flossing daily.  My goal is to do it once a day, when I brush my teeth before bed.  If I don’t do it, I have to make a deliberate choice and not just shrug it off because I don’t feel like it.  One night I got back out of bed because I forget and two nights I put the toothbrush down and got the floss because I overlooked a step. 

This may not seem to be a big commitment, but for someone who despised flossing, it’s a huge change.  Most research shows that it takes a minimum of 21 days of repeated behavior for a habit to take hold.  A little more than a week in and it’s starting to become routine.  Before I pick up the toothpaste, I pick up the dental floss; if I don’t, it feels wrong.

In fact, I’m so proud of myself, I want to start another habit.  I know, however, that you need to work on one new behavior at a time.  It makes sense to take on a new challenge only after you’ve fully integrated the previous one.

What do you do to help yourself stick to a new habit? Are you working on changing something now?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Office Clutter – Two Views

On the same day last week, I read two completely different posts about office clutter and how the writers feel about it. 

The first one, Ruth Graham’s In Defense Of Office Clutter makes a case for mess.  Actually, the author doesn’t have much clutter, (despite the picture that accompanies the story, which is not her office) although she asks if her office’s condition makes her a candidate for the TV show Hoarders.  No, it doesn’t; however, she may be right when she asks “Does this state of office dishevelment reflect poorly on me as a worker...?”

It’s true that people have different levels of acceptance for clutter; however, Office Max released a report earlier this year, indicating that clutter affects us negatively at work.

Some of their statistics:

90% of Americans admit that clutter has a negative impact on their lives
77% said clutter affected productivity
65% said clutter affected their state of mind
53% said clutter affected their motivation
40% said clutter affected their happiness
35% of people surveyed said they would be “ashamed” if someone saw their workspace. 

In Clutter Wars: Work Edition Chana Schoenberger says “too much junk on my desk makes me less efficient.”  She goes on to say, “Clutter presents a problem of perception at the office.”

The Office Max study substantiates her claim, revealing that we are critical of others, regardless of what our own spaces look like.  Seeing a colleague’s cluttered workspace leads 40% of people in the survey to assume that the person “must be lacking in other aspects of his or her job.”

What do you think is a comfortable level of stuff on your desk or in your workspace? Do you work with people whose clutter makes you discount their quality and/or quantity of work?

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Office Clutter – Two Views

On the same day last week, I read two completely different posts about office clutter and how the writers feel about it. 

The first one, Ruth Graham’s In Defense Of Office Clutter makes a case for mess.  Actually, the author doesn’t have much clutter, (despite the picture that accompanies the story, which is not her office) although she asks if her office’s condition makes her a candidate for the TV show Hoarders.  No, it doesn’t; however, she may be right when she asks “Does this state of office dishevelment reflect poorly on me as a worker...?”

It’s true that people have different levels of acceptance for clutter; however, Office Max released a report earlier this year, indicating that clutter affects us negatively at work.

Some of their statistics:

90% of Americans admit that clutter has a negative impact on their lives
77% said clutter affected productivity
65% said clutter affected their state of mind
53% said clutter affected their motivation
40% said clutter affected their happiness
35% of people surveyed said they would be “ashamed” if someone saw their workspace. 

In Clutter Wars: Work Edition Chana Schoenberger says “too much junk on my desk makes me less efficient.”  She goes on to say, “Clutter presents a problem of perception at the office.”

The Office Max study substantiates her claim, revealing that we are critical of others, regardless of what our own spaces look like.  Seeing a colleague’s cluttered workspace leads 40% of people in the survey to assume that the person “must be lacking in other aspects of his or her job.”

What do you think is a comfortable level of stuff on your desk or in your workspace? Do you work with people whose clutter makes you discount their quality and/or quantity of work?

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!