http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=121 The only way I know to describe this blog is to say "Get real, folks!" There are so many of us who are deluded by the idea that we can have it all, do it all, be everything to everyone, and not have a nervous breakdown in the process. Well, I'm here to slap you around a bit and remind you about how things really work -- one week at a time! This blog is dedicated to addressing the many ways that we complicate our own lives, and steps we can take to make things a bit easier. It's not meant to be an indictment or an accusation -- because I used to be right there with you! But as a Professional Organizer and full-time RVer, I've dedicated my life to radically simplifying -- clearing out the clutter, cutting back on the obligations, reducing my need for material possessions (and subsequently my footprint on this earth), and making space and time in my life for my true priorities. If I can do it, so can you... Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:45:16 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2644 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2644 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST If you ask a group of people to define "time management", they will probably talk about getting it all done, crossing items off of a list, and being productive. However, good time management is not the ability to cram more and more into your day. It's a mindset that helps focus your time on those activities that are most valuable and meaningful to you. Efficient Versus Effective Efficiency means getting a lot done in a short time -- effectiveness happens when you also invest your ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2643 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2643 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST The teenage daughter of my organizing client once showed me a science project she was working on -- "Why I'm So Tired All The Time." Was it sugar intake? Too much TV? Turns out she just had too damned much to do! What Are We Teaching Our Children? As this 10th grader rattled off her list of daily activities, the problem was apparent. She rose at 5AM for school and stayed 1-2 hours late each day for a different extracurricular club. She then had either soccer practice or dance class, ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2642 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2642 Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST When I sit down with a client to work on prioritizing and delegating, the biggest challenge is always deciding what kinds of activities and responsibilities to give up. Quite often, we get so entrenched in what we think we "should" be doing, that we forget to pay attention to what we "enjoy" doing. So when it comes time to let go of the boring, tedious, and time-consuming tasks that eat up our day, we face a struggle just trying to identify them. Reality Check It is incredibly difficult ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2641 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2641 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST I'm one of those people who has always had a "plan" for my life -- and rarely does it ever go the way I intended! I'm like George Bailey -- "I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year, and the year after that" -- then I find myself jumping off of a bridge and talking to angels (not exactly, but I'm sure you know the feeling...) Changing Your Mind(set) I'm a veteran at figuring out precisely what I want, then getting stuck partway along the ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2640 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2640 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST A lot of people will tell you that all you have to do to succeed is plan for success. Why, then, do so many of our best-laid plans often go awry? More times than not, it's because something about what we're trying to do isn't realistic -- the time frame, the resources required, or even how hard we're willing to work to accomplish the goal in our lives. Success Is A Trade-Off I'm the first person to suggest that you can have anything you want in life -- for a price. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2638 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2638 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing more freeing than heading out the door on a trip. I actually see travel as the perfect metaphor for simplifying -- the same guidelines you follow when hitting the road can help you "travel light" through everyday life as well. Discovering That Less Is More The first rule of thumb when you travel is to pack conservatively -- only take what you know you will need, not what you think you will need. I learned a neat trick early on in my travels. ...