Checklist for Enjoying Time Alone
I have an older brother but we’re eight years apart so basically I grew up as an only child. I was fortunate to have three amazing girl cousins who were and are like sisters to me. They included me in on all their sisterly things and I never spent a Halloween or birthday without them. But being an “only child” I learned how to play on my own and occupy myself. I actually love my alone time and look forward to it sometimes.
I’ve been known to go to movies alone, go to the theater alone, go to restaurants and eat alone — etc. I love it! It’s an empowering feeling to be happy enough in my own skin to be able to spend time by myself and be OK with it. I probably wouldn’t plan a vacation on my own, like my friends Danielle and Brian have, that scares me a bit but otherwise I’m a pretty independent person. Read more
Remember Everything That Ever Happens
Sometimes a funny thing happens when you hang up the phone after an important conversation. You forget everything that just happened! Haven’t we all been there? I know I have. I have a fail proof way of dealing with this. I take notes on life.
Almost every time I’m on the phone — I take notes. Even if it’s not an “important” call — I jot down words, phrases and questions that come up. This way I pay better attention and really focus on what’s being said. And I don’t lose track of my follow up questions. It turns out you don’t even have to really take notes — you can just doodle. There was a recent study in Applied Cognitive Psychology that found people who doodle were 29 percent better at a memory test than people who didn’t doodle.
I also use the “note-taking technique” during meetings and when I read magazines. If I don’t — I move on to the next project and poof everything I learned goes out of my head. I’m constantly writing down tidbits I want to remember, websites I want to check out and ideas that I have. It helps you to think about what you’re doing and be mindful — remember multitasking is impossible!
Rules for Decluttering Your Home
I recently cleaned out my closet and it felt so good. It’s so much less stressful in the morning. I’m now able to easily find outfits without having to navigate through old clothes and empty hangers. I feel empowered! You can too — here are some rules for decluttering your closet and every other room in your house from organizing expert Lori Greiner.
For Every Room in the House
• Keep focused and select one area at a time. Tackle the room from beginning to end before jumping into another.
• Don’t hesitate, eliminate. Take a day or even a few hours to review what you need and what you really don’t.
• Buy smart. Furniture should have storage areas where possible. This will efficiently maximize space.
• Get a filing cabinet! Everyone needs one to organize bills, important documents, photos, magazine clippings, etc. Read more