1. Improve Your Physical Fitness – Summertime is a perfect time of the year to get out of the house and to take up a sport — there is enough of ideas in the form of sports events like athletics and tennis.

2. Clean your House – Most people might not of quite got round to doing the spring cleaning just yet so why not sort it out sooner rather than later. Cleaning in the summer is a good thought as you can air the house out by opening the windows at the same time. This will help get rid of any strange smells that are trapped for a long time. This might seem like a hard and time consuming task but if you get the right sort of household cleaning supplies, you are ready to go.

3. BBQ in the Garden – Go out and fun under the sun with your family and friends. BBQ time, picnic, volleyball, running with a dog, and many more.

Enjoy summer!

From an outside perspective, I would say that the secret to success in organizing is the ability to prioritize your various commitments, enlist the help of others, and not sweat the small stuff.

Do you feel overwhelmed? If you want good time management skills, practice the COPE method.

COPE is an acronym for Capitalize, Organize, Prioritize, and Energize.

* Capitalize on the ability of every child to assist with household chores such as setting the table, clearing the dishes and vacuuming the floor. Teach them from a very young age to put away their toys and make their own beds. Put all of your perfectionist tendencies aside while the children are growing up. Do more with your kids and less for your kids. If you do all of this, you will be blessed.

* Organize your home to make it easier to locate and store things. Large shelves or a huge toy chest and hangers placed where kids can reach them are good examples. Keep things in see-through containers, hang an essential rack on the wall, keep storage bins on casters beneath the beds and then centrally locate a lost and found basket to stash items left lying around the home.

When the angle as viewed from Earth that separates the location of one body of matter in space from another is close to one of various significant angles in degrees longitude, then the energies of the two factors concerned will interact at their point of intersection (i.e. the Earth). The effects of the interaction will correspond to the combination of the general natures and functions of the two factors concerned, as modified by the nature of the particular type of angle close to them. These effects will be strongly reflected in the qualities of any person born on the earth at that moment in time.

The various different significant types of angle are collectively known as ‘aspects’, and when one factor is connected to another by an angle of one of these types it is said to be in aspect to the other.

The killers that I am referring to are quite ordinary every day things that we see and use in our lives but often do not realize how much of our time they take up.

Some terrible Time Killers:
Telephone calls
Chatter boxes
Traffic jams
looiking for parking spaces
Meetings
Bad machinery
Long queues

The list could, of course, go on and on. But before we keep adding to the list, I would like to elaborate on certain of the items listed above.

How to handle Time Killers.
Telephone calls.
The funny thing about telephone calls is that these instruments are indeed great time savers. The problem arises when telephones are not used properly. Most people do not understand and even if they do they forget that telephones are not to be used for lengthy conversations. A fundamental of a telephone conversation is that it should be brief.

Now coming to cell phones there is a lot to be said and done. Turn off your cell phone when you are having a conversation or a discussion with more than one person. Often we tend to give more importance to the caller than to the person we were having the discussion with. Again the same rule applies here. Be brief. A cell phone is to be used to get an important message across to someone who you were not able to reach on the land line.

The next point is about those chatter boxes. Steer clear of such people. Believe me, it is much easier to avoid such people than to tell them to shut up and if you get a telephone call from such a person, use a caller ID facility or ask your secretary to divert the call.

Traffic jams and finding parking spaces.
Any one who has lived in the city for at least a day will know what I am talking about. There is no getting past a traffic jam at the rush hour. And will someone tell me why it is called the rush hour when that is the time when the traffic is the slowest and rush hour seems to last two or three hours!
The only thing you can do is anticipate the traffic jam and leave your home a half hour or one hour early. But that does not really keep the time killer at bay. It just helps you to avoid being late. In this respect you have two options. Either you could find something constructive to do while you wait for the traffic to move along or the traffic light to change or a better option would be to take subway and walk the rest of the way. You can get a long a lot faster on your feet and it is a lot better for your health as well.
By doing so, you can also get rid of the headache of finding a parking space.

Not surprisingly lengthy meetings and discussions can prove to be awful time killers particularly if the meeting does not have a clear agenda and if there are people who love to talk among the group. It has been found that most middle and senior level mangers spend nearly 70% of their work time talking. And in most organizations, parleying has been made into a fine art.

Bad machinery is a time waster. How many of us have wanted to sit and scream and bang the daylights out of a pc that does not give us the required data or information. A computer that takes a long time to start up, a photocopier that gives shamefully faint photocopies, even a leaky faucet or a stubborn drawer or door knob can waste a lot of time and send us up the wall. If you have such equipment or machinery, get it changed at the earliest possible date. It is worth the amount of time and energy that you waste on it every day.

Long queues naturally waste a lot of time. That does not mean that you have to jump the queue. If you can get the job done over the telephone or can reserve your ticket in advance, do it, even if it means a few extra dollars, it is worth the time you may have to spend waiting.

Apart from these each person may have particular time wasters, like for instance, a car that refuses to start in the morning, difficult hair that insists on looking like Medusas head on a bad snake day, an elevator that takes for ever to reach your floor. Use your common sense and try to find alternate methods or even better, if you cannot find an alternate method, you could put the time to some use like read your morning paper in the elevator.

1. Use a day planner. These books used to be used only by the big CEO’s, or the school academic nut. Not so today! Look around for a bit before selecting one you like best. Make sure it suits your needs. You will find day planners come in all materials and sizes. Your planner will help you to effectively lay out your day on paper, so you know where you are going and what you are doing. These days, planners come complete with money pouches, checkbook holders and computer disk carriers, so shopping around is definitely a good idea!

2. Use a family planner. Yes, buy another planner for your entire family. This way, everyone in the family knows what everyone else is up to and when. You can plan much better this way. Consider purchasing one those dry-erase boards available in most office stores. Mom can put her important luncheons on there, dad can put his coaching meetings, and the kids can put their after-school activities on it. Place it up in a suitable location, which could be the refrigerator or somewhere in a high-traffic area.

3. Learn to just say “no.” You are just one person, after all and you cannot do everything! Exercise your stress management techniques by saying “no” now and again when you are asked to do things that are of little priority to you.

4. Take time to enjoy yourself. What makes you the happiest? Spending time with your hildren? Going out to the movies? Indulging at the spa? Going to sports or shows? Take some time to think of what you love to do most and then get out there and do it all! Schedule some “me time” in that great new planner you have bought and treat it like an appointment with yourself! maybe doing something such as gardening may sound like a bit of a chore, if you find it relaxing, pencil it in. Everything has a time of its own so make time for yourself.

5. Take time to do a good clean up. When was the last time you organized that junk drawer, or sorted through your fridge? Is it time to catch up? At the same time buy some new hooks and organize your purse and keys. When you walk in the door, they should be placed right there ready for next time. Chances are, you might be spending valuable time getting frustrated over missing items. Make sure everything is located easily with a place for everything. That way, you will know where to look next time. Perhaps invest in some organizers. They sure are worth while when you find your life just that much more organized. It certainly beats searching around for hours to find your keys!

6. Establish a good routine. Keep writing in your planner daily and keep scheduling time for yourself. Throw in the occasional “no.” and get into a good routine. Stick with your new routine and you will find you will be happier and with much less stress.

You too can live an ordered life. Life really does not have to be a mess. Take a few steps to make sure that it is not and you will have time for the things that really matter to you most. You will have all the time you want for family, friends, work and more, and best of all, you will be sane. The number one benefit to being better organized is being sane!

Being a list person is of great help. If you are busy juggling a 9 to 5 work life, family time, a home-based business and taking care of your household, as well as having some hobbies — well it’s time to start thinking about becoming a list enthusiast.

It’s time to simplify your life! For all of the super-busy people in this world, there are a number of very clever and yet simple[/spin[ ways to help organize your life and keep your sanity.
1) Use Notables: Keep a small notebook and pen handy. Take it wherever you go and then just jot down ideas or appointments or things to do instead of trying to remember them and then forgetting them later on.

2) Use Good Telephone Habits: Set a time limit for each telephone call and make sure you tell your caller. That way you save yourself lots of stress from trying to end the telephone call. This will also want you to hear. This one sounds meticulous but is a great saver.

3) Use Waiting Time: The next time you visit your dentist, or while waiting for your dinner to cook, use the time to catch up on reading or planning. When that is done use, the time to sort, tidy or just think.

4) Give Thanks: The next time someone helps you out with something, be sure to offer thanks. This can be to a subordinate, co-worker or to a member of the family for any effort you have noticed. They will be happy to help you again, next time you need them.

5) Do it Now! Do not allow for the luxury of procrastination. If you do, this will only stress you out when you think about that hateful “to do” item on your list. You will end up blowing your “to do” list right out of proportion and it will become almost impossible to accomplish. Start by tackling the largest or most disliked job first, dividing it up into manageable tasks. At this stage, the other jobs will be a breeze!

6) Administrate Chores: Delegate those tasks that you have no time for or team up with someone who can help you the most.

7) Make a Group Effort: Save time and footwork by collecting everything to bring with you to complete errands or to distribute in each room of the house instead of making too many trips. Make a fast list while planning out your route and be sure to plan each stop along the way so you do not have to backtrack and lose time.

Schedule in Some Fun Time! Take the time just for YOU. Allot some time in your agenda and even make an appointment for yourself and keep it, even if it’s only a leisurely 20 minute bubble bath or a 20 minute walk in the fresh spring air!

9) Make More Space: Go through your complete filing system and then throw out any old unneeded files to free up space in your filing system.

10) Deal with it Only Once: Handle each letter and each piece of paper only once. Read it and file it, redirect it to somewhere else, schedule it in your daily planner or toss it. Do not add it to a never-ending pile on your desk in the hope that you will get to it eventually. You WILL NOT!

11) Be your own Post-Master: Use those handy sticky notes to write errands requiring to be done. Stick them to your front door or your fridge, to remind you as you are headed out. These work great!

12) Be your own Systems Engineer: You simply find there is too much time wasted every day on searching for things. Find a new system that works for you and your lifestyle and then apply it to absolutely everything! Use it like clockwork and you will find new time slots you never thought existed!

Does everything feel like a struggle? Why not use inspiration to create energy that propels you up and over life’s inevitable speed bumps?

1. Be grateful: Create a list of the “50 Things I Am Grateful For Today.” Take a minute each morning to mentally express your gratitude for at least 5 things whether it’s the air you breathe, the clothes on your back, or those closest to you.

2. Celebrate and list every success: How would you like to have a boss who only ranted about what you did wrong or what you failed to achieve, never giving you credit for the wins? Take a look in the mirror and make sure you aren’t abusing yourself like a boss from hell. Keep a running list of your successes for the year and post it near your computer or nightstand.

3. Learn from your setbacks: Failure happens. It’s part of life and a necessary component of growth. Accept failure as something good, as proof that you are taking risks and stretching yourself. However, in addition to accepting the losses, you must go back and, like an unbiased scientist, ask yourself what went wrong. What will you do differently in the future? Mistakes are only truly valuable if you learn from them. Even if your home improvement is a problem – this is just a ride, as Bill Hicks used to say.

4. Fill your glass: Forget the debate over whether the glass is half empty or half full! Why not take a pitcher and fill it up? Tackle every situation with the perspective that you can affect the outcome. Acknowledge that you have the power to choose.

5. Look for role models: Who inspires you? Is there someone who walked in your shoes and faced similar battles? Maybe even someone who went on to become a superstar in his or her own life? Identify her but don’t put her up on a pedestal. Remember that she is a person just like you, who overcame the odds, or struggled through extreme hardship and persevered.

6. Become a visionary: You don’t have to be a guru to have a vision of the future. All it takes is a bit of imagination and the courage to reach for something bigger than your current reality. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to let your thoughts dig into this one. How does this vision of the future relate to your life today?

7. Identify the milestones: Set concrete goals for yourself that can be broken down into measurable pieces or milestones. If you want to lose 20 pounds, each 5-pound increment is the next milestone you should aim for and celebrate. Instead of shooting for a distant peak, it’s much more encouraging to set your sights on the corner at the end of the block.

8. Say it with pictures: Research says that 89% of what we learn is visual, 10% is auditory, and 1% comes through our other senses. Draw, photograph, or assemble a collage that represents your aim in life. Hang it on the wall or download it to your computer desktop as a reminder of what you’re working towards.

9. Play: If you feel like you’re toiling, take a break and interject some fun. Do something ridiculous. If you can’t think of anything, spend an hour or two watching 4-year olds play. To them, everything has the potential for fun. Learn to enjoy the journey even more than the destination.

10. Ride the wave of change – don’t run from it: Like death and taxes, change is inevitable. However, resistance to change is common and causes untold amounts of struggle. Become a master evolutionist—respond to change eagerly and rapidly.

We all need a push once in a while. Choose instead to latch onto inspiration as a force that pulls you forward and you’ll discover that success can be effortless.

Anyway, I am flat footed so I always have these feet problems. I so want to have a normal feet and I have always wished that I could turn back time. So back to the topic, I am not going to wear slippers whenever I go out and this post should remind me.

uh uh uh.