Fun & Recreation

Last week I went to my 25-year high-school reunion. How can that be? Most days I still feel about 12.
Leading up to the reunion I chatted with my present-day friends, and was surprised that many of them dreaded the thought. Why?
I got fat, said one.
I wouldn’t know what to say to them, said another.
But I think secretly they’d love to catch up with old cronies, or at [...]

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Although I’m rugged up in a faux-fur hoodie and ugg boots on this cold and rainy winter’s day in Sydney, my northern hemisphere friends are enjoying the start of summer.
So I thought I’d pull together some of my posts on getting organized, having fun, and making the most of the holidays for you lucky, sun-drenched peeps.
1. Be Happy & Have Fun
11 Great Reasons To Be Happy
Happiness isn’t [...]

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Do people tell you you’re no fun? Do you wish you could relax and enjoy yourself more?
After working in large financial institutions for over a decade, I became very serious and forgot how to have fun. It was a career choice so diametrically opposed to my personality that an organizational psych once asked, ‘How have you not had a nervous breakdown?’ (they used that term in those days).
I chose a [...]

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This can be a stressful time of year, no doubt about it.
To help you to get things done, keep your cool, and have a good time, here are my top 3 happy-holiday tips.
Getting Organized for Happier Holidays: My Top 3 Tips
1. Do less
Doing less is your single best strategy for avoiding stress and enjoying the season.
Look for things to simplify:

Buy fewer gifts – do a Secret [...]

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Your iPod, CD player or car stereo is a veritable vault of education, motivation, fun, and relaxation.

All it takes is a little organization to liberate the goodies. You’ll upgrade your knowledge, make better use of your time and improve your mood.

Here’s how…
Organize Your Music

They say that music is food for the soul. Well, how about a little lyrical nourishment?

Decide on the kind of music you want to listen to. Choices could include:

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Your bedroom is the place to which you retreat at the end of the day. Does it restore your calm and ease you into sleep, or evoke a mild sensation of panic?
If you need a bedroom intervention, you’re in the right place. We’re about to transform your bedroom into your private sanctuary.
Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below.
If you’re new, you might like [...]

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I’m going to make 12 fresh starts in 12 life areas over the next 12 days.
I don’t expect to succeed at everything, but I want to give a bunch of things a try. Join me!
Day 1: Personal Development
My Day 1 Fresh Start was to raise my weights in Body Pump class for biceps and shoulders.
Report:
✔ Raised weights on days I’ve had Pump class. My form has suffered and I’ve missed [...]

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Do you keep a constant pace when you exercise? Or do you prefer to intersperse power bursts with recovery phases?
Whether you like to walk, run, jog, or row, you can introduce a simple version of interval training to your exercise routine.
You don’t need to bother with complicated timings and stopwatches for this basic version. Simply follow the steps to create a playlist that does the work for you, [...]

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Getting organized improves your ability to achieve most goals by helping you to be more strategic and resourceful. And that’s certainly the case when it comes to saving money. Here are 7 ways you can save money by being a little more organized.
1. Work your closet. Ideas to try: * Look for fresh ways to combine items already in your closet. * Instead of buying new clothes, look for a belt, bag, jacket or shoes to bring a new-season look…

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This week I’ve seen two helpful posts on getting organized for travel, at opposite ends of the travel scale.
Around the World
Unclutterer has a post on travelling from Chris Guillebeau. Chris is a man with a plan – to visit every country in the world (113 out of 197 done) before his 35th birthday in 4 years. Impressive!
He offers a few tips for being a more organized, less stressed traveler, including:

Taking [...]

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Often I get reader questions that I think might apply to other readers, too. So I’m starting a little ‘column’ of organizing Q & A.
If you have a question relating to a post, personal organization, decluttering, simplicity or goals, simply post your question on the blog.
If it’s of broad interest I’ll do my best to answer helpfully in this Q & A ‘column’.
And of course if you have [...]

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The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions
This is Day 4 of The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions for Better Personal Organization
I’m spending 12 days posting ideas for new year’s resolutions you might like to choose for yourself. Each day focuses on a different life area.
Remember: go for progress, not perfection.
Following is an edited extract from the introduction to Module 4: Fun & Recreation in Get Organized Wizard [...]

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I’m a huge TV fan – HUGE. As an introvert, screenwriting aficionado and general geek I can happily while away entire decades chuckling with Chandler and Joey, navigating world crises with Jed, whacking upstarts with Tony, staking vamps with Willow and Xander, and making huge mistakes with Gob.
I never turn off these shows thinking I’ve wasted my time. They make me laugh, think, see the world differently and/or [...]

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