one 2 grow on
Get Organized!!! by Justin Mabrie
To Do lists are essential; they are necessary and definitely efficient! Many people loathe the idea of taking time to pinpoint and plan every step of their day. While unexpected tasks and situations may arise, having a foundation provides an outline to accomplish your goals and stay prioritized. When making a list, start with topics dealing with health and wealth. By including both aspects in your daily tasks, you are more likely to have a balanced day. Health checklist items include working out, meditation, taking vitamins and allocating time to eat. Many times people go an entire day without eating because they are too focused on getting everything else done. Not eating properly disrupts your metabolism. Once an actual time has been set aside for eating, you are also more likely to eat healthier. This is because you are not feeling rushed to hurry up and eat or to eat on the go. Your wealth checklist topics should include items that contribute to making you money and your hobbies. Your hobbies are included in the wealth category because these are the things you are most passionate about. Eventually they will bring you peace and possibly wealth.
Allocating time to develop skills revolving around a hobby will prove to be beneficial for a wealthier spirit if nothing else. After both topics are covered in your checklist throughout the day, you should fill in the blanks with miscellaneous tasks that need to be completed. These tasks include personal care, car maintenance, sightseeing, catching up with friends, grocery shopping or whatever it is you have to do that day. Sometimes it is also wise to include a moment to reflect on how your day is progressing. During this quick mid-day reflection, you may find it necessary to subtract an item from your list due to unforeseen circumstances such as traffic, weather, or a last minute deviation from the original list. You will feel a sense of accomplishment each time you check-mark or cross out an item from your list. The instant gratification will keep your energy going throughout the day. Your day will feel less cluttered and have more purpose. Once you have mastered making an efficient To Do list, all the above information will seem like second nature and it should take you no longer than 30 minutes to organize your thoughts. Good luck!
Spring Cleaning For Your Life by: Neeta Wooten Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t put it down, put it away!” Known for keeping everything from my 2nd grade report card to my first stuffed animal, I had much difficulty as a child keeping a neat room. My mother would tell me, “Don’t put it down, put it away,” in hopes that I would not have everything under the sun scattered around my room. As I became a teenager, and then a college student, I found this phrase to be very helpful, not just in keeping my dorm room respectful, but also in managing my life. In essence, the phrase teaches you to fully deal with whatever you are focusing on at that moment. If you are taking off your jacket, do not put it down on the bed, focus on where it needs to end up and just put it there, in the closet. When dealing with emotions, say your best friend said 54 ::The IDEAL Magazine:: Spring 2012
something to hurt your feelings, do not put it down, put it away. Tell them right then and there so you can move on and be done with it. So many times we carry around tons of clutter in our minds with the weight of life’s problems that we just put down...instead of putting away. That same jacket that you put on your bed, you will eventually have to hang it up at some point. Why spend the extra time and energy moving around the jacket more than you have to? Dealing with something may take a more direct approach, but at least once you have addressed the issue, hopefully it will be done and over with. Be mindful of how you choose to communicate your feelings. If you are upset, be sure to take a breath and be careful about how you “put it away” because you cannot take back words, so choose them carefully.