Often times we don't feel like doing what we know we should do. It is especially prevalent in times when we are physically sick. But we also find ourselves in this situation when we are mentally and emotionally "burnt-out."
When you don't feel like doing anything at all, how do you get over this hump?
Time and will-power are often the keys to success. Sometimes our bodies and minds just need time to get over things. Even with all the time in the world, unless we have some will-power we may never be motivated at all.
How do you find the will-power? Sometimes it must be cultivated from outside.
Read an inspiring book or watch an inspiring movie or TV show. Make a date with a friend. Do some light exercise. Eat healthy and avoid excessive sugar. Get appropriate and fulfilling sleep. Get on a proper sleep, eating and exercise schedule. And most importantly don't try all these things at once....you will get burned out! Better yet, introduce one of these at a time.
Most importantly...don't give up. This phase will pass and you will soon be back to feeling like you are in charge of the world again!
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the author of 2 Minute Organizing Miracles. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access
http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/
Monday, February 17, 2014
Monday, January 21, 2013
Something don't expire but some things do
The First Class mail stamp is going up AGAIN!
Effective January 27, 2013, the cost for a first class stamp will be 46 cents.
The best advice is to buy "Forever" stamps, the stamps that never expire. While the forever postage stamps may never expire, that is not the case for other things in our household. Yes, food does expire as does makeup, and cleaning products.
Here are some expiration dates that might surprise you:
Dried Pasta: 12 months
Worcestershire Sauce: Unopened 5-10 years; Opened 2 years.
Lotion: 3 years
Lip Balm: Unopened 5 years; Opened 1-5 years
Bleach: 3-6 months
Windex: 2 years
The moral of the story, things do expire. So keep that in mind the next time you clear out a cabinet or cupboard.
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/ http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/
Effective January 27, 2013, the cost for a first class stamp will be 46 cents.
The best advice is to buy "Forever" stamps, the stamps that never expire. While the forever postage stamps may never expire, that is not the case for other things in our household. Yes, food does expire as does makeup, and cleaning products.
Here are some expiration dates that might surprise you:
Dried Pasta: 12 months
Worcestershire Sauce: Unopened 5-10 years; Opened 2 years.
Lotion: 3 years
Lip Balm: Unopened 5 years; Opened 1-5 years
Bleach: 3-6 months
Windex: 2 years
The moral of the story, things do expire. So keep that in mind the next time you clear out a cabinet or cupboard.
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/ http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/
Friday, March 23, 2012
Increasing SEO Optimization
Four Strategies for Increasing SEO Optimization
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of web development and this is because it requires a bit of technical knowledge to really master. While perfecting your site’s SEO is not a guarantee that your site will shoot to number one on search engine rankings, not paying attention to basic SEO principles is a sure-fire way to get penalized and languish at the bottom of the pack. The following are four basic strategies for increasing SEO optimization.
Perform Keyword Research
It is very important to find the right keywords to use on our site, but you must also use relative keywords as well. This means that if your site is on advice for teenagers, you may use keywords like teen counsel, but you must also think of other keywords that might be used instinctively like
teen advice or teenage problems. Google analytics can help you to determine the popularity of a keyword.
Have a Proper Site Structure
Your site structure is important because when Google crawls through your site you will be penalized for links that do not work or for pages that do not link to any other. It therefore pays to make sure your internal and external links are up to par.
Add Your Site to Directories
Site directories are online listings of web pages that are available on the internet. They are used by search engines to help determine page ranks. By submitting your site to a popular directory you will increase the chances of being found by the search engines. Think of this as being listed in the telephone directory.
Use Meta Tags
Your meta tag description is what appears as the summary description for users on the search engine page. A proper meta tag description should not be longer than 160 characters and it should contain relevant keywords that can boost the chances of being found.
These tips can help to improve your SEO and ultimately increase your page rank on major search engines.
http://www.theorganizingchoice.com
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of web development and this is because it requires a bit of technical knowledge to really master. While perfecting your site’s SEO is not a guarantee that your site will shoot to number one on search engine rankings, not paying attention to basic SEO principles is a sure-fire way to get penalized and languish at the bottom of the pack. The following are four basic strategies for increasing SEO optimization.
Perform Keyword Research
It is very important to find the right keywords to use on our site, but you must also use relative keywords as well. This means that if your site is on advice for teenagers, you may use keywords like teen counsel, but you must also think of other keywords that might be used instinctively like
teen advice or teenage problems. Google analytics can help you to determine the popularity of a keyword.
Have a Proper Site Structure
Your site structure is important because when Google crawls through your site you will be penalized for links that do not work or for pages that do not link to any other. It therefore pays to make sure your internal and external links are up to par.
Add Your Site to Directories
Site directories are online listings of web pages that are available on the internet. They are used by search engines to help determine page ranks. By submitting your site to a popular directory you will increase the chances of being found by the search engines. Think of this as being listed in the telephone directory.
Use Meta Tags
Your meta tag description is what appears as the summary description for users on the search engine page. A proper meta tag description should not be longer than 160 characters and it should contain relevant keywords that can boost the chances of being found.
These tips can help to improve your SEO and ultimately increase your page rank on major search engines.
http://www.theorganizingchoice.com
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
How to Effectively and Efficiently Communicate at Work
Communication can be a difficult skill to master because it requires an understanding of not just yourself and your own language but it also the language and behavior of those around you. To be an effective and efficient communicator at work, take a look at the following suggestions.
Beware Your Body Language
Communication is much more than what you say. As a matter of fact some would argue that effective communication is almost entirely about how the message is put across and not so much about the words you use. Body language is extremely integral to success, so to be taken seriously at work project the right image. Make eye contact with people you speak to, keep your hands out of pockets and stand firm on your feet. Appear too fidgety and people start wondering if you are worth listening to.
Get to the Point
If you have a tendency to be long-winded you risk losing your message along the way. People generally don’t need to know the entire story and they are not even as likely to be as interested as you might think. Get to the part that is pertinent to why you need their help and you’ll get the
right results every time.
Use Action Language
Passive phrases get you passive responses. If you want to get something done you need to ask in a way that gets the point across.
Be Open and Receptive
Communication is a two-way street so it is important to check that your message is being received in the way that is intended. To get the best results at work you should maintain an open-door policy by being available for questions and concerns. Your co-workers or subordinates should never wonder if it is alright to approach you for a discussion.
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com
Beware Your Body Language
Communication is much more than what you say. As a matter of fact some would argue that effective communication is almost entirely about how the message is put across and not so much about the words you use. Body language is extremely integral to success, so to be taken seriously at work project the right image. Make eye contact with people you speak to, keep your hands out of pockets and stand firm on your feet. Appear too fidgety and people start wondering if you are worth listening to.
Get to the Point
If you have a tendency to be long-winded you risk losing your message along the way. People generally don’t need to know the entire story and they are not even as likely to be as interested as you might think. Get to the part that is pertinent to why you need their help and you’ll get the
right results every time.
Use Action Language
Passive phrases get you passive responses. If you want to get something done you need to ask in a way that gets the point across.
Be Open and Receptive
Communication is a two-way street so it is important to check that your message is being received in the way that is intended. To get the best results at work you should maintain an open-door policy by being available for questions and concerns. Your co-workers or subordinates should never wonder if it is alright to approach you for a discussion.
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
How to Organize Makeup and Beauty Products
If you have makeup and beauty products in lots of different nooks and crannies chances are you don’t use everything you have because you simply can’t find it all. It can also be frustrating to rummage through piles of makeup just to find a particular shade of lipstick. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. You can organize your makeup and beauty products without spending a fortune on a fancy shelving system and it doesn’t have to take your entire weekend. Take a look at the tips below.
Evaluate Your Stock
The first step is to assess your stock. You may be holding on to expired products or shades that don’t work just because you don’t take the time to look at the labels or figure out when was the last time you used the item. Toss out anything that is old or that you no longer love and you’ll see that you don’t have as much to store as you may think.
Repurpose Glass Bottles and Containers
Empty jars and bottles can make great storage for makeup sponges and cotton balls that you want to keep clean but accessible. Wash a couple of jars and remove the label and you have instant chic storage for your basic tools.
Use a Toolkit for Make-Up and Beauty Products
A regular handyman toolkit is a great way to keep the bulk of your makeup supplies. If you have a number of eye-shadow colors and lipsticks you can keep them separate using the compartments in the kit but they are all in the same place. Simply slide the entire toolkit in a bathroom cupboard for storage.
Store Everyday Make-Up in Accessible Bag
Your everyday makeup should be easily accessible. You can keep the things you use on your face all the time in a neat bag on your countertop.
Purge Regularly
Finally, the key to keeping things under control is regular purging. Don’t allow your stock to spiral out of control. Whenever your makeup and beauty container starts to overflow it is your queue to start sifting through your products to find the things you really don’t need or won’t use.
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/
Monday, January 30, 2012
ADHD gadgets to help you get organized
ADHD adults generally suffer from chronic lateness, forgetfulness and a level of overall disorganization that makes simple life tasks difficult to master. Luckily there are gadgets out there to help you to organize every aspect of your life, from remembering what to pick up in the morning before you leave the house to making it to meetings on time and prepared. Take a look at some of the ADHD gadgets that can help you to get organized.
Smartphones
Your Smartphone can become your best friend if you are an ADHD adult. There are tons on features that can make you appear focused and in control. Day planners, meeting reminders, lists and customizable alarm sounds for different tasks can keep you on track with very little effort.
Key-Finders
The great thing about key-finders is that you can use them to find much more than lost keys. You can attach them to almost anything and with the press of a button you’ll be able to locate the thing you’ve lost.
Doorganizer
The Doorganizer is a nifty gadget that holds everything from eyeglasses to smartphones and more. It attaches to the door knob so you can store everything that you want to take with you when you leave the house. You can get them at The Container Store for a fairly reasonable price.
Intelligent Watch
These watches are great because you can set reminders at 15 to 30 minute intervals so you are more aware of your time and they are water-resistant so you don’t have to remember to take them off and put them back on when you shower.
ADHD sufferers can get relief from these organization gadgets but these tools can also bring a sense of normalcy and calm to those you love because they will come to know that they can depend on you just a little bit more.
Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Design Tips: Accessorizing Your Home
Think about how you dress. The perfect scarf, belt, shoes, or jewelry can transform the same outfit from casual to elegant, conservative to trendy, or frumpy to fun. The same can be said of the “extra” elements we add to the décor of our homes.
We can be content to live in “straight off the mannequin ” rooms……………….this goes with this, that goes with that…the colors in that picture match the couch, etc., but wouldn’t it be more interesting to live in space with a little personality…more specifically your personality?
Personal touches can be anything from private collections, to special photographs and artwork, to keepsakes from memorable trips, to flea market finds that catch your eye and bring a bit of whimsy or interest to a grouping.
A lady I worked with just loved a small side table that belonged to her father, but worried that it wouldn’t blend with her newly decorated home and thought she might need to have it refinished in order to make the grade. But once we talked about how the imperfections now showing after so many years of use actually gave the piece its personality, and then realized that its history is exactly why she liked it in the first place, she made the decision to leave it just as it is. It works perfectly as an eclectic addition to her décor, as did a cherished pine hope chest salvaged from the basement……she added a bench pillow, placed framed family photographs above it, and it is a well loved and perfect addition to her cottage look bedroom.
You can also be creative in the use of objects….that potting table might make a great desk or a bar for outdoor entertaining….those carvings or rocks could be used as bookends, that antique trunk or chest may be the perfect coffee table.
The point is…..use what you love and you’ll love where you live….flawless can be a bit
boring..create your own perfection.
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