A professional organizer’s quick tips for staying on track
By Jessica Duquette
Managing your minutes
the only three things you can do with time are sell it, savor it or squander it.
Avoid checking email first thing in the morning, the distraction throws off the rhythm of the whole day. Instead cross off two or three of your more urgent action items and then get to your email.
Create a quick action plan for the day on a large post-it, and prioritize by what is most important and urgent to get done and do those first.
Important things are not always urgent and urgent things are not always important. Learn to evaluate in the moment whether or not you can afford to commit to a project or action before choosing to do so. If you have conflicting feelings and someone else is waiting for your response, let them know that you will get back to them in a specified period of time.
Brain Dump. Write everything you need to remember on a piece of paper to clear your mind and allow the space for critical thinking. This paper should always be disposable!
Managing your mind
the hand that’s open to let go is the hand that’s open to receive.
Schedule a time to clean out your purse and your car. It will always make you feel better about yourself and help you think more clearly.
Allow yourself to purposely let go of things that you feel like you are attached to. Discover what the emotions are behind the grasping and really nurture yourself on that level. Grieving a past time in your life, such as when your kids were babies, or when your parents were alive or when you were 30 pounds thinner or 20 years younger? Afraid that you will not have or be enough? Ashamed that people will discover that you are a fraud? None of these feelings are about the things you are holding on to. Clutter is NEVER about the “stuff”, it’s always about you and clutter always has the result of keeping what you want away. (please reread that 3 times till it really sinks in)
If an item reminds you of someone, you can take the memory and implant it in your body. Try breathing in the memory of your grandmother or your daughter when she was a baby, breathe every last bit of the essence of the person from the item and then see what happens!
Honestly evaluate the places in your life where resentment, blame and acting the victim are stealing your joy, your energy and your vitality. Determine if holding on to these toxic feelings are serving you and forgive…yourself, the situation, the other person. Keep in mind, forgiving someone is not the same as condoning unacceptable behavior.
Notice how your clutter is screaming at you. What would it be saying if you could actually hear it? What are you saying to the world, including the people that you live with, by keeping the clutter? This step takes a lot of courage to face.
Continue reading "Organizing Tips For Staying Focused, Managing Time, Organizing Your Computer, Letting Go of Clutter, & Making Life Easier" »
