It’s the end of March and one quarter of the year is gone.

Which means it’s a good time to do a review of the last 3 months.

So how are you doing, generally, and with your life?

Have you achieved what you wanted to? Why? Why not? (you want to repeat things that are working)

Do you need more support in terms of accountability or coaching?

Do you know what you want but just not how to get there, or is the vision fuzzy too?

This is a pic of the River Liffey that runs through Dublin, Ireland – pic taken in May 2008. Visiting Ireland was one of my life goals

Do this one thing and you’re halfway to your goals

You think I’m exaggerating, don’t you?

I’m not!

Before I explain more about the ONE THING, let me give you 3 quick goal-setting success stories:

1. Yvette

Yvette, an admin consultant, approached me at the end of last year and started chatting about her goals. I suggested my how to set and achieve goals e-book which she bought and started working through.

At the end of February this year, I ran into her and she was SO EXCITED because she’d already achieved her TWO major goals – buying a house and getting her driver’s licence.

Yvette did the ONE thing.

2. Glen

Glen is a personal trainer (a life coach for bodies ) who set a couple of goals to improve his body stats.

A few months later, he sent me his before and after stats AND pictures. He’d reached every single goal!

He also told me what his physical goal for this year is, and I have absolutely NO DOUBT he’ll achieve it because he did the ONE thing.

3. Fiona

Fiona is a very busy work-at-home mom who set a goal in August  (see, you can set goals anytime) to make herself over – lose some weight and be a better, more put-together her.

At the end of November, she sent me an email, absolutely excited because she’d just about achieved her goals. She also did the ONE thing.

So what is the ONE thing?

They all wrote down their goals and kept them in clear view each and every day.

Yvette, Glen and Fiona did a goals review every single week and tracked their progress.

Just writing down your goals takes you halfway there.

There is a connection that happens in the brain when we put pen to paper and actually write down our goals.

If you also want to achieve your goals this year, download your 2010 goals form and write them down today.

How are you doing on your 2010 goals? Share in the comments.

Tami in Oklahoma says

My whole life is unorganized. I start decluttering/organizing one area, get distracted, and go to another area. Only creates messes!!

Tami, I totally get you!

You start organising your pantry, get to the baking goods, realise you’re having guests for tea, so start making muffins and before you know it, half the pantry is on the floor and the kitchen is a mess of flour and chocolate chips!

My suggestions are:

1. Make a project list with SMALL steps

When I feel overwhelmed, I use my master to-do list to note down everything that needs doing. Some people also like to mind map it.

I start big and then narrow down. So I might use one list for the kitchen, one for the bedroom and still another for the home office.

It’s very satisfying to tick off little projects as you get them done.

In the kitchen, you might have a list like this:

• kitchen table
• kitchen counters
• pantry – shelf 1
• pantry – shelf 2
• pantry – shelf 3

2. Use a kitchen timer

Use it not only in the kitchen but wherever you’re working on a project

3. Set the timer for shorter periods than you think

If you set it for an hour, you’ll probably get distracted sometime during those 60 minutes. I like to set mine for periods of 15 minutes as it forces me to concentrate. Also, I can do a drawer, a shelf, a pile of paper very easily in 15 minutes.

4. Reward yourself regularly

Have a cup of tea when you’ve completed an hour’s organising or if you finish a whole room, buy a book you’ve wanted for a while.

How do you overcome Big, Shiny Object syndrome?

Here’s more on how you can break out of overwhelm.

Success in life requires a short “Yes” list, and a long “No” list. – Gary Ryan Blair

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whenever I coach time management clients, one of the first things I tell them is this:

You ALWAYS say no to at least one thing when you say yes to something else.

For example…

• if you say yes to volunteering on 3 committees, you’re saying no to one or all of the following: your family, your self-care, your exercise time, your household…
• if you say yes to that beautiful new pair of shoes you really can’t afford, you’re saying no to your debt-reduction plan!
• if you say yes to having an absolutely spotless home all the time, chances are you’re saying no to fun times playing with your kids on the floor

No is such a small word but is often so hard to say.

Why should you say no?

1. it helps you set firm boundaries
2. it helps you honour your values
3. it makes you more productive
4. it reduces your stress
5. it frees you to serve where you’re called to with joy

This week, I’m challenging you to SLOW DOWN and think carefully before you say yes to anything.

In fact, when next someone asks you to do something or attend an event, why don’t you start by saying, “let me get back to you on that” so you can think clearly about the situation before committing yourself.

On a scale of one to ten, how easy is it for you to say no?

For me, I’d say about an 8 or 9, depending on who I’m talking to

P.S. Learning to say no is one of the key principles of effective time management. I need more time will help you if this is one of your frustrations.

You won’t believe all the excuses I get from people about their untidy desks!

“It’s because I’m creative”

“I know where everything is”

Sound familiar?

This may very well be true. However, for most people, an untidy desk makes you feel overwhelmed and out of control. And, in the workplace, it’s often perceived that you don’t know what you’re doing if your desk is a mess.

How can you be productive when you’re overwhelmed?

The good news is that it’s a lot easier than you think.

You can have a tidy desk in just 5 steps:

1. Set up your desk properly

If you answer the phone with your left hand, then keep the phone to the left of your computer. Now this might seem obvious but you’ll be surprised at the number of people I encounter who have to scramble and reach behind their computer to get to the phone. It’s like that game Twister!

2. Touch each piece of paper once only

This step forces you to make decisions – throw away, action, forward or file. Those are the only choices you have

Don’t start thinking about it and put that piece of paper back in another pile!

3. Have one notebook for all your notes

When you take messages or need to quickly jot down a note, write it in your ONE notebook. You shouldn’t have 10 post-it notes and lots of other pieces of paper on your desk. Better still, write the date on the top of every page so you can reference old information quickly. And start each day on a new page – literally!

4. Clear junk regularly

Every time you get up to go to the loo or for a coffee break, clear your desk of empty mugs, glasses, snacks, etc. The same goes for all those dry markers and pens that don’t work. Throw them out!

5. Have only the papers you’re actually working with on your desk

I have a rather strong fondness for plastic envelopes. I use these nifty tools to keep my many projects sorted. When I want to work on something, I just grab one of these and open up the contents on my desk. I even bought one on holiday in the UK.
See? Easy!

You can also have a neat and tidy desk in just 5 steps.

Now what I suggest you do is a quick, 30-second tidy every evening when you finish your work so you’re ready and raring to go the following day.

Wherever you are in the world, the seasons change every three to six months and it’s either warming up or cooling down in your part of the world.

Whatever your situation, take the time to sort out your wardrobe.

Pareto’s Principle states that 20% of your efforts result in 80% of your results.

Did you know that this principle also applies to your wardrobe?

That’s right – you only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time.

The aim of your wardrobe is to have clothes you love, that look good on you and that flatter your body shape.

I’ve been reading up a lot on clothes websites and blogs and I gathered some tips for everybody:

If you wore the fashion the first time around, you shouldn’t be wearing it this time

Even if it still fits you, the styles and colours will have changed.

Pleated and tapered pants are out for all body shapes. Aren’t you glad?!

Now let’s get busy purging and organising your clothes.

1. Put on some upbeat music and call a friend or professional organiser to help you.

2. Set aside an afternoon and remove everything from your wardrobe.

3. Make 3 piles:

• Clothes you don’t love, don’t suit your lifestyle or don’t look good on you

• Clothes you love and that fit you properly

• Clothes that you’re not sure about, for whatever reason

4. Action the piles

• Donate or throw out

• Organise in your wardrobe or on your shelves according to your personal preferences – by colour, style (smart, casual, etc), or season/ sleeve length, etc.

• Move to another place in the house or to a storage container. Make a note in your planner or in Outlook to look at this pile again at a later date (I like to think of this as a pending file for your clothes).

When you look at this pile again, fit everything on. You will then be able to look at the clothes unemotionally and decide whether they deserve to take up space in your wardrobe (you want to keep them) or whether they need to be donated.

Rather have half the amount of clothes and be able to wear everything than a full-to-overflowing wardrobe where you can only wear a few items.

When was the last time you decluttered some clothes?

I had a call yesterday from a producer asking me if I could be on a show last night as they would be discussing clutter and hoarders.

YESSSSSSSSSSSS! You know how passionate I am about decluttering

Big scramble to get Dion home to watch the babies just in case they decided to act up (Murphy’s Law, isn’t it?) while I was on the telephone.

And it was great – I loved all the people phoning in, telling us about their problems with hoarding, their family members’ issues or just what they thought about hoarders.

Only problem is there wasn’t nearly enough time to chat with each person long enough.

Thank you, Kaya FM, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the show and look forward to the next time!

P.S. This whole deal made me think about hosting an Ask the Organiser call for people on my mailing list. Do you think that’s a good idea?

We go through around 12 – 14 nappies a day and I’m proud to say I still have not bought or used ONE fancy nappy disposal bag.

Why?

I use bread bags. And apple bags. And bags from the CD and DVD stores.

They work beautifully and they’re free.

When you’re spending thousands on nappies, bum creme and baby wipes every month for your babies, you save where you can!

What do you do to save money that others may find unconventional?

P.S. I don’t see us running out anytime soon. Either I hoarded quite a bit before the babies were born or we eat lots of bread and rolls. Or both

pic from the Household Organising File

(part of the Organise your Home ecourse) 

Do you menu plan?

Menu planning is probably the one thing I do that saves me the MOST time every single week.

It’s also going to save you mo.ney when you start using up all the food in the freezer and in the back of the cupboards. Oh, and not doing so much impulse shopping.

Note – you should do your menu planning BEFORE you go to the shops to do your grocery shopping

Here are the five steps I use:

1. Go to your freezer and cupboards to see what food you have that you need to or want to use, and make a list.

2. Write out a menu plan for a week (if you do weekly shopping) or longer, using recipes to use up that food.

3. Add any items that you need additionally to your weekly shopping list and do your shopping.

4. Stick the menu plan to your fridge.

5. Follow the plan to the letter, or move things around and have Monday’s meal on Wednesday, etc, etc. At least you have the ingredients for all the meals available.

Now you don’t have to rack your brain every night wondering what to cook.

You have a PLAN.

Another tip that will save you lots of time is to cook something on a Sunday afternoon. This meal is not for eating that day, but for freezing.

When you have a busy day it’s easy to just defrost the meal and have a healthy supper on the table in minutes.

We went through a stage where we didn’t buy any meat for two months while we finished everything in the freezer and started on the cupboards.

You see, we all get into a habit of buying the same groceries every week without checking if we really need it.

If you’re not already menu planning, I’d like to encourage you to at least start. Do so for at least a month and give it a good go. If it REALLY doesn’t work with your personal style then so be it.

If you already do menu planning, then your challenge for this week is to only buy perishables for your next shopping trip and eat from your freezer and cupboards.