I wrote recently about an article from the Christian Science Monitor, in which a reporter interviewed me about "Extreme Jobs," people who work 80+ hour workweeks. I received an email from someone who read my post, miffed that I could judge someone, as "I did not know her." Of course I don't know her and can't judge her personally...I'm sure she's a very nice person, gives to the poor, and rescues puppies...and the only thing I (and anyone else for that matter) can observe is behavior. Working seven days a week, 11 hours a day (not including time at home working) is workaholism, pure and simple (heck, even God rested on the seventh day). It's been studied, researched, and rehashed, and just because it’s been re-titled an “extreme job” doesn’t mean it’s anything new. It's … [Read more...]
Maintenance vs. progress
Ahhhh...what a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend! Rested, ate, played...and made some progress. Not just maintained the status quo or existing systems, but you made progress. Yes, it's important to maintain your systems: food is prepared, the house is cleaned, dishes are washed, bills are paid, etc. But nothing is gained with those activities; there is no forward momentum. Those things are done simply to keep you from sliding backward. You got out all the nice china for Thanksgiving dinner. You washed it. You ate on it. You washed it. You put it away. Back to the same place you were before. Yes, of course you have wonderful memories with your family and relaxed a bit. … [Read more...]
Time Management in Hawaii?
I've been on vacation from my blog while on vacation in Hawaii (Big Island). It was the first time in five years my husband and I took a vacation, sans kids, for more than a few days. We were gone eight wonderful days, and it really stretched my mind and rested my soul. First off, I the leisurely pace of Hawaii is of coure much different than the snap-snap hustle bustle of Denver. Relaxation was the mantra, which was usually wonderful, except when practiced by employees who are supposed to be in customer service roles. It took over an hour for the bellman to retrieve our luggage! Instead of taking our rental car, we would take nice long walks to the Starbucks down the road from our hotel. Here's a picture of the beautiful Birds of Paradise lining the walkway: We stayed at a … [Read more...]
Microsoft at Work article
My article "7 Ways to Leave the Office Earlier" was posted in the Microsoft at Work newsletter at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/atwork/work/leavetheoffice.mspx I'd love to hear your strategies, secrets, and tips for how you get out of the office earlier and keep from working late nights! Ideas? … [Read more...]
Keeping Your Energy Up During the Day
I asked my newsletter readers "What do you do to keep your energy up during the day?" and received the following replies. Please comment if you have a tip to add! Hi, I do little 'sprints' through out the day, especially if I am feeling tired. I will get up & run in place or walk quickly around the house for 5-10 minutes (I work at home) it gives me just enough of energy bursts to keep me going. Thanks, Misty Misty Kenner- creativity coach www.pictureperfectscrapbookco.com I live in the Midwest. I work for a larger company in a smaller town. I am fortunate that the parking lot at work is not that large. When I feel tired, during my lunch break I will go out to the car (truck), recline the seat and catch a short "catnap". 15-20 minutes … [Read more...]
How Parents Can Help Their Children Get Organized and Learn to Be Productive Part 6
In this society, you’ve likely been brainwashed to believe that you aren’t a good parent unless your child plays competitive soccer by the time she’s ten, she’s active in the Girl Scouts, can play the piano masterfully, and swims beautifully…and, by the way, leases a horse. Hear a little sarcasm in my voice? For years, I bought into this notion as well and dutifully enrolled my little girl in ballet, piano, church programs, choirs, Girl Scouts, basketball, and more. I used the rationale that “she has to try everything so she can find out what she likes.” Many children are so overscheduled, their stress levels race sky-high and the entire family comes apart at the seams. Many parents feel guilty because of the number of hours they spend at work. As a result, they overcompensate by … [Read more...]
How Parents Can Help Their Children Get Organized and Learn to Be Productive Part 5
It’s important to instill the values of hard work and fairness in your children. As they gain responsibility and perform chores at home, they learn it’s important for everyone to pitch in and do his or her fair share to take the burden off one person. If you live here, you clean. Even my four- and five-year-old boys have chores. I went to the grocery store and bought a big poster board. In the left hand column, I listed a due date for chores. (Each chore may actually be completed any day during the week, but it must be done by Saturday.) Across the top row, I listed the chores. Each child has his or her own chores posted. When one gets completed, the boys put a sticker on the corresponding column (Meagan uses checkmarks; she’s much too cool for stickers). The last column is for … [Read more...]
How Parents Can Help Their Children Get Organized and Learn to Be Productive Part 4
Organizing Children's Keepsakes One of the common complaints I hear from parents is about all the stuff that comes home from school. Where do you put all those great art projects, mementos, and clay handprints you just have to keep? Create a treasure box for each child. When each of my children was born, I wanted to save all the little things from the hospital: the nametags on their cribs, the bracelets from their wrists, their “going home” outfits, and all those things. Add to that their first pair of shoes, their favorite (now cast-away) blanket or stuffed animal, their first lost tooth—what a bunch of stuff! So I got three of those sturdy plastic bins with a lid and designated one for each child. I keep each treasure box on the shelves in their closets and add to them as … [Read more...]
How Parents Can Help Their Children Get Organized and Learn to Be Productive Part 3
My older child, Meagan, just entered 6th grade (middle school in our district), which involves moving from class to class. We bought the requisite list of supplies, including the exact type of binder the teachers wanted to organize school papers. I was unable to find the brand listed in the stores, so I ordered it from the Internet. I thought, “Wow! This is going to be a fabulous binder. I can’t wait to see what the fuss is all about.” When I received the binder, I was confused. It had no sections, no pockets, no tabs, no dividers, nothing. I wondered “How in the world is she going to keep the papers separate for the six different classes she’s taking?” I tried to explain to her the binder wasn’t going to work, but she was insistent on using … [Read more...]
How Parents Can Help Their Children Get Organized and Learn to Be Productive Part 2
Children have a difficult time conceptualizing proper systems and are bewildered by what tools to use to make their lives easier. However, if given the proper tools, children are great at using the systems you establish for them. Here are some tools and ideas you could put into place to help your children organize their environments and feel in control of their surroundings: Make the playroom easy to play in. Now that you’ve pared down the toys you keep, design a plan for these toys to actually get played with. If your kids can’t see a toy, they don’t think to look for it, and will soon forget it exists (and you’ll probably discover forgotten treasures in the sorting process). Take advantage of any available vertical wall space in a dedicated playroom or on one wall of a … [Read more...]
