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It’s New Year’s Resolutions time!

It’s New Year’s Resolutions time! It’s that time of year.  New Year’s Eve is here. This year you are probably celebrating at home sitting in front of a fireplace, and watching a movie.  Covid has pretty much dampened any group celebrations. Usually you’re at a party celebrating with friends and everyone is asking each other “What’s your New Year’s Resolution?”  This, of course, is probably the worst time to decide – in the moment without any real thought to it. So this year, since you will probably be home, how about spending some real concentrated time deciding what goals you…

Simplify Your Life

Simplify Your Life

  I decided to do some pitching.  I pitched 90% of all the literature I had picked up from our travels.   I really don’t need them.  Since we don’t travel much except to see family, I decided they were taking up good space.  And even if we do go back to those cities, I doubt we would visit the same places.    Think about all the things you are keeping and ask yourself:    Why am I keeping these?   Do you have hundreds of birthday cards, holiday cards, etc.?  Why?     Baking and Cards I’m not saying you have…

I am in the Work from Home article – Costco July mag

I am in the Work from Home article – Costco July mag

I It’s July.  And it’s hot here – 110 in the shade!  This month I was featured in the Costco magazine.  (see below)  The reporter did a whole section of articles on  Working from Home and used Costco members.  I was one of the chosen sources.  In fact I was quoted in the gold box on the bottom of pg. 36 and I contributed some of the items in the list on pg. 37.   Some of you might be working from a home office all the time. Some of you might be working from home remotely. And some of…

Stuck? Try the Pomodoro Technique

June 20th was National Productivity Day.  How productive have you been?   The best way to get things done is to plan.  Create a schedule that works for you.  If children are home, you need to double plan –  plan for the kids and yourself.  If the kids are under school age, it’s a little harder. My suggestion is to find some time when the kids can be busy and you can do some work without interruption: A) the kids are old enough to play together or do a craft by themselves B) the kids can watch a TV show,…

Fun Activities to do at Home

I hope you’re all sheltering at home.  I know it’s hard not to have the freedom to come and go as you please. I’ve kept my husband home.  He’s only allowed in the backyard due to health issues.   It took me 2 weeks and at least 6 stores to be able to get extra toilet paper!  And now I feel like a bank robber with my red bandanna across my face and blue gloves on my hands to shop for food! I try to watch myself at stores, and always have my face mask on.  I like cloth masks because…

What’s your Secret Remedy?

Between my hip bursitis pain and my husband’s stroke, we’ve had 8 therapy appointments a week since December, 4 each.   Next week my husband starts vision therapy to correct his missing left visual field.  If it helps, he might be able to drive again in 3-4 months. With driving back and forth to therapy appointments, I’ve turned to listening to audio books.  My husband’s choice would be more along Clive Cussler who writes adventure novels.  I heard some, but once he explained waterboarding, and I heard too much.  I was way too emotionally involved = TENSE as all get out, listening…

Remove Knick Knack Distractions from your Desk

Remove Knick Knack Distractions from your Desk

The second group of distractions to remove from your desk are items that fall into three different groups. Knick Knacks There really is no reason to have knick knacks on your desk.  They are a true distraction because you look at them and several thoughts probably come into your mind in seconds: I love that little stuffed animal doggie. I remember that David bought it for me. I remember where we were when I got it. I remember why I got that stuffed doggie.   All of those thoughts just took you totally off your project and into a story…

National Clean Off Your Desk Day

National Clean Off Your Desk Day

Monday is National Clean Off Your Desk Day.  You may not know it, but the first book published on unique days was Chase’s Calendar of Events.  Mr. Chase had a messy desk.  His daughter decided he needed a special day to clean off his own desk.  So the second Monday in January is dedicated to National Clean Off Your Desk Day.   Technically, every day should be National Clean Off Your Desk Day for everyone! Part of cleaning off your desk is to remove items from your desk that might take your attention away from your work, or your phone call….

First and Easiest Way to Simplify Your Life

The first week of August is Simplify your Life Week.   The first and simplest thing you can do is  –Get rid of the visible piles.   Piles can occur in any room of the house.  The most common areas are:               Kitchen counters               Dining room table               Family room tables and couches               Master Bedroom               Guest bedroom                Spare bedroom               Bathrooms               Home office               Front entryway               Just removing the piles from your eyesight will dramatically improve your stress.   However, if you just toss items into a drawer…

2 Mistakes that Keep you Disorganized

  Graphic:  Not putting things away as soon as done using them.   The obvious first mistake that keeps you disorganized is that you don’t put things away. Instead you put something down, thinking you will take care of it later. That’s the start of a possible pile. Something not in the right place. Next thing you know, something goes on top of the first piece. – There’s your pile. It starts with just 2 items. And by the end of the day something else is added to it. Now there’s 3 pieces. It’s definitely a pile! And later something else goes on top…