Work From Home Productivity Tips

Being a professional organizer and productivity consultant and working a lot from home has me feeling all kinds of mixed feelings. I am trying to stay as productive as possible, but am losing a little motivation. I know there are all kinds of tips and tricks out there when it comes to working from home, but here a few things that could help. This of course isn't all my tips, but few. Especially if you love making lists and area a visual person. Are you still working from home? 

• Do a brain dump list. List everything that is on your mind and then categorize them into various categories like work, personal, hobby, etc. Then prioritize them. This helps alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety and essentially makes you more productive. 
• Use a folder or binder (electronically or physically) to store your master list. This is great to keep ongoing track of your lists and then you can add things to that binder or folder that is related to your list. Like if you need to dispute a bill, make sure that bill is handy in the folder so you can remember account #s, what you are disputing, etc. 
• Color code list. If you are a visual person like me than this can be very helpful when looking to see what needs to be done. 
• Cross things off the list. If you are compiling a handwritten list the act of crossing things off the list can be very effective and exciting. Make it a challenge with yourself to get more things done. 
• Use the Pomodoro technique. This is where you set a timer and work for 25 minutes and break 5 minutes.
• Use app & website blockers. They block you from getting on certain social sites and apps while you are working. This is so you can be your most productive self.
• Do something creative for 5-10 minutes. This can be just taking a walk outside for some fresh air, working on a hobby, etc. 
• Have an accountability partner or business mentor. This is great so you can talk to them and check in with them regularly.

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Photo by Gabriel Beaudry on Unsplash

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Photo by Jennifer Burk on Unsplash

10 Things that Make Me Happy: January 2020

What a great start January was to the new year. Here are 10 things that made me happy this month.

1. Being able to help client's surprises for their spouses come to life.
2. Celebrating my brother and father-in-laws birthdays.
3. Going to College Station and celebrating my cousins birthday with my aunt and uncle.
4. Starting & finishing a big organization project for Trellis at The Houstonian. While Trellis is doing renovations we organized their new space Solaya. 
5. Taking down all the Christmas decorations for clients and can't wait to put them all up next year.
6. Seeing Hello Dolly with my mother in law.
7. Taking time to read magazines.
8. Finally getting some personal errands taken care of that I had been putting off.
9. Being able to check out a new to us hotel, The George. 
10. Thankful for my health.

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15 Eco Things You can Do This Month & Always to Celebrate Earth Day

There are so many different things you can do on a regular basis to be eco and green. Since it is Earthy Month I thought I would highlight 15 easy things you can do to help your planet day-to-day.

1. Start a recycling program.
2. Make small eco changes like using reusable shopping bags, produce bags, sandwich bags, etc.
3. Donate or giveaway items you no longer need or want. 
4. Volunteer your time. 
5. Incorporate or use green beauty products. 
6. Use glass containers instead of plastic. 
7. Use eco cleaning products or make your own cleaning products.
8. Buy produce from your local farmers market.
9. Eat seasonally.
10. Compost.
11. Plant an herb garden.
12. Ride your bike where you can.
13. Organize a clean up day in your neighborhood. 
14. Buy from resale shops.
15. Use air purifying house plants.

Photo by Photo Boards on Unsplash

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5 Eco Things You Can Do During the COVID-19 Quarantine Time

If you are like most others right now, you are self quarantining or your city has a "shelter in place". Now is great time to start to make some eco changes.

Switch to cloth cleaning rags. Since there is limited paper goods at most stores right now, instead of using paper towels to clean, use cloth rags, old clothing, etc.

Start recycling. If you have never been much of a recycler now is a great time to start recycling and teaching kids to recycling.

Compost. A lot of people are at home and cooking much more than they did before, so now is the perfect time to start composting.

Do an energy audit. Call your electric company and do an energy audit to see where you are using the most energy in your house and how you can save on energy costs. Don't forget to turn off lights and electronics when you are not using them.

Ditch plastic disposable water bottles when you can. If you are at home start using reusable water bottles or actual glasses instead of grabbing for disposable water bottles if you have a good water source. It reduces on waste a TON.

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Photo by The Honest Company on Unsplash

Adult Easter Basket for Men

I have done a couple of different posts about adult Easter baskets through the years and you can see the posts here and here. I give my husband an Easter basket every year. This year, especially since all of the COVID-19 stuff is going on and we can't see family, I wanted to do something fun for my husband. I actually got all the supplies early in January and February, but I have proceeded to eat through the Reese's eggs I had stashed away, so I had to buy more. Below are pictures of what I did last year because I don't want me husband to see this and know what he is getting this year. Here is what was in his basket. I know it may seem like a lot, but usually I get things on sale or buy a little at a time so it is not super overwhelming financially. I try to get useful, practical things mixed in with some fun things.  Do you do an adult Easter basket for someone in your life? If so, what do you or have you included in it?

Mizzen and Main Shirt: He really likes these shirts and I am sure I got it on sale at some point because I almost always buy them when they are on sale. He almost only gets them on special occasions like birthdays and holidays.

Willams-Sonoma Lemon Cookies: I was in the store last year and the sales associate said these were popular and everyone loved them. Since my husband loves lemon flavored things I thought I would include them in his basket.

Grey and Brown Apple Watch Bands: My husband has an Apple Watch and loves it so I got him some new watch bands.

Apple Watch Charger: He also wanted another charger for his watch so I go home another one.

Texas Monthly Hat: I got him this, but I am the one who actually wears it the most.

Lottery Tickets: If you have seen my past holiday posts you know I almost always involve lotto tickets like in stockings, Easter eggs, etc. My parents did this for me growing up, so I continued on with the tradition.

Starbucks Gift Card: He loves coffee and Starbucks always has fun holiday themed gift cards.

Reese's Candy: This is one of his favorite candies, so I always include it.

What NAPO Houston Organizers Are Doing During Quarantine

I asked my NAPO Houston organizing colleagues to weigh in on what they are working on during quarantine time because of COVID-19 and here is what they had to say! What are you working on during all your downtime? 

Liz Tucker of Serenity Organizing Solutions: "I’m doing some organizing of my own! Mostly spending time refining systems I’ve put into place and clearing out my physical inbox."

Ximena Lopez Owen of Zensible Organizing: "I have been listening to NAPO podcasts, NAPO free webinars, previous NAPO Conference recordings, and today I finished my first free COVID-19 Resource class!! The more I learn, the more I am fit and skilled to help others with their organizing needs!"

Ellen Delap of Professional-organizer.com: "Learning on NAPO.net"

Kerry Spencer of Vibrantly Organized: "Homeschooling 😉 but I am still able to help my college students and now parents homeschooling. All virtually of course."

Michelle Smithpeter of Pretty Practical Spaces: "Today I finally got back to my garden! Gave 2 bouquets to neighbors, before taking this photo: 

"Pantry rescue project this weekend. I had to redistribute heavy items and change support pins.  

Need to add black center brackets when I find some that aren't $50 each 🤑"

Melony Davis of All About Space Organizing: "I was able to virtually work with a client who now lives in Georgia. She decided she wanted to purge her closet, but was feeling overwhelmed. I gave her this advice: “Before you get too far in, ask yourself why you’re wanting to minimize and what your objectives are. Once you know that, go through everything and see if what you’re keeping meets those objectives. Remind yourself that you’re in a very different time and place than you were when you got certain pieces. I’m happy to assist you any way I can. It seems simple, but it was just what she needed to hear. 

I am also organizing and getting ready to plant the largest garden I have ever had. This may end up being harder than working with clients."

Ann Zanon of A2Z Organizing Solutions: "I am working but just with one client and just part-time. I have been counting on my VA to do more back-end work. Gotta put in my plug here though...for those of you who are doing NAPO and ICD classes, be sure to track them! It's a great time to assess where you are in terms of achieving your CPO® status!" 

Helen Schutz of HBS Organizing: "Working remotely with clients - thank goodness the technology exists to do this!"

Karen Baker of Soho Productivity Solutions: "I’ve working remotely with clients too. I’m getting more emails than usual from clients with questions about working from home and maintaining productivity in these less than ideal circumstances."

Amy Vance of Eco Modern Concierge: "I’m trying to catch up on my various business renewals, schedule blog posts, think of ways to sustain business if this goes on for 3+ months (because it is going to get worse), etc."

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