Help Me…I’ve Been Robbed!

Don’t panic.  I don’t mean this literally, but we all are robbed daily of something valuable…TIME!  There are so many stolen moments that we need to be aware of to make the most of our day and our lives.  If we don’t open our eyes to the things that rob us of our time, then we will always have a nagging feeling  something was taken from us.  We get angry and frustrated when our time has been taken away from us!  I try and use my time as wisely as I can, so that I actually practice what I preach, but sometimes I am not even aware of when I have been robbed. 

Just the other night, our new puppy (who has been a challenge to say the least)  got into my husbands glass of red wine sitting on the side table next to the couch.  We were busy upstairs putting our boys to bed.  My husband usually kisses the kids good night first and then I do.  He is always back downstairs in his spot on the couch immediately.  As I was doing my kisses, I hear my husband say “DAKOTA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!”   I am thinking she shredded a piece of paper or got into the trash again, but never would I have thought she was going to have dyed my golden tan couch a new shade of purple.  We settle the kids back down (who now were curious about the commotion) and I got to work on cleaning the stain.  It was BAD!  As I am scrubbing and trying every cleaner I have, my husband says “Why are you wasting your time?”  In my pursuit to undo the damage, I realized that he was right.  No cleaner I had was going to get this up.  I needed a professional.  Had I not been pulled out of my stealth focus on fixing the problem, I would have spent hours cleaning something that was just not going to come out.  I would have been robbed of the time that I had to relax with my husband and watch our favorite shows together. 

There are time stealer’s taking your precious moments everyday.  Are you aware of them?  Things like long, unexpected lines at the store or post office.  Phone calls where you are left on hold for a long time, a family member or you getting sick, car accidents and traffic are other time stealer’s.  These are things that tend to be out of our control, but we need to be ready for them and how it can set us back.  Also, things like not being prepared (can you say no grocery list and forgetting half of what you went to the store for, then having to go back), waiting to the last minute (like trying to buy your Christmas presents a few days before the big day and getting low inventory and long lines), doing something someone else could or should do (like me trying to get a horrific stain out of our couch) and disorganization and clutter (looking for your keys or an important document) steal our time as well. 

How we handle these situations that potentially rob us of our precious time is important.  First of all, setting time buffers in your day will allow you to handle these interruptions with ease.  If you are overbooked, or even booked close together in your day you will be overwhelmed with the time stealer’s.  Allow some open time for the unexpected.  If nothing happens that day, you will have time to relax and enjoy!  Second, you need to have things to do if something is taking too much time.  Like having something to read if you are stuck at the doctors office, making a phone call while you are stuck in traffic, or cleaning out your purse when you are waiting in a long line.  Carry a book with you, or a pad of paper for notes of things you want or need to do, or fold laundry while you are stuck on hold.  There are a thousand things we could do in a short period of time.  Most importantly, being organized (having an organized home and office) will help you fight off some of the thieves of time! 

Just like the saying, “It takes money to make money”, it takes time to make time.  Give yourself a few minutes at the end of the day to prepare for the next one.  Organize your spaces so you know where everything is and can find what it is you need.  Be prepared for the unexpected with time buffers and having things to do while you are waiting.  You will be the Super Hero of  Time and fight the crime of the infamous time robbers!  (Can you tell I have two boys?!?)

What is stealing your time?  Write your “crime” prevention tips in the comments and help us learn what to watch out for!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. 

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I Love, I Love, I Love, I Love My Calendar Girl…

When reading the January 2009 issue of Country Living Magazine, I came across a new calendar/day planner product and I got so excited (yes, I am seeking therapy for this).  Reason for my giddiness is that so many mom’s I know don’t use a computerized calendar system.  They have a paper calendar and use paper lists.  As a busy stay at home mom, computer time can be limited, so the paper calendar works easier for some.  This is not to say they are not as savvy as a working mom.   I also know working mom’s who prefer a paper calendar to the computer.  For me it took awhile to cross over from paper to computer.  I kept trying to print out the calendar and write on it, then input what I wrote.  What a waste of time and paper!  Choosing a calendar/planner for you is just a matter of preference.  Finding one that works for you to keep your “time” organized is what matters most.

The calendar/planner I discovered is made by Truly Mom.  The article explains the company name, “Women wear the word Momas a badge of honor”, says Michelle (Nicastro) who coined the name Truly Mom.  “We want to celebrate what it means to be a mom.”  The three women (Michelle Nicastro, Kristen Nicastro, and Maria Newton) who created the company sound as if they have a lot of fun working together and it comes through in their product line.  In addition to planners, they have a creative line of stationery and note cards. 

If you are still in need of a new calendar for 2009, or you are finding yours isn’t making the grade, look into this product.  From the three note pads securely attached, to the way it folds (it flips over and folds over so you can have a sturdy writing surface without taking up a lot of space – the picture above shows it laid out).  It has an address book and a daily planning pad.  What more could you ask for?!?

If you log onto their website www.trulymom.com you will find an offer for 20% off on all orders over $30 by entering freshstart into the coupon code.  Hurry, offer expires January 31, 2009!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips

Also, subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start”. Subscribe Now 

And get daily tips delivered to you throughFollow Me