I haven’t mentioned The Book for awhile because, quite honestly, it was sapping my energy.

So many things out of my control at this point ….. and to be 100% honest, this part is really not fun for me – the getting it from Word doc to print. You need the patience of a saint.

But I have some updates that I thought I’d share with you:

1. Last week I finally got my proof copy.

If I have to say so myself, it looks GORGEOUS. Very “me”, don’t you think?

Of course, being a proof, I picked up a number of things I wanted to correct. Which is now in progress.

2. I’ve also handed the book over to someone who is “Kindle-ising” it for me. She sent me the file with some things she wants me to change so that it reads easier on the Kindle, and told me how to put it on my Kindle to view it.

Despite being non-techno savvy, I actually managed to do it!

Do you know how excited I got to see MY book under MY name pop up on my Kindle as “new”.

( I was so excited I squealed like a girl)

Do you have a Kindle?

3. And then, last but not least, I’m busy getting a website up with special downloads for the purchasers of the book, whether print or Kindle versions.

I’m busy thinking of something fun to put together to entice all of you to buy the book for yourself or someone else when it’s available.

So get ready….

Have you ever thought of writing a book?

Did you know that writing a book is on most people’s life lists?!

PS do you have any fun ideas to promote the book?

It’s hard to be productive when your space is not only a mess, but also disorganised.

60% of people are visual (I am too!) so clutter and “stuff” strewn all over the place will just drive you up the wall!

 Before we start, let’s get ready:

(a) put on some upbeat music (not slow love songs – fast music!)
(b) make sure you have a BIG wastepaper basket
(c) get another plastic basket for items that belong in another room
So what do you need to do?

1. Back up your files

Do NOT open your email programme, Twitter or Facebook before you start or you’ll get sidetracked!

DO put a recurring reminder in Outlook to do this on a monthly basis, or more frequently than that.

I lost EVERYTHING on my flash drive once but it only translated to about 2 hours’ work because I’d backed up my computer a few weeks before that.

Now, while your computer is backing up…

2. Clean off your desk

You can do this in 30 seconds (that’s why you have the upbeat music). Yes, really. Play a game with yourself and say, “by the end of this song, my desk is going to be clean”. Works for me

Put all items belonging in another room in the plastic basket. Don’t go to the actual room to put away – you don’t want to get sidetracked!

Throw any cooldrink cans, sweet papers, etc. in the wastepaper basket. Put all the little notes inside your desk notebook (you do have ONE desk notebook, don’t you?) and set to one side.

If you don’t use the item on a DAILY basis, it shouldn’t be on your desk. By the same token, if you use something every day, make a place for it within arm’s reach.

E.g. My headset for Skype calls is on a hook on the wall above my desk – near enough that I can just reach for it, but not taking up valuable real estate on the desk.

See? 30 seconds and you’re done!

I *do* know this is the Quick & Easy way – if you want ALL the detail, check out the organise your office system.

3. Sort out the paper

Take out the desk notebook with all the little notes. I use a spiral-bound notebook with a lovely, bright yellow and lime-green cover because it makes me happy to write my notes in a beautiful notebook

Write down all those bits and pieces – your internet provider’s helpline, website addresses, people to look up on Facebook, etc.

Throw away all the junk mail and paper you don’t need (and take it to your recycling bin later).

Put all the filing in ONE pile – you can do this in front of the TV later!

Now doesn’t that feel better? A nice, neat and organised office!

 Can you work with a desk full of paper?

I can’t but when I only have a few minutes, I push all the paper to one side, focus and get it done

I do a monthly goals review before I set goals for the month ahead and when I was doing my April review last night, I thought that I’d share the questions (and some answers) with you in case you want to walk through it with me.

Four months of the year are past and technically speaking, we should be a good way into getting wherever we wanted to get.

Right?

Hmmm.

Well, I know it’s not that simple or straightforward.

I even talk about navigating obstacles in the goals section of the Organise your Time system.

But go through these questions with me and answer them honestly. I’ve put (some of) my own answers below to help you along.

1. When I think about the last 4 months, what do I feel? Am I excited, disappointed, apathetic, etc?

I feel mostly excited like I’m making good progress but being me, I’ll always feel like I’m not moving fast enough

2. Which areas of my life are working well, which are neutral and which not so well?

Well – Family, Fun, Personal, Friendship
Neutral – Work (day job) and Business
Not so well – Health and Fitness

3. Why? Or why not?

I’m excited by our family goals – we’re ahead of where we wanted to be – but a little bit disappointed by my business goals. My income is not where I wanted it to be and the book is taking longer than I’d like to be DONE. However, I have great clients and I’ve had two media interviews over the last few months.

I’m doing really great in the personal areas – I have plenty of “me” time to create, read, play with my camera and chase the kids around the garden – and on my friendships.

4. What do I need to let go of or are there places I need to lower my expectations of myself?

Hmmm, I need to let go of unrealistic expectations about getting this book out in print.

I also need to let go of focussing on the numbers so much and just focus on the joy.

5. What can I do differently to make sure the next four months move me closer to my goals?

Do something every day, no matter how small, to move me towards that book being out and successful.

Stop comparing myself to others!

And a bonus question…

6. How am I living out my word of the year?

I’m doing great on this. I’m really living intentionally and creating memories, fun times, and also enjoying the process of living creatively.

Washi tape, anyone?

A heads-up for those of you who have been thinking of working with me. My coaching fees will be increasing on 1 June.

Book your Success Strategy Session or monthly sessions with me now.

Even if you haven’t set any goals, how is 2012 going for you thus far?

PS We also have our own Facebook page – please click here and “like” it

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Organising-Queen

teal frame

I saw this frame at the Crazy Store and fell in love with the colour.

What colour is it, by the way? Do you call it turquoise/ teal/ what?

You see, I’d seen something on a blog where they used a similar frame to organise their lives – the person used the three sections for To do, a shopping list and something else (maybe her weekly menu plan).

And yes, their frame was probably a bit bigger than mine but still, same concept.

I hadn’t got to this project yet when I found another makeshift dry erase board I made last year.

For that project, the photo frame broke but I kept the glass, printed a cute background (you could use scrapbook paper or gift wrap) to put in between, and used two big binder clips to hold it all together. I then hung ribbon from the binder clips.

It worked aesthetically but it felt too messy for my study.

All that writing and erasing and re-writing

Yet I forgot that when I saw the idea on the blog.

How often do we do that?

We see something cute and think that it will work for us without stopping to think about our preferences or our family’s needs.

So for me, no dry erase in my study.

A plain old notebook still works best for me. Actually, I have two.

One for my business goals for the week – Beth and I chat every week and I write down (yes, with a real pen and paper) both our goals in a notebook which stays open on a corner of my desk.

And then in front of my computer I have a scrap notebook for my scribblings.

What works for you? dry erase boards, your electronic device of choice or a good old pen and paper?

PS that gorgeous frame will not go to waste – I plan to either use it as a photo frame or to frame my monthly, quarterly and annual goals.

What would you use it for?

I had the best time last weekend – meeting three friends for a late lunch. We’d been planning this get together for awhile so it was all the more sweeter.

But it would not have happened unless we stopped talking about doing it and just did it.

Often times (and I’m also guilty at times) we say to friends, “we really should get together” and we don’t.

Either you’re just being polite (don’t!) or you don’t really mean it (ooh, please don’t) or you’re just not getting organised.

If you say that, take out your diary or phone and agree on a tentative date there and then.

Superhero photo is going just beautifully and I’m so enjoying exploring and being curious without having perfectionism on my shoulder.

This is one of my favourite pics taken that same day and do you know what? I only bothered to take out my camera because I knew I needed a “sun” pic as one of my photo prompts.

I’ve since resolved to stop being so lazy to take out my camera and just do it – you never know what gems you may find.

As is usually the case, the minute I decide to Be Different, there’s an opportunity.

Yesterday I started rushing down the stairs at work to go to my basement parking and just outside the door I saw a peacock (I’m very blessed to work in absolutely soul-satisfying surroundings).

It was really beautiful and the light was also gorgeous but I was already pressed for time.

I did stop though, took out my small point and shoot and took some peacock pictures. I don’t even know if they’re any good but I’m glad I stopped and took the time to take those pics.

My coaching challenge for you this weekend:

If you’re thinking about someone, there and then send off an email, text, pick up the phone, grab a piece of notepaper or card and jot down a few quick sentences.  Better still, make some time to get together.

When you find yourself saying, “I don’t have time to ….” do it anyway. Read that magazine, play with your camera, play with your children, have a nap.

Deal?

One of the biggest organising myths is that you need a HUGE chunk of time to organise anything.

That’s simply not true.

I actually don’t know many people who happen to have hours and hours free just for the purpose of organising.

The thing is, you have to make time.

One of the ways you make time is by looking for the little gifts of time throughout your day.

Even if you think you have no time, I guarantee there are bits here and there.

If you start looking for those treasured moments, you’ll realise you can get a lot more done.

I remember when the babies were just newborns (you mothers will know how crazy that time is) I thought I’d never have time to myself again.

Then I realised that I had 5 minutes here, another 10 minutes there and so on.

I could read ONE article in a magazine in those 5 minutes and maybe even churn out a blog post in the 10-minute stretch.

All that time adds up if you’re ready to take advantage of it.

It’s the same with organising.

You may not have an hour to organise your entire desk but if you find 15 minutes a day for 4 days, you do have that hour.

A change of perspective = opportunities 

You can always organise something in 15 minutes.

Here are a few quick ideas:

• Quickly reply to 3 – 5 emails. The rule is if you can attend to it in 2 minutes, just do it there and then. There are more fabulous tips in Organise your Office
• Organise photos (one of my ongoing projects to use a “spare” 15 minutes)
• Declutter a pile of paper
• Tidy your wallet and toss out old receipts and business cards

See? There are 15-minute slivers of time all around us if only we’ll just look for them.

Make a list of 10 or more quick organising projects you can do in 15 minutes and get started today.

Are you an all or nothing person? Do you tend to look for the big chunk of time versus the little bits?

If you need some help, book a Success Strategy Session with me.

I had a lovely lazy Easter weekend - lots of reading, some napping, lots of creating, lots of decluttering and organising, family time and socials.

The only thing I didn’t do enough of was cooking – and that was just fine with me

My little boy, Connor, even announced that we had to go back to the zoo because we took them on Monday.

squeezing the life out of his sister and strangely, she doesn't mind

 Autumn is in full swing in Joburg and I took tons of pictures of the leaves on Monday.

I’ve signed up for an online photography class (similar to my organising classes - where you get an email a day for x number of weeks) and do you know what the first lesson was about? Perfectionism!

Well… not quite but that was my aha. She said to let go of how all your settings need to be technically perfect on your camera and just look for the beauty.

Oooh, that I can do.

look for the beauty

So this week I took a very technically incorrect picture of apple slices just because the shape looked like a heart.

Where can you look for the beauty in your life?

Or where do you need to let go of your perfectionism?

I have a huge project at work getting to the point of implementation.

This is the best part of anything for me – the getting it done stage. However, it also means that it’s the busiest time and so it’s really easy to get to that uncontrollable stage.

The one where you feel like there’s way too much to do and not enough time.

Normally, this would not bother me because I have a ginormous master to-do list and I pull things off of there in terms of priority.

But when there’s a long weekend looming ahead (like there was last week) I just know I won’t be able to fully relax unless I make a sizeable dent in the to-do items.

My preferred working style is to work until done or until I’m no longer effective (!) but I’ve discovered that it’s a pure luxury to work like this these days.

You see, I have to leave at a certain time to get home so the nanny can leave.

Last week I asked my husband if he could get home for the nanny so I could work late.

Well, that extra hour made all the difference.

It sounds strange to say this but it was bliss working til I was done.

That hour was a gift of time.

I’ve since decided that I’m going to give myself the gift of {working until done} once every two weeks or so.

What small thing could you do to ease the pressure in your life just a bit?

What’s your preferred working style?

If you need some help, book a Success Strategy Session with me.

I had an interview with a journalist on Monday and we had a fabulous chat about all things time management.

During the interview I touched on the concept of white space. She seemed to like that so we spoke about it quite a bit.

I feel it’s essential to have “white space” in our lives. For me, white space is room to breathe. Something that seems to be so lacking in many of our lives.

If you’re feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, check to see how much white space you have in the following three areas of your life.

Dullstroom Lake – April 2011

1. Travel/ commuting time

Leave a little bit of extra time when you need to get anywhere so that you’re not constantly rushing. Also, it helps to have some breathing room if you suddenly find you need to fill up with petrol (gas) or if there’s a traffic jam.

Stress is not fun so rather take some reading or work (if you must) with you to use up any time if you don’t like to “waste” time. Although my friend, Beth Dargis, has taught me to also just enjoy being and not doing all the time

2. Daily scheduling

Don’t schedule all your appointments back to back. Some of you are saying, “but Marcia, don’t you always talk about batching?” Yes, I do.

If you do some batching, give yourself a solid break after doing a couple of phone calls/ emails/ etc. E.g. If you’re on the phone from 9 – 12, leave some white space and start another type of activity after an hour or so. And so if you run over with the phone calls, you’re not stressed and anxious going into the next activity or group of tasks, feeling like you’re already behind.

3. Weekends

I know weekends are the time to catch up on things but please, leave some breathing time.

Don’t schedule something for morning, afternoon and evening. Even two activities a day feels like too much. We have a personal family boundary of only one social per weekend day, and preferably only one per weekend, although it somehow doesn’t feel like an extra social if we go somewhere directly from church

I am also guilty of having a to-do list of 20 items for the weekend which…. never gets all done. But I do schedule lots of down time to get things like reading, sorting out my house and weekly meal planning done.

Over to you.

Can you think of an area or two where you can build in some more white space?

If you need some help, book a Success Strategy Session with me.

This week, let’s tackle some of those tasks around the home and office that we don’t get around to normally doing.

I’m specifically choosing Quick and Easy tasks so that you can build up some momentum and feel good about getting things done.

What gets you motivated?

Is it MUSIC? Then put on some 80′s tunes to get yourself energised.

Is it COMPETITION? Then challenge yourself and see how many of the tasks you can accomplish in an hour.

Is it being ACCOUNTABLE? Then post a comment on the blog telling me what you’re going to do and come back to tell me when it’s done!

Is it SOCIAL INTERACTION? Then make a coffee date with a friend, but ONLY once you’ve done an hour’s organising.

Is it reaching a GOAL? Then reward yourself once you’ve done all the tasks. I’m doing exactly this by reading after I do about two hours of organising.

Now that we know what motivates you, let’s get to it!

In the home

1. Declutter and sort through all your old magazines. Tear out the articles you want (recipes, etc) and toss the rest.
2. Organise your launch pad – the place in your home where you DUMP things when you walk in the door.
3. Collect all the clothes you need to dry-clean, declutter, launder or get mended.
4. Clear off the front of your fridge. Toss the magnets and recipes you’re never going to try.
5. Throw away any old food in your fridge and freezer, and give the surfaces a good wipe down.

And now for some…

office organising

1. Do your filing.
2. Collect all the bills and invoices from around the home and schedule the payment dates in your planner.
3. Shred any junk mail with your name on it.
4. Organise your desk.
5. Delete 100 emails from your Inbox and Sent Items. There are tons of good ideas in the Organise your Office system.

Whatever you manage to do, give yourself a pat on the back!

What motivates you to get organised?

Is there something else that I don’t have on my list?