|
Recycling Corner:
Managing your recycling
Clients often tell me they'd like to recycle, but they don't have the room to store one of those big blue recycling bins. Good news - the bins come in assorted sizes!
I recently attended a workshop on going green at g Green Design Center in Mashpee. I found that they carry several bin sizes, including the one above (which I like because it's called the Murfe). It's stackable and costs $12.49. They have a small, 4-gallon bin for $8.49, and a 12-gallon stackable box for $15.49. Since these get re-used all the time, the initial investment is well worth the price to find ways to recycle that will fit in your space! I have no affiliation with them, but check out their website www.ggreendesign.com for more options, or check your local store for bins that will fit your home or office AND help you recycle!
|
LEARN HOW
to Get More Organized!
(Upcoming classes and presentations)
|
|
TIme Management for Really Busy People
2 sessions starting
this Thursday
May 10 & 17
6:30 - 8:30 pm
at
Sandwich Community Schools
Call
508 888-5300
to register, or go to:
www.scslearn.org
|
|
Are you on
Cape Cod tomorrow?
If you're in Hyannis tomorrow,
Tuesday, April 8th,
come visit my booth at the American Business Woman's Association annual expo at the
Holiday Inn
on Route 132
5:30 - 8:00 pm
Admission is FREE
Hors d'oeuvres will be served, a cash bar will be available, and you'll have the opportunity to network with lots of local businesswomen!
|
|
|
|
|
Dear , 
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!
You have one of the toughest organizing jobs in the world - not only managing your family, their things ("Hey, Mom, where's my ...?") and their schedules, but also trying to teach your children (and sometimes their fathers) how to organize themselves! Take some time this Sunday to schedule in lots of relaxation time for yourself over the next month. You deserve it!
If you'd like some help getting more organized, forward this newsletter to your kids with a subtle hint about how nice a gift certificate for some organizing help would be as a present!
This month's tips and my latest adult ed class focus on time management strategies. After all, with the beautiful weather here, we all want to be more productive so we can get out and spend more time enjoying it. Try the Pomodoro Technique (below) to help you focus during your work time, sign up for my class starting this Thursday, and then relax and enjoy all the free time you'll find as a result during this lovely month of May!
- Maryann Murphy
Your Personal Organizing Expert
|
|
|
 The Pomodoro Technique
One of my favorite tips for overcoming procrastination and staying focused on a task is to set a timer for 25 minutes, and then start working on the task without interruption (this is key) until the timer goes off.
I'm a recovering procrastinator myself, and this is one of the most effective tools I know to overcome it. In fact, right now I have 40 seconds left until the timer goes off, and it has helped me stay on task instead of checking my email, playing solitare, or going to clean up the kitchen. When the timer goes off (and it just did - I'm a slow writer), the technique suggests you should absolutely take a break, but for just 5 minutes (use the timer again for this). I find that often when I'm on a roll and the timer goes off, I'd rather keep going until I finish what I was working on. But once I finish a section, I feel much less guilty about switching to another task or taking a 5 minute break because I know I've focused for a useful amount of time. After the break, return to your task for another 25 minutes, again using the timer. After every 4 "Pomodoros", take a longer break.
The point of the technique is to make it a manageable amount of time where you can get some real progress made but not feel so distracted that you just can't stick to it. This can be a useful strategy for people with ADHD, but it works for anyone who finds themselves veering off task and having trouble focusing. It works well for children as well, with the time adjusted based on their age and attention span.
What works best about it for me is that the times I tend to get off on tangents are when I feel uncomfortable within a task I'm doing. If I'm writing my Things to Do list and I don't want to think about a call I have to make, I'll want to stop working on the list altogether and go do something else. Having the timer represents my commitment to keep at it, even when it's uncomfortable. But because it's only for 25 minutes, I'm willing to do that. Just staying with it for even a minute or 2 usually gets me beyond the uncomfortable part to a point where I don't NEED the distraction anymore.
If you find yourself procrastinating, try the Pomodoro technique. Grab a timer (use your smartphone, a kitchen timer, or whatever, but something that you can see in front of you and that counts down automatically for you), set it for 25 minutes, and then focus on the task you've been avoiding. 25 minutes later, feel free to take a fun break, b ut set the timer for just 5 minutes for that.
By the way, the originator of this technique, Francesco Cirillo, used a tomato-shaped timer - a "pomodoro" in Italian, so good luck, or as they say in Italy - Buona Fortuna!
|
|
 If you need additional help organizing your home, your office, or your schedule, give me a call at 508 292-6706. I can come to your home or office and help you there, or coach you by phone.
My business relies on referrals, so please forward this to anyone you think might benefit from it. I hope to talk with you soon! |
Sincerely,
Maryann Murphy, MSW Professional Organizer, Speaker, Trainer
(508) 292-6706
- Member, National Speakers Association and NSA-NE
- Chronic Disorganization Specialist, Institute for Challenging Disorganization
- Chair of Education Task Force, National Association of Professional Organizers New England chapter
- Member, Mashpee Hoarding Task Force
- President, Marion Toastmasters Club
- Secretary, American Business Woman's Association of Cape Cod
Please join my network on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter @MMurphyMSW
Like me on Facebook!
Check out my website:
www.maryannmurphymsw.com
NOTE: If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, please click below, put "Subscribe" in the subject line, and send me your name and email address.
SUBSCRIBE
|
|
|
