Caroline Totah Many people struggle to follow through with intentions because they don’t have a plan. Quite often, our intentions actually represent complex projects, and not simple tasks. Here’s the difference: a task is something you can do in one relatively short block of time, such as look up a phone number or take out the garbage. We … Read more
Most of us have heard the saying, “You can’t change others. You can only change your response.” I’d like to apply that concept to time management. All of us have the same amount of time, so the only thing we can really “manage” is our response to the challenges and opportunities presented to us. How has your response … Read more
Clients always ask me where to start decluttering. My advice? Follow the path of least resistance. Do whatever feels easiest, as long as you are moving forward in some way. So if you’re wondering what following the path of least resistance looks like, here are some examples: Start with the items that have the least … Read more
I think we’re all familiar with struggling to say no to things that are fun or decadent, but aren’t good for us. But what about the things that don’t sound tempting at all, and still, we can’t say no? In this fourth installment of my series about learning how to say no, (click here to read earlier … Read more
Our time is divided up a lot more today than it was a generation ago. Increased efficiencies lead to packing more activities into a day. More activities lead to more transitions. More transitions lead to more pockets of just a few minutes, waiting until it’s time for the next event. Although I generally don’t encourage trying to … Read more
I just learned about Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), which describes the experience of people who are extra sensitive to rejection. They feel rejection more intensely. They may perceive it when it isn’t there. They may exaggerate its significance, and they can be paralyzed just anticipating it. An Example of RSD at Work Several years ago, I was working with a regular, … Read more
Third installment of my “Just Say No,” blogging campaign, where I am examining the complexities of saying no. To re-cap the themes from my previous posts: Acknowledge when we have the option to say no. Identify the option to turn toward a healthier yes. I think I may have hit a sticking point when considering the option to turn toward … Read more
I speak with many people who are surprised when I ask if they have ADHD. “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD) is the official name for the condition, but it can be misleading. It’s possible to have ADHD without hyperactivity, and it’s also possible to have intense focus, under the right circumstances. Red flags for ADHD: Your level of achievement is … Read more
Decluttering can be such an overwhelming task. The visual impact of all those seemingly random items can initiate a fight, flight or freeze response for many; flight and freeze being the most common. There are the challenges of lack of space to work. Bodies get sore from awkward positions and standing too long. We don’t know where to put … Read more
Back to my “Just Say No,” blogging campaign. My goal is to identify all the complexities of saying no, in the hope that we can someday be able to say no as easily as Nancy Reagan would have liked us to. Why is this important? If we want to change our habits around organization and productivity, we need … Read more