10 Fun & Fantastic Things To Do In a Blizzard

A blizzard is upon us a time where everyone in our immediate area has to take a mandatory chill-pill. There are some of us who are excited about all the work we can catch up on and some of us are looking to binge on Netflix all weekend. Then there are still some of us that are mixed in the middle.  We are haunted by the guilt to be productive but overwhelmed with not knowing exactly where to start and unmotivated because we also want to get in some Amazon Prime.

I think this list is built for the couch potato and the workaholic alike. Getting things done - some on the fun side - making this blizzard business both memorable and mildly productive.

“The most wasted of days is one without laughter.” - e.e. cummings

I hope you get to incorporate one or two of these in your snow day(s) and feel free to share any other pictures and ideas with me on Twitter or Instagram! @b_dexterous #DexterousSnowDay I'll be sharing mine.

1. Go through print pictures. Getting rid of duplicates, pictures of random things like trees that aren't photogenic or of people you don't know or no longer like.  Pictures should either document or make us feel good about the past if your pictures do neither or make you feel horrible get rid of them.
2. Go through all the pens in drawers on desks everywhere and get rid of the ones that don't work; scribble or doodle while you watch Netflix or catch up on Hulu or DVR to find the ones that do work.
3. Go through last year's receipts and get rid of ones that are expired and sort through the ones that have purpose into retrievable systems. Envelopes and handwritten labels work fine.
4. Complete a fun tutorial on YouTube. Since your tablet or laptop can fit in the kitchen you can cook with Buzzfeed. I know you have food because you left hardly any at the stores...

   

   Taken at a local grocery store near me two days before the blizzard was due to arrive.
   

5. Go on Pinterest and start on a crafting pin you saved.
6. Put your digital photos in a cloud storage (or two). Dropbox or Flickr are suggestions.
7. Get your tax packet ready for your accountant or tax preparer.
8. Get rid of expired food and medicine and personal care products while you jam to Taylor Swift, Beyonce or your favorite Amazon playlist.
9. Revisit an old hobby. Play video games that were boxed away, board games that never get played, open the jigsaw puzzle you saved for a rainy, snowy  day.
10. Schedule or fantasy-plan your next vacation. If the snow is not your thing get out of the brain freeze and start planning your vacation this summer. You might find some great deals. If your schedule or bank account only make a stay-cation possible, research the summer fun things in your city or do a fantasy vacation which studies have shown bring happiness too.

Bonus: Reconnect with old friends and family you haven't talked to in a while. Instead of a text, call or send a heartfelt note via snail mail...when the post office opens again of course.

May all of you remain safe, sound, and warm during inclement weather and I hope you get a few things accomplished while you're stuck inside.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer & productivity consultant, blogger, speaker, and educator that assists and empowers busy professionals, business owners and those experiencing major life transitions to create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call to begin your journey to better productivity and more organizational prowess. Also visit our website at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or give us a call at (703) 606-8968

Quote of the Month: "Action Expresses Priorities"

2016 is here! Let’s Kiss Burnout Goodbye this Year.

Looking Back and Moving Forward: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Highlights of 2015

You’re probably going to hear this question a lot but at the risk of redundancy, where in the heck did 2015 go?! I mean, really. Looking back on this past year that flew by, I’ve started to wonder--what great new things did you start in 2015 that you hope continues in 2016? What new endeavors do you plan on focusing on this year?  

For me, 2015 was the year to go as paperless as possible and create better workflows in my business. I’m happy with the progress so far--and, hopefully, I’ll be able to figure out the best platform to offer teachings to help clients do the same. Yet, this was only the tip of the iceberg of all the great things that happened in 2015.

New scheduling and productivity tool

Some of you may have noticed a few changes in our operations. One particular change is we’ve empowered our clients to book their own appointments using a new scheduling program. You’ll also notice there are particular phases of the organizational process of working with Dexterous Organizing that we implemented and hope to improve upon. Take a look and check it out.

The best of 2015’s organizing tips, tricks, and hacks

On the brink of burnout? Looking for some time-saving hacks? Need expert tips on the best ways to organize your desk? You can find all this and more in these Dexterous Organizing 2015 highlights:

• We helped journalist Brigid Schulte organize her desk, and all the tips and tricks we shared with her were featured in this article in The Washington Post in January online and in print.
• I had the privilege of helping a busy career woman who was suffering from burnout. This superwoman’s comeback was documented in another article featured in The Washington Post. Check the article out here.
• After suffering from my own personal bout with burnout, I made some priority changes in my own life and business, and I’m happy to say my business took a huge upswing this spring and summer as a result!
• We welcomed a few new organizers who joined Dexterous Organizing to help our clients. I’m currently working with the two new organizers-in-training and hope you’ll soon help me welcome them onboard the DexOrg team!

While we’re proud of everything that happened in 2015, there’s one thing we’re extremely thankful for. If you read one of my latest blog posts Confessions of an Organizer: I Was Running On Empty, then you know I wouldn’t have been able to pull through some of the tough times without some of the best clients EVER!

Over the past year, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some super busy people that do amazing things in and outside their homes everyday. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a couple doctors (MD & PhD), realtors, several IT professionals, many sales executives, a handful of single moms, full-time moms, and moms and dads struggling between business/work and the kids, small business owners, two massage therapists, a host of world travelers, nurses, and several educators. You guys make the world go ‘round and it brings me joy that you entrust Dexterous Organizing to help your world go ‘round a little more smoothly.

I don’t know where the heck the last 12 months went, but I’m hoping we get to share a heck of a lot of positive and productive things in next 12!

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer & productivity consultant, blogger, speaker, and educator that assists and empowers busy professionals, business owners and those experiencing major life transitions to create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call to begin your journey to better productivity and more organizational prowess. Also visit our website at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or give us a call at (703) 606-8968.

Confessions Of An Organizer: "I Was Running On Empty."

For the first time in my life...I ran out of gas in my vehicle. It was a Monday, cold and long.  I was on my way to a NAPO-WDC meeting and was stopping at the gas station after letting the gas indicator light in my SUV to glare at me for just about two days (it was icy and cold okay, don't judge me).

I pulled into the gas station about a 5 minute walk from my apartment.  As I parked next to a pump I went to reach for my wallet in my purse.  It wasn't there.  I remembered I had left it at my desk because I had just purchased something online.  Probably distracted and in a slight rush to beat the traffic on the way to Bethesda I had inadvertently left it there.

I turn the ignition again and pulled off, annoyed but determined.  I get a couple feet from a parking space near my apartment building and suddenly it happened.  For the first time ever in my driving life it happened. I ran out of gas. It was embarrassing and frustrating.  At first I laughed and turned to problem solving mode. I call my husband and soon we are off to walk to the nearby gas station to get gas.  The container we purchased and the only one they sold could contain just a gallon.

The first attempted gallon didn't start the car.  Soon I went from laughing to crying.  Bitterly sobbing actually. I remembered thinking: How stupid could I be? If I didn't leave my wallet on my desk I wouldn't be in this situation!  I wouldn't be wasting my time, my husband's time, my dad's time (who gave solutions to get the car started over the phone) and our brother's time (who took my husband back to the gas station for gas canister fill up number 2).

It surely was a Monday night for the books.

The next day my physically running out of gas was like a slap in the face!  It was a physical representation of what I going through on a deeper level.

A few weeks prior, I had pretty much bottomed out in my desire to continue with my business.

I had been so busy getting clients, serving clients, and following up with clients, going to networking events, following up with people I've networked with, having meetings with them, seeking (often costly) help in my business, going to conferences, going to trainings, sending out marketing messages, outlining marketing messages, finding time to write marketing messages, emails, spreadsheets, reconciling, receipts, files...the lists and the to-dos seemed endless and when I looked up I was dealing with client cancellations, revenue instability, and not enough prospects in my queue. I was exhausted, and I wasn't seeing what I thought was the fruit of my labor. I almost gave up. I was deeply depressed for several weeks, and I didn't know what to do. Did I still love professional organizing?  Did I want to be in business anymore?  If I was making more money would I have these feelings?

I prayed and meditated a lot. Then during my cross-roads moment, I had a few clients that all but hugged and kissed me after our sessions.  They were in desperate need of help and I used my love of organization, helping people, and skill of conveying thoughts and ideas to transfer these skills to my clients to help improve their lives hopefully then and gradually in the future. It was then I realized I love what I do!

So what gives? Why was I in such a bad place?

After deep thought, I realized I had my life and priorities upside down.  The main reason I wanted and still want in my business is flexibility of my schedule so I could pursue the more important things in my life.  So I don't have to go to a boss and ask for time off to spend doing things that add more value to my life than making money.  But I also realized that I was working way too hard and not getting the results I would imagine I would get.  I was running on empty.  It was then I decided that I would do as the world says "let go, and let God." Slowly but surely, once I re-prioritized my life and shut down this endless rat-race in my business a weird and wonderful thing happened; I had the BEST Spring and Summer quarters in my business to date. Coincidence? Probably not.

Time and time again, I see with my clients a similarity.  They want peace, tranquility, simplicity, and consistent organization in their lives but rarely do the hardest part first. Prioritizing what's really important. What is priority in your life, you will take action to protect, pursue, and procure. One of the wisest men to walk the earth said "Where your treasure is, your heart will be also."  What do you really treasure?  Before you answer, think about where you spend your time, what dictates your thoughts, what motivates you?  When you really come to grips with those things you can start to align your priorities.  When your priorities are properly aligned; peace, tranquility, simplicity, and consistent organization follow.

Fill your tank. That should always be a priority. You'll never reach your destination otherwise.

D-I-S-T-R-A-C-T-I-Oooo-something shiny!

I'll admit it, and people who know me know this.  At times, I get distracted. Like wildly distracted.  

In fact the reason I'm writing this blog right now is because I just got really distracted and thought it was a hoot and a tragedy all rolled into one. 

So what better way to further get distracted and write a blog post about it, right?

I was looking for something to eat.  I saw a box of Jello in the pantry and thought "hmmm.... I should make this tonight..."  So I take down the glass ramekins we have that I've used in the past to find that out of the five we have, we only have two lids.  

#!&$@  

I guess they get damaged, or accidentally thrown out...who knows?!

EBay popped into mind.  I head over to the computer and after about 5,10...15? minutes I find EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Who'd thought there would be someone selling 3 Pampered Chef glass ramekins lids this week...but there they were and I placed my bid.

Now...what about dish towels?  I search there but no reviews...what if I'm getting the best dishtowel for the best price?!?  I head over to Amazon.com to look at reviews but although they were great the ones the reviews were also saying something about shrinkage...after 5,10, 15? minutes of looking at reviews I suddenly realized I was spending WAAAAAAY too much time and energy on looking up dishtowels.  I realized this when one of the reviewers for these particular dishtowels went on a two paragraph rampage and in part said this:

"Here's the deal. They're towels. They are just kitchen hand towels. Yet when I ordered these, I got a treatise from Amazon on how to properly care for my brand new kitchen towels, including step-by-step instructions on washing, drying, and maintaining. This immediately turned me off to the point that I almost returned them because honestly, THEY ARE TOWELS. You should wash them. Dry them. Fold them. Use them. Repeat." 

And How!

Why am I sitting here wasting time worried about kitchen towels.  I'm over it....and I'm hungry. Because I was, for heaven's sake and albeit an hour ago just looking for something to freakin' eat!

It happens to the best of us.  We live in a world of distractions.  Our phones ding, our online shopping turns into a session on Facebook or Twitter.  We have a myriad of options and we want to make sure we are "getting the best deal" and not a penny over.  Meanwhile we're stressed out because we never have time.

Since becoming a professional organizer and productivity consultant, I've gotten a lot better at noticing when I'm distracted and staying on task and focused.  Obviously it's not a natural talent.

So here's a few ways I "auto-correct" from venturing down a rabbit-hole of distractions:

1. Set a timer for short periods of time.  (helps me stay focused for short periods and knowing I'm being timed keeps me aware that I can't afford to be distracted).

2. Stay away from people.  (I'm an introvert....people drain my energy and in the DISC assessment I'm an I/S which means I like to talk which means people distract me. It's a weird combination which ultimately means I work best alone on focus-driven tasks.)

3. Limit notifications on electronic devices.  I've turned off my email notifications.  I can check my email on my phone but it's on my terms.  I've never looked back.  It's great.  If you're scared you are going to miss an important email, set a reminder to check your email at certain intervals.

4. Let the phone ring.  That is what voicemail and caller ID is for...right?

5. Have a "totem".  If you've seen the movie Inception you know there was a visual reminder of reality. Maybe even a better movie reference is Somewhere In Time Yes, "Come back to me!". One thing I do is, when I'm about to venture off into a "secondary adventure" (aka a distraction), I'll write down my thoughts or what I was originally doing so I can get back on task and not have to think too hard about it when I'm ready to continue.

6. Talk to yourself.  Thoughts disappear like mist, by saying something you want to reminder out loud, it reinforces the thought and keeps it in the forefront.

7. Mindfully succumb to the distraction.  But I put a string around my mind to pull me back.  If you have, Siri, Cortana, or "Ok, Google", tell it to remind you in 5,10...15 minutes to (fill in the blank). It's like a bookmark for your thoughts.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.

There's Never Time for the DMV (Yes Department of Motor Vehicles)

I usually don't do this because I know it hurts so bad. That's putting things off until the very last minute. But despite experience and my learned ways as a professional organizer and productivity consultant, I am still human and I still don't like going to the Department of Motor Vehicles aka DMV (or ironing...) these are things I'd rather not do. But I make myself do them, I plan for them.

Until I don't.

I rationalize it away (mistake number 1). "There are more important things to do than sit at the DMV for 2 hours". That's true...but...

I ignore it and conveniently forget to schedule a time to do it -- avoidance (mistake number 2).

I research the heck out of it. "There has to be a way I can do this online. .." (mistake number 3).

Then the day comes I can no longer wait. Well I could but I'd pay fines and get in trouble with the law and stuff. No bueno.

My mistakes catch up with me and my heart rate quickens and my breath shortens and I could kick myself for trying to SQUEEZE this dreaded task in my week when I could have done it weeks ago.

This rarely happens to me and if it didn't you'd have to check me for an on/off switch or a stick up my...(use your imagination).  We are all human we procrastinate things we hate to do. Which is why I have a job.

People hate organizing. They get overwhelmed by it. They are uneducated about it. It's too emotional and for goodness sakes they don't understand what to do with a few boxes /bags/closets/bins of STUFF. Clothes, paper, their time. It's emotional and it's overwhelming and we can be dumbfounded about it.

It's ok.

There is never time for the DMV. But, the reality is. You have to make time.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.

Did you lose this often?

Thinking of all the things we possess, umbrellas are the easiest possession to leave behind.  There is no lost and found in any restaurant or theater that doesn't contain one I'd imagine.  I think it's because we only carry them some times, we drop them on the floor because they are wet and often when we leave if it's not raining there is no reminder to retrieve our forsaken friend.

But then there was Davek Alert umbrellas that recently got funded on Kickstarter for their tech-infused unforgettable umbrellas that on top of their already stylish and built-for-combat design will include a censor that will be synced with your smartphone in order to alert you when you've wandered too far from your umbrella.  Of course for an umbrella that costs starting at $99 I'd be less likely to wander off too far without a reminder!

But we thought it was cool and wanted to share it!

Tell me, if this umbrella could potentially last you 5-10 years because of it's well-made design and technology would you buy one?  Let us know in the comments.