Manage Time

February is Time Management Month. Good grief! Where did the time go? I think it is fitting that time management is celebrated during the shortest month of the year. It is hard enough to get the bills paid and fit in everything that has to be done by the first of the next month when we have a full thirty-one days to do it. But February challenges us to get it done with fewer days--- and we usually squeak by.

Most of us do it by using time management tools. We use these things without even thinking about it. They have become ingrained in our everyday lives to such an extent that we do not even think of them as time management devices. Here are the most helpful time management tools as identified by 200 people in a national survey.

A monthly calendar. Most successful people use a manual or digital calendar that lists appointments and important things to accomplish.

A to-do list. Keeping a list of what is to be accomplished is a good way to keep things from slipping through the cracks. Highly successful people list a date to accomplish the task and often allocate time on their calendar.

Prioritizing. Life becomes overwhelming unless the most important tasks get handled first. Many people have trouble prioritizing. If you are one of them, try this 1-2-3 method. Ask yourself which of the items will result in a bad consequence if it is not handled today. Put a 1 next to those items. Which items will result in a bad consequence if it is not done in the next three days? Put a 2 next to those items. What items will result in a problem if not done in the next week? Put a 3 next to those items. Now tackle the items marked 1 first, 2 second and so on.

Most folks find using just these simple tools allows them to adequately manage time.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitons.net

Organize Medications

There they stand like little soldiers---bottles of pills to take care of aches and pains and chronic conditions. Or maybe they are strewn around the house, some in the kitchen, some in the bathroom, and some on the bedside table, placed there to remind us to take them when we eat a meal, or get ready for bed. The important things to remember about medications are to keep them in a cool, dark, dry place so they do not lose their potency or degrade, and to take them as instructed.

Once you have selected a spot to store medicines, separate the prescription drugs from the -counter (OTC) medicines. Store the OTC medicines by category: all the pain relievers together, all the cold medicine together, all the anti-acids together. Think of how they are arranged on your pharmacy shelf so you can find them.

Group the prescription drugs according to whom they are prescribed for. Then decide if you need some help remembering when to take prescribed pills. If you do, there are a number of different medication organizers that allow pills to be placed in compartments. Some hold pills for one day, others for one week or one month. One of our clients especially likes a little round Medication Minder available at Wal-Mart because the compartments are large enough to hold several pills and it fits in her purse when she travels.

One of the ways to make sure you take prescribed medication as directed is to set up visual or auditory clues. Visual clues can be as simple as keeping a medication that needs to be taken with meals on the kitchen table. A couple I know have to take pills with every meal for chronic conditions. Their solution is to have a small three-compartment basket in the middle of their table that has the medications labeled for each of them. The compartments are labeled breakfast, lunch and dinner. This has worked for them for many years and they credit it with helping them maintain their medication regimen. Other folks use a schedule posted on the refrigerator or medicine cabinet as a reminder. People who live busy lives or tend to forget can look into an auditory alarm. Some medication organizers have built-in alarms and alarms that look like watches or beepers are available.

Medication organizers and alarm reminders are available in most pharmacies and department stores. Check out the following web sites to get an idea of the variety available:
www.TechforTLC.com
www.epill.com

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Storing Exercise Equipment

As we strive to stay healthy, we accumulate exercise equipment that takes up space and is hard to keep organized. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes and other large pieces of equipment require a space of their own. They are best kept in sight and where the user can readily access them. The old joke about the treadmill turning into a clothes rack is too often true, especially when the treadmill is kept in a remote corner of the basement. If my treadmill did not come into view every morning when I climb out of bed, I doubt I would ever use it. Its presence so early in the morning is a signal to drag my body in there and do a little walking. Having the visual cue is helpful. Even when I ignore it, it stands there in silent reproof until my guilt gets the best of me. Placement of large equipment is key. Put the things you use while exercising close to the equipment. If you listen to music, or wear special footwear when you exercise, keep them close to the spot. A small table, basket, or gym bag can keep them contained.

Stability balls and free weights take up little space, but pose their own set of problems. Small weights can be housed in a drawer, a sturdy container, or even a decorative footlocker that can hold other gear and related items like an exercise mat and resistance bands. There are some specialized storage systems that keep weights handy and off the floor where they can be a tripping hazard. Take a look at the free weights holders at www.idealproducts.com and www.fitnessdestination.com. Both sites also have storage solutions for cuff weights, bands and pulleys. One of my favorite items is the Weight Cart that holds weights, has shelf space for other items and is on casters so it can be rolled into a corner when not in use. Another neat and compact product that can be found at www.yukonfitness.com is the Body Mirage Fitness Kit. A small duffel pack holds a set of 2 lb. dumbbells, jump rope, chest expander, pull band and push-up bar. That is a lot of equipment in a little space and it sells for under $50.

There are also several solutions for organizing stability balls. The Loop hangs on the wall and holds several sizes. It can be found at www.performbetter.com. The Ball Holder is a hard plastic disc that holds the ball in place by suction and keeps it from rolling around the floor and Ball Stackers, available at www.amazon.com fit between balls to allow them to be stacked one on top of the other. Both wall-mounted and freestanding ball storage racks, as well as carts with casters can be found at www.Theratek.com.

Whatever equipment you have to organize and store, the following principles are helpful to keep in mind:
Keep equipment in an accessible spot to facilitate its use.
Keep accessories close to the equipment you use them with.
Use storage and organization systems to keep equipment from cluttering your living space.

Exercise is not fun for me, so I use these hints to make it a little more bearable.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

You Can’t Organize Mud

The homeowner showed the professional organizer around the house, pointing out the spots of clutter that she wanted to organize. She wasn’t exactly sure why these things bothered her and she wasn’t sure what she needed to do to make her space comfortable for her and her family. She was just overwhelmed with disorder and wanted it fixed. She was ready to get going---NOW.

So let’s get going, right? I don’t think so. I think it is time to take a minute and get a little clarity. I say, “You can’t organize mud.” And that is what we have here-a clouded, amorphous, muddy notion that things could be better if we just DO SOMETHING.

It is possible to get things picked up and put away and have a clear space for a little while. That is called cleaning. But if the goal is to organize space so it makes a real impact on keeping clutter down, then it takes some thought and planning.

The first step is clarity. Clarity about how you want to use the space and clarity about your own habits and lifestyle that impact your long-term success in using a system of organization. It is done by asking your self a few questions and answering them honestly. It doesn’t take a long time, but it makes a big difference in a successful outcome.

How do I want to use this space? Is it just for me or are others going to use it? What activities are going to happen here? How often will the space be used and which activities are repetitive and which are occasional?

How do I want this space to look? Do I want it to be beautiful or just functional?

How much money do I have to spend on achieving this goal?

How much time do I have to devote to getting the space organized and then keeping it that way?

After you have thoughtful, honest answers to these questions, you can get focused on executing a plan to meet your goal. You can better use what you have on hand and buy only what you need. You can devise a system that gets you organized and keeps you organized for the long term.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net