The Simple Pleasures in Life Rediscovered

The recent downturn in the economy has created some very positive opportunities to live more simply. Families are eating at home more, finding creative ways to entertain themselves, and refocusing on the importance of relationships. Try some of these simple ideas:

• Get the family involved in planning and preparing meals. Each family member gets to pick a night, plan the menu, and help prepare the meal. You might even get an economics lesson in by setting a budget for the meal and letting them shop.
• Pack a picnic and head to your favorite hiking spot or to the beach.
• Plan a family game night. It can just be for your immediate family or invite another family.
• No vacation budget? Campout in the backyard or plan a mini-getaway.
• Do a service project together. You will create lasting memories together and the family will realize how blessed they are even in tough times.
• Need service a little closer to home? Do projects around the house together, like cleaning out the garage or organizing a room.
• Check your local newspaper, library, craft store, or home improvement store for free activities and events.

Cathy Bates is owner of Practical Solutions Professional Organizing and they can help you gain control of your surroundings and life, rediscovering the simple pleasures in life. Contact Practical Solutions for more information at 909.810.3719 or go online to www.psorganizing.com.

I’m a terrible procrastinator. Without a specific time management strategy, I think I’d put life itself off, while I play some Solitaire on my computer. Unfortunately, procrastination is a very real issue for many people, and it’s often responsible for the majority of your lost productivity.

Do You Have a Procrastination Problem?

• Do you feel like you work, but never get anything done?
• Do you plan to clean, but it never gets finished?
• Do you start projects, but never see them through to completion?

If you answered yes to these questions, you probably have an issue with procrastination.

There is good news: You can overcome procrastination by implementing some time management techniques into your everyday life. Once you beat the procrastination monster, you’ll become much more successful in all areas of your life. You’ll also have more time for doing things you enjoy. One of the first steps to avoiding procrastination is to have a plan for your day. Whether you make a formal schedule, or just use a simple checklist, it’s easier to stay on task when you have something to refer to.

Sometimes people procrastinate because they’re feeling overwhelmed by a big task that seems impossible to complete. Instead of dealing with it, they simply avoid the task, finding other ways of spending their time. If this sounds familiar to you, you can break this cycle by breaking the task into smaller pieces. It won’t seem as unmanageable, and you’ll feel a greater sense of accomplishment as you finish each piece.

Set Deadlines

You can also avoid procrastination by creating task deadlines for yourself. By setting your deadline a little earlier than the real deadline (or creating one when there isn’t a specific date for completion) you create a sense of urgency for getting the task done. You also set yourself up for success, as you’re building in “wiggle room” for the unexpected.

Treat Yourself with Rewards

Give yourself a reward when you’re effective at meeting your goals and staying on schedule. Sometimes, a simple reward is all the motivation you need to stay focused on the task at hand. By combining all of these methods in your fight against procrastination, you’ve got a better chance of getting those things that are important to you, in both business and personal life, completed. You’ll feel less stressed out, and better about yourself over all. You’ll also have more time to enjoy life.

Procrastination is one of the worst culprits in poor time management – Click here for a free report entitled 5 Quick Time Management Techniques.