Check out Intel’s website if you are in the market for a new PC.
“We make it easy for you to compare retail sites, look for the best price out there, and find the best PC [for] your needs.”
A Case Against New Year’s Resolutions!
I’d like to share an interesting blog post entitled A case against New Year’s Resolutions by Jacki Hollywood Brown, an organizing colleague.
Have you already given up on your resolutions–if you made them? Only you can decide what’s best for you.
Productivity Poetry from Julie Gray!
Can you relate to this productivity poetry by Julie Gray of Profound Impact?
Say a prayer
Dive right in
Don’t say a word
It’s time to begin
What will you change to become more productive in 2014?
Dive right in
Don’t say a word
It’s time to begin
Go down deep
Turn towards the fear
Sit quietly
And become clear
Forgive what you’ve done
Accept who you are
Let others do the same
The hardest by far
Risk your heart
In more ways than one
This is the year
What will you change to become more productive in 2014?
Vince Lombardi says…
“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.” – Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970
How Many Irons Are In YOUR Fire?
It’s the beginning of a new year!
It’s been a few months since my last newsletter. Life has a tendency to throw you a curve ball when you least expect it.
In the span of a couple of months from late August to early November, our family lost a paternal aunt who had a brain tumour and a maternal uncle with kidney-related issues. These deaths were somewhat expected. In late October, my brother-in-law Dan (my youngest sister’s husband) passed away after having an allergic reaction to penicillin.
Death has a way of putting everything in life into perspective.
Is the speed of your life racing? In talking to a number of people (organizers included) during the fall and the holidays, so many told me that they were just overwhelmed. In some cases, it felt like the train had gone off the tracks. And yes, organizers can be just as guilty of having too much on their plate–even though we’re supposed to know better!
Often the holidays are a time of seemingly endless to-do lists, and there’s not much time to relax and unwind. Debbie Travis said “The beginning of the year is filled with fresh hopes and resolutions. But I think most of us, as we pack away all the…ribbons and lights, long for a bit of a breather before embarking on…new goals. If you have the [chance] to take a week away from…responsibilities, then grab it and enjoy.” If not, can you take a weekend, a day, a morning, afternoon or evening to do something you love to do? Everyone needs to take some time to recharge. Otherwise, you may not be able to focus your efforts as much as you would like, and the end result may not turn out the way you had hoped.
If you’re ready, let’s get started and turn over another leaf!
BEING MORE PRODUCTIVE AT HOME AND WORK
“Multitasking? I can’t even do two things at once. I can’t even do one thing at once.” Helena Bonham Carter, British Actress
If I told you that you could gain an extra 6 weeks of time per year, would you believe me? If you’re overwhelmed, it’s time to stop and come up with a new plan.
Planning
What can you do differently? Brainstorm and make a list.
Most people are more creative when it’s quiet. I’ve read that being close to water can help the creative juices flow. If you can’t find a spot near water to do some thinking, try to find a quiet place.
Prioritize Your Work
Set aside some time first thing in the morning to prioritize what needs to be done. It’s even better if you can do this at the end of the day. You’ll be more focused when you can jump right into the first task on your list.
Interruptions
If you can close the door when you’re working, you’re less likely to be interrupted. Don’t answer the phone; let your answering machine take a message. Don’t check your e-mail. Turn off the pop-up which notifies you every time you receive a new e-mail. Ask people to respect your request for no interruptions during a specified period of time.
Multitasking
“Many people feel they must multi-task because everybody else is multitasking, but this is partly because they are all interrupting each other so much.” Marilyn vos Savant, American Writer
How many of you think you’re more productive when you multitask? Numerous studies have proven this to be untrue.
Chris Crouch, founder of the GO (Getting Organized) System tells us that when you multitask “you’re actually switching back and forth between tasks, and not doing several things at once.”
If you can block off 96 minutes of uninterrupted time each day and stay focused on your high priority tasks, you may be surprised what you can accomplish. “96 minutes happens to be 20 percent of an eight-hour workday.”
Of course, there are times when it’s acceptable to multitask. You can help your children with homework while preparing dinner.
It’s next to impossible to completely eliminate multitasking from our busy lives, but just being aware of the fact that multitasking reduces your productivity is a step in the right direction. However, if you can reduce multitasking by just 20%, you can gain almost 6 weeks per year for other activities. A higher reduction in multitasking should produce even better results.
Elizabeth Lengyel is the author of Getting Juiced About Your Life! How To Make Lasting Change Toward Work/Life Balance. Her 60-40-20 rule suggests blocking off chunks of time as follows:
- 60 minutes – focused work time – no interruptions
- 40 minutes – check e-mail, return phone calls, etc.
- 20 minutes – take a break
To-Do Lists and Planners
A leading Canadian time management expert, Harold Taylor, tells us that to-do lists are lists of intentions. When you schedule time in a planner to actually complete the tasks, it is more likely that they will be accomplished.
Follow-up File
Whether you have a desktop file or space in a desk drawer, it’s important to have a follow-up file.
Errands
When you have a number of errands to run, a bit of planning ahead of time should save you time, gas and even frustration. Plan your route to be as efficient as possible. If you’re not sure that a store has a particular item in stock, call ahead or check the internet and ask them to set it aside.
Rewards
Try one of the suggestions in the multitasking section for a month. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Life is stressful enough. Expect to make some adjustments.
The key to success is figuring out what works for you and your particular situation. Being more efficient will be worth the effort. Reward yourself for the extra time you create. I’m sure you won’t have a shortage of ideas for ways to use your newly created time!
A Favourite Healthy Summer Recipe!
This recipe has been provided by Dawn Fletcher of Neworld Coaching.
Summer Time Watermelon Salad
An ABSOLUTELY wonderful Summer Salad!
Ingredients:
1 whole watermelon (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 lemon (juiced and zested)
1/2c olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
handful of basil or mint (chopped)
1c feta cheese (crumbled)
Combine all ingredients in a pretty serving dish and toss gently. Serve. YUMMY!!!
It’s never too late to make healthier choices!
Helps for Vacation Planning and Packing!
If you are travelling this summer, check out our Vacation Planning and Packing checklists.
Organize your vacation itinerary with TripIt.
What About ALL Those Photos?
Where Are Your Photos?
We are storytellers. Cavemen carved images in the sides of their caves to tell the world where they had been and what they had done. Why did they do that? Because they wanted to tell their stories. We are no different today, except now with the coming of the digital age, we are inundated with photos. Or we have boxes of photos that have accumulated over the decades. It can be overwhelming!
Remember the rolls of film you used to take on vacation with you? You might bring two rolls of 36 and come home with 72 photos–sight unseen–because you couldn’t know how they turned out until they were developed. And despite the fact that maybe not every photo was a winner, you put it back in the envelope, sometimes with the doubles and triples you had printed (remember those!) and put them in a shoebox? A closet? A trunk? All dark places where your stories were left untold.
Now we go on vacation, and we can come home with thousands of photographs. Why? Because we can? Why not take five photos of the group? We can’t be sure everyone will have their eyes open at the same time. Or what about that stunning sunset as it sinks sublimely into the sea? Thirty shots ought to do it! They are all so beautiful, it’s hard to resist.
This is fine if you are a person who looks at the photos on your camera shortly after and edits out the ones you don’t need before they even leave the memory card. Are you one of these people? If you are, good for you! If you aren’t, don’t worry–you’re not alone. But photos left in your camera or on a memory card are in jeopardy of being lost, never to be replaced.
Why do we take photos in the first place? Often it’s to mark a happy occasion or an important event. We take photos because we want to remember. We can evoke the same feelings when we look back at a memory that made us feel good. And sharing those stories is a good thing that can help bond families and friends together.
Have you ever looked for a photo for hours and hours? How would it feel to have your photos organized, sorted and categorized, all in one place where the photos you are looking for are easy to find when you need them?
And once organized, how would it feel to be able to share your stories with the ones you love? There are so many ways to enjoy photographs on a day-to-day basis, so that those memories and all the good feelings that came with them are present all the time.
I gave my husband’s aunt a book with photos from her life for her 80th birthday. The day after she called me and emphatically told me that there wasn’t one thing on the face of this earth or even in the universe I could have given her that was better than that book. Even today, when she puts her hand on mine and tells me that again, I still get goose bumps.
Daina Makinson is the founder of Snap Shot Solutions and a Certified Photo Organizer. She understands that boxes of print photos or even thousands of digital photos hiding in your computer are the untold stories you dreamed of telling when you took the photo in the first place.
Daina can help you share and enjoy your photos, slides and old home movies with your friends and family, as well as pass on your history in images for generations to come. Snap Shot Solutions can digitize your photos, transfer your slides and home movies to DVD and then help you create the perfect way to bring your stories back into your life with custom designed photo storybooks and slide shows, collages and canvases.
You can reach Daina at 1-855-522-7128 or by email.
Conquering the Chaos!
Is your life too chaotic most of the time?
If so, take a break! Grab your favourite beverage and sit down with a notepad. Make a list of ALL of the activities in which you, your partner (if applicable) and your children participate.
You’ll likely be surprised by how much the family is actually doing.
Once your list is compiled, ask yourself if it’s realistic. Are you trying to cram in too many activities? Do you need to make some adjustments? Remember that you don’t need to do something just because everyone else is doing it. Try your best not to overschedule. You will thank yourself later, and your life should run more smoothly. Or when the unexpected happens, you’ll be better able to handle whatever comes your way.
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