Birds build their nests so they’re barely big enough for their eggs. It doesn’t take long for the youngsters to end up crowded out of the nest, never to return. There are times when all parents feel like the birds may be onto something. It might be nice to just force Jr. out into the …
Leaving Things Behind When You Go To College
July 22, 2013We often spend time thinking about what to pack for college, but it may be better to think of what to leave behind. Here are a few thoughts: Don’t pack too many clothes. If you’re like most students and you plan to travel back home between semesters, you don’t have to pack a lot of …
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Keyboard Shortcuts for Quick Cleanup
July 15, 2013If you’ve ever typed out notes during a rapid lecture and tried to adapt them for a paper later, you probably know how hard it can be to re-format everything to look nice. Here’s a list of keyboard shortcuts, both common and obscure, that can help you dress up your notes for easy reading (replace …
Create a Study Corner
July 8, 2013With studying, as with so much else in life, it’s all about location, location, location. For learning outside the classroom, it helps to have a dedicated study space. Here are some ideas on how to make yours: Get out of sight (and sound): make your study corner in a place that’s far from TVs, video …
Time Management
July 1, 2013One big part of managing your time is figuring out how much time you spend on each task. With a world wide web of distractions one browser click away, electronic organizing can take much longer than you expect. With a paper planner, completing a task is as simple as pulling out your planner, checking off …
Stay Productive While On The Go
June 28, 2013Staying productive on the go is easier that you might think. If you keep a list of things to do with you at all times, you’ll likely find a number of tasks and to do’s that can be executed with very little technology or tools beyond pen and paper. If you need to meet with …
Clean Up Your Devices
May 27, 2013Think back ten years – back when cell phones flipped open and most portable devices used AA batteries. Most of your tech centered around a single desk, where you could put cords behind and out of the way. Fast forward, and technology has spread over the entire house, with more devices than ever and charging …
National Memo Day
May 20, 2013Take this down: May 21st is National Memo Day. Fun Facts: In 1968, a chemist at the 3M company was trying to develop a super-strength adhesive, but instead created a low-tack, reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive. 22 years later, in 1980, they finally figured out how to use this adhesive, and the Post-It Note was born. The …
“Where Are My Keys?”
May 13, 2013If you find yourself asking this question frequently, it’s time to change upyour system. Most of the time, the simplest solutions work best. Leave your keys in the same spot – and while you’re at it, leave your cell phone, wallet, and other daily essentials there as well. Suspend them in your purse – if …
Paper Planning – Goals Without Interruptions
May 6, 2013We live in a world of distractions, a world where during the course of a single meeting, you can get five notifications on your cell phone – two recurring notifications for obsolete meetings, a spam text, a voicemail from your significant other, and a Facebook notification. Using a paper planning system helps you focus without …
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Summer Vacation Planning
April 29, 2013Make your vacation less stressful by preparing ahead of time. Be sure the house is picked up and the kitchen and bathrooms are clean before you leave, so you won’t come home to a list of chores. Ask friend to check your mail, get someone to take care of your pets, and even hire yard …
Summer Vacation Planning
April 29, 2013Make your vacation less stressful by preparing ahead of time. Be sure the house is picked up and the kitchen and bathrooms are clean before you leave, so you won’t come home to a list of chores. Ask friend to check your mail, get someone to take care of your pets, and even hire yard …
Workplace Conflict Month
April 22, 2013April is Workplace Conflict Month – and no, that doesn’t mean that it’s time to go start the fight with the loud eater in the cubicle next door. There’s a big difference between constructive conflict, or an honest, respectful meeting of ideas, and destructive conflict, where the personal realm taints workplace relationships. Here are some …
Administrative Professional’s Day
April 15, 2013If we’re honest, most of us will admit we can’t make it in business alone. We rely on others to keep things flowing so we can focus on our areas of expertise. Without help, we’d sink. Wednesday, April 24th is Administrative Professionals’ Day. Don’t forget to recognize the professionals who keep you going each day. …
Mother’s Day
April 8, 2013Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday of May. This year, it’s May 12—a little later than you might have expected. But that’s no reason to procrastinate your gifts for the mothers in your life. You’re sure to remember your wife, your mother, and mother-in-law, but you may also choose to do something special for …
Graduation Gifts
April 1, 2013Graduation is a celebration of a milestone, but it isn’t the end of the journey. In many ways, it’s the beginning. It’s great to give your graduate a gift that symbolizes the importance of this stage of life—preferably something he or she can use in the future. That’s probably why so many people choose a …
Spring Cleaning – Keep It Clean
March 25, 2013Who says spring-cleaning should stop when summer arrives? This spring, set up a great system for keeping your spaces clean. For your messiest spaces, like your kitchen and bathroom, store the appropriate cleaners nearby. Then when you see a mess, you won’t have to cross your house twice to clean it up. Maintaining a clean …
Time Management – Morning Person or Night Owl
March 18, 2013Your body has its own schedule – maybe you prefer waking up with the sun, or maybe you usually burn the midnight oil. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, the best time to plan for your day is when you’re most awake. Take 20-30 minutes at the start of your day, or …
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Tax Organization
March 11, 2013As the days count down to April 15, it’s time to start gathering your documents. The sooner you submit your taxes, the sooner you have peace of mind (and possibly your refund). As forms from your employment and bank accounts come through the mail, put them in a Tax Organizer and keep them together. Whether you …
Spring Cleaning – Dead Batteries, Expired Medicine
March 4, 2013Health and safety are precious commodities. As you start your spring cleaning, promote both by checking the batteries in your smoke detectors and cleaning out your medicine cabinet. Fire safety is incredibly important – once you’ve replaced the batteries, set off a surprise test for your family members and make sure that they can hear …
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