It’s the beginning of another new year. And if you are like me, you always start the New Year off with good intentions. Then, if you are REALLY like me, you open the freezer; see the ice cream and well… So this year I decided to be easy on myself…and my family. I’m not striving for perfection. Far from it. Just Enough. Organized enough (yes, even me!), good enough, exercise enough, done enough. You get the idea. No more resolutions or unobtainable goals that set us up to fail.
Author: Leslie
The Gift of Doing
(From the Archives)
Gifts From the Heart
I’m very picky. Simply put, I like what I like. I’m sure most of you can relate. Buying gifts for me is not very fun (just ask my husband!). For every gift that is a winner, there are 10 that just don’t make the grade. So one year, on the eve of my birthday, I decided to throw down a challenge to my family. No buying me anything. Truthfully, if there is really something that I “need”, I’ll get it myself.
But here was the catch. They had to “do” something for me instead. Think about it. It’s the perfect gift. It’s low cost, clutter free (love that!) and from the heart. And I get what I truly “need” – others to take care of things that I either do not have time for or do not know how to do. So here’s what I “received” that first year.
20 Clutter-Free Gift Giving Ideas {FREE PRINTABLE}
(Includes a FREE printable list!)
Tis’ the season to give and receive, but that doesn’t mean we have to fill our homes with clutter! These clutter-free gift ideas span all ages and spare your friends and family from present overload!
Digital Media:
- Netflix subscription
- Gamefly subscription
- Convert old pictures to DVDs and then wrap them up. The best part – give them the gift of spending time watching them together.
- Amazon Prime membership
- Read aloud and record a favorite children’s book and give the recording to a child. They will love to listen over and over again!
Share the Wealth by Donating to Worthy Organizations {FREE PRINTABLE}
(Includes a FREE printable list!)
It’s that time of year and in the spirit of giving, we’ve made donating easy for you. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite national donation sites.
Dress for Success
The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The organization accepts pantsuits, skirts, dresses, blazers, blouses, shoes, purses, and unused cosmetics and jewelry. To donate clothes to your local Dress for Success, please visit dressforsuccess.org/affiliate-list to find the affiliate nearest to you.
Brain Boosting: Eat a Healthy Breakfast!
Guest post by Susan Weiner
The beginning of the school year is exciting and hectic. Morning minutes skip by as outfits are chosen and book bags are re-checked for daily supplies. Does your child complain that they aren’t hungry in the morning or don’t have time to eat? Breakfast must be a part of your son or daughter’s morning routine.
Are You Team Paper Planner or Electronic Calendar?
So I’m going to get right to it. I’m a paper planner girl. Always have been. Always will. There’s something about putting pen to paper that makes me feel organized, time managed and yes, in control. And it seems like I’m not the only one. In our high tech world, paper planners are making a comeback— and in a really big way. And not just for adults, but for students too!
According to The Paper and Packaging Board’s 2016 Annual Back-to-School Report, 63% of K-12 teachers’ courses involved paper-based learning and that included using a student planner! Want even more proof? In February 2015, the Washington Post recognized paper’s unique role in the lives of our “Gen-Z” students, born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s, who have grown up in a world of cell phones, laptops, and touch screens, still choose paper to study, read, share and send.
10 Tips to Get Your Motivation Going
“I just can’t get motivated.” Or, “It’s so hard to maintain motivation.” Sound familiar? I hear that constantly from my clients whether it is an adult trying for the umpteenth time to clean out an attic or from a student working on an English term paper. For them, it is less about disorganization or even time management and more about the desire and the will to begin or the effort to keep going. So how do we teach motivation? That’s a tricky one. Here are some strategies.
LESLIE LIKES: Justick by Smead Electro Bulletin Boards
Can I just gush for a minute? I love Smead. They just get it right. Every. Single. Time. So it was no surprise that I did a HUGE happy dance when they unveiled their new line of JUSTICK products. It’s a bulletin board (without the tape/pushpins/magnets/glue) AND a dry erase board!
Best Organizing Apps for 2018 {FREE PRINTABLE}
15 Apps to Keep You and Your Family Organized
Do you have resolutions to finally get your life, home and family organized this year? You don’t have to go it alone! These organizing apps and websites will help you with everything from emptying your inbox, to decluttering your closet. There is something here for everyone in the family; mom, dad, students and more.
Time Management Tip: The To-Do List is Dead
Harvard Business Review came out with the results of a study on time management a few years ago. Basically it said that the to-do list is dead. The trick to being more productive is actually putting the tasks from your to-do list (in order of importance) in your calendar. Then you can slot the time for each task on a daily-weekly-monthly-yearly basis.
Leslie received the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals’ (NAPO) highest honor. It is the only award nominated by and voted on by its over 3500 members.
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