GREAT ADVICE ...

A pearl of wisdom from Mark and Angel Hack ...
 

Do you plan your days?  

Did you wake up today knowing what you wanted to accomplish?

If not, maybe it's time you do.

Trust me, a year from now you will wish you had managed your time properly today. 

• What would you regret not accomplishing this year?

• What would you regret doing an abysmal job at, wimply because you waited until the last minute and then rushed around doing 20 things at once?

• Create a plan to accomplish these things sanely, one at a time.

• Planning doesn't have to be long and tedious; it can just be a 60 second process.  Every night, think about three small things that you want to accomplish tomorrow and write them down.  When you wake up in the morning, review this list before you do anything else, and then take the first step.

• If you find yourself being lured to do something that's not on that short list of three things, bring yourself back and focus.

5 Things Stopping You from Moving Forward Today

Marc and Angel Hack Life
Practical Tips for Productive Living

Courage!

I love this saying ... so I will try again tomorrow to live another day where I focus on my word for 2014 with courage and determination.

My "To Do" list for today was a bit scary but I decided to tackle at least one thing and have now managed to tick off three things ... #1 Collect parcel at Post Net / #2 Fill my hunny's prescription and buy hand wash at Dischem / #3 Update Blog.  I am now going to see what else I can get done before I drop into bed.

(Enjoy the updates Jo!!!  Love you and feel better real soon!!!)

My Intentions for December 2013

I am a bit late posting my intentions but here goes ...

1. Spring Clean the Zozo
2. Paper Clutter ~ Continue to sort all paper
3. Appointments
   Dentist ~RHG/CYG/LG ~ Set up for 9, 10 and 13 January 2014 (yes I am going to the dentist on my birthday!!!)
   Optometrist ~ RHG & CYG ~ 20 December 2013
4. December / January Birthday cards ~ Make
5. January Birthday Gifts ~ Buy gifts / Wrap
   Rozzie ~ Bought part of the gift
   Taryn ~ Sent in November
   Shorts ~ Got an idea ... Need to buy it
   Alison ~ Bought and wrapped part of the gift
6. Make Wedding Card for Taryn & TJ to send with Wendy
7. Audit wardrobe (Clothes/shoes/make-up)
8. My Car
   ~ Windscreen to be replaced
   ~ Back lights to be replaced
   ~ Back windscreen wiper to be repaired
9. Finish Jo's scrapbook
10. Read one book
11. Gym ... continue the momentum
12. Tailor ~ Skirt to be made from "Mary's material"
    Jeweller ~ Ring from all my stones
13. My Word for 2014

       13 is always a good number for me!!!  I turned 21 on Friday 13th January 1984!!!

The Secrets of Staying Organized ~ Simplify 101

As I was working through the 'Sent' items on my home e-mails I found this mail from Simplify 101 and re-read it before deleting.  I wanted to share this ~ Point 2 especially resonated with me ... I think that by putting my Actions list on my blog for the month has made me focus more on getting those items done ~ I try and 'beat the clock' each month and I find it quite exciting when I do.  I always have lists of what I need/want to do as I LOVE ticking things off and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with that little tick.

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This morning, in my online class The Secrets of Staying Organized, I received a question from a participant who was feeling overwhelmed. At one time or another, we’ve all felt this way—overwhelmed by clutter or by a never-ending to-do list. So, I thought this would make a great topic for today’s quick tip. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, give these ideas a try: 1. Make a list. My go-to strategy when I’m feeling overwhelmed is to get everything out of my head that is vying for my attention. Initially the process of making a list can add to your overwhelmed feelings because all of the stuff that was swimming around in your head is now smack dab in front of you on paper. If that happens to you, remind yourself that you don't have to do everything on the list right now. Instead, by getting it all out there, you can then decide what is most important to focus on, which is the next tip to try. 2. Narrow your point of focus. My class participant’s husband gave her terrific advice when she was feeling overwhelmed. He asked her what was bothering her the most. This simple question allowed her to narrow her point of focus. We often feel overwhelmed when we are trying to process and do too much all at once. By getting everything out of your head and narrowing your point of focus, you can then start taking action, which is the most powerful antidote to overwhelmed feelings. 3. Become aware of your self-talk. What do you say to yourself when you feel overwhelmed? If your inner dialogue is not supportive, then you’re simply adding to your stressed out feelings. Instead, picture yourself encouraging a friend or loved one who is feeling overwhelmed. What would you say to them? Change your inner dialogue to the same encouragement you would offer to someone else in the same situation. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, by clutter in your home or your holiday to-do list, give these three ideas a try! Happy organizing, P.S. Today is the last day to join Get Organized for the Holidays. Take the stress and overwhelm out of your holiday season with the ultimate holiday planning class. This is the last time this class will be offered as an expert-guided class. See you online soon. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our Weekly Quick Tip. If you no longer wish to receive this email, you can unsubscribe here.

A productive week

Last week this time we were still in Umhlanga enjoying our last full day of our holiday and it has been a productive week since then.

I really love that I copied Wendy and put my October Actions out there which makes me focus on them more.

October Actions #3 is to get back to walking so this morning I was feeling very lazy and would have liked to stay in bed the whole day (which is a very unusual thought for me!!) but I got up and put on my takkies and asked the boys (Liam slept over last night) if they wanted to go out for a walk with me ... Connor of course jumped at the opportunity to go out on his long board so we walked round the corner and walked that road 4 times ... there are two good hills which he can ride and him and Liam shared the board riding.  We then stopped at a house down the road and did 50 step ups ~ The first challenge on the Biggest Loser Season 10 was 500 step ups ~ Now I see why some of the guys battled with that one!!!

October Actions #8 ... Sort out paper clutter ... I did the filing for all the paperwork I sorted out last night (and the recycling box is full as well) ... wish I had taken a before and after photo because the before looked insurmountable but I got it done.

October Actions # 11 ... Update cell phone ... Just finished checking that I have all the numbers on my new phone ~ this has been a painful exercise but one that needed to be done!

While working outside I caught up on some programmes I had on PVR and now I am going to watch Downton Abbey and check through one of my scrapbooks so I can start working on October Actions #  5.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are feeling refreshed for the week ahead.

FLYing in Limbo

I am a follower of Flylady (FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself) ... where she teaches women to firstly love themselves and then how to sort out your home and your life by following simple routines.  This morning I saw this post in my in-box and thought it is a keeper and I wanted to share it.  Enjoy.

I am now going to get dressed, pack my scrapping stuff and I am away at Good Shepherd Retreat for the weekend ... so I will see you with an update on Monday evening.  Keep warm and remember you are loved!!!

FlyLady.net   Website |  Shop |  Get Started |  FlyLady TV |  Contact Us

FLYing in Limbo by Susan Lamonica

I stop FLYing when I am in a state of limbo. Not knowing what will happen next, I dangle, waiting to decide. I can't make plans, can't release clutter, can't commit, until I "know". I make no changes. I wait for safety to make a choice. I begin nothing. I release nothing.

Limbo holds my future hostage. Patching the holes in situations that have deteriorated, I am lonely, starved for life and love. I delay decisions, unsure which direction to take. I wait and wait, to "know".

 All I ever do "know" in limbo's wait is fear.

I understand limbo differently as I begin to FLY again. Waiting escapes the pain of letting go of the past. Fear spares me from experiencing the terror of change. When fear is my only certainty, when waiting is my only safety, I give away my decisions. I desert my own life. I am the one, holding my future hostage.

 Within every moment of love, career, money, family, and health, life is changing. As one transition resolves, another takes its place. There is no safety net of certainty outside yesterday's nest. Life's only certainty is that life will change.

Deciding to take one small baby-step, I choose. Fear matures to courage. Waiting grows into living. Releasing what I do not "know", I am able to decide.

I FLY into a future of limbo, I realize I can't find safety in waiting to "know" what will happen. Safety is a decision to love myself through every change and every release.

In the midst of every limbo of life, whether the sun is rising or setting, I can decide to be safe. I can decide to FLY.

"To Do List" keep the overwhelm at bay ...

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a holiday that you could take and come back to all your problems and challenges being sorted out!!!  I'd take that holiday RIGHT NOW!!!!

I love writing "To Do Lists".  Sometimes however they become a bit frantic and every opportunity I have I 'brain dump' on a piece of paper ... then there are all these pieces of paper with notes scribbled on them which stresses me even more.  I had an opportunity to sit down with my To Do book yesterday and consolidate all the pieces of paper and started working on them.

Some of the items on my list ...

1. 2 X License Renewals ... Monday is the day I drop Connor at school and as I am avoiding being stuck in traffic I took my lunch break first thing in the morning.  I didn't know that the Licensing Department in our area opens at 07h30 so I was in and out of there before 8 and when I got on the highway the traffic was a breeze and I was at my desk by 08h20.  I spent the rest of the day plugging away at getting the papers in my briefcase sorted out and also trying to get my over 200 e-mails to under 100 which I unfortunately did not manage.  I left the office at 6 and got stuck in horrendous traffic and got home to a divine dinner of home made vegetable soup and vetkoek (my Mom is the master of veggie soup & vetkoek).
2. Filing ... did that when I got home this Tuesday afternoon.
3. Sort out gifts ... I have one in a gift bag to deliver and another wrapped and in an envelope to take to the post office tomorrow and have the paper/tape out to wrap another one.
4. Tidy scrap area ... I am busy with this and came into the study to get an address off the computer and thought I would update my blog quickly (which is also on the list) so I got 2 birds with one stone!!!! 
5. Post on blog (There was a spectacular sunrise this morning ~ I dropped Connor at school again today as Richard had an early meeting in Bothaville and I was going to Krugersdorp ~ but I didn't manage to get a photo of it as a taxi got in my way!!!).
6. Bake banana bread ... I will do that tomorrow night as my Sisters Dinner has been moved to next week as Norma is away on business.
7. And so the list goes on .....

I love to see items ticked off in my book so I am off to do some more of the 'quick wins' so I can see some more ticks ... can anyone say "Control Freak"???

4 August ~ To Do List

This morning I got up with a host of things that I wanted to get done on my "To Do List".

Connor slept over at Byron and asked to be picked up at 9 as he wanted to go to Magic so Mom and I left the house at 8h10

• First stop ... Sunrise Sweets.  'Get Connor Peach Fluffs' has been on my "To Do" list since early July. 
• We then went past the wool shop but they were still closed so we fetched Connor and when we got back to the wool shop they were open.  We got wool for a jersey for my friend Delphine ~ she loves my one jersey and asked if Mom would knit her one;
  I got wool for a jersey I want Mom to knit me ~this has been on the To Do List for months; and
  I enjoyed knitting the scarves we did for work so much and was telling Alison about this and said that I needed to find someone else to knit for and she suggested the school she supports.  I am hoping the navy blue wool I got is the right colour.
• Home for Connor to shower and then back out ... Outer Limits ~ got Liam a new deck to play with, had some haloumi cheese at Ocean Basked and then through WestPack at LifeStyle.  I was hoping to pop around to Ali's but she was not available.
• I read through some of the blogs I had neglected reading and then Richard and I went to The Glen to get him a new calculator and drove through to Melville to fetch the boys.  We picked up KFC on the way home and after dinner we went through to Wendy & Schatz for Liam to fetch clothes as he decided to sleep over.
• Was trying to watch a bit of TV but my eyes were saying ... "Let's sleep" so I obeyed!!!