Virtually Organized

Virtually Organized Procrastination Prizes!

Congratulations to Suze and Lisa K., winners of the Virtually Organized June Procrastination Challenge. Originally, I had only planned to award one prize, however since both ladies were so generous with reporting about their projects, I decided to award two prizes.

Suze, who provided the inspiration for the memorabilia theme (thanks, again Suze!), admitted that while she did have some success with her project, she took on a little too much and wasn't able to transfer ALL of her movies to DVD.  Technical difficulties got in the way, too.  So the lesson here for ALL of us, when we are attempting to conquer a project we've been putting off:

1. Be realistic about what you can truly accomplish by your deadline.  Better to have a small goal and be able to reach it rather than attempt a larger project and end up disappointed when you don't meet your deadline.  I, too, took on a large project, so for the month of July, my focus will be a much more manageable task.

2. Be sure to have everything you need to complete your project, and consider what roadblocks you may encounter along the way. Building in more time to your schedule will allow you to deal with such interruptions without throwing you too off course of your deadline.

Lisa K. was able to have some success with her projects, too (Yeah, Lisa!). She actually took on 3 procrastination projects for June, one of which she was unable to even start. Two out of three is pretty good, but, again, taking on less than we can actually attain will help us accomplish more in the long run.

Thanks so much, ladies, for reporting back! Send me an email with your mailing address and I'll send you out a coupon for a free photobook from CVS (yes, it's one more project to complete-but this one is FREE! How's that for motivation?!?)

For the month of July, I plan to clean out the basement.  I've been putting this off for a while but I WILL get this done by the end of the month. Our basement is still unfinished, so the fact that it's a little messy has never really mattered. While is seems like I may be taking on a large project again, this time I've estimated how many hours it will take me to get this project done (roughly 4) and divided it by the number of weekends in July (again, 4). So, with only 1 hour of work each weekend to complete this project, I should have no trouble getting this done by July 31st.  And, if some unforeseen disruption or surprise adds more work to the project, even two hour each week is possible.

So what will YOU be working on in July? And how many hours per week will it take to be successful? I'm cooking up an even bigger giveaway for the July winner, so make sure to let me know what your working on this month and we'll all help keep each other accountable.

Happy 4th of July (and happy weekend to all my non-USA readers!!)

Simply yours,

Were You Up to the June Virtually Organized Challenge?

Well, it's the start of a new month.  How did everyone do with your June Procrastination Challenge?

I was able to get almost half of my movies converted to DVDs.  I wish I could have converted them all, but as I've said before, and truly believe, SOME progress is better than NO progress!!!

So, would you like a prize for YOUR hard work?  In honor of June's memorabilia theme for the challenge, CVS has provided me with a giveaway coupon to create a free 6" x 8" hardcover memory book from your digital photos. (Check out my review of this service here.)

Just leave me a comment below by July 3rd at midnight (EST) with some details about your successfully completed project. I'll award one lucky commenter a great prize for your hard work. (If you have a blog, post your results and leave a link, or email your link to me.  I'll be sure to share the link love in my next post).

If you're still unsure about what to do with all those images you have stored inside your camera, be sure to check out the CVS Digital Saturdays workshops. Every Saturday from now through August 2nd, all CVS Photo Centers are offering FREE in-store classes from 2-4 p.m. They'll teach you everything you need to know to take, edit, and print your pictures. They'll even show you how to turn your pictures into unique gifts and cards (perfect for the holidays, which will be here sooner than you think!)

Did you have trouble finishing your project for the month? What were some of your challenges? I want to hear about the projects that DIDN'T get done, too.  Remember, the point of the challenge is to hold each other accountable-both for our successes and our failures. I, for one, took on too large of a project. So for my July project, I will focus on a more attainable goal. What will YOU do differently?

Simply yours,

P.S. Look for the July procrastination challenge to start on Friday. Anyone have an idea for a theme this month?

A Month-long Giveaway Frenzy!!!

My new blogging friend Laurie from Tip Junkie is celebrating her blogiversary this month by hosting a month-long giveaway beginning June 30th. I am participating in the giveaway on Wednesday July 16th, and will be giving away a one-month package of Virtual Organizing Coaching (valued at $99).  She'll also be posting one of my organizing tips.  So check her out starting Monday and enter to win lots of great prizes. And be sure to check out MY giveaway on July 16th!

                                              

Simply yours,

Debbie

The Great Working Mom Balancing Act: Part 3- How Flexible Are YOU?

This is part 3 of my series on achieving balance while working from home.  In part 1, I discussed managing phone and email distractions and procrastination. Part 2 covered the $5 solution to keeping you on track. In this third section we'll focus on Maintaining a Flexible Schedule.

Aside from Distraction Management, a second tip for a achieving both your professional and personal goals while working from home is to keep your schedule and routines as flexible as possible.

When working from home, even the best-laid plans are subject to interruptions.  Obviously, business meetings and appointments need to be scheduled and, as a professional, it is in your best interest to respect these commitments. However, dealing with routine household chores and daily work requirements can be difficult to precisely schedule when working from home. 

When I first started to work from home 11 years ago, I set up a schedule for getting things done. I had a couple dozen little 3x5 cards, each with a different weekly or daily task. I had a set for home chores and a set for works tasks, and each chore had a day, and even time of the day for completion.  Well, it SEEMED like a good idea, but I also had active little infant.  And she DEFINITELY was not on board with the whole 3x5 schedule thing! Needless to say, that system didn’t last long. 

So I learned that as tempting as it is to declare that Monday morning is for laundry and Tuesday afternoon is for dusting, or invoices are issued on Thursdays at 4pm and e-mails are read at 9 a.m., the reality is that when you work from home your schedule is not always predictable.  This can be especially true if your children are at home with you during the workday.  If for some reason the unexpected disrupts your rigid schedule, and for most of us, unexpected things pop up almost daily, your entire routine can be thrown into a tailspin, leaving you frustrated and feeling overwhelmed. 

So instead, give yourself a more flexible range of time to complete your tasks.  Maybe you do laundry Monday, Tuesday, OR Wednesday.  Maybe you handle e-mail messages sometime after lunch and send out your weekly orders by Thursday afternoon. As long as you do not fall into the trap of procrastination, this flexible schedule can eliminate feelings of failure when your day takes unexpected detours and interruptions.

Another tip for keeping flexible, but productive and efficient, is to start everyday with an accomplishment. Whether it is a work related task or a household responsibility, starting your day with a quick achievement can be just the right motivation to see you through the day. Maybe it is tackling a leftover item from yesterday’s to-do list or even just cleaning the bathrooms. Completing a major task early will give you a feeling of success that will motivate you to accomplish even more as the day progresses.

So what are YOU going to do today to make your schedule more flexible? Or do you think rigid, fixed routines are the way to get more done during the day? Let me know in the comments. . .

Simply yours,

Debbie

Are We There Yet?

Summertime and road trips go hand in hand. And keeping things organized in the car is a MUST when you're on the road.  My own family is planning a few road trips this summer, so in preparation, I gave the ol' minivan an organizational overhaul!

First off, I put to use some great products from the The Organized Parent. (Stephanie, the OFFICIAL Organized Parent, generously provided a coupon code just for Virtually Organized and D & R Custom Organizers friends and famiy.  See the end of the post for the code.)

My girls don't travel far without some sort of snack, so this "Trash Stash" keeps all the wrappers and remains under control. It's completely leak proof and snaps shut, too.

                                                

To keep all MY stuff organized, I installed the Swing Away Driver Organizer.

                                                

This installs around the neck of the headrest on the passenger seat. When you actually HAVE a passenger up front with you, just swing it out of the way to the back of the seat. I keep an extra water bottle in the cup holder. You can't see it in the picture, but there's a drink holder on the other side of the organizer, too. If I plan to be on the road for most of the day, I store a frozen water bottle there. By the time I've finished the first one, the second is thawed, but still cold.

I also store a small notepad and a few pens (useful for SO many reasons), tissues, my card cubby (which holds all my discount cards and store coupons), a Tide To Go pen (just in case!), a fingernail file, and mints.  I also keep files in the back pocket for the clients I am visiting that day.

Basically, it's my car purse, but it's so much easier to access while I'm on the road. And having it all contained, gives the car a less cluttered look than using all the dashboard and console cubbies.

The final element is a pink lap desk for Blue Eyed Jane, who is a much easier traveler when she has something to keep her busy during long car drives.

She uses this special lap desk for coloring, working on her suduku for kids books, or, at times, drumming to the beat of her favorite song.  The desk has a cup holder, but since the back of the van has a built in cup holder already, she uses the space on the desk for storing pencils and crayons as she's working, or a baggie of snacks (she a notorious muncher). Don't you just LOVE the great designs?

To mark the beginning of the vacation travel season, The Organized Parent wants to help make it easier to fill your gas tank this summer by giving away a $100 gas card! And they'll help entertain your kids, too, with a prize package of assorted travel games. But there's a catch--you need to have a DVD-free car for the entire travel season.

Up for the challenge? Just share your most creative (yet simple!) tips and ideas on reconnecting with your family while traveling on vacation. To enter, send an email with your idea to dvdfree@theorganizedparent.com. But hurry! Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2008.

My ideas for keeping the kids entertained sans movies? Since space is always at a premium no matter what vehicle you are traveling in, I like to keep the entertainment light on supplies. Here are just a few of the games I'm sure we'll be playing on our upcoming road trip to Philly:

• the tried-and-true license plate treasure hunt game,
• the alphabet game (starting with "A" and moving through the alphabet, take turns completing the phrase "I'm going to (Alaska) to (annoy) (Andrew)," filling in the blanks with words that start with your letter,
• play a car version of The Singing Bee by playing songs on the radio or mp3 player, and then turning them off mid song to see who can keep singing the correct lyrics,
• for older kids, give them a map and let them chart the course as you drive,
• or give them tourist information for your final destination and let them write a list of the attractions they most want to visit,
• to keep bickering at bay, give the kids $10 each (or 10 quarters, if they are younger). Every time someone complains, argues, or any other behavior you would rather not have to deal with, take a dollar (or quarter) away from the offending party.  Whatever they are left with at the end of the car ride is there's to spending at your vacation spot.
• when all else fails, play the "First one who talks is a rotten egg game" (won't get you peace and quiet for all that long, but it should last long enough to think up the next game to occupy the troops!)

Have any other great travel games, or car organizing tips? Let me know! My car can never be TOO organized, and my kids can never be TOO distracted, while road tripping!!

By the way, the special discount code for The Organized Parent is DANDR15. Use this code and get 15% off your ENTIRE order!

Next week I discuss ways to organize the trunk of your car. You know, that dark scary place that gobbles up soccer cleats, water bottles, extra flashlights and whatever else is unlucky enough to end up there! Until then, happy trails!

Simply yours,

And the Jimi Goes to . . .

Thanks so much to everyone who who entered the Jimi giveaway. It's a great little product! I've been using mine for pool days and I love it!

I have many new giveaways coming up, so be sure to click on the giveaway button on the left sidebar to check out the current contests.

Speaking of current contests, how is everyone doing with their procrastination projects? I recently challenged readers to comment on their unfinished projects (either with pictures or just a description). We can all serve as accountability partners for each other and guilt motivate ourselves into finally finishing those projects.  This month the theme is memorabilia projects (I've been working hard on transferring some of my home movies to DVD), but you can choose ANY project you've been putting off but want to FINALLY complete.  In keeping with the memorabilia theme, I'll randomly pick one of the procrastination success stories (so send them in to me so you can qualify!!!) and award them a coupon from CVS for a FREE photo book you can customize with your own pictures.

The other current BIG GIVEAWAY here at Virtually Organized is the video contest.  Unfortunately, no one has submitted a video, yet.  I know it will take more effort than most blog contests, which is why EVERY entry will win a FREE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED 1-month Virtual Organizing Package to finally conquer your most annoying organizing challenge.  And if you're the GRAND PRIZE winner you'll receive a 6-month package of FREE ORGANIZING CONSULTATIONS! The deadline is June 30th, so if you've been considering it, the time to act is NOW!

Oh, yeah!  The Jimi winner, selected randomly by Random.org.com, is (drum roll, please!) . . .

. . . RLW, who likes the aqua Jimi! Congratulations, RLW! Send me your mailing address via email, and the Jimi's creator, Mike O'Neil will get the aqua Jimi out to you right away!

Thanks, again, for entering the contest!

Simply yours,

The Great Working Mom Balancing Act: Part 2- The $5 Solution!

This is part 2 of my series on achieving balance while working from home.  In part 1, I discussed managing phone and email distractions and procrastination. In this section I suggest a $5 solution to keeping you on track . . . 

Another way to help manage distraction, whether you work from home or if you just need to get something done, is to make a kitchen timer your right-hand-man.  This simple, $5 product will do AMAZING things for your productivity. We often don’t think of getting engrossed in a project as being a form of distraction, but think of it this way, if you spend more time than necessary on a task, you’re distracting yourself from other tasks that need your attention also.

It is easy to allow time spent on individual projects to get away from you.  For example, responding to e-mail is one such time-monster that, if left unchecked, can eat away more hours from our day than we would care to admit. So give yourself a time limit for the task.  Set a kitchen timer for 20 minutes and tackle your e-mail messages, dealing with those items that are of the highest priority first.  When the timer dings, commit to moving on to another task.

This can also work well when it comes to dealing with those tasks you often put off.  Set the timer for a set amount and then work on nothing else.  If you only need to work on a dreaded task for a limited amount of time, it can make diving into it more manageable. 

It is also easier to avoid distraction and jumping from task to task if you know you only have 20 minutes to accomplish the current project.

Use this method for tasks you ENJOY, too, so you do not end up spending too much time on them and falling behind on other jobs. If, for example, you find yourself becoming absorbed in designing advertisements for your next campaign, setting a timer can ensure that these activities do not monopolize your entire day.

And do not forget that we all need to take time for a “coffee break,” whether we work at home or in a traditional office.  None of us can work straight through the day without resting our minds and our thoughts.  When you work from home, it is easy to move from business work to home chores, without any downtime in between.  Be sure to include breaks into your schedule, but set a timer so they do not get in the way of accomplishing your daily goals.

Next time we'll deal with the scheduling, and why flexibility is a must!

Simply yours,

Debbie

Virtually Organized Product Reviews: The Jimi™ Wallet

                                                

The Jimi™ wallet (Mr Smith Inc., San Francisco, CA ) is unlike any other wallet I've EVER seen before. The slim design forces you to only carry the bare essentials, so if you're one of those who carry an over-stuffed wallet full of expired coupons, excessive credit cards and pictures from the late 80's, this wallet will help get it all under control.

According to Jimi's creator, Mike O'Neil, "It’s a really handy and stylish way to carry your essentials and cut down on the clutter and bulk of the traditional stodgy old wallet/pocket book."

Jimi's claim to be water resistant is, in fact true, however users should remember that water "resistant" does NOT mean water "PROOF" (I tried it out with some scraps of paper in the card and money slots.  When fully emerged in water, your things WILL get damp. Not a big deal if your cards are plastic, but paper documents WILL be a little worse for the wear).

Things to Think About Before You Buy:
While I'm ALL for carrying around a less cluttered wallet and purse, I personally need more space in a wallet than the Jimi provides. I'm one of those consumers marketers like to make fun of in commercials: I STILL write checks. So I like a wallet that will hold my checkbook AND register, PLUS an assortment of credit cards, IDs, and, of course, my beloved Starbucks gift card. And in defense of the Jimi, the product IS promoted as more of a "money holder," rather than a true wallet.

I'm also on the fence about my wallet being translucent, what with identity theft on the rise. And, while I usually rely more on checks and credit to get by, if I DID carry large bills with me, I'd feel the need to be cautious when wearing it around my neck for all to see (it has this cool loop feature that allows you attach it to a string, like a lanyard). That being said, if I always keep it concealed, the translucent feature is kind of cool looking.

Things I Love About It:
I love the wide choice of colors. Mike was kind enough to send me a sample Jimi in my new favorite accessory color: PINK! But the choices are really varied! They even have "manly" colors, but beware boys, this is a "Front Pocket" ONLY wallet!

I also like the versatility of being able to easily attach the wallet to my beach bag, gym bag, or even a lanyard (if I don't have a pocket or purse available). This is a GREAT wallet for days at the amusement park, the pool or beach, the gym, or camping; when you really only need to carry necessities in your wallet and you may be exposed to elements you wouldn't want a leather or designer wallet to come in contact with.

Aside from the organizing issues, I really like the "green-ness" of this product.  It is made in the USA from recycled material. They even donate 1% of all sales revenue to the environment through the 1% For The Planet Initiative. (It's so very cool when companies "give back.")

To Buy or Not to Buy?
Thanks to Mike's generosity, I was lucky enough to try out this product for free.  I would, however, DEFINITELY purchase one to use for "field trip" days, when I only need a few items from my daily wallet.  I would also purchase this for the hipper, younger people in my life. (At only $14.95 each, it's a great gift idea.  And the last time I checked the site they were offering a FREE Jimi when you purchase 4.) When my daughters saw me trying it out, they ooed and ahhed about the cute pink design. (Shameless Plug Alert!!!!! To read a review of the Jimi from a tweenster's point of view, check out my own Moody Judy's report at her new blog, "Tween Life.")

To find out how to get the most out of your Jimi, check out the site's demo at http://www.thejimi.com/wallet/demo.php.

                                                

What? Don't have a Jimi yet? Mike has graciously agreed to change that for ONE lucky Virtually Organized winner! Check out their site here, then leave me a comment that includes your FAVORITE Jimi color. On Saturday June 21st at midnight EST, I will randomly choose one winner. Good luck!

P.S.

They also have this GREAT Jimi™ multi media case for storing your flash and media cards, either at home or on  the go. It's compact, water resistant and shockproof, and you can attach it to a lanyard or keyring. This product is also recyclable, and it can hold two of any of the 13 most popular formats of digital media or memory cards. It's ideal for storing camera media during snow sports, cycling and other outdoor activities. Or if you just want somewhere to stash your flash memory cards when you’re traveling or on the go.

I REALLY LOVE this thing! The day before it arrived, I was at my daughter's end-of-the-year track meet with, of course, my camera. When the card became full, I took it out to utilize the empty space on the camera's built-in memory for even MORE pictures. I had NO place to safely store the card and I nearly lost it trying to juggle the camera, my water bottle AND my conversation with a fellow 2nd-grade Mommy.

Now, with this nifty little gadget, the NEXT time I take my camera out you can be sure I'll attach the little multi-media case to my key chain and never risk losing a card again! This thing is DEFINETLY a worthy purchase!

Oh, and by the way, Blue-Eyed-Jane brought home the 1st Place blue ribbon for the 50-yard-dash with hurdles!

Simply yours,

The Great Working Mom Balancing Act: Part 1 - Distraction Management

Last night I had the WONDERFUL pleasure of speaking to a great group of Mary Kay ladies about balancing family and business while working from home. On my drive home I thought, "Why not share this great information with all my blog readers, too."

So I broke my talk into 3 parts, the first of which is about Distraction Management.

Just one of the many things I love about my job is that I am able to work from home, which I especially appreciate as a Mom of 2 young girls. In fact, the main reason I started working from home in 1997 was so I could stay home with my then newborn daughter (who, throughout this blog, I securely and affectionately refer to as my beautiful, multi-dimensional "Moody Judy").  The arrangement allowed me the flexibility of continuing a career, while still being accessible and available to my young daughter.

But one of the biggest frustrations I face daily when it comes to work, coincidentally, is that I work from home. Is that what they call a conundrum?

Now, and be honest, no one here is going to tell on you! How many of you who also work from home get frustrated from time to time because of the constant family obligations and responsibilities that pull at you as you try to have a successful career? Actually, whether you work from home or in a traditional office setting, most working moms feel this pressure all the time.

Well, here are just a few tips I've learned while trying to keep things steady as I attempt "The Great Working Mom Balancing Act":

Distraction Management
When I talk with organizing clients about some of their challenges and dilemmas when it comes to having an organized and simplified life, the number one issue I hear, especially from working moms, is that they just don’t have enough hours in the day to get everything done! Would you agree?

It’s tough. These days moms have a lot thrown at them and I think we’ve all said this at one time or another.   Now, time management is definitely an important skill for all busy Moms, but that’s such a broad subject, we’ll have to save that for another post.

What I’d like to discuss instead, is what I like to call Distraction Management, and how it applies to working at home, which is something that working Moms, especially those with really young children, deal with daily:

1. Learn to use the answering machine effectively.  In today’s world of having instant access and availability, whether it is through email, cell phones or texting, we’ve all come to expect instant access to and from one another. I’d like to suggest to you however, that it is OK to be out of touch for a while during your designated work hours. Without a secretary to screen your calls, it is very tempting to answer the phone whenever it rings.  But receiving personal calls, and for that matter business calls, while you are in the midst of completing a work task is a sure way to stifle productivity. If you do not have a separate phone line to distinguish a business call from a personal call, one solution is to invest in caller I.D.  If the call is from your child’s school or from that new client you have been waiting to hear back from, you can interrupt your work for a higher priority.
   If the call is not imperative, though, you can let it go to voice mail and check your messages when you complete your current task.
   
   Another idea is to locate your message machine in a room other than your office, or take advantage of the phone company’s built in voice messaging programs.  It does not do much good for you to avoid answering the phone only to have the caller disrupt you anyway as he or she leaves a message. And this idea of NOT always being accessible while you are trying to work goes for email, too. It can be very distracting to constantly hear the ding of incoming emails hitting your in-box. Either turn off this function in your email preferences, shut down your email program all together, or mute your volume until after your task. You’ll be much more productive AND efficient, and probably finish the task in half the time it would otherwise take.
2. Find a way to manage procrastination. Everyone is guilty of procrastination from time to time.  Even as a trained professional organizer, I sometimes find myself putting things off. That's one reason I started a monthly procrastination challenge here at Virtually Organized (this June we're tackling memorabilia projects). Aside from using the Virtually Organized platform as your personal source for accountability partners, when you find yourself falling behind on your tasks, whether they are  professional or personal in nature, the first thing to do is ask yourself what the real reasons may be for putting a task off for later:

For example,

o Do you have everything you need to complete the task at hand?
o Do you know HOW to accomplish the project?
o Are you expecting perfection and avoiding the task because you doubt you can attain such perfection?
o Do you know how to begin the task and what the first step actually is?
o Is it an unpleasant or difficult task?

Once you understand the reasons for your procrastination and you are able to address them, with a little will power you can prevent chronic procrastination from getting in the way of your productivity.

Coming up next in Part 2 of this Balancing Act discussion is a $5 solution to staying on track. Until then, keep me posted with how you are able to manage your everyday distractions (if you have any additional tips, PLEASE share them in the comments section!)

Simply yours,

Debbie

So, Where is YOUR Video Entry?!?

OK, I know you WANT 6 months of free Virtual Organizing Consulting Services, right? So why haven't you submitted a video, yet?  No more excuses, or procrastinating! I'm going to explain everything you need to know to make, upload and submit your video NOW!

What should my video be about?

Explain to me in your video WHY you need a virtual organizing consulting makeover. What do you want to organize? Your closet? Your kitchen? Your garage? You kids' rooms? Basically, just make a commercial explaining why you should win. Don't want to show the world your "mess" ? You don't have to! Interview your kids or spouse, or have them interview YOU. If you don't want your family members to even be in the interview, that's OK, too.  Shoot a video of a jumbled pile of clothes or a toppled pile of papers and explain as a voice-over why you should win.

I'm NOT looking for the most disorganized household out there, just someone who is ready to take back control of an overwhelmed household and life.

What technology do I need to submit a video?

Well, you COULD take out your camcorder, shoot a video, upload it to your computer's movie making software, edit the video, insert music and captions and than upload it to my site.  OR . . . .

Take out your digital camera, switch the dial to the movie making mode, point and shoot.  If it's not just right the first or second time, just trash the file and start again.  Once you've got it, insert your memory card into the slot on your computer (or use the cables that came with the camera).  Place the file on your desktop and than go to our video contest site: http://www.votigo.com/contests/showcontest/4651

You will be asked to register to use the site (it's free, and you can cancel your subscription once the contest is over).  Once you register, you will be prompted to enter a title and a short description of the video.  Click enter and you will get the browse prompt.  Simply hit the button, find the file on your desktop, hit upload and YOU'VE JUST WON A 1-MONTH VIRTUAL ORGANIZING PACKAGE with the chance of winning a GRAND PRIZE OF 6 MONTHS OF VIRTUAL ORGANIZING!!!  Nothing to it!

If you'd prefer to use youtube, or another video site, that's fine.  Just send me an email with a link to the video so I can get you entered in the contest.

I have some GREAT contest sponsors:  Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie and CM at O'Joy of my Life. And I have some other super prizes to award my grand prize winner, too.  So what are you waiting for?!? Enter today!!!

Simply yours,