Tag: NAPO-Chicago

The Unexpected Benefit From Email Problems!

Did you know?  It’s “National Clean Out Your InBox” Week.

An interesting phenomenon occurred a year ago.

I had a handful of tech issues.  My website was down for a few days, and in getting it back up and functioning, my email then disappeared for a few days (Heres’ a shout out for my web guru at Amplify7 who saved me!).

It was a fun time, let me tell you.

Ok, it wasn’t.  A terribly frustrating and unproductive 10 days.  But that is not the point.

The interesting part was this:  apparently, when my business email addresses were down, they generated “undeliverable” auto-replies to emails, newsletters and retailers that tried to send me messages.

And for those few days, the “undeliverable” auto-replies served to unsubscribe me from most of my daily / weekly blog followings and newsletters, as well as retailers and their daily advertisements.

Oops…

Since I send out an email newsletter every week, I understand how this happens.  When I check my statistics for each newsletter, I am prompted by Constant Contact to delete any “undeliverable” email addresses as well.

It was interesting, though.  Once the challenges were resolved, I was so appreciative to return to my normal productivity that it took me a few days to realize WHY my inbox seemed so uncluttered and calm.  For example:

…Actual emails from actual people rose to the top of the list like rich cream to the top of milk.

…I could actively seek out information I DID want without looking at the information I didn’t want.

…Distractions were diminished, and there was just LESS.

 

I DO NOT recommend shutting down your email just to clear out your inbox. With far less drama and frustration than I experienced last year, you can achieve a similarly Calm and Clutter Free InBox with these suggestions:

  • Unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe.  This is a favorite suggestion for this time of year.  My friend Jan calls it the gift that keeps on giving.  Let go of subscriptions that no longer appeal to you, remove yourself from retailer mailing lists, or choose to receive fewer emails on the preferences page.  A client is having her teenage daughter help her with this on their regular commute to school.
  • If you have GMail, there is a Promotions Tab that automatically filters out email advertisement and promotions from your general in-box (google or you-tube for directions if you don’t have this yet).  If you are using another email platform, check for this type of option, though unsubscribing may still be the best option.
  • Learn from my most recent (just this past week!) email challenges – what is it about this time of year?  Set up your email addresses with recovery information that get’s texted to your phone or is directed to a different email.  I had these safeguards in place, of course, but when Yahoo switched over to a new business email platform last week, POOF!  those safeguards were gone (all is well again, thank you Customer Service).
  • I occasionally suggest creating an alternative free email address (like gmail) just for subscriptions and retailer messages, but ONLY if you plan to check it at least once in a while.  Some folks use these alternate email addresses for their bill-paying and notifications, but again – ONLY if you will check them regularly.
  • Passwords.  Oi.  This will be a future article just on getting our Passwords under control, like Password Management Apps to track such info.  For Clean Out Your Inbox week, I’ll remind you to keep track of your email passwords and log-in info, and while you don’t have to grant others access, let at least one trusted person know where you keep your info.
  • Don’t use your in-box as a to-do list, a place holder, a keepsake box, or… well… anything other than an in-box.  The term “in-box” leads us to believe there should be an “out” box as well.  Items should come to our in-box, be completed, and then moved OUT of the IN box.

Spend just a little time this week cleaning out your In-Box, and reap the benefits for a long time to come!

You Organized Your Closet! Awesome! And Now… What?

Any time is a great time to organize your closet and clothes!  However, there are some times even better than others… Like now!  With the new year upon us, there are news articles every where about how to clean out your stuff and even a Netflix show just about de-cluttering!

So, for today’s article, let’s assume you’re actually pretty organized in your closet.  Perhaps you’ve spent a couple of hours lately clearing out clutter.  Good for you!  I know how freeing and liberating getting organized is!  And…. now…. What?

Yes, I have to ask – Now What?

You’ve done the tough work, but we need to think about how to maintain this newly uncluttered and more organized space!

  • Drop off those items you have chosen not to keep.  Donate, share, sell on consignment – whatever path you choose, make sure those items get on their way immediately!
  • Keep your closet rubbish-free by adding a small wastebasket for those crumpled tissues from your pants pockets, the cast-off dry cleaner bags, new clothing tags, etc.
  • Add a dirty laundry hamper in or around your closet to keep piles from forming unnecessarily.
  • Add a bag  for your clothes headed to the dry cleaners or tailor, and stash your used wire hangers in there to be returned to the cleaners for recycling.
  • Act on your returns and repairs! Move your languishing clothes along, so they can serve you or someone else better!
  • Add an Ish Hook to your closet.  You know – an “Ish” Hook, for clean-ish clothes?  I have many Ish Hooks in my closet, for: my walking clothes to make that early morning walk more likely to happen; my pjs, if I want to re-wear them; jeans to wear again the next day, etc.  These Ish Hooks keep my flat surfaces cleared and clutter free.
  • Change your shopping habits.  Yup, you need to change your usual shopping habits or your closet is going to end up just as cluttered as it was before.  Be thoughtful and responsible with your purchases, purchase what you need instead of everything you want, review your items regularly to make sure you’re using what you have.

So, reap the benefits of the Closet Organizing work you’re doing and keep your eye on maintaining your successes!

Organize Your De-Decorating! (Is that even a word? It is now!)

I wrestled three Christmas trees from their stands and into storage or out the door last week.  Only one was mine.  This time of year, I spend a lot of time helping my clients put holiday stuff away.  We de-decorate, de-forest, call it what you would like.  Let me share tips I have learned!

  1. Create a First Out, Last In box.  Our FO/LI box holds the decor items that come out around December 1:  Advent Wreath, Christmas card display ribbon and basket, countdown calendars, table runners and our Creche and lights.  These are the first items we put out in December, and also the items that stick around through the holiday season and are last to put away (hence the name).  It is easily distinguishable in the crawl space, and always on top of the pile of containers.
  2. This is one of the few times I will say this – Cardboard is not your friend.  Plastic is your friend. My husband and I were reminiscing about our childhood holiday decor.  He has clear memories of putting away the cardboard boxes in the garage rafters every year.  Sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn’t!  Plastic is better for long-term storage.  It’s sturdier, water and bug resistant, stack-able and reusable.  Bonus – lots of home improvement stores have plastic containers on sale right now!
  3. Choose your themes, and pack accordingly.  Choose to store your decor by room (meaning, all the items you display on the mantle or in the dining room go in the same box) or by type (meaning, all the snow globes go in the same box, regardless of where they are displayed).  This is your choice to make, but please make it.  Putting away this year and unpacking next winter will go much more smoothly!
  4. Purge now, not later.  Any decor items you didn’t use this year – Why didn’t you?  Is it broken? Outdated? Not looking too great? These characteristics will not change, so you may need to purge these items.  If you rotate your decor annually, and your stuff looks fine but just didn’t make the cut this year, go ahead and keep it.
  5. If your decor is already neatly stored away, there are still a few things you can do to make the process go more smoothly next time!
    • Label  EVERYTHING.  Make your life easier next December, and label everything clearly this year.  Maybe, just maybe, people will even be able to help you since stuff is easy to find and access… (maybe).  And if your labels never stick, try this:
      Post-IT Note + Sharpie + Clear Packing Tape = a label that will actually stay on.
    • Leave yourself some notes fir next year!  What worked? What did not? What was a hit with the family? I’ve made lots of notes of “favorite cookies” that I make, so I can spread the cookie love as a surprise come next December.

Happy DeDecorating!

About Spices (So many bad puns I could make, but won’t)

Do you have an area of your house that you’re really proud of?  That you like so much that occasionally you think it should have it’s own spotlight or theme song?  

Ok, maybe that’s just me.  But today that area of my home is my spice drawer.  A small project with a big impact, one that makes me happy when I see it and makes my life and cooking easier.

Need to get a handle on your spices, just in time for holiday baking and feasts?  Here’s how!

Sort what you have:

  • Clean off a counter.
  • Collect your spices from all the places you have them stashed in the kitchen and pantry.
  • Line them up on the counter and put them in alphabetical order.  Trust me on this one.  Many kitchens have at least a few duplicates, 2 or 3 jars of the same spices.

Get rid of spices past their prime: 

  • Once you know what spices you have on hand and how many, review what you have to determine if some of the spices are no longer spicy.
  • Ever wonder how long spices last?  A quick google search yielded a lot of information!  The cooking and spice websites seemed to agree:
    • whole spices can last 4 years;
    • ground spices last 3-4 years;
    • dried leafy herbs can last from 1-3 years (color is an indicator, too – herbs usually are green, even when dried, but can turn brown with age!); and
    • extracts are good for 3-4 years, except for vanilla which can last longer.
  • One website suggested that you can just use more of an older spice or herb to make up for lost flavor from age but that could get confusing!  If you open the jar and don’t strongly smell the spice, it’s time for it to go.
  • Make a list of spices you purge, so you know what you may need to replace.  Keep in mind, some items are seldom used, so you don’t have to replace those until you need them again.  However, if you tossed the black pepper or basil, replace them soon!

Decide where and how to keep your spices:

  • Store your herbs and spices in a spot convenient for cooking but not next to or above a heat source.  Prolonged heat will ruin the flavor and aroma of spices and herbs.
  • My spices are in a drawer near (but not too close) to my stove.  I have this great insert for my drawer, seen here from a side view.  Unfortunately, I’ve had it so long that I can’t find an exact replacement.  I found something similar to this on a quick Amazon search, for “spice drawer organizer insert”
  • A client who bakes –  a lot! – had a basket of savory herbs and spices (curry, basil, oregano) and a basket of sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg,
    baking extracts) in her cabinet so she could grab what she needed depending on her task at hand.
  • Of course, there is the lazy susan option, a great idea for all those little bottles.  Sometimes the spices fall over like bowling pins, but this is option improves visibility.  

Maintain the system:

  • Buy big spice containers (often cheaper per ounce) and share with friends or family!  I love shopping at Costco, but their containers are huge!  Vanilla extract lasts forever, and we use a lot of cinnamon, so those are two items I buy in large sizes.
  • Consider growing your own herbs. Even just a pot on the windowsill can keep you in basil for a long time!  (I love my basil, oregano and lavender plants!)

This little project can reap big benefits!  Give it a whirl this week!

What To Do With All These Storage Containers?!

I’ve gotten some questions about food storage containers, for example…

  • What to do with them?
  • How to store them?
  • Where in the world did all of these come from?
  • Where are all the lids (or bases!)?
  • Sound familiar?

I hope you all had a chance to take advantage of National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day last week!  If you browsed through your fridge last week, perhaps you now have clean and empty containers to put away (or perhaps the contents were so very nasty, the container went out as well!).

However… perhaps you are one of many people who cannot put more storage containers away because the cabinet space or drawer you have dedicated to storage containers is full to overflowing…

Or…. maybe you don’t have a space dedicated to storage containers, and that creates a different problem!

Let’s figure this out, friends!  And for the sake of brevity, I will just call them “storage containers”, regardless of plastic, glass, ceramic, etc.

First Things First, clear off a counter for this little project.

Open all the cabinet doors, drawers and pantry and collect all the storage containers (bottoms and lids) scattered through out your space.

Sort bottoms and tops by shape and then size.  You should end up with a pile of round bottoms and lids, a pile of square bottoms and lids, rectangle bottoms and lids, etc.

Once your sizes and shapes are sorted, match up bottoms and tops.  This step can be very entertaining and / or frustrating, when you realize you have 20 bottoms and no tops, or 17 tops and 2 bottoms, etc.

And once you have started sorting and matching up items, it will start to become apparent which items need to go and which can stay.  Stained, cracked, warped or mis-matched items can go.   Re-used butter tubs or yogurt bowls?  Yes.  Go.

Seriously?  Those items are not manufactured to be re-used.  Yes, go.

Now, if you have to part with a lot of your containers because of wear and age, DO NOT run right out and buy the same amount to replace them.

If you want to purchase new items, or make the switch to glass containers, slowly transition out your old containers.

 

Ask your self:

  • Do you really need as many containers as you had?  Have you ever had every container in use?  Has the cabinet every been empty?  IF not, you have too many!
  • Slowly determine what you really need, and only purchase new storage when you really need it.
  • To really streamline the process, consider using only one or two sizes or styles of containers. These to the right are our favorite.  Stackable with a good seal for freezing, storing and transporting liquids.  Perfect for meal planning.  (2 cup size, Ziploc brand).  We use them for everything!  We have a few other sizes and types, but these are definitely my go-to!


Decide on a home for your storage containers, and let the folks who live in your house know where you put them!  Make sure the home is convenient and easy to reach.  As you put your containers away, consider how to store them to make life simpler!

Perhaps you could try a container for your containers, so you don’t have to worry about stacking them! (see picture to the right!)

I use an empty storage container to corral the lids to all the other containers!

Or how about storing them matched up, to make it easier to find them?

Whatever you choose,  tuck them away and close the door on this quick but satisfying project.  And if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this week, you will be the best hostess on the block if you have your storage containers ready to send home left overs with your guests!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

 

My November and December Planning Hour

I have a marketing calendar, and that calendar told me I’m supposed to be writing about cleaning out your garage to get your car under cover before it snows (per the forecast, that could be as soon as this Thursday).  However…

I just can’t seem to wrap my head around that this morning.  Instead, my mind is working through the questions I asked in last week’s newsletter, finding clarity and focus around:

  • November / Thanksgiving
  • Christmas
  • Finishing the current year with a flourish, and
  • Starting the New Year strong.

So, what does this look like?  This morning,

  • I … Thought and planned.  This morning is about thinking and planning, and once the plan is in place, I will start taking care of tasks.  TIP:  But planning comes first!

  • I … Added events to the calendar, like fundraisers and concerts for the high school, exams and travel plans for the college students.  TIP:  Add events now to avoid double booking dates moving forward, but also to notice any snags that need resolved now instead of in a month.  Much better to resolve issues now!

  • I …  “Sent out ships.” That is what my friend Jan calls it when we send out requests or notifications via email or text, and then wait for a reply.  There are a number of events coming up, with lots of people involved who need to be part of the decision making, so I sent out emails to family members, clients, network partners and fellow ministers this morning.  TIP: Communicate with family and friends this week about upcoming events! Even if we don’t receive immediate answers, at least the conversation is started!

  • I … Looked around my house and updated my Project list:  this past weekend, we (ok, mostly my awesome hubby and youngest son) cleaned up the yard, the deck and garage to get ready for Fall / Winter.  Next weekend, we need to look INSIDE the house and make a plan around any minor house projects we need to complete before holiday hosting happens in December. TIP: Update that project list NOW while there is still time to accomplish your tasks!

  • I …   Took care of business, confirming clients and speaking engagements for this week and this month, and did a little bookkeeping.

  • TIP:  Kept the rest of life in mind, as well.  The HOLIDAYS can become all consuming if we let them.  We have to keep the rest of our day to day life moving along, too, though: Work, wellness, sleep, grocery shopping and house cleaning and bill paying, school, ministries, etc. Sooo….
    • TIP: Now is a great time to make wellness appointments:  check ups, dentist and eye doctor for college students over holiday break, etc.
    • TIP: Make your house services appointments now, too.  Call the carpet cleaner, plumber or painter now, so you aren’t left in a bind if you call in December and they can’t fit you in.
    • TIP: Find some short cuts or outsource regular tasks like grocery shopping when you can!

I challenge you to invest an hour today or this week that will save you many hours of stress and anxiety in the next few weeks!  Grab your planner and your laptop and take a good look around to see where you can set yourself up to succeed!

Managing Transitions: Change of Seasons – 85 Tuesday, 40 Thursday

It’s October in the Midwest, my favorite time of year.  One of the traits that makes it my favorite is its capricious nature.  Take, for example, the second week of October, when I started this blog article.

  • Tuesday, October 9 – sunny and 85 degrees…
  • Thursday, October 11 – the low temperature was around 40 degrees  overnight.
  • Less than 48 hours, 45 degree differential.   Wow.

The onset of cold weather can trigger a number of events.  For example:

  • That week, the cold weather triggered my van’s low tire pressure sensors, since cold air contracts.  A quick and free stop at the Toyota dealer on my way out of town on a road trip took care of that in no time!  Or…
  • Friday evening that week, when it was 58 degrees inside my house and only getting colder overnight, it was time to turn on the heat.

From an organizational point of view, there are a number of tasks that come with colder weather!  Tackle a couple of these this week, and get a handle on your Autumn!

Transition your closet for colder weather.

  • Review your summer items.  Donate or toss anything that is too tattered to wear again, or that no longer fits or appeals to you.
  • Take special items to the cleaners, making sure to pick them up again in a week!
  • Pack up, or move to the back of the closet, any clothes that you know you want to keep but that you won’t wear again until Spring.  And then finish bringing forward or unpacking your colder weather clothes!
  • Practice the same review and rotate process with your shoes, too!

Check out that basket or pile of things by the door.

  • In  my house, there’s a basket near the back door, and this week we swapped baseball caps and rain ponchos and to stocking caps, ear muffs and gloves. It’s time to put away the beach towels and summer sports gear, as well.
  • Review the pile of shoes.  As much as I love wearing sandals (And I do. love. wearing. sandals, like these in the picture – my new faves!), it’s time to put the summer shoes away for the season.  Toss or donate shoes that are too small, too beat up, or without a mate.  Wash what you can, take in any items for repairs, and put away the summer stuff.  I store my off- season clothes and shoes together, on the top shelf of my closet.  Not so far that I can’t get them out again if I really need them, but certainly not in the way.

Transition Your Home, and Get Cozy:

  • Get your furnace cleaned and checked out;
  • Switch your fans to spin clockwise for winter;
  • Empty your garden hoses and turn off the water to your outdoor spigots;
  • Put the “cold weather bag”, as one client calls it, back in the car filled with an extra blanket or 2, Clif or granola bars, window scrapers, jumper cables, etc.;
  • The first weekend in November, change your clocks, change your smoke detector batteries, and test your CO2 monitors, as well; and
  • Get cozy.  Last week, I bought new pillows for our family room couch and added comfy throws to a couple of arm chairs, plus I checked my inventory my tea and cold weather beverages!

Look around and see what you can do to manage your seasonal changes this week!

Managing Transitions: Coming Home. Do Future You a Favor!

At first draft, this post was going to be called “Don’t Drop Your Stuff In a Heap!”, but that seemed a little too rude.

Imagine with me… It’s the end of your work day.  You get home tired, hungry, perhaps a little frazzled.  Your defenses are low, your decision making muscles are all wrung out.

Admit with me – we could very easily give in, drop everything at the door, leave a trail of dirty clothes on the path to our PJs, grab a bowl of cereal or a bag of chips for dinner and flop on the couch for the rest of the evening.

Tempting… so tempting…

But, let’s look into our crystal ball…

How will Future You feel about your poor choices in the morning?  You may not have slept too well, with such a sad dinner.  You will be frustrated by the mess, scrambling around to get ready and make up for lost time.   Let’s face it, Today’s You and this evening’s choices are setting up Tomorrow’s You to fail.

What can Today’s You do right now, to ease your transition to home?  To help you spend a pleasant and relaxing evening, and to spend just a few moments tonight making tomorrow go more smoothly?

First things first, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR STUFF IN  A HEAP BY THE DOOR.  Take the extra 30 seconds and hang up your coat and bag, kick off your shoes and leave them by the door and NOT in the middle of the floor, and put down your keys in their Home, so you can find them again when you need them.

Next, address immediate needs and take a few minutes to decompress.  Change your clothes, grab a big glass of water and maybe an apple, then get dinner started (perhaps your menu plan is in place already?).

Whew.  Now that your physical needs are met, you can take a few moments to think ahead – what do you want tomorrow morning to look like?  Crazy and stressful?  Calm but energized?

If you still have some energy left, do more to take care of Future You:

  • tidy up the kitchen, run the dishwasher, set up tomorrow morning’s coffee, pack tomorrow’s lunch;
  • take care of today’s clothes, and plan ahead for tomorrow’s;
  • check the weather forecast plan ahead appropriately. Jacket? Umbrella?  (It’s October in Chicago, this is VERY important these days, with 85 and sunny one day and 60s with rain the next!);
  • line your gear for the next day near the door.

Future-You will thank Today’s You!

Managing Transitions: Work? First 5 Things, Last 5 Things

I’ve been talking with folks a lot lately about their Routines.  We often talk about morning or bedtime routines, to make those times run more smoothly.  But we can also create Get To Work or Leaving Work routines, to make those times run more smoothly, too!

We’ve all had those busy days!  Once you start your work day, you may have a hard time stopping.  So, this week, let’s think about how organize the start and of our work day to stress less and get more done!

I know, this may sound counter-intuitive, but focus on Yourself for the first few minutes you’re at work.  And if that means you also need to arrive a few minutes early, that will be time well spent.

First things first,

  • Grab your cup of coffee or tea, and refill your reusable water bottle.
  • Unpack your work from your work bag (if you carried any with you) and chill your lunch.
  • Hang up your work bag, your coat, your umbrella and whatever else you bring with you every day.  Clip your car keys in the proper spot (in your bag, on your purse, in your pocket) so that you can find them again when it’s time to go!
  • Take a couple of deep breaths.
  • Now, and only now, look at your task list, email or workload for the day.  Pick your three most important tasks and make a space on today’s schedule for progress on those tasks.  Then jump in!

Last 5 things:

Conquering these super busy times of your work day will help you work better and feel less stressed throughout your day!

Managing Transitions: Get There First and THEN Goof Off.

This past Monday, I spent half an hour working from a local park.  It was a lovely early Fall day, so it was nice to be outside with a great view.  I checked my email, scheduled and confirmed client appointments, checked in with a couple of program sites about upcoming classes, .

More importantly, the park was exactly 4 minutes away from my next client’s house.

Why did I have half an hour to goof off at a park in the middle of a weekday?  Well….

I had a morning client appointment that ended early.  According to my GPS, I had a 35 minute drive from client #1 to client #2’s house, and about 75 minutes to make the 35 minute drive.

The first inclination, of course, is to stay where I am.  Right?  Now that I have a few extra minutes, perhaps I find somewhere to grab a snack, run an errand or two, make a couple calls and then get on the road about 35 minutes before I need to arrive at my 35-minute-away destination.

But you know what happens, right?  The logic seems solid and then you run into traffic,  or the errand takes longer than it should or you run into a friend at Panera and chat, and now POOF! that extra time you thought you had is now gone, and you run late for an appointment that you TOTALLY could have made on time.  You’re left apologizing to the client or the office staff at your doctor’s office for running late, and feeling frustrated because you HAD left on time but…

Even my son pointed out something funny the other day.  He had seen a meme on YouTube, where a guy showed up late for a work meeting complaining about the traffic with an iced Starbucks in hand.  My son is 14, and even he can see that it’s not necessary to be late.

So, as we learn to manage our transitions better, I suggest getting to your destination FIRST, and then if you have extra time, spend it around your destination so that you can still arrive on time.

A dear client of mine once had to explain to her houseguest WHY I was sitting outside of her house at 12:50 pm for a 1 pm appt.  She knew my habit of ARRIVING first, and then using any extra minutes to check email, make phone calls or check texts.  At the stroke of 1 pm, I knocked on the door and we all had a good laugh about my habit, but I still stick with it!

Before the play last week, my friend and I made sure to get to the theater and pick up our tickets before the show and THEN we found some lunch.  I’m not suggesting skipping the lunch or caffeine break or whatever else altogether,  just use your smart phone to scope out places near your destination to visit if you have the time.  Life and traffic and planning and everything are just too uncertain sometimes, so get where you are going and THEN goof off!