Take Time to Rest and Reset
I learned that it is important to take time to rest this weekend. I attended the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Professional Organizers (MARCPO) in Bethesda, Maryland. I was an Exhibitor for MobilLogic.
I knew that it would be a very, very long day. Bethesda is (at minimum) a 90 minute drive from my office. And, the event started at 7:00 am! So, I worked hard at having everything together the evening before, and avoid having to stay up all night preparing for the Conference.
I decided to take time to rest on Friday evening. Even though there were a list of things that still needed to be accomplished, I knew that it was important to spend time with family on Friday evening, (mainly because I would be totally exhausted when I did get back home on Saturday evening). You may find me weird…but I met my husband at the gym! I decided that to de-stress and re-focus for the event and the best way for me to get my head straight was to spend an hour on a treadmill!
Staying organized depends on our ability to maintain focus on what is important. Even though I knew I wasn’t totally prepared and there were still a list of a few things to do, I decided to go to the gym. I made a conscious decision to do something for myself (while spending time with my husband). The best part was that I could walk faster on the treadmill than he could!
Sometimes it is hard to step away from the stress of life. With so much on our plates, it is hard to justify taking some time for ourselves. In the past, I have allowed myself to feel guilty about taking some time for me. But no more! So here are my tips to Rest and Reset. When we are feeling good about ourselves we are:
- · Productive
- · Focused
- · Confident
- · Happy
- · A Genuinely Better Person
Improve your Time Management – use a calendar system. It doesn’t matter if it is electronic, paper or a combination of both. Share your calendar with your family. This will give you the opportunity to “share” responsibilities of the household, children, shopping and life. Don’t feel as if you have to do it all yourself.
Assign responsibilities – Again, you don’t have to do it all yourself! Stop feeling as if you have to do it all yourself. Give up the OCD attitude! Allow others to help and guide them along the way. I have become well aware, after 30 years of marriage, that my husband does not read my mind (even though I can definitely read his mind!). He will help – when I ask.
Create Habits – Become a creature of habit. Have a time (or day) dedicated to filing, laundry, shopping, ordering supplies, emails and social media. Whether you are a homemaker or a business owner…the creative of habits will help you be more productive.
Avoid Multi-tasking. Just last week, a mom admitted that her need to multi-task almost took the life of her daughter. She needed to check an email, while her 3 year old daughter was in the tub (with the water running). Her daughter fell asleep in the tub and slid down into the water. The mother admitted that answering one more email could have cost her daughter her life. As a mom of a 5 year old, I’m well aware of the need to feel as if I need to do multiple things at once. However, I make it a conscious effort to stay focused on one activity at a time. It is so much less stressful.
Take the Time to Rest and Reset yourself each week. Maybe it is just taking a 30 minute walk or reading a good book before you go to bed. You will increase productivity, improve your time management and enjoy life more! And, in case you are wondering, I rested again on Sunday afternoon – right before starting Kindergarten homework.
Rest and Reset yourself this week…you deserve it!
Linda Clevenger
0 comments