Simple Ways To Make Your Life Easier

Day 89 - After The Run

Day 89 – After The Run (Photo credit: slgckgc)

Sometimes the simplest thing can help you accomplish so much more. Like tying your shoe the right way! Sounds silly, right? I thought so too, but humor me for a minute. I found a video of the very first three-minute TED talk in 2005 where Terry Moore told his audience that many of them were actually tying their shoes incorrectly…as he had been doing until about three years prior!

As it turns out, there is a “strong form” of the knot used to tie your shoes, and it can make your life the teensiest bit easier because it won’t come untied as often as the “weak form” of the knot.
So, in honor of Moore’s statement that, “Sometimes a small advantage somewhere in life can yield tremendous results someplace else,” here is a list of things you can do to gain a small advantage here and there: Read more

How to be Ultra Organized

A few days ago, I found an infographic to help you to become “The Most Organized Person in the World.” Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that aspiring to be the most organized person in the WORLD is the best goal — you’d probably go a bit nuts along the way. But trying for something more attainable, like just being MORE organized, is a great idea. I’m always looking for new, better ways to stay on my game!

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Resist Your Inner Pack Rat and Clear Clutter

Cluttered shed

Cluttered shed (Photo credit: UnnarYmir)

I have a confession to make. I’m somewhat of a pack rat. I like to keep things in case I need them. But I really needed to strike back this weekend. I’ve been irritated and borderline obsessed with the clutter that was living in my desk drawer at home. It was filled with lots of papers and things I didn’t need and lots and lots of power cords.

There are chargers for 4 iPhones, a Blackberry, a MacBook, an iPad Mini, an iPad keyboard case and some wireless speakers — I can’t take it! I’ve been researching ways to tame the power cords and got exhausted.

Reasons to Take a Staycation

Reading

For the whole summer, everyone is daydreaming about jetting off for a beach getaway. I bet very few of you dream of staying near home for your vacation, but don’t sell it short! In hindsight, it’s easy to overlook all the bad parts of a taking a trip – the delayed flights, missed connections and lost luggage.

So next time you think you need a break, consider taking a “staycation” instead. This could mean that you stay in a hotel just down the road, or it could mean that you look to buy a “holiday home” near you. This way you’ve always got a place to go on the weekends or somewhere to use if you have guests staying with you.

Use Lists to Cut Out Clutter

Andrew Mellen Headshot Tighter

I love meeting people who are just as organized as I am and getting the chance to learn something new from them. I went to the BlogHer conference in Chicago last weekend (more about the productivity tips and tricks on outsourcing that I learned there to come soon!) and met Andrew Mellen, bestselling author of Unstuff Your Life. Needless to say, he’s an expert at staying organized and keeping it together! So I thought he’d be the perfect “list producer” to feature:

Q: Why do you call yourself a compulsive list producer?

A: I don’t. I call myself a practical list producer.

Q: What do you make lists about?

A: Things I need to do that need to get out of my head, onto a page, then onto my calendar.

These are typically:

Errands

Home Projects

Work Projects

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