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Back to the Basics: Using a Whiteboard

Posted on April 12, 2012 by in ADD / ADHD, Blog, Home Organizing, Office Organizing, Productivity

In today’s world of smart technology, there is an app for everything!  There are many apps on organizing your to do list and how to be more productive during the day.  I use some of these apps, there is a time and a place for everything.  However, sometimes I find it’s better going back to the basics!  Using an old school way of organizing your information…. A Classic Whiteboard! 

Yes,  a classic whiteboard, that you can get at any home or office store.  I recommend this tool for my ADHD clients, especially if the smart phone apps just don’t work.  Many of these apps are just too complicated and not easy to keep up. The little phone becomes a rabbit hole and you never see your information again.  For many, we need to see it front and center, in big writing, right in front of us.  The whiteboard fits this need.

The whiteboard can be used in a variety of different ways.  It can be used in your office to help manage your projects and capture your important tasks for the day.  It can outline your schedule, hold important phone numbers and reminders.  It can be a place where you brainstorm ideas and thoughts.  You could place your favorite quote on your whiteboard for inspiration.

You can use a whiteboard at home to help with family communication.  You can write notes back and forth from each other, it can contain your shopping lists and your to do list.  It can include the families schedule for the week or day with important reminders.  It can include meal plans and important phone numbers.  There are so many options.

The most important thing about using a whiteboard effectively is making sure the old stuff gets erased and it is only being used for current information.  If old content stays on the board then you may not trust it as a reliable resource and this is when your effectiveness of the system will start to break down. Actively use it everyday, by constantly adding and deleting information. To do this be sure to place the whiteboard in a convenient place, where you can see it and get to it easily.

Sometimes going back to the basics is good enough!

Happy Organizing! 

Tips on Setting Boundaries

Posted on April 5, 2012 by in ADD / ADHD, Blog, Office Organizing, Productivity, Time Management

Boundary SettingMessy Desk - Man

In the podcast this week we talk about boundaries and how they effect your productivity and time management.  The better you are at setting boundaries, the more productive you will be. By setting boundaries you are being very clear about what is most important.  Your time is then dedicated to what matters most.

Here are a few extra tips on setting boundaries and making the most of your time:

1) Be aware of your worst distractions.  A big part of setting boundaries is understanding what is holding you back in the first place and starting from there.  If Facebook is a time stealer for you, be committed to not looking at it during the workday.  Make an appointment with yourself when it’s more convenient and not when it’s robbing your time. If co-workers are a distraction, make it clear when you need uninterrupted time to work on a project.  You can do this in a very nice and respectful way by letting them know when you are available and follow up at that time.

2)  Take your time before giving an answer to a request.  Your first instinct may be to please and say yes, but when you say yes, you say no to something else.  Check your calendar and ask yourself is this something you really want to give your time too.  By giving yourself time to answer, you are aligning your priorities with your schedule.  You eliminate overlapping scheduled activities and you are taking control of your time.

3) If you are taking on too much, consider getting help.  Delegate to co-workers or to family members.  You don’t have to do everything, all the time.  If someone offers to help, take it.  Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed, just say thank you and appreciate the extra set of hands.

4)  Respect others boundaries.  This may seem like common sense but if you want a co-worker to respect your shut door, you have to respect theirs.  It goes both ways.

Setting clear boundaries protects your time.

Happy Organizing!

 

Favorite Closet Organizing Products!

Posted on March 29, 2012 by in Blog, Home Organizing

Best Closet Organizing Products! 

In this weeks podcast we gave you all kinds of organizing tips for the closet and a few tips on how to maintain the closet!  As we mentioned in the podcast and I have recommended in the past, it’s important to wait to buy your organizing products until after you have done all of your sorting!  You don’t want to waste your time or money on the wrong product!

With that said, there are some really great closet organizing products on the market.  And when you have a small space to work with you want to utilize it the best you can!  You don’t have to break your budget to make the most out of your closet!

(All of these products are available at The Container Store) You can find most of them at different home stores, like Target, Walmart, Bed,Bath, Beyond, etc.

Here are a few of my favorite items:

Double Hang Closet Rod - If you have a standard closet with just one long bar, this is a great way to double your space.  It’s very affordable and easy to install.

Hanging Sweater Bag – If you lack shelf space, this is a great addition to any closet, you can use it for sweaters, shirts, purses and other accessories.  It’s a great way to utilize vertical space.

Hanging Shoe Bag -  Just like the sweater bag, this is a great way to utilize the vertical space in your closet, plus it gets the shoes off the floor!

8 Hook Wall Mounted Rack - This product is great for the walls of your closet.  You can use it for ties, jewelry or other accessories.  We often forget the walls!  They can also be used for organization!

Over the Door Hook Rack - Another solution for those purses and accessories!

Huggable Hangers - Even if you clothes are not organized, they will look like they are when you have all the same hanger!  It’s an instant way to make an unorganized space look and feel great! These hangers are great, they are slim, which means more space for your clothes!

Happy Organizing! 

 

Furniture with Storage!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by in Blog, Home Organizing

Choose Furniture with Storage!

Make the most out of your Family Room by choosing furniture with storage!  It will utilize your space more efficiently and will be keep the clutter contained and at bay!  Especially for small spaces, you want to take advantage of every wall and corner.  By using furniture with multi-purpose will allow you to maximize the space.

There is a lot of items that may go into family room and they all need a place to be stored and contained!

Here are a few examples of furniture with more than just one purpose:

  • The antique chest is a beautiful piece which is very decorative and can hold extra blankets, pillows, and even toys!
  • The armoire is a perfect example of a piece of furniture that could be used in many different ways.  It could be used as an entertainment center with your TV and gaming system.  It could be used as a home office or a place to store board games and puzzles.
  • Coffee tables that have drawers for storage, you can place extra blankets, photo albums, and magazines.
  • End tables that have a bottom shelve and drawer, you can place a decorative basket to hold maganizes and books, and the drawer can be used for crossword puzzles, extra pencils, the TV guide.
  • Ottomans that open and close – Again, a great place for blankets, toys, and games.
Happy Organizing!

4 Tips to Increase Energy and Productivity!

Posted on March 15, 2012 by in ADD / ADHD, Blog, Productivity

Before writing this blog post, I took a power nap… One of the tips I learned when I was researching how to increase my energy and be more productive during the day!

For some people it’s the afternoon where they hit wall, for me it has always been after lunchtime.  My morning has always been my prime time… 1:00pm hits and I get sleepy!

I wanted this to change, so I did a little research and I found these 4 tips to be the most helpful for me to increase my energy level throughout the day…

Exercise

We all know that exercise is beneficial to our overall health, but I have to admit I never realized how important it is to your energy level until I did it on a regular basis!  My goal is 30 minutes of exercise a day, now this does not always happen but it is what I strive for.  Whether it’s walking the dog or doing interval training on the elliptical trainer it all counts!  I have lost weight and I feel better mentally and physically when I have exercised!  I remember hearing somewhere that you will never regret working out but you will regret not doing it… It’s so true!

Healthy Snacks

This was my downfall for a long time, I figured if I needed an energy boost, I would reach for a soda.  A little sugar and caffeine and I thought I was good to go!  Little did I know this was actually harmful not helpful!  I researched what foods were good for energy and found that snacks with protein and a complex carbohydrate are best, for example; whole grain cracker with low fat cheese or peanut butter on apple slices is one of my favorites!  Here is a link to a great article about the Top 10 Foods to Boost Your Energy.

Drink Water

Staying hydrated has made feel better, I know there is a lot of scientific research on why this is.  For me, I get less headaches and I don’t feel bloated.  Plus I am getting up and going to the bathroom more frequently, which is great break and gives you a little movement in your day!

Take Breaks

I am always encouraging my clients to take small breaks throughout the day, and yes, I do take my own advice!  I make sure to take a lunch break everyday, and if I start to feel sluggish, I will take a power nap.  Research says this does make you more productive! I am not questioning it, I know for me all it takes a few minutes to shut down and then I start over!

Overall, what I have learned in the last year is how important it is to take care of yourself and when you do, you automatically increase your productivity!

Happy Organizing!