Your "To Do" List is Overwhelming

Getting things done requires organization. You need a goal and a plan for completing your "task". 

Even things as simple as "grocery shopping" or "picking up painting supplies so that you can paint your living room" are tasks that should be scheduled - so that they actually happen. Making a list of what you need to get done each day helps you stay on track and makes sure that you don't forget something important.

In our busy lives - sometimes we just forget things! It happens.....  

Having a "To Do" list is great - BUT - for a lot of people - it's ovewhelming. And there is a difference between a "Daily To Do" list and a "running To Do" list. 

A lot of people (especially homeowners) have some type of a running list of things that they need to get done - to fix - to buy - to pick up - to drop off .....  And that list can be very, very long. It's basically a "brain dump" of anything and everything that they want to (or think they want to) accomplish. The list can be pages and pages long. Some people call it a "honey do" list.

The problem of overwhelm comes in when someone looks at that list and thinks that they have to get everything done in one day - or be labeled as a "failure". If you have 10 things on your list and you only accomplish 2 or 3 items on your list - you are a "failure" - according to your psyche. 

A "Daily To Do" list should only contain a few (3 - 5) items. They should be things that you can realistically accomplish in your day. If you accomplish 3 out of 5 items - then you can consider it a success.  But if you had 10 items on your list - only accomplishing 3 items would have been considered a failure.

You want to set yourself up for success - by being realistic in what you can accomplish given your time constraints. 

Each day (either the first thing in the morning or the previous night) - you want to take a look at your "running to do" list - and pick a few items to put on your "daily to do" list.

Set yourself up for success - keep your daily list short and your overwhelm under control.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

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Change Your Habits So That Your Life Will Be More Organized and Stress Free

 

For some people living in a disorganized house doesn't faze them. But for others, it causes stress and anxiety. They know they need to change, to fix things, to get a handle on their disorganization, procrastination or lack of productivity. But where do they start? By changing their habits.

Does Replacing Bad Habits with Good Habits Work?

 

Bad habits are a frustrating and persistent part of life. They can hold you back from reaching your goals and lead to negative consequences in your personal and professional life.

 

Many people try to replace bad habits with good habits as a solution, but does this approach actually work? Let’s explore the effectiveness of this question and explain the importance of addressing the root cause of the bad habit.

 

The Importance of Finding the Root Cause

 

One factor in the success of replacing bad habits with good habits is understanding what is driving the bad habit. Whether or not you’re aware of it, bad habits often serve a specific purpose or fulfill a need.

 

The idea is that the bad habit is performed to relieve stress, boredom, or anxiety (or whatever your issue is). But it’s a problem because the bad habit tends to make the original problem worse, so you might focus on the bad habit and just stop it without understanding the root cause. If you do this, it may cause you to implement the wrong good habit to replace the bad habit, making it seem like replacing bad habits does not work.

 

The problem is that if you don't address the underlying issue causing the bad habit, you will continue to have the trigger for the habit. Due to this, you may struggle to maintain the good habit because it’s not fulfilling the original need that the bad habit alleviates.

 

To uncover what is causing your bad habit, ask yourself some questions:

 

·         What need or desire is the bad habit fulfilling?

·         What emotions or feelings do I experience before, during, and after the bad habit?

·         What situations or environments trigger the bad habit?

·         What are the consequences or costs of the bad habit?

 

Answering these questions offers insight into the root cause of your bad habit and helps you identify potential solutions.

 

Strategies to Identify and Resolve the Bad Habit

 

You can use several strategies to figure out the root cause of your bad habit and find a solution.

Let’s look at a few of them.

 

·         Keep a journal: Write down your thoughts, feelings, and actions surrounding the bad habit. This can help you identify patterns and triggers for the habit.

 

·         Seek support: Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist about your bad habit and the challenges you are facing. They may be able to offer insights and suggestions for addressing the root cause of the habit.

 

·         Experiment with different strategies: Try different approaches to addressing the bad habit and see what works best for you. This could be taking up a new hobby to relieve stress instead of smoking, or finding a healthy way to cope with boredom such as taking a walk or reading a book.

 

Replacing bad habits with good ones is challenging. But breaking free from negative patterns and creating lasting change in your life is possible. Having said that, you must understand the root cause of your bad habit and find effective strategies to address it. Doing so will set you up for success in adopting healthy, positive habits to replace bad ones.

 

Remember to be patient with yourself, and don't get discouraged if you encounter setbacks. With persistence and commitment, you can overcome your bad habits and achieve your goals.

 

 Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

 

Clutter - It's more than just Stuff. Letting Go of Whatever is Cluttering Your Life.

Clutter comes in many forms. It's not just about "stuff" or "possessions". There are many types of clutter. Most people only think about clutter in terms of physical clutter. But there is so much more.

Types of Clutter:

• Physical Clutter:           things that you have
• Paper Clutter:               piles of paper everywhere
• Digital Clutter:             emails & internet
• Time Clutter:                things that you do
• Brain Clutter:                things that you think about
• Relationship Clutter:    people in your life that are not good for you
• Emotional Clutter:        things that you burden yourself with

What are some things that are cluttering your life?

  

Stress  -  Work  -  To Many Things On Your To Do List   -  Guilt  -  Worrying  -  Clothes  -  Stuff  -  Obligations  -  Noise  -  Regrets  -  Jealousy  -  Failure  -  Bad Relationships  -  Paper  -  Commitments ...

Take some time to think about all of the things that are cluttering your life and try to decide what you can let go of. 

Pick one thing in each category that is cluttering your life and let it go. 

It's not easy - but if you continue to let these things clutter your life - you won't have time for the good things in your life. Or the new things in your life. 

Things and people - come and go out of our life. That doesn't mean that we didn't care about them. As we grow we all develop new and different interests. With work and family - we don't always have time for some of the activities or hobbies that we enjoyed when we were younger. Our focus changes as we age. It's not a bad thing. But we need to let go of some of the material things that are cluttering our lives to make room for our current life. And sometimes we also need to let go of  relationships that are no longer in our best interest.

Learn to embrace your current life without the clutter of a life that no longer serves in your best interest.

There are many different types of clutter. Look at each type of clutter and start letting go of some of the things that no longer make you feel fulfilled. You deserve to be happy and clutter free.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

How Can You Use a Professional Organizer in Your Life

A lot of people think that you can only use a Professional Organizer to organize your kitchen or garage.

I love kitchens and pantries - my favorite! But there are so many more ways that you can use the services of a Professional Organizer!

Besides helping you organize all areas of your home or office, a Professional Organizer can help you declutter and organize your home as you age. As we get older our lives change. Kids grow up and move out. You will probably not be hosting big dinners anymore - so the need for a lot of the things that you used to use - is no longer there. Rearranging your kitchen so that the things that you use are at a lower level so that you don't have to reach, is also a good idea as you age.

Most people wait until they are a lot older (70 - 80's) to start downsizing, purging, decluttering. And that is too late. People don't realize how long the process actually takes. They also don't realize the emotions that come with purging your stuff. a lifetime of memories - and they all tend to come flooding back when you start the purging process. And the number one thing that I hear kids say most often to their family is "we don't want that stuff and we will throw it out after you die". A devastating thing for a parent to hear. Because everyone thinks that their stuff is valuable and everyone should care about it. But it's not - and they don't. A hard truth to hear.

Start the organizing and purging process earlier so that your kids don't have to be traumatized and stressed out by going through your belongings. They will thank you for it!

***

If you wanted to downsize to a smaller home, an Organizer can help you purge and downsize, decide what will fit into your new home, and help you unpack and set up your new home so that you can walk in and be settled in a short period of time. Wouldn't it be great to be able to find all of your things the day after your move - instead of looking at boxes for weeks?

 ***

Another way that a Professional Organizer can help you is by sorting, purging and organizing a home or estate after a parent dies. The amount of paperwork alone is overwhelming. If you can find it that is! Most people do not realize the amount of time it takes to find and gather up all of the documents that are needed in dividing an estate. Getting all of the financial paperwork together is a daunting task. Clearing out their clothes is really hard and very emotional. Finding places to donate items, taking them to donation sites or arranging for pick up of items is something that an Organizer can help you with. 

Getting through the process is not easy, but a Professional Organizer can make the entire process more efficient and less stressful.

***

Besides physical organization - a Professional Organizer can also help you organize your schedule and your life! Time Management is one of the most important things in our life - yet it's something that is usually overlooked. 

By working with a Professional Organizer on time management and scheduling - you can eliminate a lot of stress!

Feel free to reach out with any questions on more ways that a Professional Organizer can make your home and life run smoother!

Happy Organizing!

 

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....

Tips to Balance Work and Home Responsibilities

If there's one thing you've likely realized by now, it's that life is rarely one-dimensional! You probably have a hard time identifying a period in your past when life proceeded without interruptions.

But have you ever thought about this? Those "interruptions" belong there because life is meant to be multi-dimensional.

Your life is interesting and fulfilling because of variety. Variety in the professional and personal aspects of your life make every day worth living. Now all you really need to do is learn how to balance it all.

Train yourself to balance life's demands by implementing these effective habits:

 

1.      Prioritize. Although you may be a little hesitant to go through this step, it's vital.

·         Do you find yourself putting greater effort into your career? Perhaps that's where your passion lies right now. It's important to come to terms with that.

·         Have you experienced being at work and contemplating where to take your kids this weekend? Maybe that's truly your focus, and that's okay too!

·         The first step is determining what's more important to you. After you've done that, consider whether you can afford to be in that position. If there are factors pointing to unrealistic priorities, be honest with yourself. Put first things first!

2.      Create a distinction. Now that you've outlined your priorities, your next task is to ensure the responsibilities are properly distinguished. Are there certain responsibilities which really shouldn’t be on your radar right now?

·         Earning another degree can certainly add to your qualifications, but is the timing right? If your job is already fulfilling, how about putting off more schooling for now? Use your time wisely so you can balance professional and personal responsibilities.

·         It's great if your kids can participate in tons of extracurricular activities. But do you have the time to attend all the games and recitals? Meet them halfway by limiting the activities, or share the responsibilities with your spouse.

3.      Stick to a dedicated schedule. It's only fair to give each aspect of your life the time it deserves. Once you've identified the priorities, avoid allowing both areas of your life to intertwine.

·         If you've allocated three hours each evening to those special people in your life, ensure you stick to that. This will keep your relationships intact.

·         Sure, unexpected occurrences may pop up at work and throw your plans out of whack. But what's important is that you make the effort to stick to schedules as much as possible.

4.      Make it worth your while. When you've identified set windows of time for specific responsibilities, maintain your focus and follow through.

·         If it's time for work, make it all about work. Try to produce your best quality and get the best results. That way, you'll feel at ease when you're ready to move on to your personal time. You'll rest better knowing you've given your best at work.

The same thing goes for personal time. Turn off the television. Silence your cell phone. Shut down your computer. Allow yourself to take care of personal responsibilities without interruption.

When you practice these tips regularly, you'll find is that it gets a little easier each day to balance these two different areas of your life.

Soon, you’ll be able to handle any unexpected circumstance without getting flustered because you have a good handle on balancing your work and home lives.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Getting Back on Track in this Stressful Time

The past few months have been very stressful for most people. Most stores and businesses have been shut down. Schools are closed. Routines have been disrupted.

Everyone has been in a state of flux and most people have not continued in their "normal" routines of exercise and being productive. Why? Because everyone was waiting for things to get back to "normal" - so they put everything - including their life - on hold.

Most people never dreamed that we would be isolated and quarantined for so long.

It's time to start getting back on track. It's time to get up and get dressed in something other than sweats. It's time to get back to your regular workout program. It's time to get back to healthy!

Having a "routine' is important to alleviate stress. It makes things "seem" better. By having structure we can accomplish more.

And kids - more than adults thrive on structure. So make up a daily schedule to help yourself get back on track. Be sure to add in a time slot for exercise - even if it's just going for a walk. Add in a time slot to connect with your friends or colleagues from work.

Start setting some goals for things that you want to accomplish over the next few months. Be sure to make them attainable and realistic goals.

Get your life back on track and ORGANIZED. Get your home organized and ready for summer.

Take your life off of hold and make some plans!

If you are stuck with where to start - reach out to a Life & Business Coach to help you navigate your options.

Listen to our interview on Business Talk Radio to learn more about what a Coach can do for you.



Radio Interview on Business Talk Radio


Happy Organizing !



 Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

Five Ways to Cut Spending That Have Little to No Impact on Your Life

Every family and every individual know the importance of cutting spending in today’s economy. However, many of these individuals do not realize that cutting spending in little ways can also help in this endeavor.

If you cut spending in many little areas, they will add up to significant amounts and the effect on your daily life can be minimal. The rewards, however, can be maximum.

1. Carpooling

As simple as this sounds, carpooling can save you tons of money, time, and even wear and tear on your car. You may not realize the major impact multiple short trips have on your vehicle. By taking short distance trips frequently, you literally ruin your brakes. Stop and go and neighborhood driving is terrible for your vehicle. By carpooling, you save the wear and tear on your brakes and your tires, as well. Saving gas is an added bonus.

2. Lightening the Load

While on the subject of vehicles, by lightening the load in your car, you can save on gas. The heavier your car is bogged down with junk, the less efficient your gas mileage is. If you have heavy cases of water, tools, or heavy-duty hockey equipment, lightening the load will get you better gas mileage.

3. Pay Cash at the Pump

Pumping your own gas and paying cash are two significant ways to save money. Pumping your own gas saves you on a per-gallon rate. If you are at the pump two to three times per week, like most, then you will save significantly by pumping your own gas. There are extra fees attached to your bill when you have the attendant pump your gas for you.

Paying cash also saves you money on every gallon. There are debit card and credit card fees attached when you use your plastic.

4. Make It a Night In

If you are used to eating out for convenience, get used to cooking and eating in more often. If you incorporate the entire family, it will not seem like such a chore. Have one person set the table, another clear, one cook, and another clean up. For pennies on the dollar, you can have a great meal, save money, eat healthy, and bond with your family. It is a win/win situation all around.

5. Keep the Plastic at Home

As simple as this sounds, keeping your plastic at home when you go out shopping will save you tons of money in impulse spending. Bring exactly enough cash for what you need. If you have spendable income, decide before you leave the house how much of that money you will spend and bring only that amount.

By bringing cash and no plastic, you will buy only what you need and leave the store unscathed. Once you arrive home, you will realize that you did not need that bright aqua silk scarf that would not have matched with anything anyhow.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com