Overcoming Procrastination - Starting Small

                 
When life seems overwhelming and you're procrastinating, start small! 

- Think of three or four items you need to tackle today, including that dreaded chore about which you are procrastinating.

- Plan your day, starting with the most pleasant task.

- Choose time limits for each activity. 

- Start with short amounts of time, especially on those dreaded, procrastinated items. For example, if you are putting off a major project, schedule 30 minutes on it, just to get started.

- Alternate pleasant and unpleasant tasks, if possible. This will act as a reward system for completing unpleasant tasks. If you can make it through 30 minutes of that dreaded project, you'll have something to look forward to.

- Once you have broken through the barrier of starting your dreaded task, it may not seem so daunting. If it still is, schedule short bursts of work on it, several times over the next week, rather than prolonged work times. A small dose is much easier to swallow than a large one.

- Give yourself short-term and long-term rewards upon completion of sections of your project. 

- Before long, your dreaded project will be behind you and you will have the satisfaction of a job well done. 

Bite-sized chunks of work on an overwhelming project helps conquer procrastination!


More on procrastination:

Overcoming Procrastination - Schedule those Appointments!

Five Ways to Prevent Procrastination from Zapping Your Energy and Productivity

A Simple Way to Stay Focused on Decluttering/Cleaning

 

Deadly Clutter

        
It has begun. News stories about people dying in house fires because they couldn't be found amidst their clutter.

I've already seen several such articles this year. One firefighter in the recent Portland, Oregon blaze says that one in four of the fires he works is due to uncontrolled clutter.

In the winter we have fireplaces and heaters going. If there's abundant clutter, this combination can be literally deadly.

If you know someone who is struggling with dangerous clutter, at least help him or her remove clutter from around heat sources. Cleaning up the clutter is a monumental job, but this would be a beginning. Clutter is not worth a life!

More on decluttering:
Three Steps to Decluttering (print)
Three Steps to Decluttering (kindle) 
Don't Let Clutter Create a Fire Hazard
 

Quick and Tasty Chicken with Artichokes, and Mushrooms

    
I'm always on the lookout for quick, easy and delicious dinner recipes. Here's one I adapted from another recipe. I cooked it for dinner last night in about 15 minutes, and we both really enjoyed it!

Chicken with Artichokes and Mushrooms

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast tenders
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 (14 ounce) can marinated quartered artichoke hearts, drained, liquid   reserved
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon capers
4 t.  cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown chicken in oil and butter for 3-5 minutes per side; remove from skillet, and set aside.
 
2. Place artichoke hearts and mushrooms in the skillet, and saute until mushrooms are brown and tender. Return chicken to skillet, and pour in reserved artichoke liquid and stock.

3. Mix cornstarch with equal amount of liquid from pan. Add to pan.

4. Stir in capers, and simmer for another 5 minutes until sauce is thickened and chicken is no longer pink.

Serves 4

More quick, tasty recipes:

Piggy-Back Dinners

Dinner in 20 - Lime Chicken

Planning Dinner (kindle book)

A Green Moving Soluton - Now You Can Rent Moving Boxes!

            
Don't want to purchase moving boxes? Rent instead! Yes, BungoBoxes can be rented and returned after your move.

 

These sturdy plastic boxes hold up better than cardboard and protect against rain. And they protect your valuables better than cardboard when stacked. 

They come in large (27 x 17 x 12 = 2.5 Cubic Feet) and extra large (28 x 20 x 15 = 3.8 Cubic Feet), and be rented separately or in packages based on the number of bedrooms you are moving. 

Also available are wardrobe boxes, dollies and straps, and wheels that fit under the boxes.

BungoBoxes are delivered to your door and picked up after your move. Call to see if BungoBoxes are available in your area. What a green moving solution!

(Disclaimer: I don't receive a commission from BungoBoxes. I just think it's a great idea!)

More on moving:

Short-Term and Long-Term Moving

Moving Tips

10 Tips on Preparing for a Long-Distance Move

 

Not Sure if It's Recyclable?

   
If you have something you'd like to recycle, but you're not sure if it is acceptable or where it might be recycled, check with Earth911.

This is especially helpful for those items that may not have a recycling number on it. You can type in your product description and your zip code, and it will list locations that take that product. 

For example, not all grocery stores here recycle plastic grocery bags, and we've been having trouble finding a place that accepts them. When I typed in plastic bags, several locations popped up. 

Our local recycling locations do not accept glass. When I typed in glass nothing came up. I know that you can hire a company to collect your recyclables, but it doesn't appear there are free methods to recycling glass. 

We don't have curbside recycling here, which surprises me in such a green state as Montana. Maybe soon. 

More on recycling:

A Refresher on Recycling Plastics

Recycling Electronics and Appliances

Animal Shelters Accept What Other Charities Can't Use

 

Organizing for an Evacuation

   
If your smoke alarm went off, and you needed to evacuate quickly, you wouldn't have time to go through your house and collect your purse or wallet, cell phone, laptop, car keys, etc.

Not that I want to be gruesome, but the thought of losing everything in a fire is bad enough. But what if you had to go through the agony of getting a new driver's license, a new insurance card, new credit cards, a new cell phone, etc. If you had them all in one place, and you could grab it all as you leave, at least you wouldn't have that headache to contend with.

At night when I go to bed, I've started putting my laptop in my large bag that I carry every day. It holds my wallet and car keys already. I place it next to my bed. And my cell phone is plugged in next to my bed. So if we have an emergency, I just need to grab my phone and bag. 

Just something to think about.


More on evacuating:

How Quickly Could You Evacuate?

National Preparedness Month - Evacuation Plan

National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan

 

Getting Organized for Baby

                                   
Since our first grandchild is due in less than two months, my thoughts are turning to organizing for her, naturally! So I took a look at Amazon to see what was available, as it has been over 30 years since we've had a baby in the house! 


I've had trouble all day trying to publish this post, and had to take off several of the cute organizing products. So I'll only publish three today, and see if my blog likes me better another day. 

There are so many cute things out there! And they are pretty reasonably priced, I thought. Here are some of my favorites: 

Baby Care Cart

                                                                                                                    

Nursery Organizer

 

Four-in-One Stage Crib

                                                                          

More on organizing for baby:

Preserving and Organizing Your Child's Memorable Moments

Baby Planners - A New Organizing Service

Green Baby Gifts