Tips 23 & 24 – 28 Days of Reducing Distractions

We all remember why I’m working on this series this month, right?   As part of my New Year’s resolutions for 2014 – I’m working on my Year of No – and that includes No Yelling!  You can click on this link to read more:

Tip 23 – Write it down and save it for later. 

I’ve started this new system where I only put between five and seven things to do on my list each day.  In all honesty, that is about all I can get done in one day – five to seven things.  When I know I can’t get to one more thing, I start tomorrow’s do-to list and put those action items on there.  It has helped a lot with my brain going into overload and overwhelm.  It’s not procrastination, its smart planning.

Tip 24 – Stop multi-tasking.  

Studies show that one can’t check your email, your voice mail and pay attention to your kids and listen to your husband all at the same time.  Our brains are wired to fully concentrate on one task at a time.  Smart ways to multi-task;  doing laundry while cooking dinner, sitting on an exercise ball while typing an email and coaching your kids’ soccer team (time spent with your kids and getting some exercise too).

Any other ways to multi-task smartly?  

Happy Monday, Everyone!

~Amy

 

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Tips on Tuesdays – Sticky Calendars

Check out the following products and consider the many different ways you can implement them into your daily and weekly or yearly routine to help you keep on track and get things done.

Weekly Sticky Notes: 

I love these – use one for on your desk and stick it on your computer monitor, use one for the family and put appointments and field trip reminders on each appropriate day, use one for your team at work to announce meetings and deadlines and days off too.  I really love the idea of assigning days to each of your “to-do” tasks.  

Weekly Sticker Calendar:   

 

Same as above  – only bigger and color coded.   Assign each block to a family member for daily chores, create a menu for the week, keep track of different projects and deadlines.  I see lots of uses for this one too.

 

Yearly Planning

This is a great way to plan out the year and have it available all at one glance.  Great for families for gifts, vacations, home projects.  Great for work schedules and deadlines.  I love color coding of different sticky notes to represent each activity.  And how satisfying will it feel to rip off those sticky notes once the project is completed?

 

 

 

It’s all about the Sticky Note Love today!  Happy Tuesday!

~Amy

 

 

25 Tips of Christmas – #15 – Double Check

Tip #15 – Double Check 

 

I think there is a reason why Santa checks his list twice.  To make sure he didn’t forget anything.

So, here we are – 10 days until Christmas – how ya doing?

Today would be a good day to take a deep breath and check in to see how things are going.  Revisit your list.  How’s it looking?  Does it need to be adjusted or do you need a refresher on what is on there.

Happy Thursday!

~Amy

 

25 Tips for Christmas – #1 – The List

Happy December!

WOW – the Holiday Season is in full swing these days; lights are twinkling, Holiday music is playing non-stop, traffic is bustling.   Lots to do during this time of year and here’s my first tip to help get you through it.

Tip #1 – Create THE LIST.  

Creating a master list let’s you get all the things that are swirling around in your head that need to be done and remembered – out of your head.  This will help reduce stress and anxiety over all that needs to be done.

In addition, a master list will help keep you organized and will eliminate the need to “run back out” time after time.

Here are some suggestions to put on THE LIST:

• Gift ideas for each person you buy a gift; include everyone – babysitters, pet sitters, mail person, bus drivers, etc.

• Supplies needed; inventory your decorations and your supplies such as wrapping paper, scotch tape, packing boxes and tape.  What’s missing?  Put it on the list.

• Food needed; are you hosting or attending a special party or event?  Plan out your menu now and add your items to the list.  Anything that is not fresh can be purchased early.

• Other stuff; don’t forget things like Holiday cards, postage stamps, extension chords, extra bulbs.  Take an in-depth inventory of all of your plans to do during the next 25 days and organize your needs.

Next step – make a copy of your list and check things off as you go along.

Most importantly – take this list with you everywhere!  This way, you aren’t left wondering “what was that thing I needed”.

A friend of mine takes a picture of her list with her camera phone incase she forgets The List – she’ll at least have some version of it with her.

A question for you:

What’s on your list?  What other things should be put on a list that I neglected to mention?

Happy Non-Stressed Holidays!

~Amy