James Smith’s Info Serv

In 30 minutes, you can declutter a few cabinets. In 30 minutes, you can walk 1-1/2 to two miles. You can lose yourself in a novel, or play two board games with your children in 30 minutes. In 30 minutes, you can make three to four phone calls. You can watch a sitcom, or idly search several websites in 30 minutes. In less than 30 minutes, our nation was rocked and a record was set by one man at Virginia Tech. In less than 30 minutes, a doctor can deliver life changing news. In a split second, accidents happen that forever take our loved ones from us. Sorry for the shock factor, but I want you to understand that time stands still for no one, and we all have 24 hours in a day. Take eight hours away for sleeping, and we are left with 16 hours. So, are you spending your time in this precious life exactly the way you want to?

Know Yourself and Your Priorities I want you to take a look at the “True to You” Life Wheel and ask yourself what’s most important to you in each of these areas of your life. Go ahead. Make a list of your priorities. Maybe your list might look something like this:
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Are you getting the results that you desire in your life? If not, then why not? Where are the results that you were expecting?

A number of years ago we received an Amaryllis plant for a holiday gift. It was all self-contained in a beautiful pot, and all we needed to do was to give it water regularly and then wait.

Now if you have ever seen Amaryllis flowers you know that they are gorgeous. And they’re big too. They are about the size of my hand, and brilliant in color. We had never had an Amaryllis plant in our home before and this was exciting.

Finally, after several days, a little green shoot popped up from the dirt. But there was very little noticeable change for days after that. Then the little shoot began to grow, slowly, oh so slowly. It was getting taller, but at a snails pace.
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As strange as it may sound, we can learn a great deal about how to prioritize our lives by taking a few moments and watching a sea turtle. That may sound crazy, but it’s true. Sometimes major life lessons come from the most unlikely of sources. When it comes to prioritization, sea turtles are experts.

If you are like most people, you probably find yourself in a bit of a quandary each day. There are more things to accomplish, than there is time to work on them. You are in a constant battle to stay ahead of the “To Do” list items that are added by you and other people. Short of going sleepless for a few days each week, it seems impossible to take care of everything.

Sound familiar? Then it is time to watch a sea turtle. Sea turtles face a similar “To Do” list problem every time they swim. Only they are experts at prioritization. They only expend their energy on things that help them accomplish the most important goals they are trying to achieve. For example, when they are going away from the shore, they don’t waste any energy paddling against waves that are coming at them. Instead, they float, hold their ground, and then when the waves are sweeping out from shore and in the direction they want to go, they paddle their flippers and use the outgoing waves to their advantage. Using this method, they never waste their energy on things that can’t help them.
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1. When making an appointment, try to get the first one of the day or the first one after lunch. There is a better chance you will be taken on time.

2. Finally get rid of your stacks of magazines. Go through them at one sitting by skimming the table of contents and ripping out any articles of interest. Staple the articles together and place in a file labeled ‘to read’. Carry the folder with you when you may end up with spare time, like at a doctor’s appointment.

3. Change all of your bill due dates to the same day so you can pay bills one time a month. Call your creditors and ask them to change your due date. You might also try online bill paying or automatic bill paying to a credit card.

4. Run all your errands at one time. Start with the one farthest away from your house and finish up with the one closest to your house. Make a list before you go and gather all the things you need in one spot to ensure you have them with you while you are out.

5. Wear a watch and have clocks in all rooms. Use a timer when doing specific projects to keep you aware of how long it is taking you.

6. Remember that just because the phone rings does not mean you have to answer it. Allow your answering machine to screen your calls; you will avoid sales calls.

7. When you cook make a double portion and freeze the extra to have on a night when you are running late.

8. Call ahead before going. Call to confirm appointments. Call ahead for restaurant seating. Call to make sure the store has what you are going for.

9. Finish what you start. If you are in the middle of a project and remember something else you have to do jot it down do not interrupt your current project.

10. Buy a large variety of greeting cards. Keep in a file separated by category. That way when you need to send one out you do not have to stop at the store. Also keep a few generic gifts and gift-wrap or gift bags on hand.

11. Separate your to-do list from your ‘I wish I had time to do this list.’ Your to-do list is made up of the 5-10 tasks you actually plan to accomplish during the day. Create a separate list for all the tasks you would like to get to someday.

12. Create some sort of permanent desk space instead of using the dining room table. If space is a challenge consider a fold away desk or a simple slim table with chair.

13. Go through your mail one time a day. Open it near the garbage can (shredder and/or recycling can). Have your calendar and to-do list handy to jot down dates and tasks.

14. Type a grocery list of your most used items. Make 52 copies. Place one on the refrigerator a week to check off what you need instead of writing out the list.

15. Prepare for your morning the night before. Gather everything you will need, like purse, keys, and briefcase. Choose your cloths and set the table for breakfast.

16. Create caddies for commonly done projects. Like a bill paying caddy that has stamps and return address labels. A cleaning caddy with multipurpose cleaner and rags. A sandwich caddy that has all the items needed to make a sandwich so you do not have to search the refrigerator.

17. Try not to buy items that require extra care, like silver to polish and knickknacks to dust around.

18. Remember that emergencies cost more then planned maintenance. Take you car in for regular servicing and make doctors appointments for yourself and family.

19. Before you start a project make sure you have all the tools you will need to finish.

20. When you need to make a call to someone that you know can be chatty start the call off with “I only have a minute but I wanted to call to…”

21. Turn on the TV only when your show is scheduled to begin and turn it off when your show ends. Turning the TV off 1 hour a week gives you 52 extra hours a year.

22. The single most effective time management tool is ‘no’. Before you say yes ask yourself what will you be saying no to?

23. Return phone calls right before lunch or at the end of the day. There is a better chance you will catch the person and they will not be so chatty.

24. Adopt a ‘do it now’ mentality. Some projects take more time to write down on a to-do list then they actually take to do the task.

25. Consider delegating tasks to someone who capable of doing them. Or hire-out projects. Is it worth the few dollars it will cost to hire a neighborhood child to mow you lawn then the time it will take you to do it yourself?

About the Author:

Jamie Novak is a dynamic speaker, television personality, and best-selling author who inspires people to calm the chaos of clutter and live a life based on their priorities in a humorous and heartwarming way. Novak provides real solutions for those living in the real world, she promises never to suggest impractical solutions. http://www.JamieNovak.com
Read more articles by: Jamie Novak

You know you’re in trouble when:

- You can’t find the bill that you know just came in
- You run late because you can’t find our favorite shoes or keys
- No one can see the top of your dining room table
- There are stacks of stuff around
- You stop having people over because of the mess

Top 16 tips:

1. Get ready the night before. Put out clothing and accessories; find briefcase and all paperwork, even set the kitchen table for breakfast. Create a list of the 5-7 things you are going to do the next day.

2. 30-second rule. Spend 30 seconds putting something away. It is easier to hang up one outfit at the end of the day then it is to hang a weeks worth.

3. Rule of 80/20. You use 20% of your stuff 80% of the time- your favorite shirt for example. We all have stuff we don’t need. Getting rid of it is the hard part. Box, tape, date and dump/donate.

4. Start small, break large tasks down into small to-do items. Don’t burn yourself out, set a timer for 18 minutes and stop when the bell rings.

5. Go through your mail daily by a recycling bin with your calendar handy. Toss junk, keep bills and for things like a party invitation or cultural arts brochure, scan it, check the dates and write it in the calendar.

6. Write it down- you won’t be able to do it if you can’t remember what needs to be done.

7. Stacks of magazines sitting around? When you get them in the mail scan the table of contents- pull out the articles of interest and carry them with you to read. While waiting in the doctor’s office you can read your magazines instead of his. And consider canceling the subscription, it saves money.

8. Like goes with like.

9. Say no gracefully without feeling guilty. Have a policy in place “I’m sorry I only do two volunteer projects a year and I’ve already done mine for this year.” Or “I have to check with my family.” Or offer other assistance instead of staying up all night baking for a bake sale offer a donation.

10. Turn off the television. Neilson media research states that by the time we are 65 the average American has spent 9 years watching TV.

11. Simplify errands, use pick up and drop off services for things like dry cleaning and ordering office supplies online.

12. Take time for you. You will be a better parent and spouse and all around happier of you put self-care practices into place.

13. Organize your finances. Stop wasting money on late fees and overdrafts. Cancel memberships you don’t use to save money.

14. Plan your life- most people spend more time planning a week long vacation then they do planning their life. Once you figure out what you want, you need to create a plan to get it. You can find that job that makes you want to rush to work.

15. Have systems in place to deal with paperwork. Color-coded filing for kids and household papers.

16. Delegate to others including family members. Have a list of things to be done, use rewards and consequences, allow kids to contribute to the list, they will be more cooperative if they have a say.

About the Author:

Jamie Novak is a dynamic speaker, television personality, and best-selling author who inspires people to calm the chaos of clutter and live a life based on their priorities in a humorous and heartwarming way. Novak provides real solutions for those living in the real world, she promises never to suggest impractical solutions. http://www.JamieNovak.com
Read more articles by: Jamie Novak