ALT-1 Strategies on Improving value and Balance in your Daily Life
Getting more value and balance out of life requires organization, time management, and discipline. The good news is that once you turns these requirement into habits, it will feel like value and balance are effortless
ORGANIZATION
Ever been in a hurry and needed that auto charger for the cell phone, or that article to read on the bus, or.? The list goes on. When you can't find it, your mood takes a beating and your productivity suffers. Organization helps you mine value out of your life and achieve balance by making you more efficient and at ease. Getting organized is one of the hardest things for unorganized people to do. In fact, an entire industry has developed around that fact that you (and me, I'll admit it) can't, but want to, get organized.
There are lots of organizational resources out there. I've listed a few below. I also want to share a couple of the organizational tips that have helped me the most.
I have three baskets in both my office and my bedroom. They are labeled "here", "there", and "give away". I fill these baskets with the stuff of life that accumulates in the two areas I frequent most, which can include books, dishes, my kid's toys, hats, shoes, and, thanks to my lovely daughter, sticks, rocks, and leaves from the backyard. When a basket fills up, I take it and empty it by putting things back where they belong or filling up a bag to drop off at the thrift store.
Another favorite tip I learned from my dad, of all people, is to never put something down when it's "home" is nearby. For example, when I make a sandwich, once I take the bread out, I don't leave the loaf opened and sitting on the counter. While the loaf is still in my hand, I wrap it up and put it in the breadbox. If you follow this rule, you will help yourself stay organized and reduce clutter, which tends to multiply exponentially.
These two tips depend on a third: everything must have a "home." In other words, to avoid clutter, everything must be given a place where it belongs when not in use. Otherwise, objects will gather and clutter is inevitable.
Here are a couple favorite resources for organizing:
Organizing Plain & Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to your Everyday Clutter Challenges by Donna Smallin.
www.lifeorganizers.com
TIME MANAGEMENT
To get more value and balance out of life, you must prioritize your time. Undoubtedly, in your life you have things that are more important than others. You have to determine, daily, what those things are and make time for them. Of course, we all face the reality that there just aren't enough hours in the day to get all things done we both need and want to do. That is why you need to divide your priorities into categories: such as, family, work, household, and personal. Certain work and family related priorities are critical. Other priorities, like personal priorities, can become subordinate.
As you set up daily and weekly schedules to help you manage your time, you will schedule your time to achieve your critical priorities. However, you also need to sprinkle in personal priorities, particularly things that recharge your batteries like time to read, write, and simply stare out the window.
Your priorities are on the top of your "to do" list, which contains lots of other tasks that you must/should accomplish. Your "to do" list is your ticket to happiness. Every item you check off is an accomplishment. It gives you a sense of satisfaction and energy and motivation to tackle the next item on your list. I like to put everything I can think of on my list. Hey, taking a shower takes time. Plus, I get to check it off when I'm done! Which gets me started for the day.
There are some great time management resources out there. Check out:
http://www.lifeorganizers.com/time/
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_HTE.htm
http://www.timethoughts.com/time-management.htm
DISCIPLINE
Discipline comes in a variety of forms. For us, we want to foster discipline that keeps us organized and true to our time management plan. The sooner you can achieve this discipline, the quicker positive habits will form.
Discipline is easier when there are rewards, and your habit forming isn't reward enough. You need to set small short-term goals for yourself and, when you reach them, reward yourself. For example, buy a gift certificate for movie tickets and put it on the fridge with a note that as soon as you fully complete a "to do" list in one day, you'll treat yourself.
I hope this article has helped you to get started achieving a more balanced, valuable life.
