Peace of Mind Organizing

The glass is half full

31 December 2008

It’s the last day of the year and I’ve been taking the opportunity to reflect on 2008. On the surface, it wasn’t necessarily a great year for my business. As the economy tanked, so did my billable hours. After a terrific first two quarters, the last two quarters were…let’s just say less good.

But that’s just the surface. This morning I sat down with a blank pad to brainstorm about high points and low points of the year. I easily filled the highlights page. And I just had two items for the lowlights page.

Highlights included a trip to Hawaii to work with a really fun client, leading teams of great organizers on three different occasions (which was so much fun and so helpful to the clients), attending four conferences for organizers, giving a speech at a national conference for writers, and leading a really great NAPO chapter.

Top of the list of low points was a significant drop in my income in the second half of the year. This is where the glass-half-full part comes in. That economic downturn? It had a big up side for me. Here are eight ways the tanking economy was actually good for my business.

• It prompted me to think about alternative business models (more on that in the next few weeks).
• It gave me the breathing space to really explore this stuff and learn from some smart people online.
• It gave me time at my desk to get my act together and create some very helpful habits.
• It helped me understand that I need to develop sources of revenue that aren’t tied to my time.
• It allowed (and prompted) me to explore social networking, especially Twitter.
• It gave me some peace of mind, because I’m surviving this!
• It made me realize that I can get by with less.
• It demonstrated how incredibly supportive and understanding my husband is, in bad economic times as well as good.

That said, I am so ready for the economy to improve. I’m hoping that the new president will effect some change that will get our economy back in motion. And thanks to the downturn and all the planning it has allowed me, I’m ready for it.

A full day's work in half a day

24 December 2008

Even though I’m not going anywhere or doing much for Christmas (besides being a dinner guest), I woke up this morning thinking, “Hey it’s Christmas Eve Day. I don’t want to work.” So I decided to take a half day off.

But I still have these things I want to finish before Christmas—I want to check off some tasks on my to-do list so I don’t have to bother next week, which is my big Closure and Planning Week.

So I created a list of things I need to do before I can call it a day today. My goal is to finish them by noon or perhaps 1:00. (Noon! No mamby pamby goals.) The funny thing is that it’s really the same list I’d have made if I were planning to work the full day. But I’ve injected a little competition into the scenario, in a way. I’ve pitted work against play (for me, play will be knitting, watching movies, and working on New Year’s cards on this rainy day). The longer I’ll work, the less I’ll play. So I’d better get busy.

I feel myself kind of excited to plow through my list. And I know I’m going to have laser focus, because I want to achieve this goal. (I’m getting a good start by spending only ten minutes writing a blog post today.)

Gosh, if this works, I’m going to have to try it more often!

I think I’m truly going to take the day off tomorrow, so no blog post. If you celebrate Christmas, please allow me to wish you a Merry Christmas. If you don’t, enjoy a stress-free day off (assuming you get a day off). I’ll reconnect here on Friday.

ETA: It’s 10:52 and I’ve just crossed the last thing off my list. Time to close up shop until the 26th!

A special time of year

22 December 2008

I know that this is a special time of year for many people because of the holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa…they all make for happy times for people who celebrate them. I certainly have nothing against any of those holidays. It’s just that in my little nuclear family (my husband, me, my two poodles and our tabby cat) we don’t celebrate any of them.

Nevertheless I love this time of year. In particular, I love the week between Christmas and New Year’s. First, that week is bookended by two days off, which is fabulous. And in between, no one really expects anyone to get anything done. Free of expectations of others, it’s time I can use any way I want. I’ve always used it as a time to get my ducks in a row. It comes right before the new year, a time ripe for goal setting, good intentions, and new beginnings.

And, as I came to realize in my Holiday Spa Day, the last week of the year is an excellent time for closure. I plan to tie up loose ends and do things like catching up on my 2008 Quickbooks data entry, which I’ve fallen woefully behind on, mostly because I don’t like doing it. Once caught up, I’m going to try to create the habit of entering data into Quickbooks (which I use for my business) at least once a week.

But I have three more days before that magical week begins. I have a little fun built in (a movie with a friend), some holiday knitting to finish, and some holiday cards to write in and send out (thankfully, they’re New Year’s cards). And I also have some fairly large things on my to-do list that I need to get done before January 1. The more time I spend on them before Christmas, the more magical my last week of the year can be because my time will truly be my own.

This morning, as I was walking around doing my morning stuff, I heard myself say something that was apparently going through my unconscious mind. “This is a special week,” I said out loud, in a whisper. I’m going to do my best to make it so.

Reflections on holiday cards

18 December 2008

As I posted in November, holiday cards are a big project for me. I do two sets: business and personal. Last year I only managed to get the business ones out. (And the sky didn’t fall.) This year, I’m bound and determined to do both this year. I’ll send out two hundred or so, in total.

Last night I finished writing in my business-related holiday cards. They’ll go in the mail today. I send them to clients and to colleagues. I take real pleasure in both giving and receiving holiday cards.

I’d like to encourage you to consider cards an opportunity, not an obligation. For me, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with folks I might not have seen in awhile. And to express my appreciation for having them in my lives. If I didn’t see it that way, if I sent the cards just because I thought I should, that’s a whole different ball game. That’s just stress. Stress—particularly holiday stress—isn’t good. (Come to think of it, this concept applies to holiday gifts as well.)

This weekend, I’ll work on the cards for friends and family. I know I’m going to enjoy reconnecting with people, especially since I didn’t do it last year. Because, like everyone else, we’re trying to economize in my family, I’m reusing cards left over from several years ago (when Snapfish mistakenly sent us twice as many customized cards as we ordered). I’m using Forever stamps I bought back before the last postage increase. So really, all it’s costing out of this month’s budget is my time.

I consider it time well spend. And I actually consider it enjoyable because of my view of it as an opportunity. If you don’t share that view—if it’s a chore hanging over your head—I encourage you to let it go. If I’m on your holiday card list and I don’t receive one, I promise not to hold it against you. Feel free to reconnect with folks via email. Or a new year’s card. Or, gosh, a phone call.

When it comes to cards, be kind to yourself. Make it an enjoyable ritual or let it go. But don’t do it just because you feel you should. In my opinion, “should” has no business making its way on to our to-do lists.

Spa Day in my home

12 December 2008

Tomorrow, I’m participating in an intriguing activity. I’ve signed up for the Extra Special Holiday Spa Day offered through Inspired Home Office.

I’m not exactly sure what will transpire, but my feeling is I’ll de-stress, gain clarity, and actually accomplish some of my decluttering goals. The day is led by Jennifer Hofmann the owner of Inspired Home Office, as well as habits guru Havi Brooks, whose blog was my blog of the week a couple of months ago.

I’m really looking forward to the spa day. It’s so interesting: I don’t have kids an I a lot of freedom to decide how I’m going to spend my day. But I usually look at a few hours of decluttering as a chore, not as something that I’ll do to make myself feel better. I need to turn my thinking around. What’s different about tomorrow is the support I’ll receive from Jen and Havi, as well as the other participants in the group. So here I am, actually excited at the prospect of decluttering tomorrow.

There are a few spots still available, if you’re interested in participating. Here’s how Jennifer described it in her newsletter, which came out this morning. “If you have things to do tomorrow, and you’d like some compassionate support in doing them without losing your mind, consider joining in.” Doesn’t that sound nice? Contact Jennifer at hofmann.jennifer@gmail.com to see if you can still get it on it.

Mindful gift giving

2 December 2008

The horrifying tragedy at a Walmart on Long Island the day after Thanksgiving represents holiday shopping at its worst. Folks waited in line for hours, then broke down the doors, actually trampling an employee. All in the name of getting a good deal, I guess.

Now I like a deal. But this year I’m encouraging myself (and you) to practice mindful shopping when it comes to the holiday season.

Here are some guidelines for mindful gift-giving this holiday season:

• Take a good look at your holiday gift recipients list. Are there people on it you could propose to just stop exchanging gifts? Taking the pressure to give off a friend or family member might be a gift in itself.

• After you’ve pared down your list, think about each person, one at a time. What are their interests? Their passions? Is there anything you can give that would really speak to those passions?

• Consider creating a gift. Bake something delicious and give it as a gift. Or, if you’re crafty, create a one-of-a-kind gift for a favorite person. (But, please, make it something they’d really enjoy, because you’re giving them something they’ll probably have trouble parting with.) Even if you’re not crafty, maybe you have an ability they don’t have. You could offer to help them clean out their files. Or paint a room. Or trim their dog’s toenails.

• Give the gift quality time together. Could you go out to lunch with a favorite friend or family member, rather than exchanging tangible gifts? Splurge a little on the lunch and make that the gift. Or maybe you could see a movie together. Or even have a fun night in with DVDs and popcorn.

• Look for gifts that aren’t mass-produced. Sure, you could give the Hottest New Thing. (I’m so out of touch, I don’t even know what that is this year.) But even more special are hand-made gifts, even if you don’t make it yourself. If you don’t have a local craft fair you can attend before gift-giving time, check out Etsy, a marketplace for hand-made items. There’s great stuff there.

• Help a small business person. Naomi Dunford, over at IttyBiz has just created a gift guide chock full of unique gifts from small businesses. There are some unique items there.

• Consider a donation. In this difficult economic environment, non-profit organizations are surely suffering. Perhaps you could carefully select a charity to make a donation to in the name of your gift recipient. Or, you can let the recipient choose his or her own charity. Jeri Dansky has put together a fabulous post on donations as gifts on her wonderful organizing blog.

Remember, it really is the thought that counts. The thought and care you give to selecting a gift, not the physical item itself, is what makes it special.

Some great ideas for the dog lovers on your gift list

20 November 2008

As I mentioned earlier, I went to the HH Backer Christmas Trade Show in October, to help my friend, Sally. The Backer show is a huge trade show for the pet industry.

I had a great time and came away with some gift ideas for pet lovers.

First, of course, is the company I was representing, Roll Over Rover, Inc., the t-shirt company owned by the wonderful and talented Sally Brown. She designs all the shirts, carefully selects the garments and colors and turns out a really beautiful and comfortable product. Here’s one of my favorite designs:

Sally doesn’t sell direct to the public, but you can find a list of retailers on her site. Her shirts are also sold at In the Company of Dogs. (There’s a greater selection in the physical In the Company of Dogs catalog.)

Tomorrow I get to immerse myself in Roll Over Rover goodness as I help Sally do inventory. (Incidentally, Sally’s website was designed by her niece, Nora Brown, who also designed mine.)

Some other products that caught my eye at the Backer show were the beautiful collars and leashes offered by the companies whose booths were on either side of us.

First, Trish Hampton offers stylish designs for the sophisticated dog. Check out this example:

On the other side of us was Paw Paws, another company selling really gorgeous and sophisticated collars and leashes. I don’t think such pretty products were around when I first became a dog owner. Kirby and Pip now have Paw Paws collars and leashes and they’re fabulous. I love this pretty collar:

The other exciting product to me was this dog walker’s belt from DOOG (sort for Dog Owners Outdoor Gear), an Australian company. I got one for myself and I really like it. This flat belt is much nicer than a bulky fanny pack and discreetly carries all the essentials—poop bags, treats, even hand wipes. It has a hook for keys and another for your iPod (assuming your iPod has a case with a clip). Here it is:

The DOOG dudes were at the show looking for US distributors. I see there are a few listed on the website. I imagine you can keep checking back to find one near you, or order online from Australia.