Articles
Browse every published article connected to Ramona Creel, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
Articles
Browse every published article connected to Ramona Creel, or search within this exact expert archive.
I can't tell you how often I hear my friends, colleagues, and clients complain about how other people just don't respect their time. But the only reason that folks take advantage of you, expect too much from you, or don't respect your personal free time is that you have ALLOWED them to behave that way in the past.
Cleaning out can seem overwhelming -- especially if it's been a while since you've done it! But there is a very simple process you can follow that will A) help you sort and separate your belongings into manageable piles, and B) keep you from completely tearing up your house while you are cleaning out! When you begin clearing area, you should have three large boxes close at hand.
Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with them over the long run can be a major challenge! Some people think that motivation requires will-power and dedication. Actually, staying motivated is all about setting up an environment that is conducive to you accomplishing your goals. Here are ten “tricks” for giving your goals staying power past January 31st: BREAK YOUR GOALS DOWN Do you know why 90% of us don’t keep our New Year’s resolutions? Because our goals are too big and too vague.
How often do the words "I need" come out of your mouth, as it relates to your business? When you run your own company, it's easy to think that the only way to succeed is to be moving forward with your expenses -- the newest technology, a broader circle of professionals providing you services, involvement in more and more costly marketing efforts, etc. And it's particularly difficult to resist the urge when you know you can generally take a tax DEDUCTION for any business expenses.
Tell me if this sounds familiar -- someone asks you to do something that you really don’t want to do or you honestly don’t have time for. It might be a church bake sale, a school fundraiser, participating on a committee, or even just working late. But you feel like you will let the other person down if you say no. You feel GUILTY already, and you haven’t even responded yet! So you say, “Sure,” even though doing so is going to put you under tremendous stress and PRESSURE.
At work, at home, no matter who you are or what you do -- we are all bombarded with paper. And, it’s stressful! I think that we have developed a new fear in our society -- PAPERPHOBIA -- the fear of having to deal with that stack that’s been sitting there for a week. So what do you do to regain control over your environment and your sanity?
Cleaning out your junk can be incredibly freeing -- but where do you start? There's so much to do!! Here are a few rules of thumb to follow when you begin cleaning out -- either at home or at the office: FIND YOUR PAIN Begin working in the area that is the biggest thorn in your side -- the part of your home or office that causes you the greatest pain.
At this point, you have probably run across some belongings that don’t exactly serve a practical purpose in your life. Some items simply cannot be judged according to their function alone. Certain objects, such as artwork or collectibles, are kept because they are aesthetically pleasing. Others are treasured for their sentimental value. However, there is another set of criteria that you may find easier to apply in these situations. IS IT BEAUTIFUL, USEFUL, OR LOVED? Artist William Morrison developed the most effective way to determine if an item truly serves a purpose.
KNOW THYSELF The first key to creating a peaceful holiday season is identifying those holiday traditions that you ENJOY and those that you don’t. When you spend your precious time and energy on activities that you don’t find rewarding, you are destined to become FRUSTRATED and cranky. So go ahead and be honest with yourself before the season even starts. Make a list of every possible holiday “obligation” that you can think of.
Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with them over the long run can be a major challenge! Some people think that motivation requires will-power and dedication. Actually, staying motivated is all about setting up an environment that is conducive to you accomplishing your goals. Here are ten “tricks” for giving your goals staying power past January 31st: BREAK YOUR GOALS DOWN Do you know why 90% of us don’t keep our New Year’s resolutions? Because our goals are too big and too vague.
Imagine a store that doesn't bother putting together any policies or procedures. No one has ever decided what their business hours will be, so the customers don't know when the shop will be open -- it could be 10-2 one day and 6-6 another day. No one has decided what the store will sell, so customers don't know if they will get flowers or salami when they walk in the front door. And the owner has never bothered to set a policy about the type of payment the store accepts, so a customer who paid with a credit card on Monday might be told "cash only" on Tuesday.
So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't know where to begin. Here are four basic organizing principles that will help you regain control over your schedule, your environment, and your life: 1) Clear Out the Clutter We suffer from overload in our society -- too much stuff, too many obligations, too much information... Clearing out the clutter means getting rid of ANYTHING that is extraneous and unnecessary. Clutter takes up either TIME, SPACE, ENERGY, or MONEY without providing you any benefit.
Back-to-school time – what does that mean to you? For some people, it’s shopping for school supplies, gearing up for PTA meetings, and artwork taped to the refrigerator. For others, it’s the beginning of a constant struggle to get everyone up, ready, and out of the house on time. Morning should be an enjoyable time for you and your kids – not a battle of the wills or a race against the clock.