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Welcome!
Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you find some helpful hints for organizing your time and space. My passions are to help you make home a refuge instead of a crisis center, and to help you function in peace rather than chaos - at home or at work. I have switched my main blog to 1-2-3 ... Get Organized on WordPress, so please visit me there.
I did a post previously about using shoe organizers in my pantry, and I'm doing it again! Our new house has high ceilings, so there's a potential for wasted space in the tops of the closets (gasp!)
Remember how we turned our laundry room closet into a pantry? I added shoe organizers to both sides to use up that space above the closet shelf.
I keep hard-to-store items like platters, my three-tiered dessert server (top left), baskets, salad spinner, etc. I even put another shelf extender on the top shelf on the left for additional storage.
In the middle between the two shoe shelves, I stood large baskets and trays on their sides. They take up vertical space rather than horizontal space that way.
These shelves make the items I don't use very often accessible when I do need them those few times a year without having to unpack boxes. I love it!
I've used a different type of shoe organizer in our office - the kind that has cubbies. This picture shows the cubbies pretty empty when we first moved in, but they are filed now. It's a nice place to store business cards, phone attachments, ink cartridges, external hard drives and other small stuff we use often. As you may notice, we've turned the closet in our office into a storage area. More about that another day!
These shoe organizers are a great way to expand your shelving without having to build shelving yourself. You do have to put them together, but you don't have to start from scratch! And they are reasonably priced. I got mine at Walmart or Target for around $13 apiece.
Of course, you can always use them for shoes, too!
Such handy little things!
More on Organizing Products I Use:
Organizing Products I Use - Steel Shelving
Organizing Products I Use - Bakeware Organizers
Organizing Products I Use - The Arrow Clothes Hanging System
I found some terrific tips for organizing your outdoor space. Hope you enjoy them!
"In the warmer months, we find ourselves outside more often, enjoying nature while playing with the kids and maintaining our lawns. But this additional time spent outside means more home and garden tools and more opportunity for a mess.
Here are some simple tips to keep your outdoor spaces cleaner and more organized:
Storage bench — Use a storage bench to keep your gardening gloves, tools and children's outdoor toys. Available in a wide variety of sizes and styles, you can find the bench that fits your decor. Plus, they offer an extra seating area when you have company.
Bundle cords — No one likes the unsightly appearance or hazard of cords. Before your gatherings, bundle together stereo and electronic cords that are exposed, as well as any cords that run across the lawn. Helpful products, such as Velcro One Wrap ties, keep your items bound tight and out of sight.
Paver pots — Use old pavers to create plant containers. Simply stack the pavers together making a square shape. The heavy weight of the pavers keeps the dirt and plant contained together.
Deck space — Use the space under your deck for additional, out-of-sight storage. Tuck plastic lidded storage containers underneath for easy access to children's sporting goods and toys.
Mesh bags — Pool toys, rafts and inner tubes need a space to dry off. Use mesh bags so these summer toys properly are properly dried, preventing mildew or molding.
Proper plant care — Stock up on essentials for a healthy garden, including the tools to make plant seedlings thrive, such as Velcro Peel Away seed pots. These pots make it easy to remove the pots without disturbing the roots, making transitions from pot to flower bed flawless.
Repurpose furniture — Turn old furniture pieces, such as old filing cabinets, into instant garage storage solutions. Take out the drawers of the cabinet and turn it on its side. Each empty drawer area provides a spot for large items like brooms, shovels and rakes.
Fence storage — Turn old coffee or paint cans into storage bins for smaller gardening tools like hand shovels and pruning shears. For easy access while in the garden, cut holes and use rope to hang around a close-by fence post.
Tires — Stack old tires on top of each other for an outdoor toy container that kids can easily access. Paint the outside to match the color of your house or whatever color you fancy."
Makes me want to go play outside - what about you?
More on organizing solutions:
Get Your House in Order - A Great Wintertime Project
Entry Closet Door Organizer
3 Steps to Organizing Your Closet
Today marks 38 years being married to my wonderful husband! It has been a wonderful ride and keeps getting better! Now on to our post for today ...
Since my husband and I are empty nesters, I have been experimenting with new recipes to stave off cooking boredom. You certainly don't have to be empty nesters to get bored with what you're cooking, though. If putting a meal on the table gets to be tedious, here are a few ideas to make it easier:
Double your recipes. When I cook, I try to make twice as much, so I don't have to cook every night. Thankfully, my husband likes leftovers (more than I do!), so it works for us.
If your family can't stomach leftovers, you can still cook something once and serve it twice. Cooking extra meat gives you a head start on another meal - an entree salad, stir fry, fajitas, wraps, fried rice, soups, sandwiches, and more. You may want to remove the extras before you serve dinner, though, so there will actually be extras!
You can do the same with veggies as well. Add cooked carrots, cabbage and/or broccoli to fried rice. Add cooked veggies to a stir fry or soup. Serve a veggie platter one night and use the leftovers in a stir fry, salad, or soup the next night.
When I make rice, I usually make a large quantity. It can easily be turned into a pilaf the second time around, used in fried rice, or turned into a main dish by adding meat and/or veggies. My gluten-intolerant husband uses it for breakfast instead of bread. And, just reheating it in the microwave is an obvious option, too
Extra beans can be make a second appearance in salsa, salads, soups, vegetarian tacos, etc.
Cooking extra takes a little more time, but at least you don't have to start from scratch when it's time to put another meal together.
I try to plan my meals a week at a time in order to be intentional about using food twice.
Here's one of my favorite recipes in which leftover chicken and rice can be used: Cashew Chicken. It rivals restaurants!
Cashew Chicken (from my Hassle Free Dinners)
1 lb. Boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
4 Celery stalks
2 c. Carrots
1 Onion
2 T. Sesame oil
4 T. Soy sauce or Tamari
4 T. Chicken broth/bouillon
2 T. Cornstarch
4 T. Cold water
1 c. Cashews
Optional veggies: snow peas, green beans, sugar snap peas, broccoli, cabbage, red or green peppers
Microwave covered chicken on high 5 minutes or until no longer pink inside. (Or use leftover chicken.)
Slice celery and carrots; chop onion.
In wok or non-stick skillet, heat the oil on medium high and briefly sauté vegetables.
Add soy sauce and broth. Simmer until vegetables are just tender.
Dice cooked chicken.
Mix the cornstarch with the cold water and add to the simmering mixture. Allow to thicken.
Add the chicken and the cashews.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve piping hot over rice.
4 servings
More about saving time on dinner:
Hassle Free Dinners
Three Steps to Planning Dinner eWorkbook
Organizing Dinner - Double or Triple a Recipe
As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm working with a visual person to organize her office. The important thing to remember if you're a visual person or you're working or living with a visual person: things need to be seen to be remembered. We talked about using magazine file boxes as a way to keep action items visible yet pleasing to the eye.
Today we're going to talk about calendars. One helpful option is for visual people to keep a large wall or desk calendar to remind them of upcoming events. It also allows the people they are working or living with to see what's ahead, too.
A spiral or notebook type planner is a viable choice, too, if it's large enough not to get lost or overlooked. That planner should accompany the visual person everywhere, so the calendar can be referred to and updated continuously.
Another option is using a cell phone calendar. The key for the visual person is to set alarms for calendar items. If an alarm is not set, the visual person may not remember to look at his/her phone calendar.
If you are someone you love is a visual person, it's critical to keep important items in the line of sight as attractively as possible. Visual people are motivated by beauty and color. And it's important to keep surroundings as clutter-free as possible, as clutter screams for attention, creating distraction - for everyone, but even more so for the visual person.
Have you found solutions that work for visual people?
More on organizing for visual people:
Office Organizing for the Visual Person - Magazine File Boxes
Managing Paper, Part 2
9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized
Here's an updated blast from the past:
In order to insure that your time away on vacation is relaxing and refreshing, make sure to take care of a few things before you leave.
- Make arrangements for your mail and packages. One option is to stop your mail through the post office. If you do this, you may want to ask a neighbor to watch for packages, as well. If you have one of those weekly papers that is delivered whether you want it or not - it's a sure sign that you're not home if it's sitting on your front porch for days.
If you don't stop your mail, get a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail and watch for packages. Sometimes we hire a neighbor kid to pick up the mail and walk around the house to look for packages. UPS sometimes delivers to our front porch and sometimes to our back porch!
- Put your lights on timers. We have some that are programmable to go on at different times each night. It makes it look like you are home and there is activity in different parts of the house. We actually leave them on all the time, so if we're out for the evening, it doesn't look like it.
- Stop your newspapers. Most newspapers give you the option to donate your unused days to schools, etc. It's still helpful to have someone watch, though, as we've had newspapers delivered even when we've requested a stop.
- Make arrangements for your pets - a kennel, someone to come over and feed and play with your cat, feed your fish or birds, etc. There are all sorts of pet-sitting services these days, too.
- Make arrangements for your plants - either have someone water them or use a long-term watering system.
- Make arrangements for your lawn. A shaggy yard with yellow newspapers sitting around is an invitation to thieves.
- Pay your bills that will be due while you are gone and soon after you arrive home. You don't want to have to face bills as soon as you come home!
- Remove perishable items from your fridge and pantry. You may want to make a list of items you'll need when you return while it's fresh on your mind, so you don't have to think about it when you come home. Both milk and bread are freezable - just remember to buy milk with the screw-on lids and empty a little so it doesn't explode all over your freezer!
- Adjust your thermostats to save energy while you're away. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to reflect your absence.
- Give a neighbor your cell phone number or contact number - just in case they notice water pouring out of your house, or some other such emergency!
- Have a key made for someone to get into your house in an emergency.
- Look back at your house as you leave. We almost left our front door open once. And you certainly don't want to be wondering if you left your garage door open!
- While you're away, you may want to pick up a souvenir or gift for anyone watching your house, pets, or plants.
With all these details taken care of, you'll have peace of mind while you're away and can enjoy being refreshed and rejuvenated!
More on vacations:
Helping Your Child Organize Vacation Packing
Organize Your Family Vacation
Organizing a Family Reunion
Being disorganized costs time and money. Here's an article that details those costs:
"Have you ever purchased an item that you thought you already owned, but couldn’t find – only to have the missing item turn up a month or so later? This may have happened to you; I know it happened in my house a few too many times. My husband and I usually gave up looking for the missing tool, head phones, cell phone charger, or other item and went to the store to purchase a new one. We promised ourselves we would organize the garage or the electronics closet. After all, we were tired of spending money on items we already owned.
While this is only one example of the financial costs associated with being disorganized, I can think of several other instances that can cost money. Paying late fees on bills or credit cards is fairly common for disorganized people. Being charged a “no show” fee for a missed medical appointment because a reminder card was misplaced is another example. Missing documentation necessary to file taxes can result in being unable to legally claim all the deductions you are entitled to, or penalties may be charged if you file your return late.
These may seem like small amounts, but over time they can add up. The equation is pretty simple; the more disorganized you are, the more money you may be losing. The calculation below actually adds some dollar amounts to the cost of disorganization and clutter:
Suppose you have a 1,500 square-foot house worth $300,000, every square foot in the house is worth $200. If you have a 10×10-foot room you can’t use because it is filled with clutter, that’s a $20,000 storage room. In terms of monthly cost, you’re spending about 7% of your mortgage on storage!!
The time cost associated with disorganization can add up, too. If you spend half an hour a day trying to find “lost” items such as keys, clothes, paperwork, etc.; that adds up to 3.5 hours a week, 15.5 hours a month, 182.5 hours – or seven full days — a year. This is valuable time that could be better used to doing other activities that you enjoy.
If you decide you are through wasting money and time and want to be more organized, it’s never too late to start. When my husband and I decided we wanted to become more organized, we followed a very basic strategy that I dubbed “SSO” or Strategize, Simplify, Organize! We strategized (or I should say I strategized) on what we were trying to accomplish and where the problem areas seemed to be. Did we have too many belongings? Did we have inefficient storage or antiquated filing systems? Were we emotionally attached to some of our outdated possessions?
In the simplify step we made decisions on what to keep, donate, sell, or discard (don’t forget donations may be tax deductible – a financial benefit!)
In the actual organizing step with developed new systems to control paper build up and messy closets. For example, we open our mail every day and immediately shred any junk mail; we put our bills in a dated accordion file so we pay all our bills on time. We follow the rule every that everything has its “home”. If you use the measuring tape or Phillips screwdriver return it to its home. This way it will be there for the next person looking for it.
Lastly, we pay attention and maintain the organized environment we created. If we notice we are slipping, we’ll take an extra 10 minutes each day to get back to an organized state. We’re enjoying spending less money and enjoying spending our time doing more of what we like to do!"
More on the advantages of being organized:
13 Tips on How to Save Money by Being Organized
9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized
Interesting Clutter and Organization Statistics
If you are following my blog here on Blogspot, you may want to switch over to my WordPress blog. I'm in the process of transferring my blog posts from here to there, and it will be my primary residence when that is done.
Here's a link. When you go to the blog page, you'll find an opportunity to receive my blogs.
I'm an early morning person, and I start fading by mid-afternoon. Even if you don't have that problem, here's a great tip to help keep focused when things start getting fuzzy!
Instead of waiting until the end of the day to assess your priorities for the next day, consider doing a mid-afternoon priority check. At 2 or 3 o'clock, look to see what is remaining on your to do list for the remainder of the afternoon. Look at your schedule for tomorrow and the week ahead so you can plan your priorities accordingly.
The advantages:
- you'll have a clear picture of what needs to be done by the end of the day and you can adjust your focus if necessary
- you'll have renewed motivation to ramp up your productivity so as to avoid working late
- you'll be less likely to discover last-minute tasks just as you were ready to end your work day
- by keeping the big picture in mind, you'll avoid getting bogged down on lower priority tasks.
A mid-afternoon reality check enables you to be able to maintain your focus and your productivity!
More on productivity:
Increasing Your Effectiveness at Work
Don't Let Interruptions at Work Derail Your Productivity
Going Beyond the To Do List
You know how much I love vinegar as a cleaning agent. It's cheap, a disinfectant, and can be used for so many things! I recently read the following article lauding hydrogen peroxide for some of the same reasons. Until now, I've only used hydrogen peroxide on my pierced ears and on injuries. I have a new appreciation for hydrogen peroxide and will be trying out some of these suggestions. Enjoy!
"Ever since I started using Hydrogen Peroxide to get rid of armpit stains, to clean cookie sheets, as a miracle cleaner in my kitchen and bathroom, and to make my own “oxi clean”…I ALWAYS have at least one bottle of the stuff under my kitchen sink, under my bathroom sink, AND in the laundry room.
This stuff is amazingly versatile! But it wasn’t until recently, after doing some IN DEPTH research on the subject, that I came to realize what a “miracle substance” hydrogen peroxide really is! It’s safe, it’s readily available, it’s cheap, and best of all, it WORKS! It works for a LOT of stuff!
Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water.
Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide: It is found in all living material. Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections. Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system. It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster.
Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies. Besides the obvious (cleansing wounds), did you know that it is probably the best remedy to dissolve ear wax? Brighten dingy floors? Add natural highlights to your hair? Improve your plants root systems? The list goes on and on! There are SO many uses for this stuff that I’ve started replacing the cap on the hydrogen peroxide bottle with a sprayer because it’s easier and faster to use that way.
I have compiled a rather impressive list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide that I hope will have you as thrilled and bewildered as I was!
- Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides.
- Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
- In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost.
- Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.
- Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
- Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.
- Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.
- Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)
- Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.
- Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.
- Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.
- Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.
- Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.
- Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.
- Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.
- Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.
- Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.
- Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.
- According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!
- Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.
- Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.
- Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
- Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.
- Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.
- Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.
- Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.
- Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.
- Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.
- Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
- Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.
- Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.
- De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water."
More on cleaning solutions:
Spring Cleaning with Vinegar
3 Steps to Clever Cleaning
Clever Cleaning Tricks that Save Time and Money
As I told you in a previous post, I have a weakness for dishes. And I love to entertain. So the combination could be a little scary if it weren't for space-saving organizers! My new favorite is the Grayline 40126, Large Two Shelf Organizer. I bought four of these gems from Amazon and use two in each cabinet. They were about $22 each, a pretty reasonable price for making me smile for years!
You can see my star cabinet here on the left. I bought these stars and stripes dishes one year after the Fourth of July at half price. This was the year I was having stars as a Christmas theme, so perfect! (I no longer have Christmas themes, as I started accumulating too much stuff!)
But I love these dishes - great for the Fourth, Memorial Day, birthdays (stars for the star), and Christmas. I found star glasses at another store and collected some star baskets, a sugar and creamer, napkin rings, and a large star bowl.
In the past, I've had to stack these and store them in different locations. I'm so happy that I can keep all my star stuff in one location and be able to find what I need when I need it. I had a little extra room and stored some party plates in the extra space on the left.
I also have a tulip theme running through my house, and purchased tulip china when we first returned from Kenya. My mother-in-law gave me tulip serving dishes one year. I've never been able to store them all together until now. The plates are white with embossed tulips - not expensive, but I love them!
So back to the organizers - what I enjoy about these organizers is that they really max out space in cabinets that are high and deep. Things are easy to get to without having to unstack anything. The only thing that would have been better is if both organizers could have fit horizontally against the back wall. But I didn't find any that worked. Nonetheless, I'm very happy with how they've allowed me to store an abundance of dishes in a small space.
If you love dishes like I do, these organizers may make you smile, too!
More on Organizing Products I Use:
Organizing Products I Use - Bakeware Organizers
Organizing Products I Use – The Arrow Clothes Hanging System
Organizing Products I Use – Under-the-Sink Drawers
I'm sorry I haven't posted for a few days. My husband's father passed away, and his memorial service was over the weekend in Pennsylvania. It was an uplifting, celebratory time and a chance to see many dear friends and family.
Changing subjects dramatically, I'm working with a business owner to organize her office. She is visual and needs to be able to see her action items, or it's "out of sight, out of mind."
There are a number of options available to her, one being magazine file boxes. It's an attractive way to store papers, receipts, etc. without looking messy. Items to be added can be dropped into the appropriate box easily.
Here are some cute magazine file boxes that I felt were inspiring:
Aren't these adorable? They're from IKEA. These are also available in blue, black and white. Rattan, mesh, wood, and steel magazine file boxes are among other IKEA options.
This set from Fellowes has six different colors - another great trick for the visual person. Each color can represent a different category. And color is motivating and inspiring. These boxes have the labels on the open side of the boxes, which I'm not particularly fond of, as the contents show, looking cluttered. You could always make your own labels and put them on the other side, though.
These cute red ones come from The Container Store. They also have matching letter trays, storage boxes and file folders. Just makes you want to get organized doesn't it?
Whitmor provides a more whimsical look with bright plastic boxes. I love the colors, but don't like the fact that you can see through the plastic, though, again adding visual clutter.
And here's a mahogany magazine file box by Rolodex for a more elegant look.
Another idea: If you want to customize magazine file boxes to match your decor, you can always get plain white ones and decorate accordingly.
We'll talk more about organizing for the visual person in future blog posts.
More on office organizing:
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Managing Paper, Part 1
Managing Paper, Part 2
There are a number of things you can do to stay at your peak effectiveness during your work day. Experiment with the following:
- Take the breaks your employer offers to you. Go for a walk, go outside, climb a few flights of stairs - move! Just a few minutes of change refreshes your mind and your body.
- Multi-tasking is over-rated. It seems that all the hype about multi-tasking over the last few years has proven to be bad advice. The studies I've read recently show that people who concentrate on their task at hand do it more quickly and more effectively than those who multi-task.
Doing a couple of tasks at the same time which require little concentration is always a time saver - just make sure you don't sacrifice quality for "efficiency." If you have to redo a task, it's not saving you time.
- Create boundaries for yourself. Don't volunteer to help someone else at the expense of your own duties. Don't let others waste your time. If you are in a noisy area, close your door or wear headphones to reduce sound if it's acceptable in your workplace. Go to a different location to work in quiet if possible.
- Eat. If you are running low on fuel, you will not be able to function properly. Have a healthy snack during your breaks.
- Drink. Keep yourself hydrated. Our well-known coffee cafes make their coffee three to four times stronger than regular coffee, and if you get a specialty coffee it's loaded with sugar. Stop for one on the way to work, and expect your energy to crash in a couple of hours as the caffeine and sugar wear off. Better to have some green tea. Or water!
If you need more help with time management at the office or organizing your office efficiently, see our books on those topics.
More on work efficiency:
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Three Steps to Time Management at the Office
Three Steps to Time Management
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