Tag Archives: efficiency

Making Energy Move

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If you’re wondering how to have more energy and how to get creative, I can tell you that I have more energy now than I have in a long time. You want to know my secret? I haven’t been sleeping more or drinking more coffee (in fact, I’ve been sleeping less and drinking less coffee). I have brought more energy into my life by clearing away the things in my life. This week, I have cleaned out my spice rack, pantry, refrigerator, medicine cabinets, freezer, RSS reader, and both of my email inboxes. I have also packed away about 15 boxes of things to be moved and thrown out 5 trash bags worth of things. I have put together a couple of bags of clothing for donations and thrown out old make-up. This spring cleaning has made me feel so full of energy that I don’t know what to do with myself except keep going, cleaning out unnecessary things in my life and inviting in only those which bring me joy, motivation, and happiness.

There are a few keys to doing this:

  1. Don’t Delay: Do it right now. If you have an hour or only five minutes, take some time to tackle one thing and just do it. Something you’ve been putting off forever because it seems too daunting or undesirable or something you just don’t want to deal with – like the basket by the front door or the coat closet. You’ll be surprised how great you feel after just five minutes of straightening things up.
  2. Tackle Something You Loathe: I HATE doing dishes. It’s probably my least favorite chore, even though it doesn’t take very long to do. But, if I get in the habit of doing it after each meal instead of just once each day, they don’t pile up, it takes less time and I feel great when the dishes are all clean in the rack or put away in the cupboards where they’re supposed to be.
  3. A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place: There’s a reason this is an adage. It’s because it works. If you don’t have a place for something or don’t know where to put it, let it go. Either find a place to put it and make room for it in your life, or don’t. It’s that simple. (And make sure that it goes back to this place when you’re done using it, of course.)
  4. If It Doesn’t Serve a Purpose, Lose It: If it doesn’t serve an immediate purpose, why hang on to it? Clothes that don’t fit? Worn out shoes? CD jewel cases? I got rid of them all and I feel great, like a giant weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.
  5. If It Doesn’t Have Good Energy, Why Hang On? If you got the object from an old boyfriend or girlfriend or you’re hanging onto it just because you think your mom or grandmother or grandfather would want you to have it, give it to someone else who will love it and use it. That piece of heirloom jewelry in the back of your box isn’t going to wear itself, so unless you’re going to put it on sometime soon, why not give it away? If you’ve got art supplies from an art class you never finished, donate them to a charity or a classroom that needs supplies.
  6. Inbox Zero! Do you know how awesome it feels to have ZERO unread emails? When was the last time you went through and cleaned up your entire inbox? Go through and delete anything that’s not important (important = essential to your life, livelihood, relationships or finances). Don’t bother to read unimportant emails, just delete. Once you’ve done this, look at the important emails and decide what is urgent – answer those right away. Yes, right now, even if it’s just to say “I will get you that project as soon as I’ve finished.” Now, the important, but not urgent emails, answer those. Everything that needs archiving should go into folders and anything else should be deleted.

Follow these few simple steps and you will feel the energy around you and within you start to build. It’s a great way to get rid of anything negative and invite positive change into your life. Make sure to declutter and cleanse your life often. It’s not a one-time thing, but a project that you must continue again and again. Each time you do, you’ll feel better, so do it as often as possible.

Less is More

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Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of posts coming from some particular blogs and email lists. The oversaturation in media isn’t helping my creativity blossom, rather it’s hindering me from hearing my own thoughts. It’s not because I’m subscribed to too many feeds or because I’m taking in things from too many channels, but because I am getting so much from particular sources. The sources are ones I used to feel gave me wisdom, but now I have the distinct feeling of wading through muck.

Recently, I read a great post on Quora from Lucretia M. Pruitt entitled Welcome to Quora. Do Yourself a Favor and Slow Down. A post from Lauren Vargas at the Root Report soon followed, where she stated that There Is No Such Thing as the Status Quo. In her blog post, Lauren says, “Instead of thinking of how many social channels can I participate in, think about how should you be participating in those communities…if you should be there at all. Take this much needed breather to assess how you respond and why.”

What a perfect response! I urge you all to take that into consideration when creating your own communities, blogs, and Twitter accounts. How many do you really need? How many do you want? Is more always better? I think not.

This is not a new discussion. It’s been had over and over and over again and, with regard to information, there is such a thing as pushing too much on your followers and friends. If you have something important to say, by all means, SAY IT. But think long and hard about the push of information over this web space and ask yourself if your post is necessary; if it is not necessary, is it helpful, wanted, craved? Because, if it’s just chatter, why not benefit your audience better by giving them something they really want.

I’m stepping back myself. I’m thinking, processing, dreaming, and creating. And when there’s something really good to share, I’ll share it. Until then, my friends, may the muses bless you with important, compelling blog posts.

Wired for Success in 2010

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I wrote this post back in January, but considering it’s been almost 6 months since then (oh, MY GOODNESS it’s flown by!), I thought I should post it again as both a reminder to myself what I want to accomplish and a means of checking in on my progress.

The other day, I read a great article on Chris Brogan‘s blog about Wiring Yourself for Success in 2010. He suggests that, instead of making the traditional New Year’s Resolutions and following them up with endless to-do lists, a better alternative is to set goals and lay out mind maps or frameworks for how to accomplish those goals with multiple paths to the same end result. So, instead of laying out resolutions like “lose 30 pounds”, he says he chooses to set a fitness goal and focuses on one word (in this case, active). He then writes out multiple ways, or paths, to achieve this goal and any distractions or obstacles that might prevent him from accomplishing it, then lists out a few steps to take on his path to success, what the “finish line” looks like (3-5 activities a week, looser jeans, a need to go shopping), and ultimately what comes after he has achieved this goal (step up activity level, try something challenging).

Rather than static goals and infinite to-do lists, this approach is accessible and fluid. If you slip up, there’s no need to start over, simply reassess and redirect, keep working your way to that goal. It’s encouraging, motivating, and makes so much sense.

Chris suggests picking three words for the year to start with. Mine will be: Learn, Create, Invest.

Learn

study

  • Goal word: LEARN
  • Path 1 to the goal: formal classes (I’m in the process of signing up for graphic design classes)
  • Path 2 to the goal: utilize free time
  • Path 3 to the goal: integrate into work life
  • Distractions: work, other goals, social and leisure activities
  • Steps to the path: sign up, work hard in, and excel at online graphic design classes; find free or inexpensive photography tutorials and practice with both digital and 35mm film cameras; read, read, read; observe professionals online and reach out to ask for guidance; work closely with my boss on creative projects and professional development opportunities
  • The finish line: working knowledge and understanding of typography and layout in print and online media, five photography sets each with a different concentration (aperture, focus, f-stop, filter, flash, etc.); enough knowledge to push forth and create my own website.
  • What’s next: use new knowledge to complete own website, portfolio.

Create

paintbrush

  • Goal word: CREATE
  • Path 1 to the goal: build own website
  • Path 2 to the goal: continue blogging
  • Path 3 to the goal: create my own style look
  • Distractions/obstacles: time management, lack of patience
  • Steps to the path: create a logo for my new online identity/website, layout and design of site, code it, update it; post to blog at least twice each week, keep new and exciting features coming and continue with features which I have already started, keep it fresh and relevant; add at least three home-sewn pieces of clothing to my wardrobe; make at least three pieces of jewelry; clean out any old or outdated pieces and donate to charity; take photos to document looks
  • The finish line: a comprehensive, cohesive style and look in person and online; a brand I am proud to push forth in the world
  • What’s next: continue to refine look, organize and style home spaces and document with photos, label, periodically refresh look online and in person

Invest

piggy bank

  • Goal word: INVEST (I had originally picked “Smart”, but changed it to a verb – I like “doing” words and investing sounds smart, doesn’t it?)
  • Path 1 to the goal: invest financially
  • Path 2 to the goal: invest my time
  • Path 3 to the goal: invest in myself
  • Distractions: cash flow, time management, the usual social and leisure distractions
  • Steps to the path: eat well (no nitrates, chemicals, preservatives, or hormones, eating a balanced diet, eating often but not lots at once), exercise (walking, biking, and getting out more), learning to view spending money on myself as an investment and not wasteful, do something every week that I can be proud of – whether that’s creating a piece of artwork or excelling at a project at work or donating time or money to a charity I support, spend money and time on quality and not quantity
  • The finish line: owning only things that are quality and useful and nothing that can be considered clutter, visible results in health improvement via physical appearance and in hormone test results, a savings account not linked to a checking account that has a small amount in it only used in cases of emergency, a list of accomplishments at the end of 2010 that will challenge me to do even better in 2011
  • What’s next: paying down debt on student loans, investing money, a list of equally challenging goals for 2011

Image credits: Learn – Dubio; Create – Thanushyan; Invest – Jordan Liang.

Analysis on my progress with these goals coming soon. In the meantime, I’d love to know what challenges and goals you set out for yourself in 2010. How are you doing with them?

A Meditation: Just Breathe

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meditation

(image credit: C. Mariani)

Take a minute to turn off your computer screen, take off your headphones, stop whatever it is you are doing.


Breathe in and concentrate on what you want out of today;

Breathe out and concentrate on how you will accomplish this.


Don’t you feel better already?

Wired for Success in 2010

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The other day, I read a great article on Chris Brogan‘s blog about Wiring Yourself for Success in 2010. He suggests that, instead of making the traditional New Year’s Resolutions and following them up with endless to-do lists, a better alternative is to set goals and lay out mind maps or frameworks for how to accomplish those goals with multiple paths to the same end result. So, instead of laying out resolutions like “lose 30 pounds”, he says he chooses to set a fitness goal and focuses on one word (in this case, active). He then writes out multiple ways, or paths, to achieve this goal and any distractions or obstacles that might prevent him from accomplishing it, then lists out a few steps to take on his path to success, what the “finish line” looks like (3-5 activities a week, looser jeans, a need to go shopping), and ultimately what comes after he has achieved this goal (step up activity level, try something challenging).

Rather than static goals and infinite to-do lists, this approach is accessible and fluid. If you slip up, there’s no need to start over, simply reassess and redirect, keep working your way to that goal. It’s encouraging, motivating, and makes so much sense.

Chris suggests picking three words for the year to start with. Mine will be: Learn, Create, Smart.

Learn

study

  • Goal word: LEARN
  • Path 1 to the goal: formal classes (I’m in the process of signing up for graphic design classes)
  • Path 2 to the goal: utilize free time
  • Path 3 to the goal: integrate into work life
  • Distractions: work, other goals, social and leisure activities
  • Steps to the path: sign up, work hard in, and excel at online graphic design classes; find free or inexpensive photography tutorials and practice with both digital and 35mm film cameras; read, read, read; observe professionals online and reach out to ask for guidance; work closely with my boss on creative projects and professional development opportunities
  • The finish line: working knowledge and understanding of typography and layout in print and online media, five photography sets each with a different concentration (aperture, focus, f-stop, filter, flash, etc.); enough knowledge to push forth and create my own website.
  • What’s next: use new knowledge to complete own website, portfolio.

Create

paintbrush

  • Goal word: CREATE
  • Path 1 to the goal: build own website
  • Path 2 to the goal: continue blogging
  • Path 3 to the goal: create my own style look
  • Distractions/obstacles: time management, lack of patience
  • Steps to the path: create a logo for my new online identity/website, layout and design of site, code it, update it; post to blog at least twice each week, keep new and exciting features coming and continue with features which I have already started, keep it fresh and relevant; add at least three home-sewn pieces of clothing to my wardrobe; make at least three pieces of jewelry; clean out any old or outdated pieces and donate to charity; take photos to document looks
  • The finish line: a comprehensive, cohesive style and look in person and online; a brand I am proud to push forth in the world
  • What’s next: continue to refine look, organize and style home spaces and document with photos, label,  periodically refresh look online and in person

Invest

piggy bank

  • Goal word: INVEST (I had originally picked “Smart”, but changed it to a verb – I like “doing” words and investing sounds smart, doesn’t it?)
  • Path 1 to the goal: invest financially
  • Path 2 to the goal: invest my time
  • Path 3 to the goal: invest in myself
  • Distractions: cash flow, time management, the usual social and leisure distractions
  • Steps to the path: eat well (no nitrates, chemicals, preservatives, or hormones, eating a balanced diet, eating often but not lots at once), exercise (walking, biking, and getting out more), learning to view spending money on myself as an investment and not wasteful, do something every week that I can be proud of – whether that’s creating a piece of artwork or excelling at a project at work or donating time or money to a charity I support, spend money and time on quality and not quantity
  • The finish line: owning only things that are quality and useful and nothing that can be considered clutter, visible results in health improvement via physical appearance and in hormone test results, a savings account not linked to a checking account that has a small amount in it only used in cases of emergency, a list of accomplishments at the end of 2010 that will challenge me to do even better in 2011
  • What’s next: paying down debt on student loans, investing money, a list of equally challenging goals for 2011

Image credits: Learn – Dubio; Create – Thanushyan; Invest – Jordan Liang.

Making Room

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There is just so much stuff in my life. My life is full to the brim with stuff. But is it stuff that makes me happy? No, it is not. On a list of things that make me happy, stuff actually ranks pretty low. There are particular things I like having, which make my life easier, or which are necessary in my life, but above and beyond that, stuff will never really make me happy.

While this may sound like common sense to some, consider the environment we live in, the amount of excess even in these times of economic downturn. People think that things will make them happy. Having just passed the season of giving, we all know how much (or little) we gave and received and it seems that many base their happiness on receipt of those coveted items which were on wish lists for so long. Whether or not we got that perfect gift for the holidays, we have all received a new year – a place to start fresh, to make good decisions, to make this year the year we take charge and make the most of our lives.

For me, this involves a paring down of the things I own to make room for the things I can create. Instead of clothing that  no longer fits or is outdated, my closet will only be filled with pieces that fit well and are built to last. Instead of books I likely will never read, I will make space on the shelf for those treasured scrapbooks of vacations and journeys and family holidays I’ve been meaning to finish for years. Instead of knick knacks, of which I already have few, I will make room for just a few sacred and inspiring items that will guide me in my creative process. I vow to get rid of boxes of shoes that I hardly ever wear and old gift items I’ve received that I have no use for to make room for my new sewing machine, watercolor paints, and colored pens. I will clean off the desk, which has too often become a dumping ground for keys, hats, gloves, and receipts, and I will set up my computer there again to make a workspace. I will own my possessions and will not let my possessions own me.

Because none of these things makes me happy, but the potential for creation does.

closet

image from weheartit

As Sabrina Fairchild once said in one of my favorite movies,
“More isn’t always better, sometimes more is just more.”

For more inspiration on cleaning up and cleaning out, check out these great blog entries: 10 Unexpected Costs of Owning Things and Desperate Housewife (about cleaning up and cleaning out your closet and your life). Good stuff!

Inspiration Strikes! and the Way I Do My Best Work

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And it strikes at the oddest times.

 

Monsieur IV by Blanca Gomez

Monsieur IV by Blanca Gomez

 

While I was working on some menial administrative tasks at work, the inspiration struck me how to draw the logo I’d been wanting to create for a friend’s make up artistry business. Not only did I find the strategy I needed for her logo design, but a great name for her business and online identity struck me. I went to her and proposed it offhand, thinking she might not like it. However, not only did she like the idea, she even picked a theme song based on it!

It seems that inspiration can strike any time, day or night, no matter the circumstance or surroundings.

But this got me wondering when and where I do my best work. Where am I the most creative and efficient? Is there a specific time of day that I work best?

Personally, I do my best reading and research early in the day, when the sun is rising, with a cup of coffee or tea in hand, before I have a chance to interact with anyone else (hence why I recently decided to work from 8:30am to 4:30pm at my office). In regards to administrative, management, and other business-related practices, I tend to do best in the middle of the day in front of a computer, where I can manage things by spreading them out across a table or desk and can access any files or other materials I might need to stay well-informed and organized. However, I often do my best creative and artistic work long after this, at night, once the quiet of dusk has settled and I am alone again, usually sitting on the floor or close to the ground with materials spread out all over the floor. For some reason, my center of balance is extremely important to the way my brain works.

 

When do you do your best work? Do you find different times of day for different types of work? If you could set your own schedule, what would it be like?

Mine might go something like:

06:30 wake up, greet the day, etc.

07:30 coffee/tea, breakfast, emails, Tweets, RSS feed

08:00 research, reading, etc.

10:00 go to the gym, work out, shower, change, etc.

12:00 have lunch, get organized for the afternoon, check emails again

13:00 administrative tasks, other business-related tasks

16:30 take a walk, clear my head

17:00 finish administrative work, other business

18:00 make and have dinner, chores, errands, etc.

20:00 creative work

22:00 wind down, watch tv, read a book, catch up online

23:30 bed

I know my body likes best when I get a work-out in mid-morning, but unfortunately, having a normal 9-5 type job prevents me from having this ideal schedule, so I do what I can with what I’m given. However, at least I know what times of day and what situations maximize efficiency and creativity. Under what condiditions do you best work? How would your schedule differ from mine?

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