Tag: organize

  • Organize Your Fitness: We LOVE Fitbit!

    At No More Piles we are Fitbit fanatics. Tara and I wear our Fitbits every day. Don’t know what a Fitbit is? Well, some will say it’s just a pedometer, but really, it is so much more.

    It tracks:
    • How many steps you take
    • How many miles you’ve walked
    • How many flights of stairs you have climbed
    • How many calories you have burned
    • How many active minutes you have had in your day
    • GPS your walk, jog or run
    • The Force, Flex and One can even monitor your sleep.

    I have the Force and Tara has the One and we are working on getting them for the rest of our No More Piles team.  But, as organizers, we are analyzing the pros and cons of each model to figure out which is best for each of our lifestyles.  I prefer the Force, but it is currently retired.  Tara has the One and loves it because you can clip it anywhere: shoe strings, bra strap, belt loop, etc.  The only drawback to the One is that you have to remember to move the clip when you change clothes.

    fitbit

    Fitbit also provides you with a free app and website to keep track of your vital information. It syncs via Bluetooth to your device, so you don’t have to do a thing once you initially pair it with your device. You can also log your daily food intake to get an accurate account of the calories you take in and those you burn off (although we prefer to log food with MyFitnessPal app which integrates with the Fitbit app). View all of your information on your smartphone or directly on the FitBit website from your desktop.

    You are able to customize goals. You can set how many steps you want to take per day. You can also set your active minute, ounces of water consumed and weight loss goals. When you reach your daily goal your Fitbit buzzes to let you know or if you are looking at the app or website it send off happy little smiley faces for reaching those targets. It only needs to charge once a week (Tara charges hers in the car on the way to clients) and once it is recharged it always has something nice to say to me. This morning it was “Cheers”.

    Our favorite feature is the ability to compete with your friends. Link up with others who have Fitbits and you are able to see who has the most steps. You can cheer, taunt or message any of your Fitbit friends to up the competition or encourage them to reach their goals.  If you are striving to stay active this is a great product to help keep you motivated. It’s always a big competition between Tara and I to see who is getting the most steps. And if I’m honest sometimes knowing Tara is only a few steps ahead of me, is all the motivation I need to go for a walk in the evening to edge her out!

    Check out the Fitbit we love it!!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: No More Piles Project Manager, Joan Robinson, helps working moms and families focus on what is important. Get our FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

     

     

  • The Great Purge of 2011!

    I was talking a friend this morning who is undergoing a whole life makeover.  She is reinventing her business, her home and even has a new hair color.  Since the motivation for change was running rampant, she and her husband decided to go room by room go through everything in their house.  They named this project: The Great Purge of 2011!  They are spending evenings doing small purging projects (like a junk drawer) around the home and one day each weekend on the big stuff (like the master closet).  I love this (of course!)!

    I can’t think of a better time of year to purge.  The holidays are fast approaching and that always means new gifts, clothes and toys coming in via piles of gifts.   It also means house guests who may actually need to put clothes in closets that you have used for storage.   It is always much easier to purge and make space for the new, by clearing out the old, broken, worn out or no-longer-used items, then it is to try to find space for them after the fact.  And, if you have kids, it is a great way to show them the “one in, one out” rule by practicing it yourself and leading by example.

    If you aren’t sure how to start your own Great Purge of 2011, I will make it easy for you.  Give each family member a paper bag or trash bag and tell them to fill it up with toys or clothes that they no longer use, they don’t love or have outgrown.  Set up a central large trash bag for all toys or clothes that are broken, missing pieces or are ripped and cannot be donated and just need to be trashed or recycled.  If you are reading this and saying that there is no way YOUR kids would willingly give away their toys, you are wrong.  Help them understand that their old toys or clothes are going to be donated to poor kids who don’t have any and I can guarantee they will find some to put in their donation bag.  Even my 3 year old filled a bag to give to our friend’s 1 year old, but it really helped her to know WHERE her toys and clothes were going.

    Good luck and happy purging!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.<p><a href=”https://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=681″>Image: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>

     

  • Oops…I Forgot My Underwear

    You know how it happens. As mothers, we are in charge of packing everything for a vacation. We pack for our kids. We make sure that the clothes are all cleaned before we leave. We pack the food and entertainment for the trip. We make sure that the mail gets collected, the plants get watered, etc. AND….we have to pack for ourselves. Years ago I made a packing list for a basic trip. Unfortunately, time has passed and I am married with two kids and I have never sat down and updated my list. I made a new list for the kids and their stuff, but I never updated my own list. So, as I unpacked the suitcase of my stuff and the kids stuff when we arrived at Great Wolf lodge last week, I was shocked to find out that I didn’t pack a single pair of underwear for myself (LOL, right?).

    What makes this even funnier is that I never put underwear on my list. I never put it on the list the same way I never put ‘contact lenses’ on my list….they were a no brainer! What I have learned in this adventure (had to find a mall and buy some new underwear, pronto), is that with my mommy-brain in full swing there is no such thing as a no-brainer. Here is the valuable nugget that I want to pass along to all of you: Don’t depend on your brain!

    Lists exist so that you can idiot proof the packing process. They exist to take the stress out of remembering what you need to do. Here is a great basic site that you plug in a little information and it will give you a packing list: https://upl.codeq.info/. My recommendation to you is that you take this basic list and add or subtract anything that you notice is missing as you pack. Save that list and then you will have a template for your next trip. This will help you avoid the embarrassment of forgetting your underwear!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

    Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Is Your Email and Facebook Safe From Hackers?

    I worked with a client this past week who had her Gmail and Facebook accounts hacked and taken over. By the time we recovered the accounts, a process that took several days, lots of stress and quite a few phone calls, the hackers had spammed everyone in her address book and then deleted all of her contacts which included both her personal and work contacts.

    There is no way to 100% protect yourself against hackers and cyber crime. It seems that hackers are increasingly targeting Facebook accounts and free email accounts because there is no direct customer service and it takes quite a bit of time to realize something has been hacked, submit the online forms to report the hack and have them shut down the accounts. This process gives the hackers plenty of time to do what they want with your contacts while posing as you.

    Here are the tips that we learned this past week to improve your protection. You may already be doing many of these, but please double check my list and be sure.

    • Do NOT have the same password for your email and Facebook accounts.
    • Change your passwords often.
    • Make your passwords a random combination of letter and numbers or use a phrase. Include symbols, capital letters and numbers to make it harder to duplicate.
    • Make sure you have good anti-virus software on your computer and make sure it is set for regular scans and updates to that it will protect you from the latest threats.
    • Hackers can also infect your computer with ‘key logger’ programs that will allow them to track your keystrokes and get your passwords. Consider downloading a malware detection program to check for key loggers.
    • Don’t use real answers to your security questions. It is much easier for a hacker to find out your real answers.
    • Back up your contacts in a physical file (like a .csv file saved on disk or elsewhere on your computer) so that if your online account gets hacked, you won’t have to rebuild your database.
    • Make sure you empty your email trash and sent items folder often.

    These criminals are constantly changing the ways in which they target victims, so we can all just help each other stay on top of the latest and greatest ways to protect ourselves.

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com . Photo is courtesy of Keerati & www.freedigitalphotos.net

  • Procrastination is a Useful Tool

    As I was sitting in my office practicing the fine art of procrastination, I began thinking about why people (me included) procrastinate. I came up with two basic reasons:

    1. It is something that you just don’t like to do (or there is something you would rather be doing)

    2. It is something someone else told you to do

    I can DEFINITELY think of examples of these from my life! In fact, I have left this blog post several times to send emails and make myself a cup of hot chocolate. What I began realizing during this thinking session is that procrastination can actually be a really useful tool, if examined. Sounds crazy, but stay with me for a minute. First, make a list (or just look at your current to do list) of all the things you procrastinate about. Next, break them into two categories: things you don’t like to do OR things someone else told you to do.

    Now, let’s look at the second list first. If it is something that someone else told you to do then it probably means that a boss or co-worker (or husband/wife/partner) is involved. This could mean it is a really important item and it really needs to get done, but you have been putting it off because you don’t like being told what to do. Well, that is just your ego talking, so let’s move it to the first list. If it is not really important or someone was just dumping their unwanted stuff on your plate, then you need to decide if you want to fight this battle or not. Maybe you have been a doormat and allowed them to dump tasks on you for awhile and you need to stand up for yourself and have a sit down with them to work it out. Or maybe, it is something small and not worth the fight which means you need to move it to the first list. This list should now be empty because everything was either given back to the giver to deal with or moved to the first list.

    The fist list is now full of things that we just don’t like to do or just seem to always find something more interesting to do. We are now down to a problem of motivation, not living by your priorities or time management. There will always be things that we don’t want to do but since they are important to us so we need to find a way to motivate ourselves to get them done. I like to set a timer and say to myself that I will sit down for 30 minutes and work on X. After my 30 minutes, I can leave it alone until tomorrow and that makes the task less painful. I also use my favorite shows as rewards for completing dreadful tasks. If I finish X, then I get to watch Survivor or Top Chef.

    Some items on this list may be there because you said ‘yes’ to something that you really shouldn’t have. You weren’t living by your priorities and being real with yourself about the time you could devote to another task or activity. My advice is to ‘suck it up’, finish the task and put it down as a lesson learned. If you are a ‘yes’ person by nature, I HIGHLY recommend that you never say yes on the spot. Create a patent line that you use when asked to commit to something like, “I don’t have my calendar with me, so let me check my availability when I get home and get back to you”. If you are at work and your calendar is right in front of you try, “I have several projects working right now, but let me take a look at things and see if I can fit it in. I will get back to you later today”. This will give you time to really think about whether you WANT to put this on your to do list.

    These last few items on your procrastination list may still be sitting there due to poor time management. My excuse for leaving this blog post several times before its completion was that I “needed” to send a quick email (that turned into 4 emails). I was “really” thirsty and wanted something to drink. That it would only take a second to answer the phone, check my facebook, see if I got any new emails, etc. If I had just sat down and only opened my blog and written this post in one sitting, it would have been done in 15 minutes (or so, with editing). Instead, it took me an hour and 15 minutes. I know I am probably not the only person around that has suffered from this time management affliction, but if I had just done it, then I would have already moved on to a more enjoyable task and I would have stopped moaning and groaning over an hour ago.

    So, the moral of the story is that you can learn a lot about what you enjoy doing and what you are really passionate about from looking at your procrastination patterns. Next time you are saying ‘yes’ or signing up for something, take a good hard look about where they are going to end up on your list. Are they going to be at the top of your to do list? Or are they going to be at the bottom of your to do list for the next 3 months?

    If you liked today’s article, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com . Photo is courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net

  • Basement Overhaul

    I took the summer off from blogging so that I could spend a little extra time with the kids, but now that school is back in session it is time to get back to work. I want to show you some great before and after pictures of the basement overhaul we completed this week. This client was a busy family with their third child on the way. Some family and friends had asked them to store items for them in the basement which started the clutter. Then they had grandma and grandpa move in with them and there were now more items to store. Then, life just got busy and anything that they couldn’t make a decision on went to the basement. Any time there was company coming over and there were piles anywhere, they went to the basement. Out of sight, out of mind…..except with #3 on the way they realized that the basement had gotten out of control and they wanted all their ducks in a row before #3 shows up. We put up some great shelving to get the bins and boxes off the floor for easy access, cleaning and in case of water seepage since it is an unfinished basement. We used lots of clear bins (labeled, of course) but clear helps you see what you need and allows you to access things more easily. This was a great project with wonderful, motivated clients and even grandpa did his part in sorting his items and sending some off for donation!

    [slideshow id=2 w=460 h=300]

  • When your schedule falls apart

    We have all had those days (or series of days) where nothing seems to go according to plan. Mine began this past friday morning when my 17 month old woke up with a fever and obviously felt terrible. Instead of me getting to the gym for my hour of Bodypump and going out to lunch with the kids and my in-laws, the kids and I spent all day sitting on the couch watching Nick Jr. Definitely not what I had planned! By the end of the day, my 3 year old was climbing the walls because he was tired of sitting around. My 17 month old still felt terrible and didn’t want to be set down. Here we are on Monday morning and things are starting to get back to normal, except that everything that I had on my agenda for Friday has gotten pushed to Monday and now there is twice the amount to get done.

    For whatever reason on any given day our schedules get derailed. It could have been a broken down car, an illness, traffic or the weather, but there are plenty things in our busy lives that can make our day fall apart. The key to getting through days like this is the remember:

    • Some things are just out of our control!
    • Don’t stress, most of the things on our to do list are not life and death items.
    • Tomorrow is a new day!

    From an organizational perspective, we now need to focus on what happens with today’s to do list when we get derailed.

    1. If there is something that ABSOLUTELY needs to get done today: delegate it or call in a favor to get it done. Have your neighbor give you a ride to the car repair place. Have a family member/friend watch the kids for an hour or two. Ask a co-worker, employee or even your boss to handle the situation. There is always a way to get something done if it really needs doing.
    2. Prepare yourself for a busy day when you are back in the swing.
    3. Reallocate some things on your to do list to other days so that you have a more reasonable amount of work to get done.

    The biggest thing to remember when you get a day (or two) like this is that, “this too shall pass”. It happens to everyone….even organizers!

  • Organizing Your Exit

    My cousin, Kevin, just received a new heart yesterday. He had been on the wait list for a heart donor for almost a year after having a massive heart attack. A selfless and courageous 23-year-old man (whom we don’t know) was tragically killed and donated his heart. This wonderful blessing for my cousin amid tragic circumstances for another family has led me to think about little talked about aspect of organizing: Organizing Your Exit.

    We are all going to die. No one likes to hear it, but the truth remains. We have little control over when we will exit, but what we can control is what happens to us after we die. If you have a spouse or kids or nieces or nephews or brothers or sisters, your exit could have not only an emotional impact, but a financial one, so being organized will help them tremendously. Plus, deciding what you want done with your body will take the burden of difficult decisions off your family and you may even be able to save a life, as in the case of the young man who donated his organs to my cousin.

    Here are some things you should have in writing:

    • A will
    • Advanced Directives – instructions given by individuals specifying what actions should be taken for their health in the event that they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.
    • Medical Power of Attorney – a legal document that designates an individual to make medical decisions for you in the event that you’re unable to do so.
    • A list of all your financial accounts and insurance policies with account numbers.
    • Your wishes for wakes, funeral services, memorials, cremations, burials.

    This may not be a glamorous organizing project, but it is a responsible and important one! Please take the time to get your ducks in a row.

    On a personal note, please consider becoming an organ donor!

  • Gifts

    As you have all probably experienced over the past month, gift giving can be a challenge if you are not organized. You may buy gifts on sale throughout the year and then not be able to find them when you need them or you forget to give the person the gift (I have received MANY gifts from my Mom YEARS after they were intended). Pre-buying gifts is only a good idea IF:

    • You are organized enough to remember that you bought it
    • You have a central location for all pre-bought gifts so you can find things easily
    • The gift could serve another purpose or be given to a different person

    I left a client’s house the other day and passed a Blockbuster store that was going out of business. I had a few extra minutes and decided to take a lap around to see what was on super-clearance. I ended up buying $20 worth of cool microwavable popcorn buckets and tons of movie candy that would have cost about $50-60 retail. This was a good purchase because I could make a little ‘movie night’ basket for a hostess gift, for the upcoming silent auction for my son’s school, or for a fun birthday present. Last night I received the email about the upcoming silent auction for my sons’ school (I am class mom) and we needed to let the coordinator know what our class would be donating by some date two weeks from now. I was able to immediately email back the theme of our classroom’s basket and in less than 3 minutes print out flyers to hand to the other kids in class to give everyone plenty of time to add their donations to the pot. That felt pretty cool!

  • New Year’s Resolutions

    We all have New year’s Resolutions, and mine is to start blogging a couple of times per week. My guess is that many of you think that since I am an organizer that I ALWAYS have it together. NOT TRUE! I am the working mother of two kids (1 and 3 years old) and just like many of you look like a duck paddling like crazy to stay above water. I am entering the most challenging quarter of the year…..tax season. With an accountant husband, I basically become a single parent for the next 3.5 months.

    So, I am going to blog about my successes and stumbles and what I learned from each in the hopes that it will help some of you too! Remember: Organizing is an evolutionary process. As your life changes, your systems often need to change with it.