Finding the Time
When I decided to shift to my niche, I asked readers to leave a question for me to answer in a blog post. It’s my way of encouraging a discussion and exchange of ideas and tips. The first question/comment comes from Jeanine aka NaturalMomma. Here is what she had to say:
Hi Kristina!
I have a question. How do you find enough time in your day for homeschooling and writing and meals and …?
I am making a bit of a switch, myself, in that I am wanting to write more, work one-on-one with clients less all in an effort to (1)live my purpose and (2)take my biz to the next level.
But as I have begun to spend more time writing mini-books and blog posts and reports and email follow-up messages, my son has begun to hate my computer!
Jeanine
My immediate response to Jeanine was a short reply which read, “You are not alone”. I stand by that still. You are not alone Jeanine no matter how it feels. Before becoming a work-at-home mom, I worked full time as an English teacher (9th grade) and for my daughter’s first year, I was also finishing grad school. I was a wreck. I left the house at 7:30 am and returned home most nights after 9:00 pm. On the nights that I was home earlier she was in bed by 5:30-6:00 EVERY NIGHT! I kid you not. I barely saw her and I was miserable.
After making the transition to WAHM I thought that life would get easier. I thought that I would have more time for her, but when you work from home it is even harder to draw boundaries at times. I was working 40-50 hour weeks trying to build a… Continue reading
Plan it Out Thursday: The Bedroom
I know; it’s not Thursday. But, I started this project LAST Thursday and because it it a massive one, I gave myself a week to complete it all. So look for the update to this post on Thursday, April 23, 2009.
Before I get to the video, let me explain exactly what the problem is with our bedroom. We moved to this apartment in April 2008. It is the nicest place we have ever lived and the only place that I really ever felt like calling home for longer than six months. So, when we moved, I vowed that I would unpack fully and decorate, and keep it clean and presentable. Of course, life does not understand these kinds of promises. We never fully unpacked and while I clean, it has never been the way that I want.
My bedroom is the messiest and the most embarrassing place in the whole place. I never let anyone in my bedroom and when I usually start cleaning it, I am so overwhelmed by the mess that I give up.
But not this time. I decided on Thursday of last week that I was going to tackle my bedroom once and for all and make sure that I declutter and make it comfortable. I wanted to document the process partly because I wanted my husband to see just how much work needed to be done and partly because I really wanted to see the difference.
The video below will show you what our room looked like 40 minutes into the cleaning process. It is not a pretty site but it will be.
Plan It Out Thursday: An Interview with Professional Organizer Krista Colvin
ETA: The giveaway has been postponed.
If you have been scouring the internet for information on how to get organized, then you have probably come across my special guest, Krista Colvin- lifestylist; organizing maven; and media personality. She is the brain behind The SHEbang, Organize in Style, and The O Myth (BlogTalk Radio)- all great tools for helping everyone take control of their lives.
A Little Background
I first met Krista at The Integrated Mother Network, when I frantically called on my fellow mothers to help me get it together. Krista was a calming voice in a very turbulant storm and cautioned me, with warm but stern word, to “Slow Down!” It was then that I realized that she was someone who could definitely help. Not only is she chock-full of resources, and funny, she was generous enough to offer some cool deals to my readers.(see below the interview for details).
In this interview, Krista tells us what it means to be organized and gives everyone (even men) insight into what it takes to “get it together.”
MOTR: What does it mean to be organized?
Krista: Your “things” have a place to call their own! That makes finding + putting things away soooo much easier.
MOTR: Organizing always seems like a daunting task What is the best way for one to get started organizing his/her home?
Krista: Start on a small and emotionally low risk project. Then work your way up to more emotionally charged areas. A kitchen pantry is a great example. It’s simple to sort, purge and put back together. The emotional risk is low because no one is attached to expired food. Your clothes closet and childhood keepsakes… well those are filled with emotions and are best dealt with… Continue reading
Plan It Out Thursday: Making Lists
Normally I would post this at Midnight, but I have a pinched nerve and it is very difficult for me to sit at the computer. Well, better late than never.
Are you ready to Plan it Out? If you aren’t sure what this is all about, check out my explanation from last week. And when you decide to join, please add your name and link to your Plan It Out Thursday post to Mr. Linky below. If you add your link and DO NOT write a post about your plan, I will delete it because while I am all for link love, I can’t stand when people don’t follow directions!
Let’s talk about lists. I like to write things down and with the explosion of digital organizers, I find that I am always on the look out for ways to combine written lists with digital ones. When it comes to keeping organized, I love my PDA. I have a PalmPilot and it keeps my calendar, contacts, and to do’s all together and handy. However, I recently discovered a great new digital tool that I love. It is called SPRINGPAD, an online notebook great from organizing everything from recipes, to play-dates. I only wish that I could sync it with my PDA somehow.
I use SpringPad for everything. I have created several pads so that I can organize all areas of my life. Take a look below to see what I mean. And then head over to SpringPad’s Demo so that you can see it in action.
Do you make lists? What are your favorites list-makers to help you keep organize? Write your Plan It Out Thursday post and then add it to Mr. Linky below.