Category Archives: Getting Organized

Goals 2013

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These are my goals for this year, pretty similar to last year with a few alterations:

  1. Yoga workshop – is this cheating when it’s already booked? Okay I’ll make it harder and commit to doing two workshops.
  2. Travel – It might be Iceland or I will choose another exciting destination but doing a trip is definitely a must! Maybe New York, I’ve never been and it’s been on my travel list FOREVER!
  3. Clean up office – REALLY I’ll get to it this year so that I have a proper space to write in! Then maybe I can get the novel organized!
  4. Biography’s – I’m going to read a biography every month. I love them and have many on my list to read but never seem to get around to them. This way I’ll make a list and then get to them!
  5. Write – okay this is a change from 1st draft of a novel. This is a goal to just write. I have a writing competition book and my goal is to submit at least two works into competitions. They could be short stories, poems or shorter pieces and this seems less daunting than a novel.
  6. Yoga – start a home practice. My goal will be to do yoga three times a week at home to develop my own Mysore practice.
  7. Bike – the bike is back! My goal is to ride 1,000km on it through the summer.
  8. Keep in touch – I can be terrible at keeping in touch, with remembering to send emails, remember b-days and just drop a note saying “Hi” my goal is to foster my relationships with those that are important to me. Also to make the effort to get out, meet some new people and really enjoy the people in my life.
  9. Explore Calgary – with travelling it is easy to forget what is in our own backyard, this year my goal is not just to get out to the museum but to get out in my own city (Calgary) and rediscover it!
  10. Blog – 5 days a week again? Nope, to cut down on crap and hopefully up the content I’m going to commit to writing for the blog 3 days a week (will probably have pictures on the other two days).

There if I do all that, it should be a great year!

2012 Goals How Did I Do?

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2013 already, where did 2012 go? I had a great year, it started in Paris and ended in Hawaii with the Galapagos in-between. Certainly a great year and I do feel that I accomplished a lot but looking back at my goals for 2012 how did I do with those?

Now bad, I didn’t get to everything but that makes the 2013 list easier we can carry a few over! This is how I did:

  1. Yoga Workshop – no I did not attend a yoga workshop. In fact I’ve been a little lazy with the yoga lately. The good news is I am signed up for a yoga workshop at the end of February, so although it didn’t happen in 2012 it was planned in 2012.
  2. Read Great Expectations – YES I did, I also read “The Old Curiosity Shop”, “Nicholas Nickleby” and “A Christmas Carol”. I really enjoy Dickens and am planning on reading more.
  3. Save an extra $1,200 – YES I did and then spent it on the Yoga Workshop/Conference I am going to in San Diego!
  4. Straighten up office into proper work space – no I didn’t. In fact it looks more like a walk in closet now than it did before.
  5. New playlist on IPod – YES which I did in early December, yep it took me that long. I am LAZY with the IPod.
  6. Go to Iceland – no I didn’t go to Iceland but I did go to the Galapagos. Iceland will be on the list again but might be bumped to 2014.
  7. Go to the Glenbow Museum – I don’t know where the time went? I didn’t make it, seemed like such an easy one but another year has gone by without me visiting the museum.
  8. Ride bike twice a week from May – September – YES I bought a new bike this year and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It was a pleasure and a joy to get out on it!
  9. Blog 5 days a week – YES I made it! I wasn’t sure at  the beginning of the year if I would make it but I did. Some were just pictures and some was crap but I did it!
  10. 1st draft of novel – no, I did do quite a bit of writing but never got down and focused to construct and write the novel. I do have pages and pages started though and I think there is some good stuff in there, also a lot of crap.

Tomorrow it’s time to look ahead and tomorrow I’ll share my goals for 2013.

Computer Clutter

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I’ve been having problems getting my thoughts together and getting back on track with my posts and I know why. I’ve been lazy and allowed my computer to get cluttered.

I stopped filing things properly and putting things in order. I like order, I need order.

This weekend I am clearing the computer clutter and getting back on track. Getting back to having a plan and knowing what I want to write about. Not promising that this will improve my blog at all but it can’t hurt, right?

Also I need to STOP WATCHING CRAP TV. I love crap tv but lately I’ve been getting sucked into too many shows. My productivity around the house has taken a nose dive.

This weekend clear the clutter, turn the tv off and get back on track!

Wish me luck!

Turtle

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Clearing the clutter not only makes you realize the things that you want to get rid of but also the things you want to keep:

It’s a turtle, his shell comes off and you can keep stuff in him. I am weary of things you can keep stuff in. After clearing out my Grandparents house I realized that drawers are the enemy of organization. I can’t believe what my Grandparents kept in their drawers. The turtle is empty I don’t keep anything in him. People often ask if I keep rolled change in him but no. I take rolled change to the bank and cash it in.

My Mom gave him to me many, many years ago. I really like him and he sits across from my couch. Sometimes I talk to him, when the dog isn’t here. The turtle is a good listener, if he starts to talk back I will go and get my medication adjusted.

I have another turtle as well:

I got him in Vancouver many, many years ago. Yep, he’s a lamp but the bulb burnt out and I haven’t replaced it.

They are the only two turtles I have but because they are so noticeable people seem to think I have a GREAT love of turtles. I really like turtles but please don’t give me any more turtles.

Both turtles are keepers and this weekend was more about what I am keeping than what I’m getting rid of.

Clearing Clutter

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My goal for the fall is to clear out all the clutter. Clutter being anything I don’t need, anything old and anything that I don’t know why I have it.

Clearing out my clothes will be pretty easy as I do that a few times a year. By clearing out anything that doesn’t fit, is old or I just don’t wear I can see what I need. Normally I go through my clothes and discover I don’t need as much as I thought as there are always things hiding in the back that I’ve forgotten about.

Then we plant o move on to books. I LOVE books, I do. I would love a whole wall of bookcases to stuff full. I don’t have a wall of bookcases so I need to decide how many books to keep. Once I know how many I can start clearing them out. I have piles of books everywhere. There are favourites I will never get rid of The House At Pooh Corner (my Grandmother gave me) or my signed All Families Are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland. Then what do I get rid of? The ones I will never read again, any book that was just “meh”. It can be hard to clear out books and looking at them you suddenly remember parts and then you don’t want to get rid of it.

That’s where the rules come in. How many? How much space can they take up?

The same for decorations and such. My basic rule is it must be displayed if it’s not out on display why do I have it? Do I still have an attachment to it? Is it useful?

I occasionally dream of a life traveling and to do that, there is no clutter. The question then becomes if I was going to do that how much stuff is reasonable to put into storage? My friend once read a blog about a family who got all their belongings to fit into five rubbermaid containers. Doesn’t sound like a lot but actually those containers fit ALOT so maybe that’s what I’ll shoot for. Get life down to four or five rubbermaid containers.

Then I could stuff those in storage knowing my favourite things are safe and grab my carry on and travel for a year or two.

Busy Week!

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It’s been a really busy week, with it being a short week and even at the office September seems to mean back at it!

I’ve been a little sloppy with the posts this week but I have plans for next week!

Part of the busy has not just been at the office but also at home. I’m getting rid of the clutter in my home. Okay I don’t actually have a lot of clutter but to ensure I don’t turn into a hoarder (aka my Mother) I like to clear out the place every few years.

In the next couple of months I will be going through EVERYTHING and throwing stuff out, donating stuff and also seeing what I can sell. I would like to make some changes around my place and changes are always easier to make in a clean clutter free home.

First on the list is my closet because fall clothes are out! There are so many cute clothes out there but I know I don’t need much. The plan is to clear out the closet see what I have and then with a budget and a list go shopping!

This will also give me time to figure out what I want to keep of my other stuff and give myself rules to follow. I follow rules well. Giving myself a specific number like “I can keep ten stuffed animals” or “I can keep one box of souvenirs”. Now I have been known to bend the rules and change it to “I can keep ten teddy bears AND ten stuffed animals” or I’ll change the size of the box. A good clearing though always makes me feel good.

Also I am starting to get ready for my trip on October 13th and I’ve had a few people ask me how I plan and prepare for a trip so next week I’ll tell you!

Have a great weekend everyone!

7 Habits So Far

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Well after spending a week with the 7 Habits, actually the 1st Habit which was “Be Proactive” I learnt a lot. Maybe not what I was suppose to but this is a process and it takes time to learn the 7 Habits.

What does that mean? Well it means I’m still sitting on my ass and watching crappy t.v., not as much so there has been improvement. Things happen which means you do have to be flexible. If I have cycling scheduled in and there is a torrential downpour that evening, well I’m going to cozy in with Gordon Ramsey for the night. Perhaps I could have done other things on my list, this I suppose is where the learning curve comes in.

The good is that I did make it to yoga twice this week (I was suppose to go three times), I completed seven of the ten tasks I assigned myself. My floors are CLEAN! Spotless, beautiful, shiny clean. I did get some writing done and I have a new plan for next week. Things are improving and this week I have a new schedule and new list of tasks, I’m feeling good about it. I also booked in some t.v. time, I figure if I book it in I won’t feel deprived.

This week the habit is “Begin with the end in mind”. Hmmm….. do I begin with retirement in mind or is that thinking too far ahead?

I will come up with four goals I want to reach before retirement. Then I will lay out a plan for how to achieve them. Okay week two we’ll make you even better than week one!

 

The Most Important Part Of My Plan

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I did spend time on Sunday getting my weekly and daily plan ready as per the instructions for implementing the 7 Habits. I have a to do list (I always have a to do list). Two days in to following the 7 habits and I’ve already realized the most important part of this process.

Getting off my ass.

Sounds pretty simple. Get up off the couch and get things done! Woo Hoo!

Problem? I like sitting on my ass. After a long day and walking home, I like to sit down. Sometimes for quite awhile, sometimes until it’s late and I’m having cereal for dinner so that I can return to the couch and whatever crappy show is on (I like crappy shows). Sometimes I make a cup of tea when I get home and then I know I’m not getting up.

Today though I came home and the couch was calling to me. Looking very cushy. My couch blanket beckoning me. Come sit, relax ….. settle in…….

Oh it was tempting. According to my schedule though I was suppose to go to yoga. Which I have been a little lazy about going to. I immediately changed into my yoga clothes and then sat. Once in the yoga clothes I know I’ll get out the door. If I had sat first I would have been less likely to get into them, sometimes it’s the order you do things that is important. After changing and getting some water I relaxed for half an hour and then headed out the door to yoga.

I did not miss sitting at home, I did not miss the tv and the crappy shows were still waiting for me when I got home. I missed nothing by going to yoga. Something to remember the next time I sit before I change. Everything at home will still be here when I get back AND I’ll feel so much better. Also I can still have cereal for dinner!

I do, I feel way better, I know I’ll sleep well tonight and I’m still on track. Only two days but it’s a start. So far, so good.