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Tag: planning

It’s not about the perfect food!

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For many, many years I ran around preparing for Christmas and other holidays so that everything would be picture perfect. Whether I was hosting the event, or attending it at someone else’s house, I would feel the entire weight of the event on my shoulders. I wanted everything to be perfect for everyone – which it usually was. I always had all of the great treats and dishes I made sitting out on the table when guests arrived. The cups, silverware, serving utensils and everything else would be right in their place, ready to be used. As the event went… read more »

10 tips to simplify the holidays

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SHOPPING: Shop online. – So simple – enough said. Condense your shopping. – Don’t waste time rushing from store to store. Pick a shopping destination, or two, and buy as many gifts as you can from your list there. FOOD PREP: Plan your big meal together as a “potluck” meal. – This allows people to pitch in by making their favorite dish. When everybody helps, the burden is lighter and the fun factor is higher. Prepare ahead of time. – Prepare as much as you can ahead of time so you can enjoy your time together rather than rushing around… read more »

Holiday time management tips

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Make a list. – Create lists for who you need to shop for, what you will buy them, where you will buy it, etc. Plan your days. – Schedule time for everything you need to do to enjoy the holidays. When will you shop, clean, cook, etc. Allow extra time. – Always allow more time for tasks than you think it will take. This goes a long way in reducing stress. Prepare in advance. – Prepare cookies, snacks, meals, gifts, etc as far in advance as possible. Say goodbye to perfectionism. – The season is a time to enjoy family… read more »

All it takes is baby steps

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When you feel overwhelmed by your clutter or disorganization, it’s paralyzing. You don’t have a clue where to even begin because the problem seems so big. If you can at least begin making some type of baby steps, you will eventually advance to bigger steps. But it all starts with just baby steps. I’ve been struggling with my weight for the last few years and I often reflect on how similar losing weight is to getting organized. There isn’t a simple or quick fix for either of them. Many of our clients would love to just buy a book on… read more »

Yikes, it’s December 1st!

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Once December rolls around, the stress and frenzy of the upcoming holidays begins to bubble up within us. As hard as we try to fight it, we usually end up succumbing to it eventually. I am very excited about Christmas this year. Usually I procrastinate about it for much too long and then end up running out and cramming all of my shopping into 1-2 days. Since I’m mentally prepared for Christmas this year, I can see that I’m taking a more proactive approach than usual and it’s already paying off. I am asking people what they want or need… read more »

Are you ready for Black Friday?

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If you’re like most of us, you’re spending the day today with family and friends if you’re lucky. Everyone has eaten more than their stomach could bear and now they’re kicked back with their feet up, and their shoes off, relaxing. Well tomorrow will be a completely different story if you plan to start or finish your Christmas shopping on Black Friday. Here are a few tips to get you through it. Plan ahead. – Know what you need to get and where you need to go to get it. Fill up your gas tank and run by the bank… read more »

Choose people over things

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Today’s blog post comes from Harold Taylor of Taylor In Time. What a great reminder. Make a list of the people you really enjoy spending time with. How much time did you spend with those people during the past week? Last month? Last year? Chances are there are people – perhaps family members – who are being crowded out of your life because of your busyness. Some people are so busy networking; they have little time for anyone who is not a business associate. Be careful that you don’t allow the people who count to be crowded out by things that… read more »

Winter storm warning

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We’re expecting a big storm in St Louis today. This is another situation where it pays to be organized and all it takes is a little planning ahead. Make sure your wiper washer fluid and gas tank is full in your car. Keep an ice scraper, bag of kitty litter (for traction in case you car get stuck) and blanket in your car. Have a snow shovel and salt handy. Have a well-stocked refrigerator.

Planning will get you places

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I’ve been spending alot of time working on next year’s budget, marketing strategies and business plan. To be honest, it’s a lot of work. Most of my fellow small business owners are doing the same thing. Though it seems like I am giving up alot of paid time, and falling behind on my daily tasks, I know how important it is to take the time to get clear on your vision. Without a vision, or a plan, you will continously feel like you are just spinning your wheels. You’ll wake up in a few years, not any further than you… read more »

More back to school tips

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Use only one calendar. If I were only allowed to offer one time management tip, this would rank high on the list. It is imperative that you combine all of the sports schedules, school schedules, social schedules, daycare schedules, etc onto one calendar. This way you can readily see well in advance any scheduling conflicts that you may have and you can address those immediately AND it allows you to discard that big pile of paper schedules that you normally have to shuffle through. Plan and lay outfits out the night before. This also helps to cut the anxiety level… read more »

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