Be a Rainbow In Someone Else’s Cloud. ~ Maya Angelou It takes so little to brighten someone else’s day. Yet it can leave them feeling happy for a moment, an hour, a day, or give them a sweet memory for life. And it makes you feel pretty awesome, too. Here are some ideas for being […]
Category Archives: Relationships
Wednesday is my wedding anniversary – 15 years. I find that hard to grasp, maybe because most days I feel about 12. But also, it’s a long time, right? A long time to be in this intimate, intense situation with the same person. So I thought I’d write about some of the things I’ve learned. […]
Happy Valentine’s Day to all my lovely readers! To me Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance, it’s a great reminder to focus on all the relationships in our lives. So I thought I’d put together some posts from the archives that touch on organizing our relationships better. I hope you find something here to add […]
Well, yes – it’s likely you’ll get exactly what you want most of the time if you’re as adorable as this little charmer. But even if you score a little lower on the cuteness scale, there are things you can do to radically increase your chances of getting what you want. If you find yourself […]
Here’s something you can do to get better organized – and it’ll take you just 5 minutes!
Batch Birthday Shopping
1. Check your diary for upcoming birthdays.
2. Make a list of all the items you’ll need to buy for these occasions: gifts, cards, gift wrap, party supplies…
Note: This is an edited extract from e-class 41 of the Relationships module of the Design Your Life Program. When we stop and think about what’s most important to us, we often say ‘relationships’. But we rarely, if ever, proactively take inventory of our relationships, or consciously think of ways to improve them. If your […]
Last week I went to my 25-year high-school reunion. How can that be? Most days I still feel about 12. Leading up to the reunion I chatted with my present-day friends, and was surprised that many of them dreaded the thought. Why? I got fat, said one. I wouldn’t know what to say to them, […]
The old warning not to burn your bridges is wise. It’s especially wise when it comes to relationships, since there’s little point in leaving a trail of flaming ill will behind you when you leave a job, relationship or dinner party. Keeping your options – and channels of communication – open does seem like good […]
Do people tell you you’re no fun? Do you wish you could relax and enjoy yourself more? After working in large financial institutions for over a decade, I became very serious and forgot how to have fun. It was a career choice so diametrically opposed to my personality that an organizational psych once asked, ‘How […]
Note: Please see the updated version of this post, reflecting recent Facebook changes. ——– Last week I tweeted about how good it felt to finally get my Facebook friends into lists, and to be able to view my news feed by these lists. For instance, if I just want to see what my business, gym […]
3 Steps To Getting More Done By Saying No More Often Graciously decline requests that don’t fit your priorities. How? 1. Instead of ‘No I can’t’, try No thank you Sorry, I’m already over-committed My strengths are in [insert area of priorities]. 2. Role play your response to build confidence. 3. Remember – you […]
This can be a stressful time of year, no doubt about it. To help you to get things done, keep your cool, and have a good time, here are my top 3 happy-holiday tips. Getting Organized for Happier Holidays: My Top 3 Tips 1. Do less Doing less is your single best strategy for avoiding […]
Welcome to Mission #23 of our 52 Get Organized Missions. Good relationships have many health and longevity benefits, yet we rarely consider how we can improve our friendships. This week, over the next 3 steps and 30 minutes, that’s exactly what we’ll do. If you’ve completed the previous mission Get Organized Mission #22: Organize Your […]
Family organization is made easier with the right tools.
The blog Wise Bread has put together some helpful resources for organizing the family, covering
Money Management for Kids and Their Parents –
With a family budget spreadsheet
There are a several ways to approach this, both for you and your partner.
Start by making peace with the fact that you can’t change someone else. In fact, if you push too hard your partner may become defensive, making the situation worse.
Instead, focus on getting what you need (perhaps a clutter-free space of your own?), modeling the benefits of hoarding-free behavior in your own life, and reinforcing positive change in your partner. The first post, below, is about working with a disorganized colleague, but the three tips are equally applicable to living with a stuff-loving partner.
20
Aug
Aug
Can’t for the life of you remember important dates? Always in trouble for having no gift/card/ excuse on that special day? If you’re an Outlook user, this Get Organized Quick Tip will give you peace of mind – as well as getting you out of the doghouse and into the good books. Getting Organized Quick […]
Who do you look to to make your life happy and fulfilling? Are they making the grade?
There are some people to whom you really shouldn’t delegate responsibility for your happiness. Don’t worry – there are only five.
1. Your spouse. You’ve committed yourself to your spouse for life. Doesn’t that entitle you to their undying efforts to keep you happy? Thankfully, no…
You Get Better Customer Service by Being a Better Customer, according to LifeHacker. (Their article summarizes the first of several points that explain How to Be the Best Customer by Wise Bread.) And how do you become a better customer? By getting organized and keeping a record of your communications. (See below for a free […]
09
Jun
Jun
If you have a question personal organization, decluttering, simplicity, or goals, simply post your question on my Facebook page. Here’s a recent one… Q: There’s a fellow manager at work who’s a train wreck – and they don’t realize it. How do you help someone who’s clearly not organized but who thinks they’re doing fine? […]
Welcome to Mission #5 of our 52 Get Organized Missions. If you’ve completed the previous mission Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies then give yourself a pat on the back! This week’s task will help you save time and increase productivity every single day – simply by being smarter and more proactive in your routine […]