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Dec 16
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10 Ways To Stay Productive At Work Over the Holidays

By Blog, Expert Articles, Time Management No Comments

As winter vacation quickly approaches, this is our perfect opportunity to think about how others may be living it a little differently than us.

 

Usually, the holiday season is bright and sparkly, illuminated by strings of lights and Christmas cheer! There’s special baking to be done, thoughtful gifts to be wrapped, and a mantle to be decorated.

 

But for some of us – this is just an idle dream on our wish list.

 

Special occasions marked down on a calendar don’t mean the world winds down for everyone!

 

We still need our doctors and nurses, firefighters, dispatchers, news personnel and their production crews, too. Just to name a few!

 

Outside of organizations that normally run 24/7 there are still so many of us that work through the holidays to keep the world flowing (a huge thanks to you all!🤍)

 

So in order for us to soak up as many drips of the holiday season as we can get,

 

Here are 10 ways to stay productive at work over the holidays:

 

 

1. Start your work day routine earlier

 

You will actually double your productivity when you take advantage of this strategy!

 

Think about it, what would work more effectively? Sleeping from midnight to 8am, or from 10pm to 6am? The latter would give you a two-hour jump on the day. So in order to squeeze the most out of your day and be as focused as you can be, make sure you are setting boundaries around when your work day will begin and end.

 

 

2. Say “no” to people-pleasing anxiety

It’s not easy to say “no” to taking more on during the holidays. You want everyone to enjoy their time, and for work to close up as smoothly as possible.

 

But when you’ve got too much on your plate already, one must stop to think about their own needs and wants. Be polite but straightforward when declining a task or event invitation that may overload you. A great way to be courteous while turning something down is to say, “Thank you for thinking of me, but I am planning on spending that time working on X project/watching my daughter’s Christmas performance.” This conveys to the person that you’re grateful for their invitation, but that you also already have your priorities set.

 

 

3. Stay focused and productive at work

In order to keep yourself accountable for anything, you must first determine a goal to be held accountable to.

 

First of all, if you’re feeling in a slump, get your body moving to jostle your brain functions into working effectively. If you’re feeling overwhelmed this is the best technique to help you stay productive at work over the holidays. Then focus on the hardest thing first, A.K.A. your primary project. That task you most dread. Just get it out of the way or at least complete a big chunk of it right off the bat! Make sure to give yourself a realistic window of time for each thing on your to-do list and actually cut yourself off at that window.

 

 

 

4. Avoid getting distracted by thoughts

We all face distractions in the office (and our home offices). But even more so when the stresses of holidays and extended family come around!

 

To counter these distractions, remove anything that has distracted you in the past from your work area. This includes that eraser you’re always fidgeting with, your kids’ photos you reminisce with a little too long, and any loose papers that aren’t directly related to the task at hand. Put those items away in your desk for the holiday season and save them for January. Our goal is to be super productive and focused now!

 

 

 

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5. Taking (important!) breaks from work

It’s important to take time off from work every now and then to relax and rejuvenate. A holiday is perfect for providing this much-needed break from your work days!

 

We spend a lot of time at work… so why do we feel guilty taking time off? You certainly deserve it. Even if you’re running your own business, it’s still vital that you’re taking time for yourself. As much as it may feel like it, you’re not shirking responsibility or becoming less focused on your goals. You’re taking care of yourself so you’ll have the stamina to be your best and work effectively once the holidays are over.

 

 

 

6. Shop early to avoid the “Christmas Creep”

One of the risks of starting your shopping early is overbuying. But if you’re keeping track of your spending and who you’re buying for, this is no longer a worry.

 

Your best bet for having the most availability over Christmas is to look for sales now, shop online to avoid parking costs, and brainstorm creative ways to give the gift of experience. Gifts don’t have to cost a lot of money. You can bake a family member their favorite cookies or prepare a batch of healthy freezer-friendly snacks. You could type a list of restaurants to check out in the new year or create a “family favorites” recipe binder. Or give the gift of organizing with our Clear Out Your Clutter event in 2023! Think ahead – do you really want to sacrifice any of your enjoyment this holiday season? Instead of a cozy cup of hot chocolate while visiting with distant family, would you really rather be bustled around by a bunch of over-caffeinated shoppers? Choose to be productive now, you’ll thank yourself later.

 

 

7. Maintain your health during the holidays

Exercising is a great way to clear your mind. Not to mention the many health benefits that follow!

 

Being that we’re so busy around the holidays, meal prepping plays a huge role in our day-to-day energy! Food is quite literally our fuel, so you don’t want to be eating junk and slacking off at the gym now. The best way to combat energy fatigue is by finding ways to be active in your daily routine. You could have lunch in the park down the street, park your car further from wherever you go, and use stairs instead of an elevator.

 

 

 

8. Stop multitasking,
Learn how to prioritize and focus

A to-do list that’s way too long can leave you feeling exhausted just reading it all.

 

Instead of stressing about all the things you need to do today, prioritize just what’s important or has an immediate deadline coming up. Remember your focus is to stay productive at work over the holidays so you won’t be swamped when you return. Ask yourself, “What actually needs finishing this month?” Then get your mind focused and your hands dirty. Don’t forget to always keep your professional and personal tasks separate!

 

 

 

9. Manage interruptions from friends and family

Social media and texting are two of the largest distractions while at work.

 

Stay productive at work over the holidays by keeping your workday free from personal calls, texts, and emails. If you can’t manage this yourself, flip on the silent feature and store your personal cell in a desk drawer (lock it if you need to!). This way it’s completely out of sight and won’t be tempting you. Ask your loved ones to not call or text you during working hours unless it’s really dire.

 

 

 

10. Work Hard so you can Party Harder! 🥳

Why would we spend all of our energy working if there is no reward? We wouldn’t! This is where the “work hard, play harder” mentality is best adopted.

 

Above all the decorations and fancy dinners, the most important thing during any holiday is to make sure you’re truly enjoying quality time with your family. Let go of work when you’re not clocked in, it will all still be waiting for you whenever you head back.

 

Cherish the time you have with family, because you never know how many moments like these you will have left. 🤍

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that by following these tips you can soak up every ounce of holiday cheer!

 

It’s time to reconnect with yourself, your family, and pure JOY this year ✨ So remember to unplug, open up, and laugh until you burn enough calories for another slice of pie!

 

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a refreshing New Year’s,

 

Sherry + The SP Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like this article?

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Christmas Shopping: Do it in One Day!

Dec 08
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The Micro-Organizer: Seeing Your Progress

By Blog, Quick Organizing Tips, Time Management No Comments

🤍 Dear Micro-Organizers,

 

Micro-organizing can be more of an art than a science, wouldn’t you agree?

 

Finding just the perfect spots for all of your everyday items… arranging them in a beautiful manner… waking up every day to a fresh, organized home…

 

Sound too good to be true?

 

For a Micro-Organizer, this is a daily habit! These daily “resets” are just in our nature.

 

🤔 Why am I prone to Clutter?

 

Because Micro-Organizers are not often found in cluttered homes, one might think that they don’t even have problems with clutter.

 

But this is quite the opposite.

 

Many of us struggle with a strong love-it-or-toss-it mentality. Which sounds like a good thing! But this mentality can be ruthless.

A Micro-Organizer can be caught either hiding out of sight or throwing away others’ items just because they don’t fit with their envisioned “look” of the space, drawer, or shelf.

 

Another struggle is that you may be prone to organizing your clutter. A great thing to keep in mind is that no matter how organized your clutter may be… at the end of the day, it is still clutter.

 

Neatly arranging 100 of the same pens in a drawer does not mean it’s organized. Considering we can only use so many pens in a lifetime, does it logically make sense that anyone would really need 100?

 

These are the little questions you must ask yourself.

 

Don’t know where to start decluttering?

 

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🥊 Confronting the Clutter

 

The key to succeeding with organizing for this style is by doing it in small bits at a time. Try to avoid taking on big projects all at once.

 

Oftentimes the Micro-Organizer can get overwhelmed by a huge project and fall back into their comfort zone of burying themselves in one drawer for hours.

 

And that one drawer might end up looking like the most picturesque, #IGWorthy drawer you’ve ever laid eyes on!

 

…But it did suck away 3 hours for what could have been half of a room completed.

 

Try to hone in your micro-organizing skills by setting an intention to make visible progress with one thing at a time.

 

This will create a big difference for you (visually and emotionally) as you will see more progress instead of jumping around from project to project!

 

We’ve already established that you’re very talented with keeping up on routinely decluttering and daily resets. So once you’ve got the bigger picture into play, these steps will come naturally to you.

The hardest part of organizing is the initial sweep-through.

 

Once you’ve got all your systems set up, the rest is just maintaining – which is a breeze!

 

You’ll also find that you’re able to get even more done in a shorter amount of time with these strategies!

✨ Living clutter-free: Is it for me?

 

“When we focus so hard on the tiny details, we leave ourselves open to miss the bigger picture. Details matter and so does an eagle’s point of view.”

– Rosangel Perez

 

For a Micro-Organizer, beginning a new project can seem like a big commitment.

 

This is because you see the million little steps in-between.

 

To make it seem more approachable, keep your eye on the bigger picture. You could even create a vision board for how you want your space to look using magazine cut outs and printed photos.

 

Start with one project at a time and focus on fully completing it before moving on to the next one.

 

A great way to stay motivated is to set a timer (20 or 50 minutes, with 10 minutes following as a break) and challenge yourself to finish what you can within the allotted time.

 

This forces you to get through things faster so you can get more done overall. Perfecting can always be done after.

 

Containers with smaller sections are also helpful when organizing, as it allows you to sort items into smaller categories (something Micro-Organizers need to stay sane 😉).

 

Labeling these will make it quicker for you to find an item right when it is needed.

 

With enough focus, patience, and dedication, it is possible to achieve a stress-free, organized life!

 

📤 How to start Clearing the Clutter

 

One of the best ways to get started with organizing your space is to set a timer, and get to work.

 

Setting limits on yourself helps to keep distractions at bay so you can focus on the real task at hand.

 

When it comes to the organizing process, it’s important for a Micro-Organizer to adopt a “good enough” mindset. Instead of trying to achieve perfection, break your project down into manageable tasks and focus on just completing them.

 

Worry about perfecting them later.

 

When it comes to items that you need to organize, make sure to use containers with multiple sections.

Labeling each section will help you to remember where items belong when you do your daily or weekly resets.

 

Plus, the rest of your household can easier maintain your systems when they understand how they work and where things should go!

 

Keeping everything in its place will help your space look neater for longer.

 

With this method, you can create a visible result by focusing on the bigger projects first and making your way down to smaller ones.

 

Though at time it may feel frustrating and long to finish a task… remember to choose joy in the process of decluttering and organizing!

 

Let’s begin with rating your level of commitment to getting your spaces organized:

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, how committed are you to edit, declutter, and organize the space? (level 1 is not committed at all, and level 10 is 100%, fully committed)

 

Download these free organizing assessments to track your progress in all areas!

 

 

Ask yourself these questions when deciding what you will keep, donate, or no longer need:

 

 

  • Do I honestly love it?
  • Do I use it weekly, monthly, or yearly?
  • When was the last time I thought about this item or used it?
  • Do I realistically need this item in my life going forward?
  • Did I even remember I owned this?
  • How many duplicates of the same item do I have?
  • What would be the worst possible scenario if I donated or passed it on?
  • In what situation would I realistically need or want this?
  • What would I like to have more space for?
  • Have my job or hobbies changed and it’s time to let some things go?
  • What keeps me awake at night or gives me stress and anxiety?
  • Am I committed to scheduling time, effort, and/or money to fix or repair this item?

 

🏆 Invest time into YOU

 

Micro-Organizer, I know it’s not easy to speed yourself up while making everything exactly how you’d like it to look.

 

But I believe in you!

 

I know you can do this. It’s not easy to start, but once you do one shelf or one drawer, you gain momentum.

 

Keep a post-it note nearby if you must, but focusing on completing the bigger picture will take you to completion faster.

 

So let me know, does this feel attainable for you?

 

You will feel so much better after clearing just a couple piles! Remember to start with the biggest piles or the ones that bother you the most in order to create a dramatic, visible result right off the bat.

 

Comment below and tell me about your next organizing goal as a commitment to yourself!

 

Set a reminder in your phone to follow up in a week and let me know which strategies worked for you! Or maybe you’ll have a new tip for me?

 

Excitedly waiting to hear all about your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need more help with decluttering?

 

I created the How to Organize Your Household Papers course to help walk you through the decluttering process. It includes sections on foundational organizing skills, setting up filing systems, creating household systems, and more bonus videos to make sure you’ve reached your goals.

 

For further details on the course and to purchase, go here:

 

https://sherry.mykajabi.com/store/PSNymLQL

Nov 25
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The Procrastinator: Later is Now

By Blog, Quick Organizing Tips, Time Management No Comments

🤍 Dear Procrastinators,

 

Many may misunderstand you, but not me!

 

Ever since procrastination became a trendy word, it’s been so misused. So let’s make one thing clear for those non-Procrastinators reading…

 

Procrastination 👏🏼 Does 👏🏼 Not 👏🏼 Equal 👏🏼 Laziness!

 

And honestly, we all have some tendencies to delay what could be done in the moment. Nobody is perfect!

 

🤔 Why am I prone to Clutter?

 

One of the main reasons clutter accumulates in your home is because you’re constantly seeking that next opportunity.

 

Why fold this laundry now, when I could:

 

  • Start making dinner earlier
  • Tidy another room while no one occupies it
  • Scroll social media (we’re all suckers for little dopamine hits now!)
  • Finally relax after a long day
  • Meet up with a friend for lunch
  • Feel more motivated tomorrow

 

And the list of excuses goes on and on… doesn’t it?

For those who are always on the go and already headed to the next big thing, it’s easy to keep avoiding a task.

 

Especially when the task is perceived to be difficult or boring!

 

But as with anything in life, it’s very important to be able to focus and be productive.

 

Instead of viewing tasks as “difficult” or “boring,” just try to think of them as tasks. Plain and simple. This will help you to see the joy (not dread) in the process of decluttering and organizing.

 

You must accept that avoiding things is not doing you any favor. It is only contributing to your mile-long To-Do list and clutter that’s crowding every possible space – including your mind.

 

🥊 Confronting the Clutter

 

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.”

– Dawson Trotman

 

To Procrastinators, the rest of the population seems to run on some sort of magical motivation.

 

You’re constantly questioning and comparing yourself to people on social media, in real life, and on TV.

 

“Why can’t I just wake up one day and find the motivation has stuck?”

 

This “magical motivation” that everyone but you seems to have is – listen carefully – a facade!

 

We are all pushing ourselves every day to do the things we don’t want to do.

 

But as with most habits, it is possible to overcome procrastination.

 

The first step is being able to identify when you’re procrastinating. Despite procrastination being an active choice, we’re usually on auto-pilot and don’t even notice when it happens.

 

This may look like filling your day with low-priority tasks, re-reading important emails but not making any decisions, starting a primary project and immediately leaving to make a coffee, etc.

 

After you’ve familiarized yourself with identifying your negative habits when they arise, choose to DO something about it.

 

It’s too easy to dwell in self-pity and I do not want you to get stuck there!

 

The reason you’re procrastinating is probably because you’re not organizing your day.

 

Each night before bed, try to draft a to-do list for the next day. This way you’re not completely winging it when the day arrives. There is also no excusing your lack of productivity based on a lack of planning.

 

Need some more incentive? Promise yourself a reward for completing ALL of the tasks, and follow through!

 

And if a to-do list is not really your jam, check out some scheduling and time-management apps.

 

Another tip is to figure out when your most productive times are during the day. For example, do you work better in the morning? Or the afternoon?

 

Remember: if you can get through a bigger, daunting task right away then you’ll have the rest of the day for more enjoyable tasks.

✨ Living clutter-free: Is it for me?

 

Many Procrastinators have turned a new leaf!

 

It just takes some dedicated, focused, good-old-fashioned work.

 

Procrastination is nothing new to our generation. In fact, it’s been around forever!

 

The Greek poet Hesiod, writing around 800 B.C., actually cautioned not to “put your work off till tomorrow and the day after.”

 

So as much as this might seem deeply ingrained in us… that also means we’ve been studying how to battle it for a verrry long time!

 

To begin understanding your own personal struggles, you need to really be honest with yourself when asking these questions:

 

  • When I start tidying up but stop halfway, what emotion is telling me to stop?

 

  • Is it frustration? Am I confused about the direction I’m going in? Is it sadness, anxiety, or fear?

 

  • Am I unsure of how to organize certain items, or which way would be best?

 

Procrastinator, I see you reading this doubting if you could ever change. Maybe you feel like you’ve tried all these tactics and nothing sticks.

 

Nothing may be sticking, because you haven’t forgiven yourself.

 

A very heavy weight carried on the shoulders of Procrastinators is self-guilt. It’s always easier to beat yourself up about “failing” something than it is to have compassion for yourself.

 

All the times you’ve felt you’ve let yourself or others down due to your delaying tendencies, forgive.

 

Your work tasks that have come long overdue because you’re scared to start, forgive.

 

The organizing projects you’ve started and abandoned when they get too overwhelming, forgive.

 

And from forgiveness we can rise to acceptance. Once you’ve truly accepted that procrastination is a very real problem, then we can begin real change.

 

📤 How to start Clearing the Clutter

 

Speaking of abandoned organizing projects, here’s a few ways you can get through them!

 

Starting with one section at a time, break it down into little parts. You can then focus on one part at a time.

 

If you still procrastinate on the task after breaking it down, then break it down even further. Soon, your task will be so simple that you’ll find yourself thinking it’s too easy to not begin now!

 

Here are a few more ways you can start today:

 

  • Tackle a large project with a very small first step
  • Plan your day the night before and set reminders for everything
  • Minimize all distractions
  • Implement a routine for putting things away
  • Research professional support

 

Keep in mind that procrastination means the delaying of decisions.

 

So when you catch yourself about to delay, 🛑 and tell yourself NO! You can do it!

 

I believe in you and I know you can do this. It’s not easy to start, but once you do one shelf or one drawer, you’ll gain momentum!

 

Let’s begin with rating your level of commitment to getting your spaces organized:

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, how committed are you to edit, declutter, and organize the space? (level 1 is not committed at all, and level 10 is 100%, fully committed)

 

 

Download these free organizing assessments to track your progress in all areas!

 

Ask yourself these questions when deciding what you will keep, donate, or no longer need:

 

  • Do I honestly love it?
  • Do I use it weekly, monthly, or yearly?
  • When was the last time I thought about this item or used it?
  • Do I realistically need this item in my life going forward?
  • Did I even remember I owned this?
  • How many duplicates of the same item do I have?
  • What would be the worst possible scenario if I donated or passed it on?
  • In what situation would I realistically need or want this?
  • What would I like to have more space for?
  • Have my job or hobbies changed and it’s time to let some things go?
  • What keeps me awake at night or gives me stress and anxiety?
  • Am I committed to scheduling time, effort, and/or money to fix or repair this item?

 

🏆 Invest time into YOU

 

Procrastinator, I want to tell you how proud I am you’ve read all the way through these strategies to the bottom!

 

By not saving it for later or skipping it entirely (when you know that reading it will do you some good!) just proves you’re not a Procrastinator at the core! 👏🏼👏🏼

 

So let me know, does this feel attainable for you?

 

You will feel so much better after clearing just a couple piles! Remember to start with the biggest piles or the ones that bother you the most in order to create a dramatic, visible result right off the bat.

 

Comment below and tell me about your next organizing goal as a commitment to yourself!

 

Set a reminder in your phone to follow up in a week and let me know which strategies worked for you! Or maybe you’ll have a new tip for me?

 

Excitedly waiting to hear all about your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need more help with decluttering?

 

I created the How to Organize Your Household Papers course to help walk you through the decluttering process. It includes sections on foundational organizing skills, setting up filing systems, creating household systems, and more bonus videos to make sure you’ve reached your goals.

 

For further details on the course and to purchase, go here:

 

https://sherry.mykajabi.com/store/PSNymLQL