De-clutter Your Home Office

Workspace clutter is distracting. It may look different depending on the person, but no matter how it accumulates in our spaces we have to actively monitor the items we collect, display, and neglect in our production areas. As the year is winding down and we prepare for the holidays, we should take a few minutes daily to reevaluate our active working spaces. So, before you start feeling overwhelmed, too busy to make immediate action, or unwilling to prioritize your work clusters breathe deeply and release the pressure of perfection. After all, project planning may not be apart of your job title but when it comes to managing your work tasks you are the best one for the job.

Work organization strategies are personalized to help us function in our optimal strengths. Without question, there are ways to improve existing systems that we incorporate into our daily conversations of ‘how to do’ processes. However, keep the systems that work and focus on ways to better streamline tasks by removing the access items. Look around your space and (without negative critique) make a list of all the things out of use and no longer needed actively occupying essential space. Determine what the essential items are for completing necessary tasks within your workspace. Remove items that are not actively in use. If needed, consider reaching out to your leadership team to optimize your work ergonomic space to ensure that you’re balanced in your work focus. Be open to discussing decluttering strategies with peers as well and you may discover allies for managing large scale projects or detailed tasks.

Live. Post. Repeat.

Friendships can be tricky to navigate. People are complex and yet so predictable. Either way, that’s no excuse for you to miss out on the chance to meet new faces in new or familiar settings. Let’s face it, if your still quoting, ‘no new friends’ chances are it’s time to make some new friends. Form some new harmonious bonds with people that wish you well with the best of intentions. Although it’s an easy concept to follow, it’s going to take effort.

Taking time daily to re-center your thoughts takes focus and intention. However, make time for new experiences. Fight the feeling of mental fatigue. If you need more rest, it’s okay. Allow your soul to rejuvenate. Regardless of your daily routine, be more intentional with your time. The responsibilities of work and life present continuous cycles of how to juggle the unknown, foreseen, and items of overwhelm. So, it’s probable that after a long work week, the thought of taking on a new experience can feel crushing. Take it slow.

Stray away from obsessive ideas and exhausting self-talk regarding your ever growing to-do-list of milestone achievements (stemming from your career motivations, family obligations, and lifestyle goals). Take the edge off of life. Give yourself a break and relax with your contacts. Being available for the right opportunities requires patience and an open mind. Allow yourself to network in social settings. Give people a chance to surprise and inspire your senses with their unique energy. Sometimes, it’s not about who you know or what you know. It’s about showing up, being present in the moment, and having authentic conversations. Be seen and be heard by taking a deep breath and engaging with the space filled with people around you. Finding the right community of supportive collogues and friends takes time.

In an era of me first, I’m next, and other narcistic antidots it’s important to realize that life is more enjoyable when shared with others. Interactions with others should relieve anxiety and stress. People are not perfect so allow grace for all the cringe worthy social chats that maybe unintentionally awkward. It will pass. Just don’t abandon the process. Remember to make eye contact and listen with intent. Create a rolodex of thought provoking, smile worthy moments with as many people as possible.

Don’t Wait for Spring to Start Cleaning

Do you enjoy shopping? Most people do. Staying on top of product trends can be costly. Whether you’re searching for custom specialty items, home decor, or seasonal clothing ask yourself one question. Do I have space to store this stuff? It’s a rhetorical question. Over the years we collect certain things we no longer have use for. Truth is most of us like the idea of having easy and accessible options at our fingertips available at any time of day. We’ve become the concierge to our own VIP experience. And, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Perhaps, many people would agree that enjoying the fruits of our labor in some respects has become more challenging. The cost of living mixed with the demands of work can often create an environment with overwhelm and mental exhaustion. So, it’s no surprise that people are looking for ways to create an ambiance through some form of internal or external adornment. If you choose to embark upon that journey, proceed with caution.

Try to be conscious of the things you buy. Afterall, big retail chains aren’t the only ones providing great deals. Shop intentionally to avoid missed opportunities on essential items. Plan your purchases for seasonal big-ticket spending. It may also be beneficial to diversify your items whenever possible to support artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses within your local community or points of interest.

As you continue to rotate, update, or modernize your functional style determine your capacity to let things go along the way. Create a versatile theme with a multipurpose function when introducing new pieces across categories. Construct a useful living space to hold and preserve old items in order to make space for new purchases.

Separating from the things in life we manage to collect over time is not an easy task and for some may cause anxiety. Take your time. The objective is not to remove a lifetime of keepsakes and memories. Unclutter your domain by taking inventory. Some items can be repurposed, sold, donated, or placed in storage. Organize your approach.

Tips on Building a Budget

As we work our way through the year we encounter numerous opportunities to spend money and charge experiences without fully counting the costs. With inflation on the raise and some of our most basic necessities like food, water, and gas increasingly becoming more expensive it makes sense to have a game plan during economic uncertainty. No one knows your spending habits more than you. You’re in control. Saving money is a great game plan. So, decide to look at it from every angle.

Building a small savings account may seem like a large task. Start with small sacrifices, purchasing adjustments, and delayed rewards. Cutting back on spending doesn’t make your personal brand less authentic as a person. Depending on your daily routine and monthly expenses, you may consider reduce your venti latte to a sophisticated small coffee. Or, possibly consider making your own meals during the week. Creating your own rewards program, based on the money you save is a great way to personalize your incentives and hold yourself accountable.

The best tip for creating your own budget is to be honest about your cash goals. Be reasonable regarding the process. Reward yourself for being disciplined and take advantage of great deals.

Set a weekly amount to allocate for miscellaneous purchases. Cash over credit. Although both are beneficial, paying debts can arguably be considered the new sexy. Why? It implies organization and a level of self-imposed accountability. And, if you leverage your iphone or android to create a pay schedule financing that next getaway will become more enjoyable.

Avoid FOMO Reflex

Managing how to be present and plugged in to everyone and everything at the same time can be exhausting. Although the current cultural climate suggests any sensible and advised individual be well versed in the subject matter of every trending topic, let’s face it. It’s an unreasonable request. The art of maintaining a productive lifestyle revolves around the ability to strategically identify what behaviors align with keeping you at your most productive (as it relates to accomplishing your goals).

Becoming hyper-sensitive and over exposed in an over-the-top tabloid driven social media climate creates a loss of perspective. As entertaining headlines become even more polarizing, where is the added value? It can be challenging to find reasons to fight the irresistible urge to stop scrolling, liking, retweeting and deep diving further into click bait taglines that ignite the impulsive errors of the FOMO (fear of missing out) reflex.

Never assume the best finds are taking place online. Balance interest with intrigue. Although you will find great points of interest. Remember, the best moments are discovered when you’re at the center of the action. Live the moments you love to see. Experience the best of yourself through the tasks you complete. This post is not to suggest that you stop scrolling. The objective is to encourage you to maintain an unbiased view of your affiliations and expectations.