I did something amazing this week. 
Really, you are not going to believe it! 
Want to hear?  Of course you do!
I actually created extra time in my day! 
I know what you are saying; “Impossible!”
But really, I did!

Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about this but it is important.  We leave our homepages set to sites like Yahoo! or Hotmail for easy access to our email (a love/hate relationship for sure!).  However, have you ever noticed how much time you waste getting to the task at hand when you open up your internet browser?  I was guilty of this until just recently.  I found myself sitting down to read email or do research but getting distracted and lost in “cyber-space.”  Anywhere from 5-20 minutes later I would wonder what I was doing, how I got so distracted, and regret wasting the precious time!  I was clicking on the news headlines that pop up on Yahoo!’s homepage.  While I do believe staying up with current events is important, it really was taking up the crucial quiet time I have during the evenings.  If you have Yahoo! set as your homepage, you are required to click on two different links before you get to your email.  Both pages have catchy news titles scattered with intriguing pictures to get your attention… and, it works!  Suddenly you are lost in the Chaos of the internet!
Simple solution: CHANGE YOUR HOMEPAGE!  I now have my homepage set as my electronic to-do list.  However, it would be just as effective to use the actual page that my email shows up on.  I can say with certainty that I am using my coveted quiet time far more productively.  And, I gave myself more time in the day!
So, I thought I would ask… What is your homepage?  Is it distracting you?  Is there a site/page that would help you use your time more productively?  Try it.  There really is no magic involved.  I promise!

So, I recently found this website, and after trying it out for a few weeks, I think you should take a look at it too.  It’s an electronic “Teux Deux” list.  It keeps things simple but effectively manages the revolving list of tasks you need to keep track of each day!

Now, it does have it quirks.  But, all in all, it is a great tool to have at my fingertips (on my phone that is!).

Try it out.  Tell me what you think!

We have talked about prioritizing many times on this blog.   At times it may seem to many of us that making priorities is a great theory but an almost unattainable reality.  Even for those who seem to be pros at accomplishing things in a timely and efficient manor, it really can be difficult to get all that we want to do completed.  It is important for all of us to learn that what we want, and need, to get done is sometimes drastically different from what we are able to do at any given time. 
It is necessary for us to be realistic with what we can actually accomplish for several reasons.  First, it will eliminate the guilt you feel if you plan to do something and are unable to follow though.  Second, completing the things you set out to do, in the time frame you expected, boosts your confidence and keeps you energized. 
So, how can we create realistic priorities?  The first step is to determine how much you are capable of each day.  Your level of productivity changes daily and depends on many factors.  You will be more productive some days than you are others. A sick child, a friend in need, or a death in the family are some of many issues that can cause stress in our lives.  It is important to remember that these things need “space” in our days, but do not need to take them over. 
Second, to create priorities, we must first know what needs to get done.  This can work on a broad list of tasks or a to-do list for the week.  To establish priorities, start with a blank sheet of notebook paper.  Draw a line down the middle then label one column as “Need” and the other column as “Want.”  Take your To-Do list and separate it into these columns.  You may be surprised to see what actually goes into the “needs to get done” column.
One client was recently surprised that “Work” went into her “want” column.  Most people need to work because they have bills to pay.  However, while this woman is fantastic at what she does and loves to work, she does not need to because her husband makes enough to support them comfortably.  In her “Need” column “care for mom” and “prepare for move” were at the top of her list.  After taking a realistic look at what she needed to do, taking a short break from work was not a difficult decision.  And, it opened up time for her to accomplish the things she needed to do without feeling guilty about letting someone down. 
If you are feeling stressed about all the things on your to-do list, try separating it into a Need/Want list.  While something as big as work probably won’t make it onto most of our lists, you may find that the dry cleaning can really wait to be dropped off until next week when you have more time. 
Let me know how making your list goes on Facebook.  Did it change the way you are doing things? 

I have a love/hate relationship with email.  While I believe it allows us to be more efficient in many ways, I truly believe it creates more work.  Let me elaborate.

I get over 30 emails a day.  Of those, there are always ones that are immediately deleted (offers I am uninterested in, newsletters that don’t have catchy enough titles to captivate my attention, the Pottery Barn “flyer” so I don’t have the desire to buy something).  After weeding thru my email, I am usually left with 10-20 that actually need to be read and responded to; this takes up a lot of time! 

With the invention of email we spend less time on the phone and out tracking people down to get things done which is great.  What isn’t great is the immediacy that email creates (especially with Blackberry’s and iPhones). Most people check their email several times a day.  With this knowledge is almost seems expected that a “timely response” means within the day.  This is how I believe email creates more work. 

My new solution…. I designate time each day as email response time.  By allotting a specified time for responding to all of the day’s emails I find myself less interested in checking my email throughout the day. It’s amazing how less distracted my day is now.  And, I do believe 24 hours is well within the appropriate amount of time to make someone wait for a response. 

How about you?  Do you spend too much time checking and responding to email? Let us know on Facebook how you control the amount of time you spend managing it!

For most of my adult life, I have believed that people will always make time for what is important to them.  For instance, when you hear someone say, “I don’t have time to go to the gym,” it’s usually not that they don’t have time for the gym, but instead that the gym is not important enough for them to make time. 
I have been thinking about this philosophy quite a bit during the last few weeks as I tried to make time for all of the things that are important to me.  I have come to the conclusion that despite how hard a person tries, sometimes it will be impossible to make time for everything that is important.  
A great example to my theory is this blog.  I do believe it is important.  It allows me to share ideas and communicate with all of you in an entirely different setting.  Writing blogs is something that I truly enjoy but seem, at times, to be unable to keep up with.  It is not because blogging is unimportant to me, but that there are often other things that are important to me that take priority.  For instance; putting my kiddos to sleep. 
I still believe that, in most cases, people will make time for what is important to them.  But, I think it would be more accurate to say that people make time for what is most important to them, most of the time. 
What are your thoughts?  Let me know on Facebook!

I find it interesting that the people I see as having it the most “together” are the people that, quite often, feel like they can’t ever Get it Together! 

Why is that? It’s an interesting battle that I myself have been in.

I juggle 4 kids, a husband, running my own business, and all the tasks that arise in life because of those things.  Despite careful planning and organizing, sometimes there are more tasks during a given day that even this girl can handle.  I find myself saying, “I should be able to…” but I have learned that those words serve no purpose.  I think it is important for everyone to remember that sometimes you are not going to be able to, and its okay! 

Chances are you have it more together than you think.  When you start to feel overwhelmed or out of control, examine your priorities.  You will find there are usually things that can wait until tomorrow if necessary.  And, your sanity is worth putting things off when needed!

On the desk of a new client sat a clear pickle jar, all tags removed, filled with golf balls.  The task at hand that day was to begin the process of de-cluttering her workspace.  While there were many things on the desk, the jar captured my curiosity.  This client did not strike me as a golf enthusiast, but I could be wrong.  When I enquired about the jar I was confused at first by the answer I received. 

“Oh, those are the important things in life.  They have to go first.”  Noticing the confusion that was very likely strewn across my face, she continued. 

“The golf balls are the important things in life, like family and time for myself.  I can fill in the space with marbles and then sand; things like work and errands, but if I fill the jar with the marbles and sand first, there will be no room for the golf balls.  When I am frustrated with something, the golf balls remind me that what I am dealing with is probably a marble, if not sand, and I can handle it.  They also remind me that I shouldn’t spend too much time on the small things; if I do the golf balls aren’t going to fit!”

Needless to say, the golf balls made the cut that day.  However, they found a place on a nearby shelf.  After all, it isn’t clutter if it has a purpose.  How do you remind yourself to focus on the important things?  Let us know on Facebook.  I can’t wait to read your responses!

Named for the outrageous profit margins retailers experience during this 24 hour period, the Friday after Thanksgiving is commonly referred to as “Black Friday.” However, with the economy in its current state, it is more important then ever that we realize that Black Friday for the Retailers actually means Red Friday for the consumer.  The term actually stems from the old accounting practice of using Red ink for debts and Black ink for profits.

For those of you planning to brave the crowds (more then 147 million last year), here are a few things to keep in mind while hunting for those once in a lifetime sales and impossible to pass up deals. 

First, have a plan.  If your purpose for shopping is to complete your holiday gift list, make sure you actually make a list, and bring it with you!  Stores make a considerable amount of money on impulse buying.  By making a list of the people you need to buy gifts for and what you plan to buy them, you can combat the urge to splurge and still get the gifts you need without sliding into the Red.  If you are unsure of what you want to get someone come, up with an appropriate amount that you would be willing and able to spend and write it next to their name on your list.

Second, make a budget.  It is easy for shoppers to get carried away in the moment.  After all isn’t that what the entire day is built around?  Some of us may already have our holiday list complete so Friday will be more for the thrill of the hunt.  Regardless of who you are buying for, having a budget can keep you calm while the world around you is whirling with “last chance deals.”  The key to a budget however, is to keep track of your purchases.  If you buy mom the video camera she asked for make sure you write down how much it cost you next to her name (on your gift list).  No matter who you are buying for, you should keep a notebook handy to tally your receipt totals as you go.  This will keep you aware of what you have spent and how much of your budgeted money you have left while a also keeping your bank account in the black.

Third, make sure to ask yourself one very important question before each purchase.  “Do I need this?”  If there is a chance that you are buying something for the thrill of the sale instead of the quality of the item or the fact that you actually need it, rethink your purchase!  Don’t let yourself get so caught up in the moment that you start to impulse buy.  Asking whether you really need something will prevent you from purchasing items you do not need.

Fourth, do your research.  How will you know if 30% off of that IPod is a good deal if you haven’t looked at what it goes for normally?  If you have made a list, you should have some things in mind.  Spending a little time researching the things you want to buy can save you a lot of money.  Many stores provide prices for items on their websites so there is little effort needed to do a little research.  For instance, if I wanted to get my sister a new camera, I would check its price at Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-mart, and Amazon.  If I’m prepared with a list of comparable prices I am less likely to spend more then I have to in the stores.  To aid in the researching process there are many websites dedicated to helping consumers find good deals.  To preview the sales, try visiting www.bfads.net or www.blackfriday.gottadeal.com

If you can’t find the perfect gift on Friday, stay calm there are more sales.  Many stores extend their sales throughout the weekend to maximize their profits.  And, if you are not one of the 147+ million people who will be hitting the stores on Monday, you can still take part in the savings.  Many retailers cut prices on their products thru their online the Monday after Thanksgiving.  To take advantage of these deals go to www.cybermonday.com or www.bestcyermondaysales.com.

So, cut your coupons, create your itinerary, and fill out your budget.  This year black Friday will happen as it always does for the retailers.  However, this year make sure it doesn’t become “Red Friday” for you.

Saw this posted on a friends Facebook page and thought to myself, those are words to live by!

“Never make someone a PRIORITY if they only make you an OPTION!”

What Great advise!

“When things calm down, I will have time for…”

Have you ever said this, or maybe thought it?  I hear it commonly, and I will admit to occasionally pushing things off because I feel too busy.  However, the real truth is things are probably always going to be busy.  My kids and husband need things from me, there is always “work” to do, and something is always going to be happening that is outside of my control. 

If we are too busy right now to meet a friend for lunch, go on a family picnic, or visit our parents; when will we have time?  And, when we do have time, will it be too late to do the things we want?  The fact is, our kids will grow up, our friends sometimes move away, and we do not know how long we have before the people we love are taken from us.  

It’s been said that when people look back on their lives they don’t remember work or social obligations; but instead, the memories they made with family and friends.  If work, or other social obligations you have committed yourself to, are keeping you from spending time on the more important things in life , maybe it’s time to reassess whether or not you really need your hands in so many different baskets.  That way if a friend suggests lunch, you can meet at your favorite restaurant!  Oh, when your mom calls next, don’t try to get off the phone so quickly!