Cleaning up for kids

April 24th, 2012

Cat in the Hat

We all know how hard it is to get kids to clean up. So the genius troops at the Henson puppet company have come up with this really cute Cat in the Hat video showing us all (and the kids of course) how fun cleaning up can be. One viewer (I’m guessing a child) commented “Now I want this song playing whenever I clean my room!!!”. Well I guess you could call that success. If all it takes is some cute characters to sing about cleaning up and kids start joining in then I guess that’s a result you can be proud of. Well done, Henson people!

What has worked for you to get your kids to clean up? Please comment below.


Posted in cleaning, getting things done, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 2 Comments »

Top 3 tips to declutter your mind

April 23rd, 2012

calm

Decluttering doesn’t only have to be a physical thing. Most people associate with it a big clear-out, getting rid of stuff. But you can also get rid of mental clutter. Here are 3 top tips on how to free your mind.

  1. Get it down on paper
    Many of us are still trying to juggle diaries, to do lists, important dates, etc. in our heads. And we they beat ourselves up when we forget something. In these hectic and stressful times we should be kind to ourselves and give our brains a break.
    Put things on paper. Note important appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, schedules on a wall calender, a pocket calender or into the computer using one of the many available diary software programmes like MS Outlook or use your smartphone.
    Use an attractive notebook for your To-Do-Lists. And write your shopping list down instead of going to the shops only to come back without the most essential items that you went out for.
  2. Shorten your To-Do List
    You are the only one that has control over your time. You decide what is important and what is not. And you are the one who has to say No if you are overwhelmed with things to do. Nobody else will do that for you, they are only too happy to add items to your list. There are only 24 hours in one day, and some of those you need to rest. Decide which items on your To-do List can either wait, be delegated to someone else or scrapped altogether. You will be amazed how freeing this exercise can be.
  3. “Don’t cry over spilt milk”
    Most things that we get annoyed about are not really a big deal. Someone cuts in front of us on the road, we drop something, we spill some coffee on our outfit just before leaving the house – so what? It is up to us whether these things will spoil our whole day or just aggravate us for a few minutes. Of course you will be annoyed, maybe even angry but then let it go and decide not to let it bother you. It is up to you to let the rest of the day be a good one.

So, what have you been meaning to get rid of that’s been cluttering up your mind for too long? Please comment.


Posted in clutter, declutter, mind clutter, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 2 Comments »

My 3 favourite organising tools

April 21st, 2012

Butler Bag Inside

People often ask me “what are your favourite organising tools” and expect me to come up with some cool techno gadget. But even though I love gadgets, when it comes to organising, I love the basics. They simply work best for me. So here are my top 3, in no particular order:

1. Pen and Paper

Yes, I know, that’s 2 things, but they go together. When it comes to making lists, nothing beats pen and paper for me (although pencils are pretty cool, too). There is something about writing by hand on paper that makes what I write down stick in my head much better than typing it out on a computer or using a smartphone. I find typing on a smartphone more than annoying, I only use it for diary entries on the go.

If I could make paper send me reminders, like my Outlook calendar does, I would revert back to a paper diary. I love the tactile quality and the elegant beauty of “real” diaries/planners.

Paper is also great for mind mapping. Even the best software can’t get close.

2. Online-stopwatch.com

One of the most useful tools to keep track of yourself while online. It’s a tool that can either track how much time you spend on a task or site and it can also count-down if you have set yourself a time limit. Great for staying on track with social media!

You can choose from fun options, such as an egg-timer or a bomb that explodes when it gets to zero. And make sure you have your sound up, so that you can hear the alarm go off at the end of the timer! Or choose the cash clock, that works out how much money you’ve earned so far.

3. My Butler Bag

I know that’s a girly item (sorry guys), but I was so impressed with this handbag that I started selling them. It has built-in rigid compartments that keep even small items upright and this makes finding things in your handbag so much easier. No more missed calls because you can’t find your mobile. No more getting drenched in the rain because you can’t find your key. Everything is at your fingertips. This bag is so worth every penny!

If you’re in the UK, check out my range of Butler bags. If you’re in the US, go directly to the Butler Bag website. Other countries, please check the US Butler Bag site for distributors.

So that’s it, my 3 favourite tools to get organised. What do you use to stay organised? Please comment.

 

 


Posted in Butler Bags, diary, organisation, paper, social media, Ultimate Blog Challenge | No Comments »

Discovering Pinterest

April 20th, 2012

Pinterest

I signed up with Pinterest yesterday and have suitably procrastinated all day today. It is very, very tempting to be on there forever discovering wonderful things, liking and repinning them, then discovering even more. But to be honest, I did allow myself that time today, since it was my first day. I am going to use it as a tool to share good organising ideas and also some more private things such as favourite places and other things I like. My Facebook and Twitter pages that link to my business website are quite professional, so this will be the place to show a bit more of who I really am as a person, while connecting with people and sharing organising tips as well.

So, what’s the plan, the strategy? Well, I will allow myself up to 20 minutes a day on Pinterest. Either in one session or two, depending on my schedule. And these are the things I will do in that time:

  • Find interesting organising ideas to share
  • Post photos of my own projects
  • Connect with 2-3 new people
  • Comment on my followers’ pins to create a dialogue
  • Thank people who have repinned my pins
  • If there is spare time share personal pins

If and when I come across pins that interest me privately I am going to put them in tabs that I will look at once my work is done for the day, or if I take a break. I’m already looking forward to all those finds!  :)

Have you got a strategy for Pinterest or other social media? Please share in the comments.


Posted in procrastination, social media, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 2 Comments »

New ways to organise car parks

April 19th, 2012

organised car park

Again, a brilliant find on Pinterest, this very well organised car park really caught my eye. We often have to make note of a complex numbering system so that we’re able to find our car again at the end of the day. Or we have to use apps on smart phones to track where exactly we parked. This makes it easy. If your car is red, like mine, you park in the red zone. But what to do if you can’t find your car amongst all the red ones? Hmm, maybe this needs thinking through bit more.

Any suggestions?


Posted in organisation, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 2 Comments »

Tasks – allow time to do them

April 19th, 2012

diary

When diarising tasks make sure that you not only enter the date they are due into your diary but almost more importantly, when you need to start to get them done on time. This way you can be sure that you are reminded of the task when you still have enought time to get the task done and can do something about it. If the task is complex break it down into smaller chunks and mark in your diary the projected start and end date/time of each chunk. This way you can always check whether you’re on track and avoid last minute panic.

Be realistic about how long a task will take. We often underestimate the time it takes to perform a task and then run out of time. Add about 20 – 30 % of time. This will cover you for unforseen delays and will also give you a chance to check things over before they are due.

How good are you at estimating tasks? Please comment.

I know I always think I’ll be much quicker than I actually am; wishful thinking I guess. So adding a buffer at the end is extremely useful for me.


Posted in diary, organisation, time management, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 2 Comments »

Jelly Working

April 19th, 2012

uk-jelly-logo

I’m happy to announce that today I am taking part in the inaugural Nottingham Jelly. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, a Jelly is a casual working event where people come together to work for the day. It is set up usually in a large meeting room with Wifi and coffee/tea/etc., tables, chairs, and similarly important attributes of an office. You bring your own laptop, notepads, writing materials, etc. and a mug. Then you simply start working.

It is useful for people who normally work from home or alone in an office, so ideal for solopreneurs. You get to chat to people, exchange tips and ideas, and collaborate like you would in a larger office.

Working on your own can get a bit lonely so when the Jelly event was announced I immediately signed up for it. It’s filled with people who I have met before at networking events as well as new people, so also a nice way to make new contacts.

Here is the link to a video explaining a bit more. http://vimeo.com/246107

For today’s session I am planning to catch up with my Ultimate Blog Challenge, since I’m still a few days behind, so let’s get ready, steady, writing.

Have you taken part in a Jelly? What were your experiences?


Posted in Ultimate Blog Challenge | 2 Comments »

Tidier cables and cords behind the desk

April 18th, 2012

cable tidy

A common frustration with all those gizmos and gadgets nowadays is having them constantly slide back behind the desk. I have just come across an ingenious solution that will solve this problem once and for all. It works for all those ipod, ipad and camera cables, the ones you have to plug in regularly to recharge your gadgets. I found this tip on the “be different – act normal” blog.

Using bulldog clips attached to the back of your desk, where the cables come up from the desktop or slide down when not in use from a laptop, simply slide the gadget end of the cable through clip. When you need to recharge your item, simply pull up the correct cable. Ingenious! No more crawling under the desk or having to rootle around behind your computer to find the right cable.

Have you got any unresolved niggly organisational challenges like this? I would love to help.


Posted in organisation, sanity saving, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 4 Comments »

An organised pantry – only for perfectionists?

April 17th, 2012

Source: hgtv.com via Millisa on Pinterest

My pantry will look like this one day. My pantry will look like this one day. My pantry will look like this one day. My pantry will look like this one day. My pantry will look like this one day. My pantry will look like this one day. My pantry will look like this one day….

If I say it often enough, maybe it will come true. Or do I need to state it as if it had already happened? Let’s try:

My pantry looks this gorgeous and organised. My pantry looks this gorgeous and organised. My pantry looks this gorgeous and organised. My pantry looks this gorgeous and organised. My pantry looks this gorgeous and organised. …

After yesterday’s post about perfectionism, I should probably not aim for this pantry, because to me this looks like sheer perfection. But one can still dream a little, right?

Not that my pantry is a total mess. I’ve got similar items together, but lots of paper and plastic bags, hardly anything in containers, and some items are a bit hard to reach. And every now and again I find an item that really shouldn’t be amongst the living anymore. But all in all, it’s decent and fairly well organised. So, good enough for now, definitely not perfect. And for now, it’s fine as it is. Maybe if and when I move, I can incorporate a dream pantry into my new kitchen. Like I said, we’re allowed to dream a little.

What do you think of this pantry? Dream or a bit of an OC nightmare?

 


Posted in organisation, perfection, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 9 Comments »

Perfection – the myth

April 16th, 2012

perfection

As a Professional Organiser I often come across people who believe that I must be perfect because of what I do. Well, sorry to shatter your illusions, I’m not. I am a very normal human being, who sometimes forgets things, is late now and again and hasn’t got a house and office that are tidied to perfection at any given time.

The reason I became a Professional Organiser is that I used to be a bit of a disaster organisationally. I know where people come from when they need help and because I’ve taken the journey and learned about the tools to get organised, I know I can teach them. I have acquired the skills to be more organised over many years and it has taken research and trial and error to figure out what works (for me) and what doesn’t. That’s why I know there is no perfect solution. Every person is different and every situation is different and the way I approach my clients is: how can we use your habits and make only small adjustments so that you are more likely to keep up with the changes to improve your situation.

Changing someone’s life completely might be dramatically very interesting for a TV show, but in real life dramatic change hardly ever last very long and it is very easy for people to slide back into old habits. Making smaller changes is much easier, therefore it is more likely to stick long term.

Trying to get everything perfect is most likely to lead to procrastination, because the conditions will never be perfect, and neither will the outcome. It will be an improvement over the current situation and any improvement is a good thing.

So let go of perfection, it’ll do you good. I did, and I’m much happier for it. I don’t have to be perfect, I just have to make small continuous improvements to keep growing and learning.


Posted in perfection, procrastination, Ultimate Blog Challenge | 16 Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
  • Follow Me on Pinterest   

  • Categories

    apdo-uk Butler Bags checklists Christmas cleaning clutter declutter desk diary effectiveness efficiency email filing garage getting things done goals goal setting labels making money Martha Stewart meal planning mind clutter money saving motivation moving organisation paper perfection planning priorities procrastination productivity recycling sanity saving saving money social media stain removal storage time management time saving to-do list travel Ultimate Blog Challenge Uncategorized wardrobes

    • Latest Information

    At the end of the challenge I have reached the end of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Today is the last day, and this is the final post. I've made it! I must say, that I'm quite proud of myself. >>

    You know you need to work on your productivity if … Today I thought I'd come with a list of attributes and behaviour that are commonly found in people who still need to work on their productivity. If some of these apply ... >>

    Repurposing of organising gadgets I love the idea of having the right tools for the job, but as it turns out they don't always have to be originally made for the job. Take teeth for example. >>


    Upcoming
    Events

    >>find out more

    Services
    for Business

    >>find out more

    Motivational
    Speaking

    >>find out more

    “Nothing is a waste of time if you
    use the experience wisely” - Rodin


    The most organised handbags on the planet!

    Tired of rummaging?

    The solution: Butler Bags - An ingenious design from the USA