Carole’s Monday Motivational

Posted under time management

 

I got off to a slow start today. Too much fun over the weekend!

 

Saturday we had the community pig roast. It’s a big fund raising event for the lake. It helps fund weed control, removing undesirable fish, stocking fish, and all kinds of lake stuff like that. It’s a big party for everyone who lives on this lake. Emma and I served food. We find it fun. Except this time, by the time we were able to eat, the chicken, mostacolli, and salad were all gone L We still had plenty to eat, and the fresh sweet corn was really delicious. 

 

We went over to a neighbor’s house that night. Patti knows I love her margaritas, so she made us a batch. Boy, we downed those too quick!

 

Sunday, Emma and I spent a couple of hours in the lake. Gotta squeeze out every last bit of summer!

 

We had chicken wraps with lots of lettuce and tomatoes. And I got a really good cantaloupe this week. You’re never sure what you’re going to get, but this one was exceptional. It was so sweet it was like eating cantaloupe candy.

 

So, when Monday morning rolled around – I wasn’t exactly jumping out of bed ready to go.

 

But I just started tackling the ‘to-do’ list and knocked of a couple of major items pretty quick. Now I’m feeling pretty good.

 

If you’re not using a ‘to-do’ list every day, I guarantee you’re not getting as much done as you could.

 

And if you’re not eating healthy, you don’t have enough energy to get those things done.

 

If you need help, remember these resources –

 

Get control of your life here >>>

 

Let your naturally thin, healthy, energetic body out of captivity here >>>

 

Clean your house fast, and keep it that way here >>>

 

OK, I’m off to get Jan’s gas card and head off to work. See ya later!

 

Carole

 

 

 

 

Back to School Survival Tips

Posted under time management

 

There’s one person who brings home the bacon, fries it up in the pan- and manages it all without the help of a man. She’s a baker, a banker, a nurse, a mechanic, a handyman, and whatever else life calls for - everyday. Here’s some tips from a single mom - the ultimate time-management professional on how to get through it all, with your sanity in tact;Tip #1 - there are 24 hours in a day. Use them wisely. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it. The last thing you need is a list of unfinished things to do to drive you over the edge.

Tip #2 - It doesn’t have to be perfect - it just has to be done. In later years, you can return to perfectionism if you choose, but for now - don’t take time away from what’s really important to stress over things that aren’t that important.

Tip #3 - Learn how to do things efficiently. Learn the tricks to keeping your house clean. Learn how to cook fast healthy dinners. Plan your trips in a logical sequence. Use lists. Shop online. Minutes are precious - save as many as you can.

Tip #4 - swallow your pride and ask for help if you need it. As much as you may want to prove to the world that you are capable of everything, we can’t do everything all by ourselves. If you’re running late or tied up in traffic and don’t think you’ll make it in time to get your kid out of daycare, call a friend or neighbor. Offer to feed them. You’ll have a nice visit and relax a little. Everyone wins.

 

You can share responsibilities with another parent. One of you can drop the kids off and the other can pick them up. Or you can do one day, and the other parent another day. Just ask!Tip #5 - give help as much as you can, without taking away from your own family. If a friend or neighbor doesn’t have a car, offer to take them to the store when you go. If they’re not feeling well, offer to pick up something when you go to the store. Make an extra serving of your dinner to take over. You can do a lot of little things for people with hardly any effort. Leading by example is a great way to mold your kids into giving people. It should be a natural response for them to offer a helping hand. Always remember, what goes around comes around.

 

Tip #6 - Learn to get along with difficult people - there are many people in your life that you would rather not deal with, but have to. Ex-spouses usually hold the #1 position on that list. But the long-term benefits of not having to argue all the time,
less stress on your kid, not having to take everything to court to settle, really do outweigh the discomfort of having to deal with this person and remain civil. If you are newly divorced, take comfort, it gets better after a couple of years in most cases. That is until your child turns 13, but that’s a whole nother story!Other people on your hate to deal with list may include bosses, family members, and some customers. There are benefits to being able to deal with these people. Always remember that point, tough as it is sometimes.

Tip #7 - Choose your battles. Only yell, argue, or stress over things that really make a difference. Let little things slide. That being said, don’t be a doormat either. If it’s important, speak up!

Tip #8 - Make health and fitness a priority. You need every ounce of energy. Fruits, vegetables, vitamins, exercise and water need to be on the top of the list for you and your kids so you all can operate at peak performance and get sick less often. Nothing throws a wrench in the works like once of you getting sick. And fresh fruits and vegetables make for really fast dinners and fewer dishes!

 

Tip #9 – Make Dinner! It may seem that you’re saving time by picking up fast food, or preparing instant foods, but it’s really not true. The time you spend picking up fast food could be spent talking with your kids while they do homework. That time is priceless. Homework gets done, and you all get to connect.

Instant foods really don’t save you any measurable time. As an added benefit, eating fresh real foods not only tastes better - but will keep you all healthier, and thinking better too.

Tip #10 – Plan ahead for those nights when you need to be somewhere – girl scouts, practice, etc. There are plenty of fast meals you can make in about 15 minutes.  One of my favorites is steak or chicken breast, tossed salad, and (micro)baked potato.

Again, you’re leading by example – managing your time, and eating healthy. Make it clear that they have to hustle and get as much homework done as quickly as possible.

Don’t look at me like that. I did it for years! Girl scouts, band concerts, talent shows, conferences, art club, youth group…

Tip #11 – Don’t over-schedule. You can’t live on a hectic schedule every night. You need a couple nights a week without additional commitments so you’re not all burning out.  Tip #12 - Get enough sleep. You know how much sleep you need to function through the next day. Make sure you get it. For most adults, 6 hours is the minimum. 7 is optimal for me. How about you? It will take some experimentation and observation with your kids to determine just how much sleep they need. My daughter’s performance falls considerably if she doesn’t get enough sleep.

If you are practicing the other tips, such as living efficiently, and getting enough nutrition and exercise, and getting help when you need it, getting enough sleep probably won’t be difficult.

Tip #13 - Make time for fun. All work and no play make Jane a dull girl with high blood pressure, depression, and no one left to play with. Seriously, down time and recreation is just as important as working hard. Even if it’s just a quick game of hide and seek, or a 15-minute bike ride – you’ll give your brain a rest and get some exercise.

 

My daughter is almost 17, and we still take walks together, or jump in the lake for a few minutes. We make an effort to spend quality time together. But that doesn’t just happen. You have to start when they’re young. If they’ve grown up that way, it will be natural for them to continue.

Everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and we wonder why everyone is psychotic, depressed, fatigued, and overweight. You’ve got to lighten up!

Tip #15 – turn off the cell phone. I don’t care if it’s the president calling. You don’t have to jump and answer that phone every time it rings or vibrates (unless it’s your kid calling – then you do have to.) Focus on the relationship happening in front of you.

Have you tried helping a customer who’s constantly answering the phone while you’re trying to conduct business?

Have you tried having a conversation with your teen when they’re constantly texting while you’re talking to them?

Are you always putting the people in front of you on hold? How do you think it makes them feel? Pretty unimportant?

Is it any wonder that people feel like they have to act crazy to get any attention?

I almost fell over when my daughter started leaving her phone at home when we take a walk. She’s getting the message. We can break this crazy cycle!

Tip #16 – turn off the TV. Better yet – get rid of it all together. That’s what we did. We live where you can’t get reception without cable or satellite. I just refuse to pay that much for mind numbing, time stealing, so called “entertainment”.

Can you imagine actually having a conversation with your kids after dinner? It’s amazing. We spend a lot of time at the table. You will have to learn to put up with their music though. Tough, but it’s worth it. 
Tip #17 - Live life on your terms. Your beliefs, dreams, and moral fiber are different from everyone else’s. Do not comprise who you are to make someone else happy. It never works. And certainly don’t compromise yourself to make money. Be rich in spirit. You’ll be a lot happier when you look at your reflection in the morning.

 

We’ve lost the health and happiness that comes with living a balanced life. It doesn’t have to be that way. Try life on the other side. It’s really much more enjoyable.

And remember that your kids learn by seeing what you do. Show them the way to live a balanced life. We just might change the world.

Sometimes you have to put your foot down. That takes courage. Do it. Stick to your priorities. People will get used to it ;-) 

 

Using Rituals to Survive Daily Chaos

Posted under time management

 

Even though I write to you a lot, I still have a lot of people who are in awe and wonder how the heck I can keep up with so much. I’m about to reveal a secret here, so listen up.

 

I survive through ritual.

 

That sounds really boring, doesn’t it?

 

Maybe so, but it’s a lifesaver.

 

My kitchen and bathroom are always clean because I clean them every night. Because I stay on top of it, it only takes about 15 minutes total. I have a whole system to keep the house clean in little spurts. I don’t have hours to spend cleaning house. Do you?

 

I keep my health and energy up by eating right. I make sure to get 2 or 3 veggies and a fruit in at dinner. I drink orange juice and cranberry juice every day. I take my vitamins. And too much more to go into in this post. I have a whole different philosophy on eating healthy.

 

I walk the dog 2 miles most days. Some days only one mile. We both get exercise, and it lets me clear out my mind and blow off some steam, and run into friends, or talk with my daughter when she goes with… Exercise doesn’t have to be painful. It just has to be consistent.

 

I try to write something useful here most weekdays.

 

I try to do at least 2 things to move my business forward every day – no matter how little those tasks might be. Those little things add up over time.

 

I try to get a decent amount of sleep every night.

 

I make time for recreation.

 

I spend quality time with my daughter.

 

You probably have rituals at work. You arrive at a certain time. You do tasks at set times, or within deadlines. Without these rituals, not much would get done when it’s supposed to.

 

Now, if you run your whole life this way, you actually end up with more done AND more free time.

 

I have a favorite quote that I used to use to close my old ezine –

 

In my youth, I stressed freedom, and in my old age
I stress order. I have made the great discovery that
liberty is a product of order.

-Will Durant

 

And it’s true. When you’re looking at piles of housework – I’m ready to play.

 

 

 

When you’re too tired to do anything other than stare at your TV, I’m out walking the dog, or talking to friends, or working on my business, or taking my daughter out for ice cream.

 

Yes, rituals seem painful sometimes. There are days when I have to force myself to do the things I require of myself. I worked an hour later tonight than usual, so I didn’t feel like making dinner, or walking the dog 2 miles. But I did. Now I’m glad I did – but it took some self-talk to get me to do it.

 

I listened to a training video and actually applied a couple of little things. The dishes are done – kitchen is cleaned. And soon I’ll be off to bed. I can end my day feeling satisfied – instead of being under the weight of things left undone.

 

And the extra bonus is – it’s rubbing of on my daughter

 

OK, OK, I didn’t get that load of laundry in. Hey, I never claimed to be perfect!

 

You can start small. The next time you’re about to put something on the table to put away later – just put it away. When you do the dishes, take 2 extra minutes and wipe down the stove and counters.

 

Some people like to make their lunch the night before. I like mine as fresh as possible – so I don’t, but a lot of people do.

 

Some people like to lay their clothes out the night before. That one doesn’t work for me either. I never seem to feel like wearing that outfit when I get up the next day.

 

The point here is - you can find the rituals that work for you.

 

We’re all given the same 1440 minutes a day. Use them wisely.

 

Carole

School Supplies

Posted under time management

 

You can save your sanity and save some money buying school supplies. Really.

Have you noticed that the school supplies are starting to pop up in the stores? But you don’t have the list with you! First tip - carry the supply list with you! Then you can pick up things here and there as you spot them cheap.

Tip 2 - buy the stuff now while there’s a big selection.

Tip 3 - buy a few things every time you’re at the store to lessen the impact on the budget. You won’t miss a few bucks here and there.

Tip 4 - Don’t put it off until the last minute when it’s hard to find things. If there’s a weird item on the list - look for it now. Don’t expect that they will have that special putty or calculator in stock. There’s always some item on the list that’s nearly impossible to get, and then you have to run around like a crazy person looking for it, and burning up valuable time and gas in the process.

Of course the easiest way is to head over to OfficeMax.com, or OfficeDepot.com, or Staples.com and just plug in your order. I believe all of these sites still have free shipping on orders over $50, so order your own office supplies too if you don’t quite make it. It’s worth it!

Carole

 

Where does the time go?

Posted under time management

 

See what I get for sleeping in?

Yeah, I got a late start this morning.

You know I always have the animal rituals first thing. Feed them, take the dog out… My daughter has been doing more of that lately - when she’s up or around. But she’s at her dad’s, so I’m stuck with it.

Anyway, I hadn’t dealt with the carpet issue yet, and if I ever want to use my family room ever again, I figured I’d better deal with it. So I shampooed that side, and now we’ll see if the carpet will ever lay flat again.

Thursday is looming on my brain. I have to go to a manager’s meeting. Hopefully 2 hours is enough time to get there. Of course, it had to be this week, right?

So I’m making sure my clothes and food are planned, and I have a cute clean outfit ready to wear, which of course meant doing some laundry.

Did some research for an article.

My plugins for this blog aren’t working. Don’t have time to figure out what I did wrong. Gotta get ready for work.

It’s kinda cool again today. Did we skip summer?

I have something to tell you about, but it will have to wait til I get home tonight. Too much for one day, ya know?

Oh well - see ya later..

Carole

a.k.a. – ‘Mother’