With warmest wishes,

Related posts:

1. Get Organized for the Holidays – With Free Christmas To-Do List
2. Get Organized Mission #7: Be Happy!
3. Get Organized, Get Happy in 2012!

Previously in this Simplify Your Life series, we’ve found ways to:

• Simplify Your Closet (What Not To Wear)
• Simplify Your To-Do List (What Not To Do) 
• Simplify Your Life (What Not To Buy).

This time, let’s turn to simplifying something which, for many people, is already in pretty short supply: leisure time.

Simplify Your Leisure: What Not To Watch

Most of us are busy and many of us are stressed. Our leisure time is precious, a way to refresh, rejuvenate and restore ourselves.

Yet it’s common to squander our limited and important leisure watching television shows or movies that leave us feeling like we’ve wasted our time.

With a little thought and planning, however, you can make sure this never happens to you again.

You can make a mental or written list to ward off poor choices when you’re at the video store or the movies. You can also use your list to stock up on DVDs to buy, so you’re never at the mercy of whatever’s on TV.

The usual caveat applies: Please don’t use this list to shut yourself off from new experiences or get stuck in a rut of the same old same old. Rather, use it to focus your free time on entertainment choices likely to be the most rewarding for you – whether you’re after laughter, distraction, education, inspiration, shock or a thrill.

So let’s make life a little simpler and leisure time more enjoyable by creating a don’t-watch list.

My ‘What Not To Watch’ List

To help you think about you list, I’m sharing things I generally don’t watch; I’ve learned from experience that they don’t satisfy me. Of course, this list is personal – your list will reflect your own likes and dislikes.

• Movies at the movies. I’m too easily distracted by people’s cell phones, chatter, crunching (although I do plenty of my own ) and kiddies. I have more fun waiting for the DVD and making my own cinema experience.
• ‘Live’ TV. I get impatient with the ads and dislike losing the flow of the show. So I only watch TV shows I’ve recorded, or borrowed/bought on DVD.
• Blockbuster-style shows where the story is made up along the way. (Don’t wanna run the risk that 172 episodes later it turns out to have been somebody’s dream. )
• Reality shows, including cooking, singing, dancing, and all forms of amateur play-offs.
• Sports shows.
• TV shows that aren’t well written (you can tell within 5 minutes).
• Horror movies – too suspenseful for me!
• Anything with ‘harrowing’ in the description.
• Quaint detective stories (Agatha Christie is the exception). I like my crime gritty and The-Wire-esque.

Your ‘What Not To Watch’ List

Now it’s your turn. Consider:

• Movie genres you don’t find entertaining
• Directors or actors whose movies you usually dislike
• TV shows that leave you stressed, anxious or irritated
• Reality TV shows
• Broad comedies
• Movies that are violent
• Movies that are cutesy.

With a don’t-watch list, you’ll be less vulnerable to the same old mistakes at the movies and the video store.

And if you do like to unwind in front of the TV, I recommend you stock up on DVDs – whether you buy or borrow them from the library or video store.

By pre-vetoing certain movie and TV choices that have a high likelihood of being duds, you’ll make your leisure time more enjoyable. And your life simpler. 

Organize Your Home & Life

A fast, proven way to declutter, simplify and organize your home…

“This has literally changed my life; I had papers everywhere and no idea where to start! Granted, it took longer than 30 minutes, but now everything is categorized and labeled in one folder, Michele, I can’t thank you enough!” – Annie

“Oh this was EASY! I went through the girls’ bedroom and 30 mins later I had a banking box FULL of toys and or garbage to declutter.” – Crystal

“I loved how filling a huge trash bag with junk made me feel better about myself. The satisfaction I felt when I threw that bag into the trash was awesome.” – Sarah

“I love this site and glad I joined. This plan works well for me and I have been applying the mission, using the timer, and as all things will happen as needed, have been able to declutter within the 30 minute timer. I did it and will continue to apply this plan.” – Marti

Learn more about 52 Missions Home Organizer.

[Image: by fauxto_digit]

Related posts:

1. Simplify Your Life: New Series Starts Today
2. Simplify Your Life: What Not To Buy
3. Simplify Your Life: What Not To Do

Well, you no longer have to suffer irritation every time you listen to the track. Here’s how to cut out that annoying intro – and it will take you less than 30 seconds.

How to Cut an Annoying Intro out of a Song

1. In iTunes, right-click on the song
2. Select ‘Get Info’
3. Choose the ‘Options’ tab
4. Enter a new ‘Start time’, eg 0:15 if you want to cut out the first 15 seconds.

Voila! The track will now start 15 seconds in. Double-click the track to hear for yourself.

If you’re not sure how much to cut out, play the song in iTunes and note the time at which the good part starts.

Anytime you want to revert to the old start time, just repeat the steps above and set ‘Start Time’ to 0:00 again.

What if you don’t like something at the end of a track? Then change the ‘Stop Time’ in step 4.

PS I love all of Weird Fishes. Just used that song because it’s what I’m listening to as I write this post.

Related posts:

1. Organize Your Fitness: How To Create A Super-Simple Interval Training Playlist
2. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 4 – Fun & Recreation
3. Goals & Priorities Diary | How To Use It On Your Mobile Device

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 least to catch up with their own younger self.

As it turned out, I had a lovely time at my reunion, and I thought it would be a shame if others missed out because of self-doubt.

So here are some dos and don’ts for surviving a high-school reunion – with a little class, dignity and sense of fun.

Dos and Don’ts for Surviving a High-School Reunion

Don’t test-drive a new outfit

Wear something you’ve worn before that looks and feels good. That way, you’ll be able to relax and focus on the people rather than the outfit.

Do dress smart-casual (unless another dress code is specified)

Under-dress and you’ll feel intimidated; over-dress and you’ll feel conspicuous; sexy-dress and you’ll feel uncomfortable. This is an occasion that calls for baby-bear-ing it. If in doubt, opt for jeans, heels and a flattering top.

Don’t over-share

When you’re asked what’s been happening, don’t recount in detail your various health, financial and family woes. Stick to the basic highlights. And keep it light. Save the angst-ridden analysis for your friends. Or therapy.

Do be generous with compliments

If you notice something great about someone, tell them. What they’re wearing, how they look, what they’ve achieved, how sweet they still are – let them know you appreciate it. It will make you both feel good.

Don’t drink too much

Excess alcohol plus nostalgia can equal a morose mood. Alternate drinks with water or soda.

Do get into the spirit

Let yourself enjoy the memories, music and mutual amazement that you all look the same (you will, to each other). Take the opportunity to get to know people all over again. Who knows – you might even make some new, old friends.

[Image: by DoctorWho]

Related posts:

1. Valentine’s Day Edition: Relationships Round-Up
2. Your Child’s School Progress: How to Stop Worrying and Start Organizing
3. Back-to-School Planning & Organizing [Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Home & Family Edition Customers]

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 a selfish goal. In fact it’s related to giving more in our world. Here are 11 of the advantages that go along with happiness – and 11 great reasons to be happy!

Your Happiness Depends On Your Thoughts

Can you trace the way you feel back to the way you think? I sure notice a cause-and-effect relationship between my thoughts and my happiness…

3 Strategies For Having – And Being – More Fun

Do people tell you you’re no fun? After working in large financial institutions for over a decade it took a long time to get my feeling-groovy groove back. Here are 3 strategies for having, and being, more fun that I learned along the way.

How To Feel Happier Now? Face It!

A number of studies suggest our feelings are strengthened, perhaps even stimulated, by the faces we make. What face are you making now?

How to be Happier: A Scientifically Proven Strategy that Costs Nada

Psychologists have scientifically tested (yep, we’re talking unwitting participants, experiments, statistical analysis, peer-reviewed journals) whether appreciating good things leads to greater happiness. And guess what – it does!

2. Get Ready for School

Student Success: How To Become A SMART Student Before Summer’s Over

To get a jump start on a great academic year, set some college or school goals – and make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Framed – SMART. Follow these 5 easy steps and you’ll be on your way.

Successful New Year’s Resolutions: 3 Things You Must Know To Achieve Goals and Change Habits

Important lessons for making changes – and they apply any time of the year.

Your Child’s School Progress: How to Stop Worrying and Start Organizing

Get that worry out of your head and do something useful with it. By thinking constructively about things you can do and making a plan for actions you can take, you save yourself stress and improve your ability to help your child.

3. Get Organized and Declutter

52 Organizing Missions – Join the Movement that’s Changing Lives

Join the thousands of people who’ve committed to completing just one 30-minute organizing mission a week. Easy peasy! Missions include decluttering, personal organization and goal-setting across life areas.

My Partner is a Hoarder. Help!

Lots of ideas for living with a hoarder and helping them to change – if they’re ready.

Organize Your Evening Ritual: 10 Things To Do At Night For A Good Morning

The way you bid the world adieu each night affects the way the world greets you the next day. Here are 10 simple things to do before bed that help to make the morning a good one.

4. Make The Most of Your Holidays

Getting Organized for Happier Holidays: My Top 3 Tips

To help you to get things done, keep your cool, and have a good time, here are my top 3 happy-holiday tips.

How To Be A More Organized Traveler – Around The World or In Your Car

Helpful tips on getting organized for travel, at opposite ends of the travel scale.

5. Don’t Overindulge

Organizing Q & A: A Morsel a Day Keeps the Bingeing Away

Some ideas to help you avoid overdoing it on holidays.

Get Organized for Better Quality Rest/Recreation: Have a TV Viewing Policy

In a world where the options run from the sublime to Jerry Springer, you need to protect yourself from crap TV that slowly and painfully sucks your soul out through your eyeballs. Here’s how..

More Good Stuff for the Family

My friend Susan Heid (@ConfidentMom) has just released a nifty family calendar for the summer holidays. There’s an activity to do with the kids for every day, with a link to more instructions for each activity. Very practical and fun!

[Image: by h.koppdelaney]

Related posts:

1. A Postcard from Summer in Sydney…
2. 11 Great Reasons To Be Happy
3. Design Your Life UPDATE: Cool New Stuff For Members

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 different path after that, but it took a long time to get my feeling-groovy groove back.

Here are 3 strategies for having, and being, more fun that I learned along the way.

3 Strategies For Having And Being More Fun

1. Make Work Fun

I suffered hundreds of angst-ridden hours at my desk before I realized that just because I was working, I didn’t have to be miserable. D’oh.

Now when I work, I:

• Wear comfortable clothes so I can sit cross-legged, which feels good to me
• Listen to music – and stop, turn up the volume and sing along every now and then
• Burn candles or incense
• Have a lovely painting by my artist-friend on my desk
• Have an orchid on my windowsill
• Drink coffee from my favorite mug.

Not quite a wild rave, perhaps, but it sure makes it nicer to sit at my desk and be productive.

–> What can you do to make work more pleasurable for yourself?

2. Lower Your Laughter Threshold

Another un-fun habit I developed in my corporate years was to have very high expectations for everything – including comedy. My lip would barely twitch unless the sitcom antics, rom-com witticisms or friends’ comedy stylings reached dizzying standards of hilarity. Needless to say, not a lot of laughs came my way.

Then I learned, by observing a wise and fun-loving relative, that simply by showing up with a smile on my face and a readiness to be amused, I could laugh quite easily.

When I think of all the chuckles, chortles and guffaws I’d have missed if I’d kept my humor standards so high – well, it makes me laugh.

–> Could you have more fun by lowering your laughter threshold?

3. Be Child-like

This is my favorite.

In my corporate life I felt I should be all-grown-up 24-7, which was obscenely boring and utterly exhausting. When I left, I couldn’t wait to rediscover my inner Bart. I’ve since incorporated into my life a strict regime of child-likeness in many and varied forms.

These include:

• Dressing for fun – I happily wear pink clothes, sparkles, thigh boots, funky jewelry, faux fur, and metallic blue nail polish.
• Car dancing – if there’s a good beat on the car stereo, I will dance to it. I’ve even developed some special, patented car moves.
• Being immature – which includes singing and dancing along to Glee, trampolining with my nieces, and giving names to my household appliances.

–> Would being a little child-like help you enjoy life more?

A Caveat

One caveat though – fun is a personal thing.

The trick to getting more fun into your life is to open yourself up to what you think might be fun. For me it might be cryptic crosswords or watching The Wire again; for you it could be strip chess or facial yoga.

Just by putting fun on your radar though, you’ll start to notice things that could be fun.

When you do – try them. And if they feel good, keep doing them.

Before you know it, you’ll be having fun.

Get More Fun In Your Life – With Life & Goal Organizer

Life & Goal Organizer is a 360-degree goal and life organizing system. Like a personal coach, it helps you take charge of your goals, plans and life, one step at a time.

By leading you through a system of ready-made action plans – from time management and relationships to fun and happiness – Life & Goal Organizer provides a motivating way to organize your time, your goals and your life.

Learn about Life & Goal Organizer.

[Image by a4gpa]

Related posts:

1. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 4 – Fun & Recreation
2. 7 Smart Strategies For Saving Money During The GFC
3. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 4: Fun & Recreation]

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 Santa so everyone only has to buy a gift for one person
• Send e-cards instead of buying, writing, addressing and posting paper cards
• Buy gifts or gift certificates online (have you seen mine?) rather than fighting the crowds and choices at the mall
• Simplify the decorating – or delegate it to the kids
• Simplify the cooking – dine out, cater in, buy ready-made, cook in advance, spread the dishes around, or opt for trusty old fave recipes that won’t raise your blood pressure
• Only accept invitations to parties and events you want to attend
• Only extend invitations if you enjoy entertaining
• Schedule time for yourself – perhaps a bubble bath, novel, magazine, or DVD.

Once you’ve decided what you need to do (ie, less), write it down. Use my interactive Christmas To-Do List. You can type into this template and save it to your computer, or print out and write on it. Either way it’s re-usable.

(This list is from my Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Home & Family Edition and the Design Your Life e-program.)

To get yours, scroll down to ‘Christmas To-Do List’ on my Resources page.

2. Expect less

There’s a lot of pressure on everyone this time of year – and it’s easy to feel disappointed that your family or your holidays don’t match the ones on the Christmas specials.

But you’ll have a better chance of a happy holiday if you lower your expectations:

• Tell your spouse/significant other exactly what you’d like for Christmas. Or buy it yourself. Either way, you’ll get what you want.
• Accept that many people have had a tough year, and the holidays may be their opportunity to let off steam. They’re not trying to spoil your Christmas. Love them anyway.

3. Notice the good stuff more

Whether it’s the kids in your home, the lights in your neighborhood, or the love in your friends, there will be moments to treasure.

Don’t be too busy or distracted to notice them.

So that’s it: Do less, expect less, notice more. You’ll be much more likely to have happier holidays.

[Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lecates/ / CC BY-SA 2.0]

Related posts:

1. Get Organized Mission #13: Organize Your Emergency Contacts [With Free Emergency Phone Contact List]
2. Now Available: Gift Certificates For a More Organized Life
3. Happy Holidays From Get Organized Wizard!

[Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/subharnab/ / CC BY 2.0]

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:

• upbeat to boost your mood
• classical to chill you out
• high-energy to power your workouts.

Mine your CDS – your own and maybe your kids’ – for songs to rip to your MP3 player or to make a ‘mixtape’ CD.

Browse iTunes or use the Genius function and download tunes that tantalize your musical taste buds.

Organize Your Audiobooks

Don’t forget to feed your brain, too. Audiobooks are a convenient way to take in stimulating or educational works while doing housework, working out, waiting for your bus or flight, or doing mindless errands.

Decide on the books you’d like to listen to. Choices could include:

• classic works you’ve always wanted to read
• business or motivational titles
• new releases by today’s big thinkers.

Check out Audible for a fab range of audiobooks you can download direct to your iPod, and Amazon for a good range of books on CD.

Organize Your Podcasts

For short, current grabs on almost any topic, subscribe to podcasts. They’re free, and iTunes has more than 100,000 to choose from.

Organize Your Playlists

Create playlists to match your moods. Here are some ideas:

Workout/Gym

• Select upbeat tracks, perhaps with a couple of slower ones at the end for your cool-down and stretch, or create your own interval training playlist

Cheerful

• Choose songs that make you want to dance, smile or sing along

Moody

• It can be comforting to have a playlist for times when you just want to feel sorry for yourself – but I suggest keeping this playlist short.

Motivating

• Fill this list with songs that inspire you – and use it to fire yourself up when you want a burst of encouragement

Getting ready

• Here you want music that gets you in a party mood – excellent accompaniment while dressing for a party

And with that, you’ve transformed your iPod, CD player or car into your own personal learning and pleasure machine!

Your iPod Worksheet

Here’s an iPod Worksheet for organizing your MP3 player. It’s an interactive PDF, so you can Type-&-Save or Print-&-Write. Download it by clicking the link below.

This worksheet is from my Life & Goal Organizer Program.

What’s on your MP3 player? How do you organize it? Please share any tips in the comments!

Related posts:

1. Organize Your Fitness: How To Create A Super-Simple Interval Training Playlist
2. Organize Your Communications – And Get Better Customer Service! (With Free ‘Disputes Contact Record’ Download)
3. Time Management: Organize More Efficient Travel Time

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 to start here: 52 Organizing Missions.

Get Organized Mission #17: Create Your Bedroom Sanctuary

Step 1: Remove the stressors

You may need to re-locate some of these items. If you don’t need them, donate, recycle or discard them.

Decide which of these detract from your sanctuary space, and remove them from your bedroom:

• Computers, printers, faxes
• TV
• Paperwork
• Kids’ toys
• Exercise equipment
• Work projects
• Mobile phone
• Games consoles
• Laundry hamper
• Under-bad storage
• Too many books
• Too many magazines
• Excess furniture
• Excess clothes
• Unpleasant alarm.

Step 2: Add the relaxers

You may have to write a shopping list if you don’t have your desired relaxers on hand.

Decide which of these enhance your sanctuary space and add them to your bedroom:

• Enticing bed linen
• Fluffy pillows
• Cozy blankets and comforters
• Soft lamps
• Attractive window furnishings
• Pleasant bedtime reading
• Water glass and bottle
• A pleasant alarm
• Sleeping mask – if the sun disturbs you in the early morning
• Ear plugs – if you need them
• Scented candles or oil burner.

Dos & Don’ts

• Don’t feel you have to organize everything in your bedroom. This mission is simply about crating a lovely space for yourself.
• Do allow yourself a sense of pleasure, sensuality and fun in what you choose to add to your bedroom sanctuary.

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

• Let the kids create bedroom environments that make them feel happy. It might even motivate them to new levels of tidiness!
• If you share your bed with someone else, this could be a wonderful opportunity to do this mission together and look for ways to add spice, romance or fun to your relationship.

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Before You Go – Please Check In

Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment. To leave a comment: Scroll to the bottom of this post, where you’ll find a comment box waiting for you.

And see you back here next week!

DID YOU KNOW:

You can get your weekly organizing mission delivered to your inbox.
Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cocokelley/ / CC BY 2.0

Related posts:

1. Create a Chore Chart [Organizing Mission #24]
2. Create Your ‘Organized Life Bedtime Routine’ [Mission #20]
3. Get Organized Mission #11: Create Your Wardrobe Wishlist

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 some reps at the end. But that’s to be expected!

Day 2: Health & Fitness

My Day 2 Fresh Start was to give up Smith’s Cheese & Onion Chips – at least for September.

Report:

✔ Wow – three days chip-sober! This one is hard to stick with.

Day 3: Career & Business

My Day 3 Fresh Start was to begin planning out changes to my website’s homepage.

Report:

✔ Mapped out ideas over lunch with my business partner. Will have something new to try out soon.

Day 4: Fun & Recreation

Today my fresh start is from category 3: To do more of something.

I’m going to listen to more music on my iPod when out walking (usually it’s audiobooks and podcasts.) I have heaps of fabulous tracks that put a spring in my step and a smile on my face – but I hardly ever play them. So my fresh start is that at least once a week I’m going to have an all-music iPod day!

I’ll let you know how I go tomorrow – when I’ll make my fifth fresh start – in Technology & Social Media.

What About You?

Think of your own Fun & Recreation goals and plans. In what area could you:

• Start something new – or try something you haven’t done, eaten, read, or experienced before
• Give up something – maybe a habit that undermines you or an obligation that weighs you down
• Do more of something – be specific about ‘more’, but don’t be overly-ambitious
• Do less of something – be specific about ‘less’, but don’t be overly-ambitious

I hope you’ll choose something and join me!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/ / CC BY 2.0

Related posts:

1. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 5: Technology & Social Media]
2. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 3: Career & Business]
3. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 6: Home]

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, so you can do as Jim Steinman says and

let the drummer tell your heart [rate] what to do.

Organize Your Fitness: How To Create A Super-Simple Interval Training Playlist

Step 1: Decide how long your workout session will be

If you’re a newbie, you might like to begin with 20 minutes. For veterans, 60 minutes might suit.

Choose a duration that feels challenging but doable.

Step 2: Start a new playlist

Open iTunes or your music library and create a new playlist. Name it Interval 1 if you have no better naming protocol.

Step 3: Choose your tunes

• First, choose an easy-paced tune to warm you up.
• Next, decide on a slow, relaxing track for your cool-down phase.
• Last, divide the remaining session time between fast-paced, high-energy tracks, and medium-paced tunes that let you take it down a notch. Alternate these tracks on your playlist. Ideally, start and end this working time with high-energy tracks.

To keep track of your playlist length, click the playlist name and the total time – along with number of songs and file size – will display in the grey bar at the bottom. You may need to play around with different tracks to get the session duration you want.

Simple! And you’re wired for interval training sound.

Got some suggestions for motivating workout tracks? Please share them!

To leave a comment: Scroll to the bottom of this post – a comment box is waiting for you.

Want some cool tools for organizing your
health, fitness and personal life?

Check out The Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Personal Edition 
or Life & Goal Organizer.

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it using the buttons below.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renneville/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Related posts:

1. Organize Your Audio For Learning & Pleasure [With Free iPod Worksheet]
2. Get Organized For Fitness [Mission #38]
3. Organize Your Computer in 7 Simple Steps [Mission #18]

Here are 7 ways you can save money by being a little more organized.

7 Smart Strategies For Saving Money During The GFC

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 to your existing ensembles.
• Check for forgotten items you can bring back into your outfit rotation.
• Share clothes with friends.

2. Abandon shopping as a pastime

Ideas to try:

• For solo activities consider reading, walking with your iPod, watching a DVD.
• If shopping was a hobby, try a new one – like aircraft modeling, knitting, bonsai or puzzles.
• If shopping was a form of self-expression, consider journaling, music, calligraphy, water-colors, or novel-writing.
• With friends, meet at someone’s house for coffee, go for a walk, play games, head to the beach, a museum or a gallery.

3. Take your social life down a notch

Ideas to try:

• Steer clear of expensive nightclubs and restaurants.
• Be creative and have fun nights in with friends.
• Opt for BBQs, games nights, DVD nights, simple dinner parties.
• Choose cafes for dates.

4. Cancel subscriptions to magazines and newspapers

Ideas to try:

• Keep only the subscriptions you really enjoy and value.
• Read papers online, in the lunchroom or at the gym.
• Catch up on magazines at the hairdressers.
• Share and circulate magazines with friends.

5. Shop to a list

Ideas to try:

• Have a list on the fridge or somewhere handy, and update it as you notice things you need to buy.
• When you go shopping, buy only what’s on the list.
• Do be open to good discounts on items you use regularly and can stock up on.
• Stick to the stores you need to visit for the stuff on your list (See 4: Abandon shopping as a pastime).

6. Join your local library

Ideas to try:

• Check out the non-fiction section and learn something new, or teach yourself a skill.
• Peruse fiction titles for very cost-effective entertainment.
• Look for DVDs to borrow – saves you having to buy or hire them.
• Don’t cancel out your savings by returning items late and accumulating overdue fees.

7. Look for better deals

Ideas to try:

• This could be a great time to downgrade your cell phone plan and use your cell more carefully.
• Look for cost-effective internet, cable and data deals.
• Keep an eye out for refinancing options on your mortgage or personal loans.
• Consider switching to cheaper brands on some household items – like pantry basics.

More Money-Saving Resources

There are some great sites around that cover money and saving. Here are recent picks from a few of my faves:

• The Simple Dollar covers 10 helpful tactics in The First Steps Away from Paycheck-to-Paycheck Living. Trent Hamm makes an excellent point about shopping as a pastime – even if you don’t buy anything:

Shopping for fun in a social environment is costly even if you don’t buy anything, because you’re surrounded by temptation and the mental imprintings of stuff that you want but don’t really need. It’s an excuse to talk to your friends about stuff you want and potentially talk yourself into purchases, either now or later. Just stay away.

• Dumb Little Man shares 10 Great Ways to Save Money At Work. Can I draw your attention to #7: Claim Valid Expenses. How many of us never get around to doing that?
• Get Rich Slowly offers statistics – and even a colorful pie chart – if you’re interested in comparing yourself with The Spending Habits of the Average American.
• The always-succinct-and-useful LifeHacker has a bunch of posts on saving money covering everything from Using Target Savings to Beat Back Lifestyle Inflation to Squeezing Every Ounce of Power from Your Disposable Batteries.

Got some tips of your own? Please share them in the comments.

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Notes for Customers:

Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Home & Family Edition Customers:

You have many helpful worksheets in the Shopping, Spending & Saving category, including:

• grocery and shopping lists by store, category and with cost columns
• saving money, bill payment and reducing debt worksheets
• monthly, weekly and shopping budgets
• a savings fund log.

Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Personal Edition Customers:

You have many helpful worksheets in the Money & Finance category, including:

• saving money, reducing expenses and reducing debt worksheets
• weekly, monthly and yearly budgets
• expense trackers
• credit card and bill payment planners
• financial goals lists.

Ultimate To-Do List Pack Members:

You have access to all the worksheets described above.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosscrawford1/ / CC BY 2.0

Related posts:

1. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 9 – Money & Finance
2. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 9: Money & Finance]
3. 5 Home Organization Strategies for Busy People

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 fewer clothes
• Having nothing large in the bag
• Being flexible
• Combining items and multitasking wherever possible
• Leaving things along the way
• Having the right technology

And he should know!

On the Road

For road trippers, Productivity 501 suggests some handy Tips for Car Travel:

• Driving into the daytime rather than night
• Having a large store of podcasts & books on CD
• Using GPS
• Writing down highway patrol numbers before leaving
• Preparing first aid and emergency supplies
• Knowing how to change a tire
• Getting a professional vehicle maintenance check
• Doing a visual check of your car – lights, etc – yourself
• Packing a single overnight bag should you stop at a hotel
• Rationing toys over time
• Keeping cells and such charged, and taking chargers with you
• Programming your cell with numbers for hotels, information, etc
• Having good sunglasses

However grand or simple your travel, what are your best tips for well-organized and stress-free travel? Please share them in the comments.

Note for Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Home & Family Edition & Ultimate To-Do List Membership customers: You have various packing lists, itineraries, budgets and expense records to help organize your travel in the Vacations & Activities category.

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/audioeric/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Related posts:

1. Get Organized Mission #6: Detox Your Car
2. 30-Day Organize-athon | Day 12: Declutter Your Car’s Glove Box
3. Get Organized Mission #13: Organize Your Emergency Contacts [With Free Emergency Phone Contact List]

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 insights of your own, feel free to share them as well.

NB: Questions may be edited for clarity/brevity.

Q:

Yes, I have a TV viewing policy, but I will watch the show all day, from season one to the current season. Afterward I realize I wasted too much time. What is your advice for this situation?

A:

It’s a bit like the perennial diet challenge – it’s not ideal to eat an entire family block of chocolate, but sometimes you do!

(What? Just me? OK then.)

I suspect most of us can relate to the occasional splurge/binge/excess in one life area or another.

It’s rarely about the object of our overindulgence, is it? It’s more often a way to let off steam or enjoy a little escapism.

Just as over-eating chocolate now and then isn’t the end of the world if you eat a moderate diet most of the time, the occasional TV marathon may not have to be a ‘problem’ if you generally spend your time well.

In my experience it’s not effective to try and cut out the things you love altogether – whether TV, shopping treats or Tim Tams. It tends not to work and can sometimes create a backlash where the forbidden object is all you can think about.

Instead:

1. See if you can find a way to enjoy just a little of what you love everyday. You might even find that the need to go overboard disappears.
2. Focus on using your time well, eating well, being smart with money. In other words, think about the things you do want to be/have/do, rather then what you don’t want. This shift of focus can help move you into a more balanced state of mind.

And if you choose to have the occasional overindulgence, enjoy it. There’s nothing like guilt to suck the pleasure out of an experience and leave you feeling like you need even more to scratch the itch.

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Image by suavehouse113

Related posts:

1. Organizing Q & A | Organizing – & Sharing – Your Fave Web Resources
2. Organizing Q & A | How To Deal With OPD – Other People’s Disorganization: My Top 3 Tips
3. Organizing Q & A | Get Organized For Moving House: My Top 3 Tips

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 for Smart Women. 

Day 4: Organize your Fun & Recreation

If you’ve read Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People you’re probably familiar with ‘sharpening the saw’. If not, the idea is a simple and powerful one: you need time out for refreshment and rejuvenation (sharpening your ‘saw’ – yourself!) or you become stale and ineffective.

There are two aspects to this idea.

The first is making time and space in your life for saw-sharpening.

But the second, often overlooked, aspect of recharging your batteries can be the more important one. It’s finding activities that refresh you.

Why? Because once you decide to start an activity, hobby or project, it finds a way into your life. There’s a softball match on Saturday afternoon, a writing group on Friday nights, a project that takes on a life of its own, a holiday booked. It becomes part of life and you just turn up for it.

This is the time to organize some saw-sharpening for yourself. Think about what you like, what you always wanted to try, what makes you excited or envious when you see someone else doing it. And enjoy!

• Activities
  Most of us have things we’ve always wanted to do or try. Why not list them and start tackling them. Ikebana? Art galleries? Sushi making? Kickboxing? Ballroom dancing? Scuba diving? Choose anything that sounds like fun to you.
• Hobbies & Interests
  Most of us explore so few of the things that intrigue us – what a loss! Start developing those forgotten desires. Psychology? Film? Art history? Religion? Politics? Quantum physics? Aircraft modeling? Bonsai? Puzzles? Knitting?
• Expressing yourself
  Creative expression can be a way to recharge and escape daily stresses. You might even uncover hidden talents or bring joy to others. Consider journal-writing, song-writing, musical instruments, pottery, watercolors, calligraphy, dance or novel–writing.
• Projects
  Interested in long-term or self-directed activities like creating a family tree, organizing photos, or writing a book? Don’t limit yourself! Be sure to note down your individual project ideas, resources, contacts, supplies, tasks and steps to help you stay organized.
• Holidays & travel
  List all the places you’d like to visit – whether short sojourns or longer adventures. Note website information, places to stay, activities, locations of interest, local friends and contacts, and medical, visa and insurance details.
• Reading for pleasure
  Remember the delight of a good story, beautiful language or sheer escapism? Keep a list of titles you want to read. See an interesting review or hear a great recommendation? Add it to your list.
• Movies
  Don’t let the wrong film spoil movie night. Start a list and keep track of the good ones from recommendations and reviews.

Question: What area of Fun & Recreation will you work on in 2009?

Note for users of Fun & Recreation Wizard and Get Organized Wizard for Smart Women

Your Wizard contains guided worksheets for each one of these items, plus others, as well as additional prompts, ideas and suggestions to help you organize each one.

Tomorrow – Day 5: Managing Technology

Picture adapted from image by Aldon.

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it!

Related posts:

1. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 4: Fun & Recreation]
2. How to be Organized in 2009: The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions
3. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 12 – Family

I never turn off these shows thinking I’ve wasted my time. They make me laugh, think, see the world differently and/or enjoy the thrill of fine scriptsmanship (well, I find it thrilling). 

The secret to avoiding that empty feeling that follows most TV is to make a show ‘qualify’ for your attention. In a world where the options run from the sublime to Jerry Springer, you need to protect yourself from crap TV that slowly and painfully sucks your soul out through your eyeballs.

Have a TV Viewing Policy

Here’s my TV viewing policy. I only watch if it ticks at least one, and usually several, of these boxes:

• Makes me laugh (Arrested Development; Friends; 30 Rock; Boston Legal)
• Makes me think (The West Wing; Boston Legal)
• Shows me a different perspective on the world (The L Word; The West Wing)
• Has fun, original, or intriguing characters (Buffy, Dexter, Boston Legal)
• Is beautifully written (The Sopranos, The West Wing, Boston Legal)

Choose the criteria that matter to you – perhaps relaxation, education, great recipes, relatable situations or escapism. But do have a policy if you want to spare yourself viewer’s remorse.

Once you have a policy, you’ll no longer throw yourself at the mercy of network programing (a form of self-torture). You’ll probably check the TV guide in advance and invest in DVDs.

But when you do watch, it will be quality recreation that leaves you feeling relaxed and satisfied – not lobotomized. Oh – gotta go. They’re here!

Question: What do you look for in TV shows?

Image by Aaron Escobar

Related posts:

1. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 4 – Fun & Recreation
2. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 4: Fun & Recreation]
3. 5 Cool Things To Do This Summer