Getting a flat tire is probably inevitable for most drivers but when it does happen, it can be a very stressful situation. I discovered this all too well yesterday. My Volkswagen Jetta actually gave me the “heads up” by showing the “inflation pressure” warning light on my instrument panel. Of course, I had no idea what it meant when I first saw it, but I soon learned exactly what my car was trying to tell me.*
So, what do you do when you have a flat tire? Well, if you’re like me, you call someone who can help. That might be AAA but in my case I called Bill Banford of Sharper Cut, Inc. What he did in the space of 10 minutes was priceless. He brought a jumper pack with compressor and my flat tire was soon road ready again.
Afterwards, I started thinking about the types of things that we all should probably keep in our cars just in case something happens, including a flat tire. It’s great to have a blanket, water, flashlight with extra batteries, and first aid kit. Here are a few more things you might want to have around.
1. Portable Jumper Pack with Compressor
Don’t let a flat tire get you down! Be sure to have a portable jumper Pack with compressor handy. This unit inflate your tires, jump start your car, and also features a built-in work light. The model shown is the Energizer 84020 12V All-In-One Jump-Start System with Built-In Air Compressor and Power Inverter and currently sells for $124.93.
2. Collision Kit
Do you know what to do if you have an accident? During extremely tense moments like these, you need to be calm and yet act quickly. That’s where the Collision Kit comes in.
It contains pre-formatted forms (for collecting insurance information, name, license plate number, and phone numbers), a pen, mini-clipboard, an envelope (for storing insurance and registration papers), and a disposable camera to photograph any damage (just in case your cell phone is dead).
The kit is compact enough to fit in your glove compartment. Purchase your kit for just $19.95. It’s definitely worth it!
3. Rain-X
I keep this product in my trunk organizer for those days when I know it’s going be raining heavily. Sometimes our windshield wipers don’t work as well we want them to (not my Jetta, of course).
Rain-X improves visibility when driving in wet weather once it’s properly applied to your exterior glass. Get Rain X wipes for under $6. Don’t forget to turn on your headlights!
*Lesson learned: Listen to Your Car.
Have you heard? NBC4, PNC Bank and D. Allison Lee’s Preferred Vendor, Shred-It, have teamed up to bring you another NBC4 Safe & Secure Community Shred event!
Up to five boxes of your personal papers will be shredded for FREE! Keep in mind that you must drive as walk-ins are not allowed. Also, no business or commercial material will be accepted.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to simultaneously reduce clutter, recycle your old papers, and safeguard your identity! See below for details.
DATE
September 27, 2008
TIME
8 am – 11 am
*Cars must be in line by 11 am
Prince George’s Community College
Parking Lot B
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD 20744
- All types of paper (paper clips & staples are ok) *Personal paper only
- Unwanted and expired credit cards
- Empty binders
- Computer disks*May be shredded offsite
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Do you find yourself tripping over the books in your home or office? Are there piles of books everywhere? Are you reluctant to part with books that you may refer to at some point in the future? If so, you are not alone. For many of us, books are treasured possessions. Yet, having too many can be a bittersweet experience when they expand beyond bookcases, shelves, and nightstands. When this happens, they become a source of clutter and no longer serve their intended purpose.
So, what can you do to reclaim your space? Here are some options:
- Donate, Donate, Donate. Yes, while sometimes difficult to do, the books that you have not been reading or referring to can bring joy to others. Many organizations, like Books for America and Project Night Night, accept used books in good condition. You can also make donations to local libraries, hospitals, after school programs, homeless shelters, and senior centers.
- Sell, Sell, Sell. Alternatively, you can sell your used books. Check sites like Sell Back Your Books and Blue Rectangle for more information. You may also find some local book stores that will purchase specific titles. Keep in mind that your books need to be in good condition to be sold or donated.
- Audiobooks. To stop your piles from growing, consider purchasing books on CD or downloading them to your hard drive. Audible.com (and other services like it) offers a wide selection of topics (e.g., Business, Self-Help, Classics, Education, Comedy, Arts & Entertainment, etc.). You can listen to your books on your computer, burn them to a CD, or transfer your them to your iPod. Listen to your favorite author in the car or while on the treadmill. An added bonus is that you can also find your favorite magazines, radio show, podcasts, and speeches! Audible keeps all the books you buy in your personal online library so they’re always easy to find.
- One In, One Out. This is a concept that can be applied to almost any item, including books (or clothing, shoes, tupperware, etc.). For every new publication you purchase, an existing one needs to be donated or sold. So before you head to the bookstore to get that book that you must have, take a look at your collection to see which ones might benefit someone else.
Try the option that works best for you. Free up your space and spend more time reading instead of navigating around a sea of books. You’ll be glad you did.
For over a year, I struggled with all the HTML gibberish and hyperlinks when I read e-mails on my BlackBerry. In fact, I didn’t bother to open some of them for fear that my eyes would begin to cross. Then I discovered that some clever company created software to turn all that garble into easy to read e-mails. It’s called the BBSmart E-Mail Viewer.
It is amazing how much easier it is to read my messages on my BlackBerry. My e-mails are clearer and can now display images. Another perk is that you can configure the viewer by changing the background color and font (including the color and size). You can even create e-mail templates! There are many other features and you get to try the viewer for free before purchasing it for $29.95. You can purchase it directly from BBSmart, or visit Handango, MobiHand, or Handmark.*
For more information on requirements and compatible devices, visit the BBSmart website at http://blackberrysmart.com/bbsev.php.
*If you have signed up as a new member for the BlackBerry Owner’s Lounge, you may be able to get a discount.
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Are you feeling a little overwhelmed and unproductive? Short on time? Stay on top of everything with Jott simply by using your voice.
Here are some ways Jott can help you better manage your time.
1. Voice-to-Text Notes. Need to remember things when you are not close to your computer? Simply call Jott, dictate your message, and Jott will transcribe your text. When you get back to your computer, your notes will be available at Jott online.
2. To Do Lists. Short on time and without pen and paper? Call Jott and say the name of your list before leaving your message. Your lists will always be available online and waiting for you when you get back to your computer.
3. Reminders Via E-Mail & Text Message. Jott can remind you of important dates (like anniversaries, meetings, job interviews, etc.). Just call, leave your message, and Jott will send you an e-mail or a text message 15 minutes beforehand.
4. Group Messaging. Need to send messages to a larger group of people? Create groups for all your contacts (input all required data), call Jott, say your group’s name, and then leave the message you want to sent to them. Once transcribed, Jott will send your message to everyone in the group via e-mail or text message.
Jott works well with Outlook, iPhone, Blackberry, and iGoogle. You can also add appointments to your Google calendar, update your blog, Twitter, Facebook, task management apps like Remember the Milk, and more. All you need to do is make a phone call. Choose one of the subscription plans or the pay-as-you-go option.
Do you use Jott? What’s your favorite feature?
*Article updated on January 19, 2011
There are many benefits to maintaining an organized environment. Besides being more efficient (i.e., finding things more quickly) and more productive (i.e., completing tasks fully and on time), living in an organized home or office space keeps the stress at bay.
It’s no secret what stress can do to the body. One of the biggest side effects of stress is high blood pressure. Stress also affects your critical thinking ability, how well you sleep, and can even make you more susceptible to illnesses. Less stress = happier, more productive life.
Here are my top five recommendations for bringing a bit of order and happiness to your life.
1. Set Organizing Goals. Figure out what you want to accomplish, and put those items in order of priority. Sometimes it feels like our whole house needs help, and it might. However, you probably have specific areas that bother you the most. Start with those areas first.
2. Figure Out Your Peak Performance Time. Do you know when you are most productive? Are you an evening or morning person? When do you feel the most alert? Finding out when you perform at your best will help you knock off your to do’s more efficiently and with greater success.
3. Figure Out Your Learning Style. Finding out if you’re a visual, auditory, or tactile (or combination) learner will help you to understand why it may be more challenging for you to do certain things. In addition, your space can be structured so that it matches your learning style so you can be more successful.
4. Plan Your Time Wisely. Schedule organizing tasks by putting them on your calendar with time frames. Be realistic about how long it will take you to complete each one and then do a little bit each day. If you spend just 10-15 minutes each day attacking a cluttered area of your home or office, you will get some (better than none) organizing done, and not feel overwhelmed.
After your 10 or 15 minutes are up (try for no more than 30 minutes), go about your usual day. If you’ve devoted a whole day to organizing, work in 30-60 minute chunks of time and take a 10 minute break before returning for another 30-60 minute session.
5. Relax! Once you feel motivated to keep up with your organizing tasks, you may forget one very important thing – YOU! We all lead very busy lives, and have families that need our attention, too. So, don’t forget to take breaks, to laugh, get a facial, take your vitamins, go for walks, take a vacation, make a healthy meal, etc. In other words, relax, have fun, and enjoy your life! When you’re having fun, there’s very little room for stress to take up your valuable time.
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