Organizing Yourself For Vacation

Going on vacation is something we all look forward to, yet it can cause quite a bit of stress during the preparation. Here are some quick tips to make the process of preparing for vacation go more smoothly:

Packing List – type up a general packing list for each member of the family. Save it as a document in your computer. When preparing to leave, print them up and hand them out. This way no one will forget toothbrushes or special medicines.

To-Do List – as long as you are typing up that packing list, type up a to-do list for vacation preparation as well. Include things like “put newspaper on hold” or “ask neighbor to feed fish.” Again, every time you are preparing to leave, you print this up and check off the items.

Contact List – Keep a vacation contact list on file as well. Include emergency contact numbers, addresses for postcards, etc.

 Big Trip Preparation – if you are going away for an extended vacation or you are traveling internationally, there will be more things to do to prepare. Make a complete list of all that needs to be done (passport update, money exchange, etc). Open your calendar and break down the items so you only have a few things to do each week, leading up to your vacation. For example, passport updates should be handled 6 months out so there is no stress or rush. Money exchange can be done a few weeks out so you aren’t running to the bank the day before you leave. Plan ahead so you aren’t completely frazzled the week of your departure.

Now go ahead and start off your vacation in a more relaxed state of mind. Enjoy!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com – Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meagan_Farrell

For more tips visit In Order to Succeed on the web and follow In Order to Succeed  on Facebook and on Twitter.

Getting Organized for Vacation

Going on vacation is something we all look forward to, yet it can cause quite a bit of stress during the preparation. Here are some quick tips to make getting organized for a vacation go more smoothly:

Packing List – type up a general packing list for each member of the family. Save it as a document in your computer. When preparing to leave, print them up and hand them out. This way no one will forget toothbrushes or special medicines.

To-Do List – as long as you are typing up that packing list, type up a to-do list for vacation preparation as well. Include things like “put newspaper on hold” or “ask a neighbor to feed fish.” Again, every time you are preparing to leave, you print this up and check off the items.

Contact List – Keep a vacation contact list on file as well. Include emergency contact numbers, addresses for postcards, etc.

 Big Trip Preparation – if you are going away for an extended vacation or you are traveling internationally, there will be more things to do to prepare. Make a complete list of all that needs to be done (passport update, money exchange, etc). Open your calendar and break down the items so you only have a few things to do each week, leading up to your vacation. For example, passport updates should be handled 6 months out so there is no stress or rush. Money exchange can be done a few weeks out so you aren’t running to the bank the day before you leave. Plan ahead so you aren’t completely frazzled the week of your departure.

Now go ahead and start off your vacation in a more relaxed state of mind. Enjoy!

Meagan Farrell, a professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com – Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meagan_Farrell

For more tips visit In Order to Succeed on the web and follow In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.

Have a Stress Free Vacation

 Three tips to having a stress free vacation:

Create and use a travel checklist There isn’t anything worse than arriving someplace and remembering you forgot something. While you can buy things such as toothbrushes what if you forgot to turn off some of the lights. Take a few minutes to come up with a travel checklist that includes both things you need to do both you go away as well as things to back. Reuse the list each time you go away.

Take at least a week. One vacation of at least seven days is more relaxing than taking several three-day vacations. It allows you time to settle into your new surroundings and truly enjoy the break.

Give Yourself Permission To Do Nothing Vacations are suppose to be about rest so don’t plan everyday. Give yourself time just enjoying being where you are and remember it’s okay to do nothing while on vacation.

Share your travel tips with us by commenting below.
Further Reading
Check back for our travel checklist that you can download and for your trips.
Get more travel tips: 7 Tips For Creating a Healthy Vacation (May 2010)

Transform into a Productivity Ninja

Supercharge!

Start your day with loads of energy.

  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep
  • Complete a basic morning stretch
  • Drink coffee, water, orange juice
  • Stay outside for at least ten full minutes (soak up some sun before going straight to your car)

These habits will prepare us to take on the day with a hop in our step. With enough energy stored up we should be able to maintain focus throughout the day.

Targets!

We’ve heard the “plan your day” a thousand times. But here’s a new way to think about your daily tasks. Visualize everything we have to do as targets. This gives us a competitive drive to get through our day.

Whether we’re looking to rent a moving truck or get a medical assistant diploma, we need targets. Hone in on tasks and identify exactly what we need to do to complete them. Don’t think about anything else – just focus on your target.

Swiftness!

Moving fast isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The goal here is to get into a groove. Finished making your calls? Onto writing that press release! Every time we clear a target, we should have the next one in our sights. There are some tasks where it’s beneficial to take our time, such as writing an intensive legal document or accounting for a large campaign.

If projects aren’t due for a week, consider knocking out a quick draft and coming back to make revisions the next day. Think about all the small things we can swiftly complete to help less tomorrows workload.

Resolve!

To be a productivity ninja, we have to have resolve. This means never giving up on accomplishing our goals and staying motivated throughout the day. There are so many distractions these days making it hard to maintain our resolve. Make sure to avoid these, especially the ones that would wind us up on a 12 step rehab program (just kidding!).

Fortunately, there are many ways to stay focused so we may reap the rewards of extra time.

Recollect!

The battle’s only over when we say it’s over. A smart ninja always learns from his experiences. Take a moment at the end of your day – about 15 minutes – to unwind and recollect your thoughts. What did we do well today and what can we improve on?

Good luck on your journey! If you have any thoughts or advice please comment below!

Thanks for reading.

 

Jesse Aaron is a professional blogger with a passion for homebrewing. He writes on a variety of topics on his blog, Mashbout. Follow Jesse on Google Plus.

 

For more tips visit In Order to Succeed on the web and follow In Order to Succeed  on Facebook and on Twitter.

Five Tips to Stay Focused at Work

We’ve all been there. Your computer screen is turning into a giant blur. The sounds around you are fading. Your thoughts are drifting into the Adriatic…

Staying focused is hard. It’s truly a struggle and takes different strategies for every individual. Fortunately, procrastination is a weak enemy, easily defeated with a few handy tricks.

Organize Your Tasks By Time

You’ve probably heard this a million times, but that’s because it’s one of the most important strategies. Plan your day out first thing. Determine the time expectation for completing each task and follow your plan accordingly.

Break Up Your Day

Literally break up your day with 3-5 minute breaks. If you get through your small and easy tasks, take a break then come back to make headway in a larger task. Half-way through your large task, take another break. By giving yourself a moment to walk around and rest your brain, the monotony will feel less and less.

Create A Distraction-Free Environment: Clean Up!

By simply cleaning up your workspace, your organization will skyrocket. You’ll have easy access to materials and your desk will be visually pleasing to you and fellow coworkers. For bonus points, clean up a shared office area such as the kitchen or lobby. Note only will you get a free break, but your office will be appreciative. This subtly increases the pleasure of coming into work – some coworkers may even return the favor and bring you in a coffee!

Fight Stress With Creativity 

Everyone stresses at work, even those who absolutely love their jobs fall prey to stress. It’s simply natural of working hard and diligently. There are many ways to ease stress with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or even focusing on a visually pleasing image. My favorite technique is to beat stress with creativity. We can only do this by thinking outside of the box. Try to visualize your stressful task as an exciting challenge that can only be completed with heroic and valiant efforts. One of my co-workers pretends they are a super-hero, so whatever suits you!

Turn Your Phone Off

Or at least meet me half-way and put it on silent. Everyone has a smartphone, which is essentially a mini personal computer. Smartphones are one of top distractions in offices, schools, and cars! If you’re one of those people who texts and drives, it’s likely you text and work. Don’t have your boss call up Wymoo International and higher a PI to track you down. Put your phone away. Even better, when you first come in to work, try forgetting you even own a phone. At the end of the day, you’ll realize just how productive you can be.

Good luck at work and stay focused! If you have any questions or extra tips, post a comment below!

Cheers!

Jesse Aaron is a professional blogger with a passion for homebrewing. He writes on a variety of topics on his blog, Mashbout. Follow Jesse on Google Plus.

For more tips visit In Order to Succeed on the web and follow In Order to Succeed  on Facebook and on Twitter.

Five Tips on How to Stay Focused at Work

We’ve all been there. Your computer screen is turning into a giant blur. The sounds around you are fading. Your thoughts are drifting into the Adriatic.

Staying focused is hard. It’s truly a struggle and takes different strategies for every individual. Fortunately, procrastination is a weak enemy, easily defeated with a few handy tricks. These five tips on how to stay focused at work will get you back on track.

Organize Your Tasks By Time

You’ve probably heard this a million times, but that’s because it’s one of the most important strategies. Plan your day out first thing. Determine the time expectation for completing each task and follow your plan accordingly.

Break Up Your Day

Literally break up your day with 3-5 minute breaks. If you get through your small and easy tasks, take a break then come back to make headway in a larger task. Half-way through your large task, take another break. By giving yourself a moment to walk around and rest your brain, the monotony will feel less and less.

Create A Distraction-Free Environment: Clean Up!

By simply cleaning up your workspace, your organization will skyrocket. You’ll have easy access to materials and your desk will be visually pleasing to you and fellow coworkers. For bonus points, clean up a shared office area such as the kitchen or lobby. Note only will you get a free break, but your office will be appreciative. This subtly increases the pleasure of coming into work – some coworkers may even return the favor and bring you in a coffee!

Fight Stress With Creativity 

Everyone stresses at work, even those who absolutely love their jobs fall prey to stress. It’s simply natural of working hard and diligently. There are many ways to ease stress with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or even focusing on a visually pleasing image. My favorite technique is to beat stress with creativity. We can only do this by thinking outside of the box. Try to visualize your stressful task as an exciting challenge that can only be completed with heroic and valiant efforts. One of my co-workers pretends they are a super-hero, so whatever suits you!

Turn Your Phone Off

Or at least meet me halfway and put it on silent. Everyone has a smartphone, which is essentially a mini personal computer. Smartphones are one of top distractions in offices, schools, and cars! If you’re one of those people who texts and drives, it’s likely you text and work. Don’t have your boss call up Wymoo International and higher a PI to track you down. Put your phone away. Even better, when you first come into work, try forgetting you even own a phone. At the end of the day, you’ll realize just how productive you can be.

Good luck at work and stay focused! If you have any questions or extra tips, post a comment below!

Cheers!

Jesse Aaron is a professional blogger with a passion for homebrewing. He writes on a variety of topics on his blog, Mashbout. Follow Jesse on Google Plus.

For more tips visit In Order to Succeed on the web and follow In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.

Five Tips To Help Plan Your Wedding

Fancy clothes, lots of dances, friends and family—wedding season is in full swing. During the late spring and early summer months it can seem like every weekend is full of another wedding. A lot of planning went into each of those weddings and if you’re newly engaged you might be a bit overwhelmed on how to start planning your wedding. Here are five tips to help you get started.

Start Your Guest List Right Away: After you have a tentative guest list everything else will be easier. You’ll have a better idea of how big a space you need, which will help you narrow down your site options, come up with a budget, and ultimately settle on a date.

Set Aside a Day: Pick a day to commit to wedding plan and make sure you stick to it. By picking one a day a week to do some planning you can ensure that you are both available to go over details and that you don’t end up stressed out at the last minute.

Figure Out Your Finances: Not just your wedding budget, although that is important and you should discuss it as soon as possible. But figure out all your finances, such as if you will have a joint checking account after you get married or keep your individual accounts, or some combination of the two. Discuss how you will pay for shared household expenses and who will contribute what, chances are one of you makes more than the other.

Be Flexible: Maybe you’ve had your whole wedding planned out since you were five, but things change and you need to consider the wants and wishes of another person now. Or maybe your dream site isn’t available on the date you wanted. Things are going to come up. Not everything is going to go exactly as you want. Be flexible.

Buy a Calendar: Either buy a calendar or set up a shared Google or other calendar of your choice. Then grab some wedding planning checklists from sites such as The Knot and Real Simple and add in important deadlines.

Follow In Order to Succeed  on Facebook and on Twitter.

10 Professional Organizers to ‘Like’ on Facebook

Quick self-promotion: If you haven’t yet liked In Order to Succeed on Facebook, do it now. You’ll find time management tips, productivity tips and of course organizational tips from In Order to Succeed’s professional organizers and project consultants. Plus, you can ask us all your questions and we’ll do our best to answer them.

O.K., now that the self-promotion is over with, it’s time to talk about some other professional organizers. We love our fellow organizers. They are an inspiration to us and are constantly sharing great advice. Here are 10 professional organizers (in no particular order) we think you should ‘like’ on Facebook.

  1. Julie Morgenstern Enterprises
  2. Blissfully Organized LLC
  3. The Organizing Guru
  4. SoBe Organized
  5. Organizing Goddess, Inc.
  6. IHeart Organizing
  7. Innovatively Organized
  8. Memories Organized LLC
  9. Organized Home
  10. The Organized Mom

In Order to Succeed is a full service Professional Organizing firm providing Home and Business Organizing Solutions, Moving/Relocation Coordination Assistance and Time Management help to people throughout New York (NY) and Connecticut (CT) and across the US.  Our Professional Organizers, Relocation Specialists and Productivity Experts will make your home and office more efficient and attractive.  We can help create a zen-like, less stressful environment giving you the time and calm to focus what you enjoy. For more information visit www.inordertosucceed.com.

In Order to Succeed is a full-service Professional Organizing firm providing Home and Business Organizing Solutions, Moving/Relocation Coordination Assistance, and Time Management help to people throughout New York (NY) and Connecticut (CT) and across the US. Our team of professional organizers in NYC, relocation specialists, and productivity experts will make your home and office more efficient and attractive. We can help create a zen-like, less stressful environment, giving you the time and calm to focus on what you enjoy. For more information, visit www.inordertosucceed.com.

10 Professional Organizers to ‘Like’ on Facebook

Quick self-promotion: If you haven’t yet liked In Order to Succeed on Facebook, do it now. You’ll find time management tips, productivity tips, and of course, organizational tips from In Order to Succeed’s professional organizers and project consultants. Plus, you can ask us all your questions and we’ll do our best to answer them.

O.K., now that the self-promotion is over with, it’s time to talk about some other professional organizers. We love our fellow organizers. They are an inspiration to us and are constantly sharing great advice. Here are 10 professional organizers (in no particular order) we think you should like on Facebook.

  1. Julie Morgenstern Enterprises
  2. Blissfully Organized LLC
  3. The Organizing Guru
  4. SoBe Organized
  5. Organizing Goddess, Inc.
  6. IHeart Organizing
  7. Innovatively Organized
  8. Memories Organized LLC
  9. Organized Home
  10. The Organized Mom

In Order to Succeed is a full service Professional Organizing firm providing Home and Business Organizing Solutions, Moving/Relocation Coordination Assistance and Time Management help to people throughout New York (NY) and Connecticut (CT) and across the US.  Our Professional Organizers, Relocation Specialists and Productivity Experts will make your home and office more efficient and attractive.  We can help create a zen-like, less stressful environment giving you the time and calm to focus what you enjoy. For more information visit www.inordertosucceed.com.

How to Start Your Wedding Planning List

By Marcelo Oleas

Wedding planning can be a complicated and drawn out processes if the right approach is not taken. However, when done logically and far enough in advance, it can be much less stressful. Following your wedding planning list can also ensure that the future event is successful and enjoyable.

Within nine months to a year of a wedding several things must take place. The couple should announce the engagement to family and friends and select a wedding date. By giving people plenty of notice they will make sure they can attend. The longer a couple takes to do this the less likely it is that guests can rearrange their schedules.

Hire a coordinator to help with the planning process and to make sure everything runs smoothly. Decide where the ceremony will take place, if it will have a theme, and how many will receive invites. Figure out if the event is casual or formal. Decide what time of day it will take place-during the morning, afternoon or evening.

It is important to decide how much money can be spent on the event, and how bills will be shared. Purchase a planner to write down and remember any appointments and find a way to organize and track payments.

Decide whether or not children are welcome. Reserve the ceremony location and any officials, priests, rabbis or ministers. Also book the location for the reception.

The bridal gown should be selected and ordered. Pick out color themes. Make sure that the necessary passports, visas or other documentation is on hand for traveling or marriage licensing.

When the big day is six to nine months away, further preparations are necessary. Caterers, photographers, musicians, bands, videographers, and florists should all be booked. Select the wedding party and let them know their roles.

Bridesmaids and flower girls need to be identified and their attire chosen. The bride and grooms mothers also need their outfits selected. If not already done, gift registries must be made at this time.

Four to six weeks prior to the ceremony, fit the bridesmaid dresses. Reserve rentals, book decorators, finalize the guest list and order invitations. Finalize details for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon night.

Make sure guests traveling from out of town have proper accommodations. Begin shopping for gifts for the wedding party, fiance and parents. Buy appropriate accessories for bride and bridesmaids. Order the bands.

When the ceremony is two to four months in the future, take engagement pictures and pick out a wedding cake. Book wedding day transportation, address and send invitations, book hair and makeup appointments, and get a marriage license.

If these plans are followed, most of the important details will be completed on time. All that remains are a few finalizing steps such as picking up, dropping off and wrapping items. Do not forget to notify the post office you will be gone to have mail properly taken care of.

Visit FashionableBride.com for the latest in wedding planning tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcelo_Oleas

Follow In Order to Succeed  on Facebook and on Twitter.