Caroline Totah 
In my last post, I discussed decision making styles, which are inherent parts of our personality and can impact our productivity. Now here’s another trait to consider: time perspective. I’ve summarized briefly, below, but for more information, check out this scholarly article, or the two-minute summary. Five Time Perspectives Researchers have identified five distinct perspectives: Past-negative: Focus … Read more
Are you stalled from moving forward on a project because you can’t make a decision? Perhaps you aren’t sure which contractor to hire, which bookkeeping software to use, or which after-school program your kids should attend… Life requires lots of decisions. Our decision making styles are inherent parts of our personality, and they fall into two groups: maximizers and satisficers. … Read more
The recent death of Nancy Reagan reminded me of her “Just Say No” campaign against drug use. Many ridiculed her for over-simplifying a very complex problem. As someone who is often witness to people struggling to say “no” to unhelpful habits, I’m well aware that it can be very difficult. But I also think the mantra “just … Read more
Clients often tell me, “I feel like I’m just running in circles.” They get very discouraged to encounter the same problems again and again. But circles are also part of life. We repeat many aspects of our lives. Eating, bathing, working, etc. Some circles happen within a few hours, and some span a longer time, … Read more
I was asked the simple question, “What is clutter?” and I had difficulty finding the words. It’s a huge concept in my brain, but I couldn’t articulate it with words. There are dictionary definitions that use words like “untidy,” “crowded,” and “disorderly.” I’ve heard ubiquitous definitions from professional organizers like, “anything you don’t love,” and “things that don’t … Read more
Marie Kondo’s best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, has been quite the phenomenon. Here were my quick take-aways: Many of the concepts are not new, but she uses language that sounds enchanting and fresh. It’s written from a “one size fits all” perspective, (as most self-help books are). Much of … Read more
Some clients feel discouraged when I recommend tiny steps to implement a new habit. They say their problems are so huge that such tiny steps couldn’t possibly make a difference, and to an extent, they are right. Taking one small step, in and of itself, will not solve the problem. What follows that one small step is what … Read more
Just listened to yet another excellent podcast this morning about managing ADHD, and couldn’t help but thinking that it all really boils down to money, doesn’t it? Not sure I have any answers, but I just want to acknowledge how frustrating it must be for people to hear things like: Hire an assistant. Leave your … Read more
Decluttering comes down to a matter of physics. Most people just don’t have the space to comfortably keep everything they would like. Choices have to be made about what stays and what goes. Making so many decisions is hard enough, but the choices represent giving up something deeper than just the items in question, and … Read more
We all wish that successful time management were merely a matter of finding the perfect tool. Alas, it isn’t so. Tools are essential, but expecting perfection is often the thing that creates the biggest obstacle. Instead of spending energy on finding the perfect time management tool, I recommend focusing on using any tool. Five essential … Read more