Happiness
Aug
Recently on my Facebook Page I was asked how to get organized when you’re feeling completed exhausted and unmotivated.
I bet a lot of people wonder about that!
So here’s an edited version of my reply.
Step 1: Get Your Groove Back
Forget about organizing for now, and focus instead on re-building your confidence and motivation.
Spend what time and energy you have available on eating well, exercising, [...]
Jul
Here’s a round-up of some good articles and ideas I’ve found recently.
Creativity
A bunch of stuff from Lifehacker on getting organized to get more creative:
Embrace Organization to Foster Creativity
Tough times
Good tips for avoiding chaos when dealing with tough times from Lifehack:
How To Stay Organized When Life Throws You a Curveball
Jun
Lately I’ve been thinking about change. I’ve observed friends, and felt for myself, the difficulty of navigating through changes that we don’t want, but have no control over – whether it’s a job redundancy, end of a relationship, or some other kind of loss.
I can often identify something like the five stages of grief described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross:
1. Denial: It’ll never happen.
2. Anger: How dare they!
3. Bargaining: If [...]
![Declutter Your Thinking Habits [Mission #47]](http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/wp-content/themes/wpremix2/timthumb.php?src=http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DeclutterYourThinkingHabits.jpg&h=120&w=120&zc=1&q=100)
If you procrastinate constantly, sabotage yourself, get immobilized by perfectionism, or just feel miserable, then you might be the victim of your own ineffective thinking habits.
In this mission we look at 10 negative thinking habits and use them to spring-clean your thoughts.
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 [...]
I love reading Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor (he was played by Richard Harris in Gladiator). His Meditations overflow with wise precepts.
But these 12 words are my most favorite:
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
Like Buddha’s ‘With our thoughts we make the world’, they’re a pithy nutshell reminding us of the power of our minds over the matter of our lives.
If simply [...]
Happy Thanksgiving To All My American Friends And Readers!
I’d like to offer you a little gift that seems just right for a day of giving thanks.
It’s an interactive Gratitude Journal Template: a downloadable, single-page PDF for listing all the things you’re grateful for – or at least 40 of them.
The cool thing is that just by using this list, you’re more likely to have [...]
According to a recent Scientific American article, a number of studies suggest our feelings are strengthened, perhaps even stimulated, by the faces we make.
Don’t Frown, Be Happy
In one study, frown-impaired Botox injectees felt happier than people who were free to frown. And the botoxers didn’t feel any more attractive, in case you’re thinking that would account for their mood lift.
Sep
Recently I received a question about the current series Make a Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings.
The reader raised the issue of our tendency to backslide when we try to make a fresh start, and wondered what we could do about it.
Here are some brief thoughts.
Why Self-Improvement is Like Slaying Vampires
1. Whenever we try to change or improve, we come up against pressure to regress to old, comfortable [...]
Sep
![Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 8: Happiness]](http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/wp-content/themes/wpremix2/timthumb.php?src=http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/396865837_52f58e7fdc.jpg&h=120&w=120&zc=1&q=100)
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. Starting to regain form, too.
Day 2: [...]
Aug
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.
Organize Your Evening Ritual: 10 Things To Do At Night For A Good Morning
1. Do a quick tidy up.
Put things away and straighten up a little. It will make all the difference to wake up and see a sense of order in your home…
Who do you look to to make your life happy and fulfilling? Are they making the grade?
There are some people to whom you really shouldn’t delegate responsibility for your happiness. Don’t worry – there are only five.
1. Your spouse. You’ve committed yourself to your spouse for life. Doesn’t that entitle you to their undying efforts to keep you happy? Thankfully, no…
UPDATE: You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered direct to your inbox. Learn More
Welcome to the seventh of our 52 Organizing Missions.
So far we’ve spent our 30-minute missions decluttering our homes, detoxing our handbags, briefcases and cars, sorting our bills and messages, and saying no to free stuff we simply don’t need.
This week we deserve a reward! So this week’s mission is all about being happy.
Yep, we’re [...]
You may know I researched and wrote a thesis on happiness for the honors year of my psych degree.
During that year I learned many fabulous, life-changing things about being happy – even for people who aren’t ‘born happy’ – and I’ll share these with you over time.
One of the most wonderful things I learned is that being happy doesn’t just feel good – it’s also associated with all kinds of [...]
The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions
This is Day 8 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 8: Strategies for Happiness in Get Organized Wizard [...]
Dec
We all know times are tough – at least compared to the recent past.
Let’s be honest, though. For most of us computer-addicted, latte-sipping, iPhone-using Chicken-Littles, the impact of the falling firmament is not as dramatic as the lamenting and sighing and woe-is-me-ing would suggest.
But how do we keep perspective when everyone around us is crying cataclysm?
Get Organized for Recession-Proof Happiness: Using Humor to Change your Perspective
When I’m in [...]
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