Get Organized Wizard

Christmas Planning Checklist

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 23:58:34 GMT

It’s never too soon to begin planning for Christmas. In fact, some people make a point of shopping for gifts and decorations well ahead of the holidays. After all, if you see a Christmas gift for someone you know they’ll like, why not buy it on the spot even if it’s only summertime?

With so much to do in the final months of the year, it’s useful to prepare now, by making a Christmas planning checklist. It will focus your energy and help you have a great holiday season with minimum fuss and stress.

1. Devise A Holiday Budget

Figure out how much you can afford to spend this year (don’t be tempted to run up big credit card bills, which will only give you more anxiety). Brainstorm for gift ideas based on your budget.

2. Create a Holiday Calendar

The first task on the holiday calendar will be to begin ordering online presents. You’ll then want to start planning your Christmas cards (how many to get and what kind of message and look).

3. Check Your Christmas Supplies Inventory

A list will save you time and worry. You probably need wrapping paper, tape, bows, gift tags and decorations, for example. Maybe you require new lights or would like to get a timer to control when the lights turn on and off.

4. Plan your Christmas Holiday Menu

Once you’ve determined what food you’ll be serving, it’s a snap to create cooking timelines. Some items can be cooked or ordered well ahead of time, while others, such as a roast, can take all day to prepare.

5. Put up Holiday Decorations

Some folks start putting up holiday decorations the day after Thanksgiving! While you may not be that ambitious, set aside some time early in the holiday season to put up the Christmas decorations. (Doing so early will prepare you if something is missing or broken and needs replacing).

6. Buy and Decorate Your Christmas Tree

You may already order trees from your favorite Christmas tree farm according to a schedule. Or perhaps you just prefer to wing it and look for available trees in the community when you’re ready to buy.

7. Go Grocery Shopping

Take care of as much food shopping as you can early on. Then cook dishes that can be frozen, such as casseroles and pies.

8. Begin Wrapping Gifts

Before you know it, Christmas will almost be here! Instead of putting this activity off until the last minute, wrap gifts well ahead of the holiday and hide them so your kids can’t find them before Santa’s arrival.

9. Perform Final Inspection

To set your heart at ease, perform a final inspection of your home, checking if all decorations are in place and that you have all of the serving dishes ready and meals are in their final stages of preparation.

Christmas Eve — Display Presents and Take Photos

On Christmas eve, it’s an ideal time to take some photos to preserve memories of the holiday. You’ll want to display all the presents and check that the tree is looking its best before you make a single image.

Christmas Day — Open Presents, Create Thank You Cards and Enjoy the Season!

The easiest part comes next. Have fun opening gifts! Part of the joy of giving and receiving gifts is the opportunity to thank your loved ones for all of their consideration. Then it’s time to relax and settle into enjoying the holiday season.

On this most joyous of occasions, writing out a Christmas planning checklist will help you stay organized, preventing pressure and stress from ruining your good times!

FREE Holiday Planners

Preparing for an Online Black Friday for 2020

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 23:01:00 GMT

Attention keyboard commandos and all aficionados of online shopping! Since Thanksgiving is almost upon us, it’s time to start getting ready for buying holiday gifts over the Internet. The tradition of online Black Friday is designed to get consumers to part with their hard-earned cash in a buying frenzy.

You can get better deals and have a more enjoyable experience buying gifts if you prepare for online Black Friday now instead of waiting until the last minute. Here’s how to get started:

1. Focus on Retailers With a Historical Pattern of Offering Good Online Deals

Some companies will focus on offering good deals online for Black Friday shoppers, so keep track of them from year to year. Other companies have a fairly steady stream of business all year round, giving them little incentive to reduce prices for the holiday shopping season.

2. Sign up to be on the Email Lists of Your Favorite Retailers

To avoid being inundated with spam messages all year, you might want to use a special email address just for holiday shopping. When you sign up for a list, the business will send you special offers, since they know they already have a motivated buyer. This is how you’ll start seeing the best possible deals in your email inbox.

3. Plan Ahead in Anticipation of Shipping and Postal Delays

There could be a reduction in the shipping company’s workforce or in the factory holding your gifts that lead to unforeseen delays. To lower stress, just make your purchases well in advance. That way, you can ride out any delays worry-free. Monitor the tracking information on your orders to see when the package is due to arrive.

Also to note: Very popular and trendy items may sell out fast, so if your heart is set on a particular gift, grab it immediately while you have a chance.

4. Research Items Online to Determine Who Offers the Best Prices

With just a few clicks of the mouse or taps on your smartphone and a bit of time for research, you can do much better at Black Friday online sales. Don’t settle for a seller you’ve bought from before if you can find another entity offering the same item at a better deal.

5. Begin Shopping Early (Like Right Now!)

There’s no need for you to wait until the official Black Friday date to start making purchases. Check which stores are already happy to entice you with a discount ahead of the big sales event.

6. Identify Companies Offering Promotional Codes Plus Free Shipping

It’s really a buyer’s market in post-Thanksgiving day sales to satisfy Christmas gift-giving needs. To that end, find which companies are giving coupons for a discount and whether they offer shipping gratis. The money you save on shipping and handling can go to more gifts or fancier decorations.

Remember that the goal of your Black Friday shopping experience is to find delightful presents that your recipients will love, rather than to simply win at the game of shopping for unexpected bargains. Ideally you will find just what you want to buy at a decent price. Thanks to your planning, the items will arrive well before the holiday, so you can spend more time enjoying time with family.

Things to Be Thankful for Thanksgiving 2020

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:06:00 GMT

This Thanksgiving, with so much turmoil going on in the world, it can be easy to lose sight of all of the wonderful things in our lives. As we gather around the Thanksgiving table to enjoy a feast and share time with loved ones, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what we have to be grateful for.

1. Heroes of Healthcare

Let’s all pause and give thanks to the tireless healthcare heroes who put themselves on the line every day to take care of the rest of us. They go without sleep and endure enormous pressures fighting the global pandemic. We owe them everything, not the least being our gratitude for their skills and compassion.

2. A Roof Over Your Head

Having decent shelter and protection from the elements is something you can definitely be thankful for. When you consider that there are so many individuals who face housing insecurity or who are already down and out, it makes you count your blessings.

3. A Slower Pace of Life

Another thing to be grateful for is the opportunity to practice a slower pace of life. Changes in work and school and the amount of time we can spend with other people puts everything on a slower timetable. Lean into a more relaxed pace of life and feel stress melting away.

4. Streaming Videos on Demand

One of the great inventions of the 20th century is streaming video services, that allow you to watch movies and TV series instantly whenever you want. Whether pure entertainment or some serious drama that you can sink your teeth into, streaming videos and their ability to let us binge watch is definitely something to be thankful for in 2020.

5. Sunrises and Sunsets

The rhythms of nature can bring a sense of peace and help you feel more centered. Be thankful for all of the sunrises and sunsets you get to witness. Each is a beautiful event that has the promise of the next day to come.

6. Family and Friends Who Care

Life is so much more enjoyable and manageable when we have friends and family members who truly care about us and our well being. It’s also a blessing to have people in your life that you can care about and take care of. Give thanks for the existence of these important people in your life.

7. More Moments to Spend Time Together

Chances are that in 2020, you have had more moments to spend time together with loved ones. Even if your time off is unexpected and affects work or school, it’s best to focus on relishing these events.

8. Laughter

When you’re pleasantly surprised by a joke or the plot of a comedy, recognize the gift of laughter you’ve received and express some gratitude for this pleasant sensation. Laughter reduces stress and is a great social lubricator that we should be thankful for and cultivate as much as possible.

9. Great Foods at Family Mealtime

There’s nothing like eating your favorite foods, surrounded by family during mealtime to make you realize how truly lucky you are. Make sure that your joy over great meals doesn’t lead to over-eating and gaining unwanted pounds though!

10. Pets and the Comfort They Bring

Animals bring such comfort and joy, they will be high on our list of things to be thankful for. Think back to when your pet first entered your life and how great things are with this animal now.

11. Health

When you have your health, you have everything. Be thankful for the quality of health you have as well as the talented doctors and nurses who tend to you when you’re not feeling your best.

12. Technology, Art, and Music

Advances in technology have given us smartphones as powerful as computers that fit in our pocket, allowing us to enjoy the world’s great artworks in online museums and listen to our favorite music whenever we want.

13. A Job You Truly Love

If you’re currently employed and doing something fulfilling, that’s a wonderful situation to be thankful for. But if you’re in a job that isn’t quite right for you or if you are now looking for a position, you can feel grateful that you have some marketable skills and abilities for your next job.

As you think back over the year with all of its surprises and challenges, it’s good to keep in mind all the things that we have to be thankful for. A sense of gratitude is beneficial to the mind and soul all year round, and not just at Thanksgiving.

7 Tips for a Stress-free Thanksgiving

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 22:05:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. While preparing for holidays can involve a lot of preparation and work, there’s no reason that what should be a happy occasion to celebrate with family and friends actually winds up stressing you out. With a little preparation, though, you can make things go much more smoothly. Here are 7 tips to have a stress-free Thanksgiving.

1. Make a Game Plan (Create a To do List)

You don’t need to worry about forgetting to finish a crucial Thanksgiving task if you write down all the important things ahead of time when you are calm, cool and collected. Then, you can anticipate the satisfaction of checking each task on the list as you finish them.

2. Prepare the Menu for Your Feast Ahead of Time

Listing all of the menu items now ensures that you won’t forget to include a favorite family side dish. You’ll also have your shopping list ready, so you can go shopping now or request delivery of items you purchase online. Stick to a basic menu. Leaving out complicated dishes, you’ll focus on what’s easy and familiar for you to prepare.

3. Shop Early and Purchase Extra

It’s best to get the bulk of your shopping ahead of time, such as boxed, canned and frozen items and leave fresh produce until just before cooking. You’ll want to pick up more than you think you’ll need, to account for unexpected, last-minute guests. Any food not consumed on Thanksgiving will make great leftover meals over the next few days.

4. Get Your Appliances And Serving Dishes Ready

Make sure your appliances are in good working order, including your dishwasher, blender and other kitchen gadgets. Don’t forget the electric carving knife for added convenience. Inspect and then wash and dry all serving dishes so you know they’re ready to go on feast day.

5. Get Your House Ready a Few Days Early

You don’t want to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off on Thanksgiving, frantically vacuuming, dusting and straightening things out and removing clutter on the holiday itself! Give yourself a break and take care of housecleaning chores a few days in advance.

6. Have a Clean-Up Plan

Preparing a groaning table of food does take some effort, but cleaning up afterward can be even more of a chore. Instead of feeling stress, wondering how you will get the house neat again, make a clean-up plan now so this task goes quickly and easily. And if you did all the cooking, it seems right that those who enjoyed eating it can pitch in with cleaning up afterward!

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

One problem many busy individuals have is trying to keep up appearances, not revealing they need some assistance. Don’t be shy about asking relatives or friends for a little help, from picking up items from the store to cleaning to helping you with meal preparation.

For people who are always on the go with work duties and taking care of family, life can get hectic enough during normal times. Remember that when you’re planning a wonderful get-together like Thanksgiving, the celebration will go more smoothly if you have a game plan ahead of time, giving you plenty of room to breathe. Here’s hoping you’ll have a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving this year!

How to Get Organized Without Spending Too Much Money

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:00:00 GMT

A more organized home looks better and makes life easier. However, you can easily pay a lot of money for bins, racks, hangers, shelving and other products designed to help you store belongings neatly. Some people spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on major organization projects. Costly solutions may work well for some individuals, but there’s no reason why you can’t organize your home on a small budget.

1. Less Stuff

Start by getting rid of as many things as possible. Donate, discard, shred, resell or recycle things you don’t need. Why spend time and money to organize long-expired food or bank statements from 1982? Organization will cost much less when you have fewer belongings. Thrift shops, libraries and food banks may accept items you want to donate. Consider holding a yard sale as well.

2. Repurposing

Before you buy anything new, look for creative ways to reuse stuff you already have. You can store things in old shoeboxes and prescription medicine bottles. If you need dividers, try using empty cereal or pasta boxes. You could also repurpose food containers like glass jars and plastic canisters after thoroughly washing them. Avoid using things with sharp edges, such as steel cans.

Pick smooth, odor-free materials
Keep well-made reclosable packages
Use adhesive labels when needed

Stop and think before discarding the packaging materials that come with any product you buy. You can find ways to reuse them, thus saving money and limiting your impact on the environment. Stores often sell bedding, curtains and office supplies in reusable containers. For instance, you could tape or glue several empty envelope boxes together. This creates an organizer with multiple narrow compartments you can use to sort and store small objects.

3. Bargains

When you don’t find the right supplies in your home, look for economical items at dollar stores, thrift shops, garage sales and discount department stores. This will probably cost less than visiting an office supply or home improvement retailer. While you’re shopping, look for free cardboard boxes near the front of each store. Certain supermarkets and wholesale clubs give them away.

Many dollar stores offer storage bags, drawer organizers, file folders, envelopes, labels, markers, bins and boxes priced at only $1. They also sell long, narrow plastic baskets and affordable clothes hangers. Dollar photo albums don’t just hold pictures. They can come in handy when you want to organize recipes, coupons, receipts, notes or business cards. If you don’t live near any discount shops, watch for sales at office supply and drug stores.

Home organization really doesn’t have to cost more than a few dollars. Bargain hunting and creative repurposing can make this task quite affordable. It may take a little more effort, but you might also feel better about what you’ve accomplished. If you need to motivate yourself, remember that getting organized can save money in the long run. You’ll really know what you have and don’t have, helping you to avoid buying things you don’t need.

How to Organize Small Living Spaces

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Tight spaces can be challenging to organize. Nonetheless, more and more people desire smaller homes, according to the latest data. They want to save money and spend less time on household chores. On the other hand, compact living spaces are nothing new for many residents of big cities. The right techniques can help you succeed at organizing a tiny house, dorm room, studio apartment or RV.

1. Minimalism

Acquire new belongings very selectively. Try to only buy products you need rather than things you want (regardless of the price). Don’t let people persuade you to accept superfluous stuff they don’t want anymore. Think about where you’ll keep an item before you take possession of it. Remember that the easiest way to avoid clutter is often to say “no thanks.”

2. Decluttering

Don’t let things pile up. Set aside some time to tackle clutter each month. While it can seem like a tempting solution, cramming everything into random parts of the bedroom closet doesn’t count! Be sure to give away, sell or trash excess items before they overwhelm your living space. If you truly need something, find a logical and accessible place to keep it.

3. Maximize Space

Make the most of vertical space instead of just putting things on the floor. Think about installing cabinets, hooks, hangers, racks or shelving on walls. Free up table and desk space by hanging pictures on nails. Do you own a lot of footwear? If so, a shoe organizer will reduce the space it occupies and helps you quickly find specific shoes.

Coat and hat racks
Anything wall-mounted
Tall, narrow cabinets
Stackable containers

Don’t overlook the storage areas under sofas and beds. For instance, you could keep folding chairs and tables beneath this furniture when you’re not using them. You can also buy wide, low storage containers that fit under beds and hold a wide range of smaller belongings. This is a convenient place to keep seasonal items like summer clothes or holiday decorations.

4. Furnishings

Multifunctional furniture can help you get the most out of cramped rooms. Is your sleeping area rather small? If so, consider buying a bed with built-in drawers for clothing storage. Murphy beds offer another space-saving solution. After sleeping, you can easily push this type of bed so it stands vertically against a wall. This also makes under-bed cleaning a breeze!

Other parts of the home could benefit from multifunctional furnishings as well. For example, you can use a sleeper sofa, storage bench or expandable table. If you buy a desk or table, choose one with at least one drawer. Furniture with casters may also make it less difficult to organize a small home and rearrange rooms for different purposes.

When you combine routine decluttering, efficient use of space and clever storage locations with a minimalist mindset, a tiny living area becomes quite versatile and meets all of your needs. Remember you can always turn to GetOrganizedWizard.com for helpful advice on every aspect of this process.

7 Helpful Habits for Daily Decluttering

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Today, many people feel as though they barely have enough time to take care of basic tasks and duties for family and work. One big problem that can result from being pressed for time is that you wind up leaving cleaning chores until “later.” But the more mess and clutter plaguing your home, the more stressful you can feel. And a cluttered home makes it harder to find items you actually need right now, which further causes delays. Keeping that in mind, here are 7 habits to help you do better with decluttering your space on a daily basis.

1. Make the Bed as Soon as You Get Up

It only takes a second to do this task and your bedroom will look much more inviting.

2. Start Laundry Before Working

Doing so is one tick off the to-do list and you’ll never worry about running out of clean clothing.

3. Deal With Your Mail Every Time You Bring It In

Allowing letters to pile up, especially when so much of it is “junk” mail, is an easy way to multiply clutter. Open and respond to or trash mail the same day it arrives.

4. Establish a Schedule to Clean Specific Spaces at a Certain Frequency

When you put your chores on a chart, it’s easier to remember to do them on a regular basis. For example:

Clean out the refrigerator weekly, such as on Saturday or whatever day you tend to do grocery shopping
Spot clean the bathrooms every mid-week. If you fail to do this, your nose will soon remind you of your dereliction of duty!
Rid a Specific Storage Space of its Dead Weight

There are plenty of opportunities to get rid of unwanted items. For instance, toss out expired food in the pantry. Move excess gadgets from the counter to a kitchen drawer. Empty out the cupboard holding the gazillion ragged dishtowels you’ve had since your tiny college studio apartment. (Honestly, it’s time to let those go!)

5. Establish a Drop Zone at the Door For Items

When you arrive back at home, don’t succumb to the temptation to leave important items anywhere, since it will be harder to find them later if you aren’t organized from the start. Keeping your shoes by the front door makes it faster to get ready the next time you leave. Likewise, place your bags, jackets and pocket items like your keys, phone, sunglasses and wallets in a designated place near the door.

6. Clean as You Go

As you move through your home, clean things as you go, such as dusting some knick-knacks in the living room while you chat on the phone with a friend. While cooking, clean up trash as you go, instead of waiting until everything has been prepared. Once you get in the habit, you’ll be pleased with how much cleaner your home has become.

7. Get the Whole Family Involved

The family that cleans together, stays together. That can be your clan’s new motto. When everyone pitches in, it promotes peace and harmony instead of the family growing mad at others not doing their fair share.

Here’s hoping that these 7 habits will help you reduce stress and save some time, which for busy individuals like yourself is always in short supply. If you happen to have some tips not mentioned here, our readers would love to hear about them. Please feel free to comment below with your own decluttering ideas.

How to Declutter When You Have a Hard Time Letting Go

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Decluttering frees up space and lets you accomplish many things more easily. It won’t take as long to finish chores like cleaning, paying bills or washing laundry. Still, it isn’t always simple to let go. Sentimental or once-valuable belongings can make it seem overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of them.

1. Getting Started

As you begin sorting items, decide what you should keep instead of picking things to give up. Start by discarding belongings you can easily let go. They might be broken tools, foods you wish you’d never tried or shirts that haven’t fit since high school.

As it gets harder, you’ll need to convince yourself to give up certain items and move on. Remember that they’ve served their purposes. Think about how these belongings may help someone else. For instance, another person might read your dusty, forgotten book for the first time and really enjoy it.

If you spent money on something, don’t let that stop you. Money comes and goes. Nothing lasts or stays useful forever. Did a friend give it to you? No one should expect you to keep a gift perpetually. The giver might even prefer it go to someone who actually wants it.

2. Major Benefits

Remember your reasons for decluttering and visualize the benefits. Think about having a neater, more organized home and being able to invite people inside. Less stuff could improve your health as well. Decluttering may relieve stress, anxiety and depression.

3. Feeling Grateful

Gratitude can help you let go of superfluous items, especially if you stop comparing yourself to others. Most people experience difficulties in life and lack certain things they’d like to have. Nonetheless, you can probably find plenty of reasons to feel grateful. Try writing a list of them.

Family and friends
Health, nutrition
Nature and animals
Skills, knowledge
Enjoyable activities
Useful belongings

4. The Hardest Part

You’ll probably struggle to give up unneeded things that have sentimental value. It’s fine to keep a few of them in a special place. At the same time, don’t let them become burdensome. You don’t have an obligation to store your grandfather’s entire model train collection in the bedroom closet.

Time can help you part with sentimental items. Although you might not believe this right now, you could find it much easier after a few weeks or months have passed. Don’t forget to contact any family members who might want these belongings.

5. Preserving Memories

Before you give away sentimental items, take pictures and print them. Write about any related memories. Consider keeping one item out of a big collection or a small piece of something larger, such as one knob from a defunct radio you’ve had since childhood.

We hope this advice will help you overcome even the hardest decluttering tasks. Always keep this in mind: You won’t lose the memories linked to a belonging you let go, especially if you use photos or a journal to remind yourself of them.

Decluttering – Where to Begin?

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 23:00:00 GMT

An internet search reveals some interesting facts about clutter. For example, around one out of four Americans can’t fit any cars in their garages! Decluttering doesn’t just free up space; it has countless health, financial and social benefits to offer. However, you may have a hard time deciding how and where to start this process in your busy life.

1. Get Motivated

Think about why you want to declutter. You could even make a list of reasons that matter to you. A more organized home can reduce distractions, speed up cleaning tasks and let you prepare for guests more easily. You might not need to rent a storage unit after banishing clutter; you’d probably save over $70 per month. Decluttering also means you won’t spend hours searching for lost items.

Less stress, anxiety
Raise your home’s value
Know exactly what you own
People will envy you

2. Where to Start

Don’t try to do everything at once; you’ll probably feel overwhelmed or discouraged. Begin to organize one thing at a time. You could start with the top of one table, dresser or counter. Remember that some decluttering is better than none; your house doesn’t need to look like a photo in a magazine. Give yourself credit for every step taken toward your goal rather than expecting perfection.

It may feel more satisfying to declutter one entire room before focusing elsewhere. Begin with a relatively small space like the bathroom, mudroom or even a vehicle. You might benefit from concentrating on places your guests are more likely to see. Be sure to prioritize tackling any clutter that creates tripping or fire hazards. The simplest explanation of the decluttering process is to organize things you need and give up items if they serve no purpose.

3. Planning Ahead

Make a fairly detailed plan; set goals regarding how soon you’ll declutter certain parts of your home. Reserve a specific amount of time in each day. You could also decide to get rid of a particular number of items. For example, your plan might call for 30 minutes of daily decluttering and letting go of enough belongings to fill a shoebox every day.

Stay committed and keep organizing your home throughout the year. Don’t let yourself fall behind; it’s much easier to maintain your progress than to catch up. Decluttering is rewarding in itself, but a few extra bonuses may help motivate you. Anything enjoyable is fine as long as it doesn’t add more stuff to your home. Go to a restaurant, buy a special meal at the grocery store, watch a movie or visit your favorite park.

Don’t worry about how you’ll accomplish everything; just get started and find ways to turn decluttering into a fun experience. Listen to enjoyable music while you organize things, or pretend the wastebasket is a basketball hoop. This doesn’t have to be a dull chore with distant benefits. Like any big goal, an organized home starts with a few simple tasks.

How to Organize Medical Records

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 23:00:00 GMT

When it comes to organizing medical records, there are several good reasons to do so. There are also a few different ways to do it, and it’s important to choose the way that’s going to work best for a particular person and their records. What’s right for one person might not be right for another one, and that’s perfectly okay. Here are some of the main things to consider when organizing medical records.

1. Track Medical History or Get a Second Opinion

One of the biggest reasons to organize medical records is to track medical history and progress. That can help with treatment and medication options, changes that need to be made, or simply to verify what’s been tried in the past. Additionally, when there’s the need for a second opinion it’s easier to get a high-quality analysis when the records are all there to be easily seen and examined.

2. The Details of Patient History

A patient’s medical history should be detailed, and there are a lot of specifics found in these records. That can include test results, progress reports, medication dosages and changes, clinical findings, and family health history. Insurance forms and printouts from the pharmacy can also be stored with medical records in order to have everything in one place.

3. Record-Keeping Box or File Folder?

There are a couple of different ways to store medical records, and a record-keeping box is a common option. So is a file folder. Which one is chosen depends on personal preference and also on the number of records that have to be stored. For a large number of records, a file folder may not be big enough and a box may be a better choice.

4. Make Sure It’s Up-To-Date

One of the most important things about keeping medical records organized is making sure that — however they’re stored — they’re up-to-date. If the records are outdated, they don’t really give the information needed for anyone to get the information they need from them. That can mean that treatments aren’t chosen properly or diagnoses get overlooked.

5. Records Should Be Ready and Accessible

Another important thing to note about organizing medical records is that the records need to be able to be accessed quickly and easily. If all the records are there but they can’t be reached, there’s really no value in them. Instead, being able to get to them fast matters. Then if there’s an emergency the records are available and can benefit the patient.

6. Take Full Advantage of Technology

A lot of care providers are starting to offer online record-keeping options for their patients. For any records that can be stored that way, taking advantage of that opportunity is a good idea. There are apps and programs where these records can be quickly and efficiently accessed. But make sure that log-ins and passwords are noted somewhere safe that’s easy for the right people to find.

By making a few changes to the way medical records are stored and organized, it’s possible to be safer and have a better chance at a good health outcome when a medical record review can make the difference.

How to Manage Stress for Better Mental Health

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Managing stress levels is one of the best ways to improve mental health. But it’s not always easy to keep stress levels low. Especially during uncertain times in life, stress can creep up and become a problem almost before it’s realized. Fortunately, there are some great ways to manage stress and make it less of a problem in life. Here are some important things to consider:

1. Make Physical Activity a Habit

When people feel stressed or they’re having a difficult time with life, they sometimes tend to become sedentary and their energy might be lower. But that’s exactly the opposite of what they should be doing. Instead of sitting or lying around, getting up and moving can get blood flowing and help boost mood. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and even a brisk walk can be extremely helpful when it comes to stress reduction. Even if moving around isn’t something that sounds good at first, it’s easier after a few minutes and becomes something that can help with relaxation and coping even during the most stressful of time.

2. Keep a Diary of Your Feelings

Journaling, or keeping a diary, is very beneficial when it comes to lowering stress levels. Stress doesn’t always have a good outlet to leave the body or mind, so it just hangs around. But when those stressful feelings get out on paper or through a blog or other method, they’re much more likely to go away — or at least feel less important as part of daily life. In short, writing it down gets it “out of the system” and can make finding solutions for stress reduction easier, as well.

3. Record Tasks and Only Focus on What’s Most Important

By writing down what needs to be done, and all the things that “should” be getting accomplished, it’s easier to see what’s important and what isn’t. Sure, there are thousands of tasks that could be added to the “to do” list, but how many of those tasks actually matter? The odds are high that most of them can wait, and some of them won’t matter at all if they’re never completed. Focusing on what’s most important can reduce stress because the number of tasks to work through isn’t so overwhelming.

4. Talk to Friends, Family, or a Professional for Help

Talking to people who will listen and understand is a big stress reducer. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a professional, sometimes it makes a big difference just by being heard. There’s no reason to settle for stress and struggle when there are ways to make it easier. Don’t be afraid to reach out, so that talking to someone can help reduce stress and make things easier.

When trying to reduce stress, there are a lot of options to consider. Remember that mental health is important, and stress reduction is a big part of managing mental health and protecting it. By finding what works and practising it proactively, stress will be lower and mental health will be better, no matter the life circumstances that have to be dealt with.

Simple Strategies for a Healthier Lifestyle

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 23:00:00 GMT

When you want to live a healthier lifestyle, making changes doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. There are ways you can make it easier, and focus on the things that really matter to you. With simple strategies, you’ll be feeling stronger and healthier so you can take on more in your day and enjoy activities, as well.

Here are some of the main things to consider, when you’re ready to adjust your lifestyle and focus on your health and well-being.

1. Eat Healthy and Plan Your Menu Ahead of Time

By choosing healthy foods and planning them out in advance, you’ll be a lot more likely to eat better and avoid unhealthy food options. When you don’t have something prepared, it can be far easier to just grab something. But that also makes it easy to pick something with too many calories or that’s otherwise unhealthy. Meal prep helps avoid all of that.

2. Choose to Eat Breakfast

Breakfast is an important meal, and can result in a full feeling and plenty of energy until lunchtime. Pick something with plenty of protein, and avoid sugary cereals or options that have a lot of empty calories in them. With the right choices, breakfast can be very healthy.

3. Make Time for Exercise

Even if you don’t really feel like exercising, getting up and getting moving can help you be healthier overall. Even walking for 30 minutes or getting some bodyweight exercises in while you’re on a break from work can make a big difference. You don’t have to run or lift heavy to see benefits.

4. Remember That Self Care Isn’t Selfish

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s important to help you be stronger and healthier, overall. When you’re practicing self care, you have more of yourself to give to others, too. That can mean better personal relationships and a stronger career, too. It’s never a selfish act to care for yourself.

5. Get Enough Sleep Each Night

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep is very important for good health, but a lot of people don’t make the time for it. There are plenty of things that have to get done each day, and that can cut into sleeping hours, but it’s vital to rearrange those obligations so you can get enough hours of rest.

6. Maintain a Positive Mindset

Even if you’re anxious or concerned about something, staying positive matters. With the right mindset, your immune system will stay stronger and you’ll reduce your risk of getting sick or experiencing health problems. A good mindset can make a big difference in your overall level of health.

7. Practice Stress Management

When you’re dealing with a lot of stress, it’s hard to stay healthy and strong. But with good stress management you can improve your health and get more done at the same time. There will always be stressors in life, and not allowing those stressors to get to you will keep you healthier for the long term.

By choosing to promote and work on healthy habits, you have the chance to stay healthier and encourage others to do the same.

How Can I Improve Work-Life Balance to Better My Mental Health?

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Having a work-life balance is very important for many people today, but finding that balance and sticking with it can be difficult. In order to get a good balance that’s right for their needs, a lot of people have to consider what’s most important to them and whether they need to make big adjustments to their work schedule or the things they do in their spare time. Here are some things to consider:

1. Don’t Mix Work and Personal Time

When clocking out for the day, be sure to truly clock out. Don’t work after hours, and don’t check work emails or handle other employment-related tasks. Your time should belong to you, and if it doesn’t it might be because it’s hard to say no to people who keep asking for more and more. But there’s no reason to do that, and mixing work and personal time can leave just about anyone feeling exhausted and upset. At work, people should be working hard to get the job done. When they come home — or clock out if they’re working from home — they should be focused on their personal lives and not still thinking about work. That’s not always easy to do, but with practice it’ll become easier over time.

2. Set Firm Boundaries at Work

During working hours, make sure to set firm boundaries and don’t get drug into new projects or other things that people want help with. Saying no is okay, and sometimes it’s completely necessary. A person can only do so much with their time and mental energy. Protecting those things matters very much, and it’s highly important for people who are trying to develop a better balance between work and their personal life. With firmer boundaries at work, the balance between employment and enjoyment will be a better one.

3. Keep in Contact With Friends

Setting work boundaries is a big part of moving toward a work-life balance, but it’s also important to focus on the kinds of things that matter when not at work. One of those is keeping in contact with friends, even if it needs to be through online methods due to concerns over the virus. Whether there’s in-person on online interaction, having friends to talk to, reach out to, and do things with can make a big difference in the enjoyment of free time. Doing enjoyable things makes the time when not at work more rewarding, as well.

4. Use a Planner to Block Out Time

To make sure that both work and other parts of life are getting the attention they deserve, use a planner to block out time for activities and important events. That way each item can be completed, and one item won’t get done at the expense of others. That helps with balancing work and life, so there are fewer feelings of being overwhelmed and less stress to worry about.

Having a family or big obligations may make the adjustment more complex, but it can still certainly be done by anyone who’s committed to addressing the issue. The most important way to have a good work-life balance, though, is to plan things out first so the changes that get made will stick and be sustainable.

7 Tips to Beat Procrastination

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Just about everyone procrastinates sometimes, but if you’re finding that a lack of getting things done is becoming a problem in your life it’s time to refocus your energy and stop the cycle of procrastination once and for all. It’s possible to truly quit procrastinating and accomplish your goals, but you have to be committed to working on the issue. It also helps to understand why you’re avoiding some tasks, and the ways you can reframe them so they’re easier to handle and less of a chore. Here’s what to consider, when you want (or need) to break the cycle of procrastination.

1. What is Procrastination?

Procrastination involves avoiding doing something that you know needs to be done or that you should do. It could be work, something for school, house cleaning, shopping, or all sorts of other things. But the main thing to take note of is that when people procrastinate they end up doing something other than what they really need to do at that moment. They might do very little or they may do a lot, but either way the important or necessary task doesn’t get completed.

2. How Did This Happen?

Unfortunately, it’s very easy to procrastinate. Sometimes it happens because a person really doesn’t want to complete an unpleasant task. Other times it’s because there are things to do that are much more fun or that feel more valuable in the moment. Procrastination isn’t really laziness, although that can be one of the reasons for some people. But there are a lot of reasons that people just don’t get things done, and a lot of the time it’s because they don’t have a good focus for what they’re supposed to be doing.

3. Why Did You Lose Your Focus?

Losing focus happens for all sorts of reasons, including being interested in another task, feeling like something else would be more enjoyable, or having too many concerns or worries to concentrate. People who have busy lives and schedules might also feel like they’re being pulled in too many directions at once, and that makes it harder to keep their minds on the things they need to be doing at a specific moment. But there are ways to refocus and get more done.

4. Break Bigger Projects Into Smaller Tasks

One of the best ways to stop procrastinating is to take a big task and break it down into several smaller ones. Then it doesn’t feel so difficult to accomplish, and it’s much easier to start (and complete) something small than it is to deal with something big. By breaking a bigger task down, you’ll also be able to get the smaller things done faster. When it’s difficult to focus, or focusing for a long time isn’t working, being able to work through a small task that doesn’t require a lot of long-lasting focus can really be the best way to move forward.

5. Make Work Fun

While it’s not always easy to make work enjoyable, there are plenty of ways to improve upon whether work is “fun” or not. People who are upbeat and optimistic about their work, or who find a way to enjoy it as much as they can, usually procrastinate less and accomplish more. Having a positive mindset or making a game out of work — while still taking things like quality seriously, of course — is a great way to want to complete the tasks or projects that need to get done.

6. Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Going to sleep early and getting up early doesn’t work for everyone, but for most people it’s easier to get more done when they get up and get moving. Sleeping late can contribute to feeling lazy and tired, and that makes it a lot harder to focus and get things done. Getting up early is worth a try, and if it doesn’t work after a few weeks of trying it then the schedule can be changed to something that offers a better balance.

7. Get Up and Get Moving

Exercise can help reduce procrastination, but it’s important not to use exercise as a reason to procrastinate. This tip is more about staying lightly active to keep the blood flowing and the mind engaged than it is about devoting a lot of time to working out. But exercising in the morning can make the day feel better and encourage productivity.

It may not always be easy to break free of procrastination, but it’s certainly possible. With some practice and effort, getting more done and tackling tasks instead of avoiding them will become a natural habit with a lot of benefits.

How to Complete All Tasks That Needs To Be Done Today?

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 00:21:00 GMT

One of the most important things people can do when they need to accomplish tasks is to make sure they manage their time the right way. Not only will that help them get more things done, but it will also help them get the most important things done first, or at least on time. But managing time isn’t always easy, and it takes some practice to make sure that things get done properly. Just saying that it’s important or creating a schedule for completing tasks doesn’t always work. That’s often because it can be hard to estimate how long certain things are going to take. One thing that takes too long can throw off the entire schedule — and then stress gets added and makes it harder to work. Here are some issues to consider.

1. What is Time Management?

Time management is exactly what the name implies. It means that a person is determining how to use set amounts of time, and that leads them to accomplish tasks during those time blocks. It could be as simple as saying that specific things will get accomplished by a certain time, or it could involve a more complex way of scheduling out particular tasks to make sure they’re all getting done the way they should be. When time is managed properly more gets done, but good time management also means that leisure activities and “downtime” options are in the schedule, as well. Time management shouldn’t only be about work.

2. How Can You Establish Better Time Management?

Establishing better time management is different for everyone. Some people need a very strict schedule, with breaks and leisure time planned out, while other people need a “to do” list for the day, week, or even longer. There’s really no right or wrong when it comes to how time management is handled, because not everyone operates the same way. If a detailed schedule doesn’t work, then it’s a good idea to reconsider. Time management should be something that feels natural once it’s established, and if a particular way of doing it isn’t working then trying something else is the next logical step.

3. Work Smarter, Not Harder

Working smarter doesn’t mean that the work is easy, but only that the work’s being done in a way that’s efficient and makes sense. Good time management contributes to the concept of working smarter, because it makes it easier to get things done and off the list or schedule in a way that shows progress and encourages productivity. Being productive doesn’t mean working every waking minute, or running yourself right into the ground with everything that needs to be done. It means doing the important things efficiently and tackling the less important things as and when you can. It’s not a competition and shouldn’t increase stress levels.

4. Avoid Multitasking, and Keep Your Focus

A lot of people insist that they can multitask well, and that it doesn’t hurt their productivity, but that’s not actually the case for the majority of people. It’s better to stay focused on one task until it’s completed, rather than jump around from one thing to another and back again. By staying with one task until it’s done, distractions will be lowered and stress levels will come down, too. It’s not good to feel like there are too many things that have to all get done at once. Just doing one thing and then moving on to the next thing will help with time management and provide a better opportunity to complete all the things that need done that day.

5. Learn to Say NO

Knowing when to say “no” is a very big part of time management and task completion. Even if something sounds like fun, or there’s an opportunity to take on more work, that doesn’t mean saying yes is necessarily a good idea. Considering how much time the new thing will take or whether it’s a good use of the available time is very important. Saying no has to be done sometimes, whether it’s refusing a personal invitation or turning down an additional project. Not only do people need to learn to say no to things they don’t want to do, but they also need to learn to say no to some of the things that they do want to do. There simply isn’t time to do it all.

By practicing proper time management, reducing multitasking, and saying no to ideas that aren’t going to be helpful or valuable, it’s easier to get things done. Remember that there are only so many hours in the day, though, and be reasonable and realistic about how many things can really get accomplished in that time frame. That can help you accomplish more and reduce your frustration and stress level at the same time.

How to Keep a Productive Daily Routine

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Keeping a productive daily routine has become more important than ever before. With millions of people now working from home due to COVID-19, this means a lot of people are working without a supervisor or boss hovering over them in the office. And while not having a boss on your shoulder while you’re working is probably great in a lot of ways, it also means you must be self-disciplined to ensure you get your work-related duties completed on time.

One of the best ways to make sure you get everything done is to sharpen your ability to keep a productive daily routine. From the time you wake up until you go to bed, it’s good to have some type of routine. You don’t have to keep the same routine every day, but you should at least follow some type for each day of the week. Here’s a quick look at the top five tips for keeping a productive daily routine.

1. It Starts With Getting Enough Sleep

Around 40% of people in America don’t get enough sleep. That means nearly half of us are walking around with minds that aren’t thinking to their best ability. Not getting enough sleep is the number one way to ruin a productive daily routine. Think about it. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body and mind are both tired. This makes it exceptionally difficult to get things done and even harder to make efficient use of time. To ensure you get enough sleep each night, make sure to squeeze in at least six hours. Getting closer to eight hours of sleep each night is even better, but six is the minimum. Do keep in mind that there is such a thing as getting too much sleep, so try to stick to the six-hour minimum and eight-hour maximum.

2. Find Your Wake Up Time

Not everyone feels the same when they wake up. Some people are up bright and early at 5 am with bells and whistles on. For others, a 5 am wake up is like waking up from a coma. To keep a good daily routine, you need to find your wake up time. You need to find the time of morning your body is in tune to wake up feeling refreshed and revived. Just remember, you don’t have to wake up in the morning to have a good wake up routine. Even if you sleep from 4 am until noon, your wake up routine will still impact the rest of your day. According to Sleep.org, consistency is the key. Pick a bedtime and a wake-up time—and stick to them as much as possible. Your body actually knows what it should be doing and when. Don’t force yourself to be an early riser even if you’re a night owl.

3. Remind Yourself of Your Goals

Another way to keep a productive daily routine is to remind yourself of your goals. The author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management, Kevin Kruse, says he keeps a productive daily routine by starting out each day with five minutes of yoga stretching. And during those five minutes, he mentally recites his personal mission statement as well as lists three different things he is grateful for. And toward the end of the five minutes, he reminds himself of his three goal areas, which are love, health, and wealth. When you wake up every morning and remind yourself of your goals, you start each day with your mind focused on what truly matters in your life.

4. Take Breaks

It might seem counteractive to keeping a productive routine but taking breaks can actually improve productivity levels. Taking breaks can increase alertness, improve performance levels, and even help you be in a better mood. This means that including short breaks into your daily routine is an excellent way to make it all the more productive. You’ll feel rested and ready to tackle all that comes along throughout your day.

5. Read Through Your Daily Routine at Least Once a Day

Lastly, to keep a productive daily routine, you should have a clear description in your head at all times of what your routine consists of. To create this mental image, you can read over your daily routine once a day. That means part of your daily routine should consist of reading through the routine itself. After a few days of doing this, you’ll have a mental image you can return to any time you need to refer to what’s next on the agenda for your day.

How to meet goals with Time Management?

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Think about the times you’ve been late for an event or appointment. Think about the times you were supposed to have something completed for work by a certain time and you missed a deadline. When you don’t show up on time or you don’t fulfill your responsibilities, this can lead to a multitude of negative consequences. From missing out on important appointments to getting reprimanded at work, it’s important to avoid poor time management as much as possible.

1. Understanding Time Management

Effective time management is achieved when you have the ability to control every second of a certain time period. If you want better time management in the office, then you would, of course, want to sharpen your skills so you can more efficiently complete your work-related tasks. If you want better time management skills to do things around the house, then you’ll need to sharpen your skills for your at-home activities. With the COVID-19 crisis, millions of people have found themselves working from home. This makes sharpening time management skills for both work- and home-related tasks all the more important. With the right skill set, you can take complete control of every second of every day with proper time management.

To get good with time, you must first have good time perception. More so, you must sharpen your time management skills on a daily basis. Are you ready to learn how to manage time better? If so, check out the tips listed below and keep in mind that now more than ever, the current pandemic is intricately making it a necessity to have the best time management skills you can have.

2. Focus on Quality of Life

It’s great if you can enhance your time management skills to the point that you’re able to increase your income. Let’s say for example that you currently make around $40 an hour with the ability to work 32 hours a week. Using good time management skills, you discover a way to squeeze in eight more hours of work each week, increasing your weekly income by 25%, but you’ve also increased your work hours by 25%. This means you have decreased the amount of time you have to devote to other activities each week by 25% as well. With refined time management, you can find ways to increase your income without decreasing the amount of time to devote to other areas of your life. And this is how you achieve a better quality of life.

3. Set Goals Immediately

Goals are good, but only when you go about setting them the right way. When you fail to set goals immediately, you end up overlooking or misunderstanding the primary target of the goal. If you set a goal right when you pinpoint the need to set it, you are much more likely to achieve it.

4. Wisely Use Fragmented Time Slots

One of the best ways to become better with time management is to make better use of fragmented time slots throughout the day. With so many people working from home due to COVID-19, there has been an increase in the number of meetings taking place via virtual tools. And while virtual tools do make it convenient to attend meetings from home or the office, there becomes a problem when you have day after day of meetings with only 15 to 30 minutes between each one. This leads to multiple fragmented time slots throughout the day, making it nearly impossible to complete your actual work-related goals and duties.

To make the most use out of fragmented time slots, you must be intentional in the tasks you focus on between meetings. 15 minutes might not seem like a lot of time, but it’s enough time to answer emails, make a few phone calls, or even review notes for the next meeting. If you normally find yourself spending an hour a night answering emails, you can easily complete this task during four 15-minute fragmented time slots to make better use of your time.

5. Prioritize Deadlines

Does a feeling of dread or anxiety sweep over you when you think of missing a goal or deadline? Probably so, and these feelings can easily lead to stress in many parts of your life. To keep this from happening, you should always prioritize deadlines. Knowing you will have all tasks completed on time reduces stress, which not only makes it easier to focus on other important things you need to get done but gives you a sense of peace that allows you to complete other tasks faster than you would if you were constantly anxious about an approaching deadline.

How to beat procrastination when working from a Home Office?

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 01:00:00 GMT

You’re at home. And that means that everything you need to procrastinate is readily within reach. You could do your work. Or you could: Fix the garage door. Bake a pie. Binge through Netflix. Play with your dog.

Many people find home offices detrimental to their productivity because there are simply so many opportunities to procrastinate. But that doesn’t mean procrastination is inevitable; it’s just a challenge. Here are a few ways that you can beat the procrastination without having to pack up and go to the office.

1. Ask Yourself Why You Procrastinate

Are you loathe to get into an argument with a coworker or supervisor? Do you feel uncertain about your skills in this particular area? Are you simply stressed and frustrated, and want to do something more “fun”? You can beat procrastination by answering why you procrastinate.

Consider: You might be procrastinating because you’re overwhelmed, and it may be time to delegate your tasks. You may be procrastinating because you’re conflict-averse, and you need to find a way to communicate with someone else more effectively. Or you might be procrastinating because you aren’t sure you’re doing things right, and you might just need a mentor. People rarely procrastinate for no reason at all.

2. Always Keep Moving

If you’re not enamored with one task, why not try another? It’s important to be consistently working, so you don’t just find yourself killing time. When procrastinating on one task, try to complete other, simpler, and easier tasks. That way, you’re at least accomplishing something. By the time you loop around to the original task, you may not even remember why you were procrastinating on it anymore.

Procrastination is complicated. It can become a feedback loop: You feel bad about procrastinating, so you procrastinate even more. But if you break the cycle, you can start approaching your tasks with a healthier outlook.

3. Take Small Steps

Sometimes procrastination occurs because the project simply feels too large. Don’t try to tackle a huge project all at once. Rather, break the project into smaller steps, and try to tackle just one. This will give you firmer footing with the project (after all, you’ve started!), and it will help you address any specific issues you’re experiencing moving forward.

4. Build Accountability

Are there deadlines for your project? Are you concerned about when the final deliverable will be met? Build accountability by having a solid time frame during which the project has to be completed. If the project isn’t completed during that time, you should ask yourself why, and what additional resources you need to get the job done. If you have a good relationship with a supervisor, let them know you’re struggling with deadlines and that you could use additional help.

5. Eliminate Distractions

Procrastination doesn’t have to be deep. It can also happen just because there are other things to do around you. Remove distractions from your home office. Shut your door when you’re working, maintain office hours, and remove anything that isn’t work-related from your office and desk. You can even set your computer so that you can’t visit recreational websites during specific hours.

6. Avoid Perfection

Don’t let “perfect” become the enemy of “good.” If you’re lingering on projects because you’re trying to perfect them, consider that it may be better to simply get the job done. Perfection is an excellent goal, but that doesn’t mean that you should pursue it above all else. Procrastinating can occur because you’re trying to reach standards that simply cannot be realistically achieved. In this scenario, you might need to take a step back from your projects and review them.

7. Remove Any Disruptions

Your family needs to know that they aren’t to bother you at all when you’re working. Otherwise, it becomes very easy to procrastinate because there are other issues you need to address. Whether you can call a family meeting or you need to lock your home office door altogether, it’s best that everyone knows that you aren’t to be bothered when you’re actually working.

8. Make Sure You Have Everything You Need

How well-organized is your home office? Is consulting a file simple and fast, or do you find you need to dig through trays and trays of paper? The easier it is to get things done, the less likely a person is to procrastinate. Organizing your office may be enough to make these working seem appealing again.

Usually countering procrastination directly relates to understanding why you’re procrastinating. But it can also be symptoms of other issues, such as being too disorganized, or having too much of a workload to begin with. If you need to start organizing and prioritizing your life, start today. Check out Get Organized Wizard for more information.

How to manage WFH (work-from-home) workload?

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 01:00:05 GMT

You sit down to work, but first you need to clear off your desk (which you also sometimes need to use as a table). You remember that the laundry has to get done — and as you exit the laundry room, you also get distracted by the dishes. By the time you get back to work, you’re in a Zoom meeting. You’ve accomplished nothing, but you’ve been “at work” the whole time.

How do you manage a work-from-home workload when you’re also managing your home workload? How do you separate them, and how do you stay on task?

It’s harder than most people think. But there’s a great deal you can do to make it manageable.

1. Keep Your Work Hours

Most people think of flexible work hours as one of the greatest benefits of working from home. It’s a fantastic idea: have some breakfast, do some work, read a chapter of an exciting novel, do some more work… But the truth is, flexible work hours is actually one of the most major downfalls when working from home. Too much flexibility becomes a liability.

It’s better to set work hours, even if those work hours are quite generous themselves. Consider blocking time out, such as four hours for work, two personal hours, and another four hours for work. That will give you the feeling of freedom while still remaining structured.

2. Make it a Priority to Prioritize

At the beginning of the day, make a list of all the tasks you have to complete. At the end of the day, make a list of the tasks you need to do tomorrow. This is part of practicing mindfulness: it reminds you of what you have to do, so it’s on your mind.

The human brain isn’t always setup to track a ton of different tasks, and that’s where things get confused. Even if we intellectually “know” we have to do something tomorrow, it’s really easy for it to slip our minds. But if we prioritize regularly, we can do a lot better.

3. Get Your Family on the Same Page

Every time someone is interrupted, it takes them a few minutes to center themselves and start working again. But if you work from home, you already know this. People have a tendency to think that people “working from home” are available for a multitude of different tasks, and it just isn’t true. Make sure your family knows that when you’re “working,” you’re working!

It can help to have a visible signal that you’re working so people don’t forget. Close your office door. Put on headphones. Anything to counteract the general chaos of the day.

4. Avoid the Temptation to Overreach

If you’re working from home, chances are you’re feeling a lot better. No more commute. No more expensive lunches out. But that can cause people to fall into a trap: taking on way more work than they can really handle.

Periodically assess whether your workload feels hard because it’s just too much. If you’re currently working ten hour days at home, you’ve probably taken on a little more than you can chew. If you’re a supervisor, don’t be afraid to delegate. If you’re not, don’t be afraid to say that you’ve taken on too much.

5. Work on Your Workspace

Sometimes a workspace just doesn’t feel efficient enough to get anything done. If you’re constantly struggling with your workspace, you may need to renovate. Consider whether you have enough storage, whether everything you need is in reach, or whether you find yourself frequently sorting through things and trying to find out where everything is. It’s possible that it isn’t your work that’s frustrating you: It’s your location.

Your workspace matters. You shouldn’t be trying to get your job done on a dining room table. You need a dedicated workspace that works for you, including an ergonomic desk, functional keyboard, and comfortable chair.

6. Stay on Task

Both in-person and digitally, you need to minimize interruptions. Consider software that can keep you focused, such as software that will keep you off social media during your work hours. You can also consider apps such as the “Pomodoro Method,” which break your day into working segments and relaxation segments. Staying on task is a habit, and it’s something that you need to build over time. But using the right productivity methods will help.

Work from home “overload” can be temporary. If you’ve just started working from home, your workload may feel insurmountable. But it could just be adjustment. Consider taking the time to get organized today, with tips from your friends at Get Organized Wizard.

How to Set Up a Home Office Filing System

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 01:00:09 GMT

For anyone who works from home, or just has a lot of paperwork in their personal life, setting up a home filing system can be the right choice. But there are some ways to create this system that work better than others. Rather than take the chance at buying a lot of things that don’t work well, or having to stop and rearrange things several times, it’s better to come up with a good plan to tackle paperwork and then stay with that plan for the future. While making some minor adjustments is expected, major changes shouldn’t need to be made after the system has been set up. Here are some of the most important things to consider when setting up a home filing system.

1. The Right Way to Tackle Paperwork

The best way to tackle paperwork is the way that works for the individual setting up their filing system. What works for one person might not work for another person, and that’s perfectly all right. For many people, putting all of the paperwork in one place and then sorting through it gives them a starting point and a way to move things from one place to another and keep it all organized. To use this method, it’s important to go through the office or even the rest of the house, collect all paperwork, and put it in a specific location. That could be a pile, a drawer, a box, a bag, or anything else where the paperwork can be easily stored. Then, it’s time to set up a system to keep the important paperwork and get rid of the rest of it.

2. Setting Up an Actual Filing System

A filing system for paperwork should be one that categorizes everything properly, in a way it can easily be found. Some people might want things arranged by dates, such as months or years. Other people might want files that are based on specific projects, events, or the types of bills contained in them. For a work-at-home situation, the goal is to make sure client files are properly kept, so there isn’t any risk of information being lost or being given to the wrong people. With all of that in mind, a little bit of trial and error may be needed for the filing system. It can take some careful thought and experimenting to ensure that the system being used is the right one for the person choosing it.

3. Sorting, Arranging, Discarding, Archiving, and Shredding

Once the filing system has been created, then it’s time to get to the real work of getting through the pile of paperwork. Sorting the pile into smaller piles will help determine what happens to all the papers that have been collected throughout the office or the house. Some papers will need to be discarded, as they aren’t needed anymore. Out of that group, any paperwork with sensitive information should be shredded so that information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Archiving paperwork is usually done for things that need to be kept but that aren’t frequently needed or accessed. That can include things like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and related kinds of documents.

Arranging the rest of the papers into the files in the system that’s been created can help complete the task and make the system work well. Then you can reduce the chances of clutter intruding on your life by handling paperwork as it comes in. That means the paperwork won’t build up, and there won’t be any need to go through big piles of paper in the future. The filing system will keep current and future paperwork organized, and that can provide peace of mind and a less cluttered and distracting environment. While it might seem unlikely that organizing papers would help that much, having less clutter and an easier time finding documents when needed makes life less stressful.

4. The “For Action” or “To Do” Area is Important, As Well

Not everyone will get to all the papers in the pile at one time, or they might not be exactly sure what to do with some of the paperwork they find. If that’s the case, putting those papers aside in a specific location can be the right choice until a decision can be made. Then the papers can be handled over time, as long as they aren’t just ignored or other papers are allowed to build up. The goal is to get rid of the clutter and the paperwork that isn’t needed, so that’s the goal that needs to be worked toward consistently. The right home office filing system can make it easier.