The Get Organised & Get Happy Project

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I always end up hitting a few bumps in the road as I get closer to the end of the week.  I’m always full of energy at the beginning of the week and keep extremely motivated to keep to the plan.  Then Wednesday comes and I start to get slack again.

Thankfully because I’ve very publicly set this challenge to prepare the night before I have re-found my motivation.  

One thing I haven’t given up on this week is writing my to do list the night before. I’m seriously happy with that as I normally just say “it’ll only take 5 minutes in the morning”.  What normally happens is I get up, turn on the computer and the whole dreamy world of facebook, twitter and blogs opens up before me. 

Thankfully I’ve stuck to the to do list at night thing which has meant I’ve had 4 productive days in a row work wise! I usually did the list around 11pm though or last thing before going to sleep which isn’t great. Right now I can proudly say I have actually done already for tomorrow and mananged to get a nother few things off it in the last hour or so.  The energy created some more energy.

The bumps.  Well I didn’t really stick to the getting the clothes ready for the next day thing and I left a couple of pots in the sink last night.  I do blame the fact that I spent hours working out how to put a shower screen up last night (which still isn’t up). Tonight I have to do list done, the dishes have been done too (by my heavily pregnant wife unfortunately - she insisted on moving around) and I’m going to head now to get the clothes ready for the morning. 

Then I have a choice to make. Gloss the bathroom window frames tonight or try and do it early in the morning. Leaving until tomorrow means I could have an early night and listen to some more of the these inspirational podcasts. Doing tonight would give me a greater sense of achievement and make my lovely wife very happy. 

You’ll have to wait until the morning to find out what I’m going to do! Bet you can’t wait. 

How are you getting on?

Playing your passion (from Live On Purpose Radio)

“Ten principles that will help you to create and live the life you love” from a discussion between Dr. Paul and his guest Dale Jessee, a contemporary new age piano player and composer. 

-Precision
-Passion
-Preparation
-Positioning
-Pay the Price
-Punctuality
-Personality
-Personalization
-Perspiration (The right kind)
-Perseverance

Check out the podcast here. It’s pretty cool. I’ll be looking at some of these principles when putting together future Get Organised Get Happy weekly challenges. 

These podcast come from Live On Purpose Radio.  Been listening to some of them while trying for a couple of hours now to put up a shower screen. Enjoying it but it’s taking a lot longer than expected.  Probably just as long as my wife expected though. Still have to plan for tomorrow too!!! 

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1 week to go before I’m to become a father for the very first time. I’ve never felt such motivation to be organised and dependable. Absolutely focussed now. No messing around. The Cub could arrive here any time! I think we’re ready.  Is it possible to be totally ready for such a life changing event. I love a good life changing event. Come on ahead cub. 

I’d like to go here…

(Source: im-tiergarten)

I actually got excited about getting the bin out for the bin-man tonight instead of running out with half my clothes on and my bare feet in the morning just as the lorry starts to go past our house. 

Get Organised Challenge 1: Prepare the night before

Starting tonight, this week’s challenge is all about removing the need to rush around in the mornings. 

The challenge: Before going to bed have a think about what you want to do the next day. Now put together a simple plan of the things which need to be done to make the day happen as stress free as possible. 

Benefits of starting this new habit: 

• Going to sleep with a more peaceful mind knowing exactly what you’re doing when you get up
• No arguments because you’ve run out of time and are now running late
• Not letting anyone down because you’re late 
• Not having to drive or walk fast and getting stressed or hot and bothered
• Having more time to do relaxing things you like doing instead of running up and down the stairs trying to find things you need for the day ahead
• A sense of calmness which will carry through the rest of the day
• Being more reliable for others who may not be as well prepared or calm as you
• Setting a good example for your children or people who look up to you
• Generally being more productive because your day has gotten off to a flying start. 
• Not losing your temper or getting frustrated because you don’t know where things are.  
• Not wasting time trying to figure out what you’ve got to do
• Enjoy your free time because you have the day planned out so you can properly just let go and relax in the time you’ve set aside.

Take action: 

• Ask yourself what you’re hoping to do or achieve the following day
• Make a To Do List of the things which need be done and give each item a priority number. 1 for urgent and important, 2 for important not urgent and 3 for just need to be done when you have time. 
• If there are regular things you do in the morning that usually get you flustered sort these out.  E.g. Put your keys in the same place so you know where they are; pack your handbag, briefcase or rucksack with what you need to take with you; put your breakfast dishes out ready for the morning, iron or put out the clothes you need for the morning so you’re not trying to decide what to wear. 
• If you work from home make sure your space is tidy and organised so that you’re ready to go first thing. 
• If you have kids make sure you have a bag packed for the day, clothes, dinner money, note to the teacher, shoes, etc all sitting ready at the door. 

Getting into this good habit will have major positive implication for you and the people around you.  The opposite of this habit is just stress and chaos which sets a bad example for your kids or just makes you a less happy person. 

It’s very easy to fall out of this good habit and you have to make it important enough to you to keep it up.  You have to picture the long term benefits of keeping it going and negative long term impact of not. 

Let us all know how you get on if you take up the challenge.