Spring "Calendar" Cleaning
 

It's that time of year again - the time when you start hearing lots of tips about spring cleaning.  I've already seen several TV segments about this topic in the past couple of weeks.

What comes to mind when you think of spring cleaning?  Maybe a little deep cleaning and switching out the fall and winter clothes in the closet to make room for spring and summer?

This spring I challenge you to approach spring cleaning from a different point of view.  Instead of focusing on the dirt and the stuff, think about "calendar cleaning."  You're probably wondering what I'm talking about, let me explain...
 

So often (daily actually) people tell me that they want to:

• Have a more balanced life
• Not waste so much time looking for things
• Feel more "in control" of their chaotic life
• Accomplish more in less time
• Have "More Time for Life" - TM

 The problem likes in the fact that people are not willing to "make the time" to get organize - which in the end provides so many rewards.  Believe me, I've heard all of the excuses (yes, sometimes they are excuses) as to why people don't have time.

Looking at the bigger picture - almost everyone is over-scheduled, over-worked, over-stressed, but how you choose to manage your life (I refer to it as Life Management) may be the reason why you feel like a hamster on a wheel and you can't seem to find your way off.

Back to "Calendar Cleaning..." Stop for a moment and think about the following:

• How much time do I spend working?
• How many groups do I volunteer for?
• How many activities are my kids in that require my participation or chauffeuring services?
• How many social clubs do I belong to along with attending their activities?
• How many networking groups do I belong to?
• How much time do I have left for "ME?"

In other words...where does all of your time go?

It's easy to say "YES" to everything, but then reality sets in and you realize you can't do it all.  When you start to "resent" those things that you've said "yes" to - because you no longer have time to do the things you want to do or should be doing - it's time to thing about calendar cleaning. 

What can you eliminate from your life so that you will have "More Time for Life?"

This topic has been relevant in my life recently.  Yes, I love to think I can do it all, but the fact of the matter is, I can't.  So, I have to decide what's most important to me in my life.  The bottom line is, I have to focus on the three to five goals in my life this year that are the most important for me to accomplish and the rest will have to wait because it is not a priority.

Several of my friends and I have been talking about this subject recently and about our commitments to family, friends, work and volunteering.  I find that everyone I speak to is feeling that they are being pulled in too many directions and stretched too thin.

What does it boil down to?  Priorities and Focus.

If one of your priorities is to "get organized' - and you are adding this to your already over-stuffed schedule, it's going to be very difficult for you to accomplish your goal - unless you make that goal a priority and focus on it.  Most likely, it will mean that you will give up time that you spend in another area.

Whether you are trying to organize your home, home office or streamline things at work - if you've not made the time to focus on this priorities and give up something else temporarily, you will not be successful at reaching your goals.

Take a look at your calendar - what can you "eliminate" to free up some time - so you can reach your goals and ultimately have "More Time for Life."  There is a reason "More Time for Life" is our company tag line - because we believe that the benefits you will receive from organizing areas of your life, home and office - will far outweigh the time you spent to achieve this goal.


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