TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS: NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE
I had the good fortune of meeting Estienne De Beer; The Meerkat Motivator. He interviewed 18 Accomplished Professionals on how to manage their time. You’ll find me listed as Number 3: Working From Home: It’s Okay to say “No.” I think you’ll find the article to be just what you need right now. Enjoy!
Here’s a little secret you need to know if you’ve been trying to win the war on clutter.
The key to overcoming your clutter challenge has a lot to do with follow-through. And the only way you will be able to do that is if you make it a priority. Plain and Simple.
A thing that is regarded as more important than another.
(i.e., that thing is your clutter)
Saying something is important and then choosing to do something else is a conflict of interest. So saying you want to be clutter free, yet not making it important enough to make it a priority, will not cure your clutter.
So what to do, what to do….
First we need to understand why making something a priority helps us.
Here’s 4 Good Reasons:
1. It helps us organize our time
2. It helps us make daily choices that reflect our values
3. It helps us set boundaries with others
4. It helps reduce stress
Knowing something and implementing it is another story though, right? I get it. Especially when so many other “things” pop up.
But this is when you need to get real with your situation. How important is being clutter free to you? So the next time you’re in the “throws” of decluttering and something else feels like it’s taking precedence over being clutter free, ask yourself this:
If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?
Now really think about this. Because you’re saying “no” to so much more than an organized space. You’re saying no to saving yourself time, reducing your stress, honoring your values and establishing good boundaries for yourself. Yes?
Life can be busy and at times it feels as if we are being pulled in too many different directions. But if you can honestly answer the above question it can work wonders and help you keep things in perspective.
I think you get the idea!
Here’s to saying YES to living an organized life – for good!
An Excerpt from “A Visit With Patricia Diesel – New Jersey Countryside Magazine.”
In addition to deciding what’s important to your life, successful organizing is about time and how you use it. You have to organize your organizing. People say, I don’t have time to organize. I say you DO have time, no matter how busy you are.
One of my tricks is the 30-day challenge. Sit down with a calendar in front of you. Pick a priority project that’s really urgent. Maybe it’s the closets. Say: I’m going to give myself 30 days to clean out my closets. Mark the end date on the calendar. You can figure out approximately how much total time it will take and mark the days you’ll work on it, even if it means skipping a less important engagement or two. The point is that if you give yourself 30 days, you’re not rushing yourself. Noe excuses. Schedule it into your time.
At the end of 30 days, celebrate your victory. Give yourself a reward, some sort of treat. You deserve it!
A side benefit of the 3o-day challenge is that you are really learning about how you are using your time. Perhaps you can cut out something unproductive and substitute something you enjoy.
Sidebar: Learn how to set boundaries and limits for the use of your time. In doing so, learn how to say “No.” This is a big one. Before you make your decision about a request, ask, will this balance my day or put me on overload?
Unclutter Your Love – Tel-Class Tuesday, February 7, 2012 is going to be a class you won’t ever forget.
It’s February – the month of LOVE.
I for one, particularly love the concept of Valentine’s Day, but I don’t necessarily think it has to be just for “lovers.” I think sharing the love with our family and friends can go a long way.
It is in this spirit that I think this month is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to make your relationships better than ever.
This Tuesday, I am offering a ground-breaking tel-class, Unclutter Your Love based on a current book that I am writing and my years of experience helping people overcome their physical and emotional clutter..
We will be having a relationship expert/family therapist as our guest speaker as we delve into root causes and explore tips on how to organize your way back to love.
I know, it’s so exciting – so if I were you I wouldn’t miss out and I would Register Now!
This exciting event will explore the following topics:
I am always interested in teaching new topics to my clients and think this one will be really instrumental in helping you and your loved ones.
Don’t miss out on learning how to Unclutter Your Love!