Posts Tagged ‘procrastination’

A Simple Plan to Simplify Your Holidays!

Posted on: December 8th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler 

              SIMPLIFY YOUR HOLIDAYS!

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Last month we talked a LOT about how to reduce stress by planning ahead and organizing your Holiday activities. No matter how well you plan, your stress level is likely to be proportional to the length of your to-do list! When we get caught up in all of the bustle, we not only run the risk of becoming tired, cranky and run-down; we can ALSO forget the reason for our preparations.

If your Holiday preparations are launching you into panic mode, it’s time to step back and control the chaos. Here are some reminders of the BEST of the many suggestions that we have provided to our Monthly Organizer readers to simplify their Holidays AND their lives!

1)    Write it all down! There are so many things to remember, aren’t there? Jot everything down, keep a calendar and a master list to help yourself stay organized.

2)    Start early! Divide your task list into smaller pieces and spread your tasks over as much time as you can. We aren’t fond of seeing Christmas décor on the shelves before Halloween either, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get ahead with tasks like house cleaning and Christmas cards.

3)    Take time to rest! Allow yourself time to rest and relax instead of hustling and bustling. Sometimes it helps to look at the Holidays through the eyes of a child.

4)    Avoid the crowds! Make your purchases early if you can or opt for gift cards, charitable donations or other gifts that can be taken care of with a few clicks of the mouse instead of a trip to the store.

5)    Get help! Don’t be afraid to assign tasks to family members, employees or associates. Your tasks may not be completed exactly the way you would do them, but at least they will be done!

6)    Don’t break the bank! If your gift list is long and your funds are short, consider giving handmade crafts, baking or offering a service. Don’t forget to make a budget and stick to it!

7)    Learn that important little word! It’s not “please” or even “thank you.” It’s “NO!” Set limits for yourself if you’re speading yourself too thin, and remember that you can’t do everything. Saying “no” can be hard but think of it as opening up more chances for you to say “yes.”

What’s our very best suggestion for simplifying your Holiday? Remember the reasons why you are celebrating and the things that are most important to you!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at A New Leaf Organizers!

P.S. Do you have other suggestions for simplifying your Holidays? Comment on our blog or Facebook page and let us know!



Give the Gift of Organization!

Posted on: November 26th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Gift Certificates

This year, give the gift of organization!
Send a gift certificate to a friend from A New Leaf Organizers!

CLICK HERE for more info.



October “Scoop”…What About Debt?

Posted on: October 20th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

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WHAT ABOUT DEBT?

We hear a lot about debt today: Personal debt is at all-time highs; government debt is out of control. What does it all mean? What’s the truth? Is all debt bad? Where do you stand?  

Understand Your Debt – It is most important to understand your debt. How did that debt occur? Was it a one-time event that was out of your control? For instance – were you out of work for a period of time? Is your debt increasing every month?  

Create a Cash Flow Statement – We could call this a budget; however, many people dislike the idea of a budget. Whatever we call it, it is imperative you know what is coming into your household on a monthly basis and what is going out. If your income does not equal your expenditure – it’s easy to see that your debt can increase every month. For instance, if you are $200 short every month – and that $200 ends up on your line of credit – you start one month with $200. The following month you add $200 and on and on – you get the idea. Not only is the debt increasing, but you have also added a bill payment that does not fit in the budget. Contrary to popular opinion – having a cash flow statement can be liberating because it creates knowledge and control. It means having a plan. Yes – plans create freedom.

Not all Debt is Created Equal – There is a big difference between debt that is creating an asset and consumer debt. When I speak about debt that is creating an asset, I’m talking about a mortgage on a home or a course you took that was needed for work or the vehicle you bought to drive to work. When I speak about consumer debt, I’m talking about the impulsive purchase of a big screen TV, a seventh pair of cute dress shoes or a new tool you think is really cool but that you might only use once. When your cash flow statement shows that you do not have enough flowing in each month to cover the expenses flowing out, there are two approaches you can take to fix this.

1. You may find there is a behaviour that needs to be addressed. I’m certainly not against big screen TV’s and shoes. What may need to be addressed is the impulse buying. Credit is readily available. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. Our grandparents had only one choice; save the money and then make the purchase. It’s so easy for us to see a great deal we can’t pass up and put it on a credit card. If there are a large number of impulse purchases in your history, you may have to look at these behaviours and put some limits in place. This is not to say that you can never do anything impulsive, but wouldn’t it be great if you had that worked into a budget, and you knew what discretionary funds you had?

2. You may find your purchases are all practical. You may find that you are actually doing great. You may also find out there is nothing in your cash flow you can give up. Perhaps there just is not enough money coming in to pay your bills. For instance, if you are always going to be $200 short every month, you have discovered you need to earn another $200 a month. This could be a second stream of income. This could be taking something you love to do and turning it into something to earn some extra money. Be creative.

Be Kind to Yourself – Be prepared to accept what you learn and take whatever steps are needed. Take control of your cash flow. Give yourself a pat on the back because you have examined the situation and are taking steps to correct it. Please do not berate yourself for your situation. It does no good to blame yourself. If you find your debt is unmanageable and you need help, there are organizations such as Consolidated Credit Counselling of Canada who offer counsellors that provide training to help you take control.

To test your knowledge regarding credit, follow this link.

If you need a financial plan to help you achieve your goals, send me an email. I’m here to help.

~ Lynn@stepright.ca

Lynn Whetham is a Certified Financial Planner and managing partner at Stepright Capital Planning Inc. in St. George, Ontario.

 



How CAN We Use Time More Efficiently?

Posted on: August 11th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Productive...

  I know it’s summer, and for many people, it’s likely the time
  of year when you feel most lazy. If you’re on holidays, that’s
OK.

  If you’re supposed to be working, it’s a different story.

How well do you manage your time?

Check out Lolly Daskal’s short article 7 Time Management Mistakes That Are a Complete Waste of Time.

Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”



What is the True Cost of Stalled Productivity?

Posted on: April 17th, 2014 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Get Productive...

Do you have action items which get stalled? Leslie Shreve of Productive Day provides some useful tips in her article “Where Your Productivity Stalls, What it Costs You and What to Do About It.”


What will you change to become more productive in 2014?



Timeless Wisdom from Mark Twain

Posted on: February 11th, 2014 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” – Mark Twain



A Case Against New Year’s Resolutions!

Posted on: January 22nd, 2014 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

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.



Eat That Frog Part 3

Posted on: November 13th, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments


Have you heard the expression “Eat That Frog” before? It’s the phrase that Brian Tracy uses “as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day.”

Many of us procrastinate when it comes to getting started on tasks we don’t really want to do. I’d like to share some information from EAT THAT FROG! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (ISBN 978-1-57675-422-1)–one of my favourite productivity books.

In our September and October issues, I shared the first 14 ways on Brian’s list. Here are the last seven!

15. Maximize your personal power: Identify your periods of highest mental…energy each day, and structure your most important and demanding tasks around these times. Get lots of rest so you can perform at your best.

16. Motivate yourself into action: Be your own cheerleader. Look for the good in every situation. Focus on the solution rather than the problem. Always be optimistic and constructive.

17. Get out of the technological time sinks: Use technology to improve the quality of your communications, but do not allow yourself to become a slave to it. Learn to occasionally turn things off and leave them off.

18. Slice and dice the task: Break large, complex tasks down into bite-sized pieces, and then do just one small part of the task to get started.
Create large chunks of time: Organize your days around large blocks of time where you can concentrate for extended periods on your most important tasks.

19. Develop a sense of urgency: Make a habit of moving fast on your key tasks. Become known as a person who does things quickly and well.

20. Single handle every task: Set clear priorities, start immediately on your most important task, and then work without stopping until the task is 100 percent complete. This is the real key to high performance and maximum personal productivity.”

I hope you have found a few of Brian’s 21 ways useful to help you stop procrastinating and get more things done faster!

Take action and EAT THAT FROG!



Eat That Frog Part 1

Posted on: September 25th, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Have you heard the expression “Eat That Frog” before? It’s the phrase that Brian Tracy uses “as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day.”

Many of us procrastinate when it comes getting started on tasks we don’t really want to do. I’d like to share some information from EAT THAT FROG! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (ISBN 978-1-57675-422-1)–one of my favourite productivity books.

Here are Brian’s first 7 ways to stop procrastinating and get more things done faster.

1. “Set the table: Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential. Write out your … objectives before you begin.

2. Plan every day in advance: Think on paper. Every minute [spent planning can reduce your actual time spent on action by five or ten minutes].

3. Apply the 80/20 Rule to everything: Twenty percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your results. Always concentrate your efforts on that top 20 percent.

4. Consider the consequences: Your most important tasks and priorities are those that can have the most serious consequences, positive or negative, on your life or work. Focus on these above all else.

5. Practice creative procrastination: Since you can’t do everything, you must learn to deliberately put off those tasks that are of low value so that you have enough time to do the few things that really count.

6. Use the ABCDE Method continually: Before you begin work on a list of tasks, take a few moments to organize them by value and priority so you can be sure of working on your most important activities.

7. Focus on key result areas: Identify and determine those results that you absolutely, positively have to get to do your [work] well, and work on them all day long.”

Stay tuned to the next edition for more tips!

Take action and EAT THAT FROG!



Getting Organized for Back to School!

Posted on: August 7th, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler

It’s that time of year again!  The relaxing days of summer are almost behind us.

GETTING ORGANIZED FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

 

Planning
If you plan ahead, you’ll be ready for the first day of school.

Don’t wait until the night before school starts to try and get your children into their back-to-school routine.  Start a week or two before.  The morning routine is under your control.  Everyone will have a better day if it starts out calmly.

Clothing
Have your children try on all of their clothing to see what fits.  Yes, they really have grown 3 inches during the summer!  Make a list of what needs to be bought.

Let children decide what they are going to wear, and lay out their clothes the night before.

School Supplies
Has the school provided a list of supplies that will be required?  Stock up during the back-to-school sales.  With higher gas prices, saving a couple of dollars by running from store to store may not be worth the extra effort involved.  Remember that your time is valuable.

Backpacks should be the correct size for your children.  Let them choose one with your help; if they like it, they’ll be more likely to use it and less likely to lose it.

Lunches
Keep your cupboards well stocked with lunch items.  While single-serving sizes are convenient, they are more costly.  Be thrifty and get supplies in bulk.  Keep a pen and paper handy in or near your pantry to make a note of items that are running low.

Older children should be responsible for making their own lunches.  Provide healthy choices, and let them choose what they like.  Make lunches at night to save time in the morning.  Put leftovers into lunch containers when cleaning up after dinner.  When you cook, double the recipe and freeze one batch.  You can use the second batch for lunches or dinner on a busy night.  It will save you time and will be healthier than picking up fast food.

Labelling
Don’t forget to label all items your children take to school which need to be brought home each night or week.

Checklist
Post a checklist as close as possible to where your children enter and exit for school.  Make it easy for everyone to read.  Have young children draw an outline of the items they need to take.  Have a designated spot for each child’s coat, mittens, boots, backpack and sports equipment.

Calendar and Scheduling
All activities should be put onto one calendar.  Keeping more than one calendar is difficult; it usually results in missed appointments.  Label each family member’s activities in a different colour; let your children pick their favourite colour.  Limit extra-curricular activities for each child.  To make everyone’s life easier, try not to overschedule.  Your children need some time to be kids!

Rewards
Set up a reward system to motivate your children to reach their goals throughout the year.  With your encouragement and positive reinforcement, they will succeed!

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