Can you believe we’re already half way through the year, that we’re already in September? The year seems to have flown by, almost unexpectedly, but don’t get caught off guard – get prepared.
September is National Preparedness Month and it’s a good time to assess how prepared you’d be if something crazy and unexpected happens. While it might seem impossible to be ready for anything, you can give yourself a fighting chance.
Check out Ready.gov to download emergency checklists. There’s information for almost anyone, so check out the links below, and poke around the Ready.gov site. It’s pretty thorough and has lots of helpful information. Since it is a lot of information, tackle one checklist at a time and involve your family members in gathering everything you need.
• Families
• Military Families
• Older People
• People With Special Needs
• Pet Owners
• Businesses.
• Emergency Supply List
“Many people attach special memories to their possessions, including clothes that may no longer fi t, videos they will never watch again and stacks of magazines they will never read again. Some people just have a hard time letting go.” [Packrats Can Learn to Just Say No to Clutter · Sara Gebhardt · The Washington Post · Page T09 · June 26, 2004] .. Photo Credit: Google Images
Got front door clutter? Whether you kick your shoes off at the front door or drop all your stuff at the back door, there are a few quick things you can do to corral shoes, jackets, toys, and your pet’s stuff. Yep, even Fido can get organized.
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Use hooks or a series of hooks to handle coats, keys, umbrellas, baseball caps, or Fido’s leash. Find a variety of hooks at the Container Store.
Photo Credit: MyHomeIdeas.com
If shoes are your achilles heel (pun intended :-) ), try putting a bench with baskets under your hooks. Those baskets can hold shoes, toys, or items you use regularly. Find this bench at Target. .
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Have the perfect corner? Check out this stylish 2 piece unit at Amazon.com. …
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Last Wednesday, I heard about National Procrastination Day on a local NPR station. Who knew there was a whole day committed to delaying the things we ought to do?? Then, the next day, I worked with a client who had to sit through 13 hours of industry specific classes – all in one day – because she hadn’t taken classes throughout the year. She didn’t look any worse for the wear and it was all wrapped up in less than one day (though she did have to reschedule her appointment with me to do that).
Recently, CNN reported that “those who’ve put off making travel plans — out of economic fear, guilt or otherwise – may come out ahead as airlines, hotels and resorts continue to roll out screaming-good deals.” Sounds like procrastination is paying off – big time.
So, can procrastination be good for you? Does it help you build your “quick on your feet” skills? Are you less stressed because you’re dealing with things in the moment?
Maybe when you delay working on your important projects to hang out with friends or go to the beach – or just do nothing at all – maybe you’re building up those endorphins and, therefore, making yourself happy and reducing stress?? Kinda like eating chocolate.
If you’re a person who thrives under pressure and enjoys the thrill of racing to meet the deadline AND you almost always meet those deadlines, is procrastination really that bad? Is that kind of stress “good stress,” the motivation type of stress?
While I perform well under pressure, I much prefer having a flexible plan with timelines so I can keep myself on track. Otherwise, I can get a bit ornery. Most times, I need a plan and not the “wing it” type of plan. The nice folks at ListPlanIt agree with me. They say in their monthly e-newsletter that while “it requires a little bit of time, planning ahead can save you loads of time in the long run.” They suggest that you “plan backward” from the deadline to figure out time frames and activities leading up to the deadline.
Planning works really for me. What about you? …or the student cramming for final? …or the mom racing to make the doctor’s appointment? …the average Joe or Jane who loves the “thrill of the chase?” Does it matter?
Should we all subscribe to the same “don’t procrastinate” rule of thumb?
What say you?
Photo Credit: Google Images
Related Articles
- 10 Ways To Give Yourself A Procrastination Inoculation (zenhabits.net)
- Procrastination: later is not always better (cbc.ca)
Now, it might seem strange to be in love with plasticware, but when a product makes your life easier, what’s not to love? I’ve been using the Rubbermaid containers for a while now just recently gave away 90% of my other plasticware (just a few non-RM pieces remain). Over the last month, in particular, my Easy Find Lids and Premier containers have come to the rescue – big time. During this time, the hubby and I have been on a diet. I mean, a diet diet – the kind where you have to weigh your food and no substitutions are allowed. This means that we have to carry our meals when we leave for work each morning. Yep, that kind of diet. So, we use our RM containers daily.
My husband, who often has trouble finding things around the house, didn’t have that issue (well, not so much) with the RM containers. One morning, he grabbed an Easy Find base and told me he couldn’t find the lid. I told him he could use any lid. So, he randomly grabbed a Premier lid, snapped it on the Easy Find container, kissed me goodbye, and went on his way. I had the biggest smile on my face. I knew I was in love at that very moment. And, my husband, he’s ok with that. =)
Want your own love affair with Rubbermaid? We’re giving away a set of 20 piece Rubbermaid set.
Stay tuned!
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“[There's a] backlash against the mainstream dictate that faster is always better, which puts quantity always ahead of quality. For advocates of the Slow Movement, it’s not about rejecting technology or changing modern life completely, but rather about keeping it all in balance — not talking on the phone, driving and checking a BlackBerry while headed to the drive-thru before the next meeting.” ~Carl Honoré
[ABC News ·Slow Down! You Move Too Fast · Adrienne Mand · November 1, 2004]
Do you have a butler? I do. In fact, I have two. Alright, I’ll confess. I’m talking about the Butler Bag by Jen Groover. This bag is perfect for the person who hates digging through mountains of things in their purse. It keeps everything neatly organized and easy to find with an organizer tray (comes with each bag). I’ve been testing out both the classic (smaller) and Hybrid (larger) bag for almost a year.
This is my Butler Hybrid sitting prettily on my chair…
Ok, time for confession #2. I ignored the organizer tray in my Butler for a week and just threw just about everything I thought I needed in there. In fact, my shoulder started to hurt. So, I dumped everything out…
Can you see the organizer tray inside the bag?
Here’s a closer look…
…and then I put some things back in and pitched a few things, too…what do you think?
Ta da!
So, it took about 10 minutes for me to dump/purge my purse and to put all back together again. Not long, which means that even the busiest person can find the time to organize her purse, especially if it’s Butler. Once the organizer tray is full, that’s it, nothing else goes in your purse. Yes, you can put a few things along side your tray (I sometimes put my notebook in my bag). Just try not to over stuff it. Your shoulders will thank you.
Wanna test the Butler Bag out for yourself? Check out the coupon below.
*Update: The coupon is no longer valid, but check them out anyway! ~ Deb, 2.13.11
Organize to Revitalize! is a Butler Bag affiliate.
To kick off the celebration of an entire year of blog posts, I’m sharing a few snippets of my very first post, “Top Five Organizing Tips.” Though it’s been a year, the tips still ring true. Here are the first two:
1. Set Organizing Goals - Figure out what you want to accomplish and put those items in order of priority.
2. Figure Out Your Peak Performance Time - Do you know when you are most productive?
The basic idea is that if you’re organized, you’re likely to be less stressed and more productive. Check out the original post for the other 3 tips. I hope you they motivate you on this second go round. Btw, do you have a tip? Please share. =)
Related Articles
- Five Ways to Prevent Procrastination from Zapping Your Energy and Productivity (1-2-3getorganized.blogspot.com)
- Organizing, 1 day down many more to go! (multitaskingmoms.com)
- How to Unclutter with Evernote and Rubbermaid in 4 Steps (evernote.com)
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