Use These 3 Steps to Steal Back Time Guest Post: Teresa Hawthorne, www.thawthornelifesolutions.com Are you being robbed? Willingly?
Here’s how you can tell. Are your thoughts filled with words like later, tomorrow, someday, or eventually? If so, a thief could be carrying away one of your most prized possessions. Do you often wonder how it could be that you’ve been busy all day, but haven’t completed much on your to-do list? If your answer is yes, a thief may be running off with a valuable asset. The thief—procrastination. Your precious commodity—time. Procrastination is the intentional choice to avoid or put off doing something that you know should be done. That’s right, it’s a choice. And if chosen often enough, it becomes a habit. The procrastination habit comes at a cost. In addition to stealing your time, it negatively impacts your emotions and leaves you feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, guilty, and full of regret. It’s also a barrier to your success because it delays the steps toward your goals, causes you to miss opportunities, and results in stagnation. You’re likely already paying the cost if the procrastination habit has found its way into your life. So here is some good news. Habits can change. Before you willingly allow this time-waster to rob you again, arm yourself with these three tactics to help you arrest procrastination and reclaim your precious time. Be On The Lookout It’s often said that acknowledging a problem is the first step toward a solution. That being the case, the next step with procrastination is becoming aware of why. Procrastination shows up for a variety of reasons. Look for these common causes:
Identifying why you avoid or put things off is key to overcoming the habit. To do this, be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. Is your mind filled with what-if scenarios? Do you believe the task is too challenging? Are you unsure of where to start? Do you think you lack the skills? Do you dread what will result from you completing the project successfully? Once you’ve recognized why you do it, you’ll need a way to fight procrastination when it tries to break its way in. Plan Your Defense Taking time to create a plan is your best defense against the procrastination habit. Having a plan gives you a structured approach, helps to identify a starting point, and provides a guided route from beginning to completion. When developing your plan, it’s important to consider your why. If the reason you procrastinate is that you are overwhelmed, for example, your plan should include breaking a project into smaller, more manageable pieces. If your why is that you’re challenged with time management, your plan could be to block time on your calendar and commit to working on your task or project. Of course, your plan will be foiled if you don’t execute it. Your next step is to take action. “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” Amelia Earhart Jump In and Attack In the words of Amelia Earhart, “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” You can fight off the time thief by simply getting started. A good way to jump in is to start small. Commit to working on your dreaded task or project for five to ten minutes, then add another set of minutes when you’ve reached the end. Successfully working for short periods will give you momentum to keep going, and before you know it, the task is done. Stealing your time back from a long-standing procrastination habit will take your focused and deliberate effort. Arm yourself with these three actions and you’ll be ready to identify and fight off this time thief when it attempts to creep back in. Procrastination is a time-waster that, left unchecked, can cost you your goals and dreams. Don’t let it! Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Digital Detox: How to Declutter and Organize Your Digital Life for Improved Productivity Guest Post: Vincent Giacalone www.theorganizedguy.com In today’s fast-paced world, digital clutter can quickly accumulate, affecting your productivity and mental well-being. Just as physical clutter can overwhelm your space, digital clutter can bog down your devices and distract you from your tasks.
Here’s how to declutter and organize your digital life for improved productivity. Step 1: Declutter Your Digital Devices
Step 2: Streamline Your Apps and Software
Step 3: Digital Maintenance Routine
Paper vs. Digital—Challenge Yourself As you embark on your digital detox, challenge yourself to assess your need for physical paper copies. Consider the following questions to help you decide whether to keep or discard paper documents:
By transitioning to a more digital-centric approach, you can reduce physical clutter and improve your overall organization. Decluttering and organizing your digital life is an ongoing process that requires regular maintenance. By implementing these strategies, you can improve your productivity, reduce stress, and create a more efficient digital environment. Embrace the digital detox and enjoy the benefits of a streamlined, organized digital life. Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Regina Brett, is a New York Times best selling author and was named the 2023 Best Columnist by Ohio Associated Press Media Editors. Her immensely inspirational and positively wonderful new book titled "Little Detours and Spiritual Adventurers" is inspiration to help you find the awe in the awful, they mystery in the mistakes, the magic in the mess to turn every life detour into a spiritual adventure.
Regina writes an exceptional weekly column for the Cleveland Jewish News www.clevelandjewishnews.com The following is an excerpt from her Dec. 20, 2024 post. When you have a moment, gift yourself with reading her entire post. It will nourish your soul and bring you joy. Thank you sharing for your beautiful gift, Regina! The Gift of Giving to Yourself ... Time: Give yourself time to breathe. Practice the power of the pause. Quiet: Practice being comfortable with silence. Give yourself the gift of stillness. Rest: Sleep longer and nap more often. Create a sacred schedule that includes more sleep. Beauty: Adorn yourself. Create pockets of beauty everywhere in your life. Nature: Every day, stand on this beautiful planet and suck up that Earth energy. Ground in it. Acceptance: The kind that feels like you are a winner in this body, this home, this life. Passion: What do you love to do? Make a list of hobbies, passions or activities you love. Listening: Listen to the music of life. Then do it. Every. Single. Day. You can read Regina's awe-inspiring writing at reginabrett.substack.com and www.reginabrett.com Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzza to all! The happy holidays are quickly approaching!
If you and your loved ones need help organizing for the fun and festivities, make your season bright by contacting Energize and Organize! "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all."
- Emily Dickinson "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." - John Quincy Adams "Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today's mighty oak is yesterday's nut that held its ground." - Rosa Parks "Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender." - Keith Ellison "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Advice from a pumpkin: be well-rounded, get plenty of sunshine, give thanks for life's bounty, have thick skin, keep growing, be outstanding in your field,
think big. - Anonymous And ... before the happy holidays begin and the snow flies, eliminate the clutter and chaos in your life by getting and staying organized. "Ceiling fans are an efficient option for keeping cool. The breeze from them can help you feel up to 4 degrees F cooler. That may not be enough on very hot days, but if you have A/C you can set your thermostat higher and stay comfortable.
According to Energy Star by raising your thermostat only 2 degrees and using a ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent." Source: Consumer Reports, September 2024 As you know warm air rises so in the winter you want to turn your ceiling fan blade to spin clockwise (left to right) so that the warm air blows down. In the summer, turn the ceiling fan blade to spin counterclockwise so air is pushed down and the room has a cool breeze. To check, stand under the ceiling fan and see if the blades are turning from right to left (counterclockwise). Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Source: Falmouth Enterprise Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Does this crazy chaos garage storage nightmare look familiar? Let's work together to create peace and tranquility in your life and home environment! Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth It's summertime, it's hot and humid, and sheds/garages typically are not temperature controlled spaces. When making decisions about what to and what not to store in your sheds and garages, this informative list written by Lisa Milbrand for Real Simple is an excellent resource and guide. 1. Pantry Foods (food spoilage and damage from moths, mice, other pests) 2. Clothing and other Fabric Items (mold, dust, pests, unwanted moisture damage) 3. Propane (gas buildup and potential fire/explosion if tank leaks) 4. Important Papers (damage from pests, dirt, moisture) 5. Wine and other Drinks (quality compromise) 6. Electronics (temperature extremes could wreck havoc on the electronic wiring) 7. Refrigerator or Freezer (huge energy use in hot weather) 8. Books (damage from moisture, pests, dirt) 9. Valuables (temperature extremes, lack of adequate security) 10. Batteries (high temp causes batteries to lose some of their power and/or could spark) 11. Wood Furniture (warping or cracking in high temps, weakening of the joint glue) 12 Paint (requires temperature controlled environment to avoid paint separation) Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Have you heard of the organizing acronym S.P.A.C.E.? Developed by professional organizer Julie Morgenstern, S.P.A.C.E. is a wonderful acronym to keep in mind while getting and staying organized!
Source: www.juliemorgenstern.com It's springtime and you know what that means. It's time to get your S.P.A.C.E. organized for an exceptional summer! Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Source: Falmouth Enterprise Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
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