Defining Time & Space News

I am sure that most everyone has made a New Years resolution this year even if we haven’t formally written them down or even uttered them verbally to another human being.  Our success at achieving these goals is small without serious planning.  Just as common as New Years resolutions themselves, is fact that a few months or even weeks into the New Year, those resolutions are completely forgotten.  What can we do to increase our chances of making these important goals happen?

First, is to be sure they are written down.  There is something a bit more definite about writing things down.  We need to be as specific as possible.  If we want to lose weight, we need a plan to determine how much and by when?

Second, like any goals, we need to decide how we will make this happen.  Need to lose a few pounds, what is going to change?  Remember Albert Einstein’s, famous quote, “Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting a different result.”  Our plan should include change we can and will actually do.  In this example, we need to decide if we are going to add exercise and/or cut calories but it has to be one or the other or some combination.

Third, success can be greatly increased with an accountability partner.  Letting someone else know about our goals and plans can only make success easier to achieve.  We need to define though, the guidelines of our accountability.  We need to keep this experience positive, so make decisions up front about how often to get a status, and how much involvement is helpful but not too much.  We want to keep any support and feedback encouraging and not discouraging.

Fourth pictures are worth a thousand words.  This old saying can be helpful to us here.  In our example of losing weight, we can focus on a picture we would like to aspire to.  If we want to organize a room, we can focus on what we want it to look like, etc. 

Fifth and finally we cannot give up if we have a bad day or week.  We need to just reset our goal, make sure are plan is clear and continue on.  Remember New Years resolutions are made because we have decided to schedule something we already know is very important to us.  The fact that it is important is unlikely to change, so we must stay focused on our goal and why it is important.

Happy New Year,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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How we spend our time this holiday season can make a big difference in our “joy” factor.  I learned many years ago, not to go out and shop in December unless I could be patient enough to handle all that I would encounter.  We can find ourselves experiencing a lot of stress due to time, money and trying to meet the expectations of others that we can feel joyless versus joyous. 

What can we do assure a season that is a bit brighter? 

Be more realistic about how much time tasks will take; especially when it involves mall and stores. 

Create a shopping list for those we are shopping for before we leave and then map out where we will accomplish most of the purchases first.

Give the gift of time; instead of shopping for gifts, take an opportunity to have a meal and socialize for an evening with others that we normally exchange gifts with.  Make memories instead.

Cook and bake ahead of time.  There are many things we can do in advanced on days that we have more time available to allow those more hectic days a bit easier.  Take advantage of crock pot recipes and casseroles that can be made ahead of time.

Simplify our holiday decorating and encourage family members to help.  When packing up holiday décor, pack by room in order to make putting out/up décor easier next year.

Write a family newsletter versus individual Christmas cards.  These annual newsletters can contain treasured information; especially if started when kids are young, to document many family memories.  

Finally, learn from what causes our stress this year, record it and make a plan to make next year even merrier.

My wishes for a most joyous season,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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Ever find yourself with more reasons not to accomplish a task than to accomplish it?  We all have difficulty at times accomplishing what we want to, but the difference between those who repeatedly achieve their goals is how we deal with these times. The question becomes, do we allow road blocks to let us turn away or do we find a way to go over or around them?

I was reminded of this subject by the death of Randy Pausch, a Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon.   He recently became well know for his “Last Lecture” as part of lecture series at Carnegie Mellon.  What was significant about his lecture is that it really was to be his last.  He was scheduled to do this lecture only to find that he was diagnosed a month before with an incurable pancreatic cancer.  During this lecture, he defines the obstacles in our life as brick walls and states, “The Brick Walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.  They’re there to stop the other people”. 

One way to help with the obstacles in our life is to first think about where they are coming from.  Often times we are in control of the obstacles.  We have either created them ourselves or we are the ones that will now allow an alternative route.  We need to ask ourselves if our goals are more important than the obstacles we are allowing to stand in our way.

Sometimes they are people or the environment around us.  Again we must ask ourselves whether the issues are more important than reaching our goals.  Are we communicating the best we can?  Are we trying to keep up with “The Jones”?  Are we grateful for what we have?  Are we taking in the whole picture before reacting?

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or can’t.  You are right.”   Again, we all have obstacles that get in our way, but it is by recognizing them and finding a way to work around, over or through them that allows us to reach our goals and make a difference in our lives AND the lives of others.

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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As evidence of the upcoming holiday season surrounds us more and more each day; many of us begin to feel heart palpitations and anxiety instead of gleeful thoughts over the reason for this season.   Why?  Because we are thinking about the gift giving part of the holiday and all that shopping !!!!   Spending money can be stressful enough these days, but determining what to buy and when, where and how to get it can put us over the edge.  This is time of year when the true personality of some people can become evident.   It is the searching for the right gift for those family and friends we want to please, the long hours in lines for the most wanted gift, and let’s not forget the fighting over parking places at the stores.   

Over the years when asking my mother what she wanted for Christmas, I always got the same answer, “nothing.”  While on a business trip one year I stumbled upon a gift shop and finally found the perfect gift for my mother.  It was a nice little box and on it was a sign that read, “Nothing”.  Inside was a nice little description of how this was the perfect gift. Yes, I purchased this basically empty box and gave it to my mother that year.  Sometimes we find the perfect gift and sometimes we never do.

In order to try to relieve a bit of stress this time of year, prepare a gift giving list early.  Starting early, spacing out gift purchases and having more time to think of things that are meaningful can be a much better experience for all.  Gifts of time with family and friends can be more valuable than those found in the mall.  Instead of exchanging gifts with another family this year, think about using that money to enjoy a meal or outing together.  No one has to shop and it is an opportunity to create many more memories.  Ideas like tickets to movies, theaters, museums or the like can make a nice gift.  Think about personalized gifts that are handmade, engraved or embroidered versus endless shopping days; also framed pictures, photo collages or recipe books made up of materials of/from family and friends can be a real hit.  Also remember that when we give a gift we are doing just that; along with it comes the privilege to do with it whatever they want.  It is a gift alone to let someone know they should not be burdened to keep something when they no longer have a use for it. 

Best wishes,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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PBS broadcasted a television program about 10 years ago called Affluenza.  One definition given for Affluenza was “An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream.”

It brings about the question of whether all the “stuff” we keep adding to our lives is actually improving our quality of life.  Interestingly enough, they site a statistic that “the number of ‘very happy’ people peaked in 1957, and has remained fairly stable or declined ever since.”  Even though we consume twice as much as we did in the 1950’s, people were just as happy when they had less.

I remember spending many happy days as a “poor college student” playing cards and eating popcorn with the people I enjoyed being with.  It really can make us think about what makes us happy and are we focusing on that or just stuff we can buy to keep up with “The Joneses” or add to our stress of having to pay for it, store it, use it, clean it, repair it, and one day figure out how to get rid of it.  The amount of stuff we consume has caused major financial issues to many Americans. This stuff and in many cases the financial issues they bring with them, have caused the fracturing of many families.  This then adds more to debt, stress and unhappiness.  It was noted ten years ago that Americans had $1 trillion in personal debt, approximately $4000 for every man, woman and child, not including real estate and mortgages.  In 1996 more Americans declared bankruptcy that graduated from college.  Is more stuff really worth it?

As the holiday season approaches it might be good for us all to think about what things we need, would really make us happy and will not put us in or further into debt.  Think about all the time and money that is spent on fighting illnesses.  Affluenza is one epidemic that we can actually cure by spending less.  If you want to learn more about the Affluenza program go to www.pbs.org or contact me.

To your health,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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Ever find yourself in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, a car maintenance facility or other type of visit much longer than you anticipated?  I had that experience once again this week, which is why this topic came to mind. 

Being able to avoid this “waste of time” or making the most of it can mean not only more effectively using our time but more importantly reducing our stress level.

First, let’s discuss how to avoid the wait in the first place.  If we can find out when the wait for appointments is more likely to be less, we can go a long way to avoid this situation.  If we ask, they will most likely tell us.  As a rule of thumb, we should schedule appointments, when we can, first thing in the morning or just after lunch.  As the day progresses, scheduled appointments get more and more behind and if there is a long wait it is most likely going to be the appointments just before lunch and at the end of the day.

We cannot all make appointments when we wish to or we might be in a waiting situation that is not even a planned visit.  What can we do then to make the most of this time?  This is when we can do things that we ordinarily don’t have time to do but wish we did.  We can read a book we have been tying to get around to, read articles in magazines, sort through coupons, fill out forms, read newsletters, write a letter and on and on.  The trick is to have these things available when these events happen.  Try to keep a folder or bag of items in the car that are those non-urgent things that we would like to do and enjoy the opportunity to do them versus stressing over the lost time.  We can make what would have seemed like a long period of time, just wiz by.

Happy waiting!

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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Many people think about expiration dates on food in the refrigerator but less think about their pantry.  Did you know that spices have an expiration date?  Look in your pantry and see if you have McCormick spices that are in rectangular tins.  If so they are at least 15 years old with the exception of black pepper.  If you see Baltimore, MD on the label of a McCormick bottle, the spice is at least 15 years old.

The recommended shelf life for spices is

2 – 3 years for ground spices

3 – 4 years for who spices

1 – 2 years for seasoning blends

1 – 3 years for herbs

4 years for extracts, except pure vanilla which lasts indefinitely

It is recommended to check the color of herbs and spices for vibrant color.  If the color is faded, then chances are so has the flavor.

Canned goods and other “non-perishables” also expire; check containers for date codes.  Remember when you add new items to the pantry, put the newest dates in the back or bottom so that you can use the oldest items first and before they expire.

After you finish in the pantry you might want to next take a look at the medicine cabinet.  We often keep adding without regard to when medications expire.  Don’t wait until you have a medical need for a pain reliever or other medicine to find out they are years old!

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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Food and gas prices have never made us more eager to find ways to make our dollars stretch further.  Coupons are one method we can use to help with this challenge.  The only problem is we can only be successful if we have a system in place to make it happen.  Like most other organizing challenges, it is important to first know what we have and second to know where to find it.  Coupons are no different.  If we have them and do not know where they are they are of no value.

Some tips to increase our success rate with coupons are:

1. Have a place to keep coupons that is portable.  This system should be easy and allow us to add coupons so we can easily find them.  A product that I can recommend for those without a successful method is the iParenting Media award winning system called The Couponizer.  It is a complete system in one package.  Check it out at www.thecouponizer.com.
2. The system should include a method to purge coupons as well; if we do not have any other process, we should choose a day each month to go through and toss those that are expired or that we have determined we will no longer use. 
3. Have coupons and applicable advertisements available when we sit down to make a list before we go shopping.  Make this part of your weekly goal/task planning exercise.  Planning ahead for a shopping trip is crucial to minimizing the time and money we will spend. Another great resource in this area is a book I read earlier this year called “Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom” by Stephanie Nelson.  It has great ideas, processes and tools to become a strategic shopper without spending a lot of time.   $$ Savings Tip:  While supplies last, this book is free with a purchase of The Couponizer.
4. We should not limit ourselves to the coupons in the newspaper.  We can find valuable coupons in our local stores, magazines, mailers, and on-line.  The trick is to identify what we will use and add them to our system.   It is also important that we know when they expire and make key purchases in the right timeframe.  

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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If you find that you are among the group that is often late to events but would actually like to be on time, here are some ideas that might help make a change. 

The first battle is to decide it is important for us to get to our destination on time.  Often there is a difference of opinion among members of a group or family as to the importance of arriving on time or we ourselves have not decided it is important enough.   

Second, we need to think about what we need to take with us before we are ready to leave.  Often the last minute scrambling for things when we try to walk out the door causes a good attempt of leaving in time to go wrong.  Identify what is needed ahead of time and gather these items.  

Third, we need to be realistic about how long it will take to get ready to go.  If we need an hour, we need to start more than an hour prior to leaving.  We also need to be sure to plan ahead for what we are going to wear if it at all requires more than taking something we know is hanging in our closet or laying in our dresser drawer.

Finally, we need to know where we are going and how long it takes to get there.  This sounds simple but it is not often followed.  This includes having the address, telephone number and directions of where we are going.  We need to factor traffic if we are in an area where traffic is often a challenge and of course weather.  We are setting ourselves up for failure if we really need to be somewhere on time and leave with only the exact minutes necessary to get there and under perfect conditions.  Always allow for a few extra minutes and take that time if you arrive early to take a few deep breaths and relax a minute.

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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Many of us end our days, just feeling like we didn’t accomplish what we wanted. Why is this?  Why do we always think that there will be more time tomorrow?  It is no surprise to any of us that tomorrow will have the same number of hours as today.  Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  What can you do to make tomorrow different?  Here are some tips that can get you started.

 1.  Determine what your true values really are: (spouse, family, health, faith, education, career, etc.)

 2.  Determine, of these, which are not getting adequate focus.

 3.  Set goals to meet them.

 4.  Create a detailed plan with schedule to achieve those goals.

 5.  Set aside time once a week to review your plans and schedule your activities       for the week.

 6.  Review your planner each day and adjust as necessary.

 7.  Make sure you are using a planner right for you.  There are many types available.  What is important is that “you use it”.  Check out some of them at www.franklincovey.com

 8.  Break large tasks down into smaller actions

 9.  Schedule harder tasks when you are at your peak performance

10.  Prioritize your tasks so that you are always focusing on the most important.

I believe that new year’s resolutions are made because we have not made time in our schedule for what is really important to us.  There is no reason to wait until January to make time for what is truly important!

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

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