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Time management

Magical Mornings

October 12, 2016

“Have a magical morning!”  is what we heard every day when we entered Disneyworld. Today, I have some tips to make mornings flow.

How can you avoid the mad dash that happens every day as you get the kids or yourself out the door? It’s stressful most days, and it feels rushed and frantic.

We all know the basics, eat a good breakfast, pick out an outfit, get dressed, and, if you get up early enough, exercise.

What about the other stuff? How can you prepare yourself for the day and get the kids, yourself and your spouse out the door without the mad morning scramble?

Tips for Magical Mornings

  1. This really helps . . . Get up before the rest of your family, even just 15 minutes. I know, I know. It doesn’t sound inviting, especially if you are tired right now. Trust me; it is worth it.
  2. Take time to pray or meditate.
  3. Do some stretches while listening to scripture or an inspirational book.
  4. Get showered if possible and DEFINITELY do get dressed for your first activity before you wake up kids—this really helps. As one of my clients said, when her kids were young, she would get dressed from her head to her socks before she woke her children up, and it really helped her feel put-together.–it’s ok to wear your slippers! Also, it reinforces the habit of taking care of you before taking care of others.
  5. Make a quick plan for the day: what’s for dinner, what’s your #1 priority for the day? Take out whatever needs to thaw for dinner. For quick and easy meal ideas: find it here.  https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2016/07/cool-easy-summer-salads/Link to my Pinterest board Easy dinners: http://www.pinterest.com/jennyrossomorin/easy-dinners/
  6. Now you are centered and ready to wake up your spouse and/or children and greet them with kisses and smiles.
  7. And last of all, go to bed earlier. Allow yourself at least 7 hours to sleep and you will awake refreshed and ready for the day tomorrow.

Now go put in a load of laundry. Yay!   Don’t forget to plan when to take it out too. Start a habit for when to transfer the clothes to the dryer… or you’re gonna have to re-wash it tomorrow.

If you do forget and need to rewash, I’ve done some research and experimenting. The best way to get the in-the-washer-too-long smell out is by putting a half cup of baking soda directly on the clothes, then rewash. Detergent not necessary.

And don’t beat yourself up if you cannot manage to wake up earlier one morning.  The routine here is the ideal. If you only have 15 minutes to get yourself ready on any given day, you’ve got to prioritize and pick the activities that are most rejuvenating for you in the morning. ALWAYS do #4, though. It will make you feel better, more put-together.

Bonus: Tips for Getting kids’ stuff ready the night before

  • Make sure homework is done
  • Backpacks loaded with homework, lunch money, permission slips, etc.
  • If your child tends to dawdle over getting dressed, have them pick out an outfit in evening. Better yet, have them pick out 5 outfits on Sunday!

Good Questions to ask kids before they go to school:

Do you have everything? Lunch money? Time they need to be picked up? Who’s picking them up? You, a spouse, or an older sibling?

What activities do they have in the afternoon/evening: remind them and yourself.

I promise, when you follow these tips, most of your mornings will be calm, less stressful, and yes, even MAGICAL!

by Jenny Morin

Save money & time grocery shopping

August 1, 2016

Get in, get done & get out . . . with 5 cool and EASY meals!

What do you do when you are out of milk and it’s only Wednesday? Don’t panic!  A midweek shopping trip doesn’t need to take long, and you can quickly pick up enough for several meals by following this speed-shopping guide. Follow my shopping list to make five EASY weekday dinners too!

Here’s a tip you already know but don’t always DO:

  1. Make a list before you go into the store. It’s best to make list at home when you can check inventory. See how many boxes of pasta and cans of soup you have, and remember the milk! There is a nifty app that helps you keep track of your food inventory; it’s called Out of Milk. How cool is that!?!

“No matter how good your memory is, write a grocery list. Not only will it make sure you don’t forget things you need, it’ll more importantly deter you from buying the things you don’t need.”                   ~20 Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries, Huffington Post.com

Did you know that people who shop with a list spend less than those who skip the list? That extra time in the store will cost you, literally.  Wandering down every aisle leads to impulse buying.

So . . . shopping with a list will save you money! And we all like to save money, yes?

More MONEY & TIME-SAVING SHOPPING TIPS:

  1. Don’t go to the store hungry. Big mistake! You will spend more if you are hungry. It would be better to buy a snack at the grocery store, eat it and then shop.
  2. Skirt around the edge of the store if you are only after the staples. You’ll be tempted by all the processed foods if you barrel down the center aisle.
  3. Set a timer for yourself to be at the checkout—this helps me focus instead of getting distracted in the produce or snack section; we all have our weaknesses!
  4. Be strong; stick to your list. Limit yourself to, say, 4 impulse buys.
  5. Make sure your list is compiled in order of the store layout. My list is different when I shop at Winco vs. Fred Meyer, for example.

“The more aisles you walk down, the more likely you are to add things to your shopping basket that you hadn’t initially intended to buy. Shoppers who decreased the number of aisles they visited checked out with only half their items being unplanned purchases vs. 68% of items for those who visited most or all aisles in a shop, according to a Marketing Science Institute study.”                                                                                           ~ 29 Ways to Save Hundreds on Groceries, Time.com

  1. Need one? Buy two (just in case). This saves you extra trips to the store, and ends up saving you money. How? Because most of us aren’t disciplined enough to come out of the grocery store with just a couple items—myself included!

Cool & EASY summertime dinner ideas:

Plan five dinners and shop for the ingredients. My choices for a hot, sticky summer week are some easy family favorites.  Many of these are cool meals, just right for sizzling summer temps. Chicken pasta salad (one of my kids’ favorites), Hawaiian haystacks, Taco salad, Potato Pizza and BLT salad.

Shop first in the produce and bakery sections. Pick up a pound of seedless grapes, 3 large heads of Romaine lettuce, 6 tomatoes, 8 oz. cherry tomatoes, 5-10 lb. baking potatoes (pre-bagged is cheaper), and a bag of carrots. Add two baguettes to serve as sides for Taco salad and Chicken Pasta salad.

Next, hop over to the canned goods and dressing aisles. For Hawaiian haystacks, get pineapple chunks and canned chicken.  For Taco salad, get some kidney beans. Potato pizza needs tomato sauce, and Chicken Pasta salad uses ranch dressing—a lot of it!

Shop the meat and cheese coolers. Get a Rotisserie chicken for Chicken Pasta salad, ground beef (or ground turkey) for Taco salad, bacon and mozzarella cheese for Potato pizzas, 2 lbs. chicken breasts for Hawaiian Haystacks, and more bacon for the BLT salad. I firmly believe you can never have too much bacon! Yum.

Also, grab Doritos, taco seasoning, Rotini noodles, slivered almonds, and rice if you don’t have it on hand.

And don’t forget the ice cream!

Find the complete recipes for these five yummy, easy dinners here: https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2016/07/cool-easy-summer-salads/

********************************************************************************

Resources:

Grocery store hacks, Real Simple, Jan. 2015, 110.

http://time.com/money/3481381/save-on-groceries/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/18/money-saving-tips_n_1537035.html

by Jenny Morin

Why Plan?

March 2, 2016

Planning is a great tool for you to grow your business or your career.  Why is planning so important?  you may ask.

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail – Ben Franklin

Let’s invert that statement:      Be sure to plan, and you will SUCCEED.

When you take time to plan, you ARE more in control of your life.  You know what you have coming, and you get noticed as a doer; someone who gets things done.

And planning doesn’t take long! 30 minutes is plenty of time.  So, plan for success!

For example:  When my husband Frank came back from a writing conference, he had so many ideas for marketing his next book that he was having trouble keeping it all straight, and he was stressed about it.  As I do with my time coaching clients, I suggested we sit down and brainstorm all the ideas he wanted to put into place and schedule them.

He said: “That helped me prioritize, categorize, define and lay out a game plan for the next 3 months, which is critical for a successful book launch.  Now I can focus on my work and not get distracted by unknowns.  I can work with more confidence.”  ~ Frank Morin, Author

  1. Planning gives you weekly time to think about your business. I take this time to think about at least one new thing I would like to do differently or more efficiently.
  2. By taking time to plan, your week is geared toward YOUR goals. This is a major difference between doers and followers. To gain traction in any position, you must set and achieve goals to improve your performance. You will rise to the top and get noticed as a person who gets things done.
  3. Planning gets you motivated for the week. What are you most excited about this week? What kudos are you looking forward to?  Do you have a time planned to get together with someone fascinating or talented?
  4. Good planning helps you anticipate complications, which means less time putting out fires.
  5. Planning causes focus on priorities and what’s important; less distracted by minor events or tasks. This is true at work AND at home. Want more free time? Plan. To finally make progress on your goal? Plan. Want to be truly able to focus on your family while home? Plan. Planning is the answer, my friends.
  6. Looking ahead to the week’s appointments helps avoid scheduling conflicts or double-booking. Have you allowed enough time for the meeting with your client Amy? How long did your last meeting last?  If you don’t plan properly, Amy’s meeting may spill over into another person’s appointment time, which may upset that next client.

When I don’t plan, things go haywire.  A few weeks ago, I was getting ready for a last-minute trip.  I hadn’t planned on Monday.  Big mistake. I almost missed my call with my business coach, which I’ve NEVER forgotten before.  And I was so distracted that day I missed a reminder text from my Aesthetician, so I missed my facial, and probably annoyed her.  I felt frazzled and definitely NOT together.  Not a good feeling, because I like to have my ducks in a row! 

  1. Improve performance:  Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.  ~ Gary Ryan Blair Proper planning makes you better prepared for meetings and client interactions. Tracking how long different clients take and how long it takes you in between to prepare for the next person/meeting will save anxiety.  I know a financial planner who always allows herself 30 minutes between each client to prepare for the next one; a practice that has worked well for her.  Also, you will be more able to focus completely on the client you are with when you are not worried about timing or lack of preparation
  1. Be flexible. Remember, plans change. Your priorities may change as the week goes on, or you may have to deal with an emergency.  Make it work for you!

Source:  www.moneyunder30.com

by Jenny Morin

‘Tis the season to spend wisely

November 25, 2015

Now, even though I have been guilty of over-buying, especially when it’s a ‘good deal,’ the only thing I’ve over-bought lately is paper towels.  You can never have too many paper towels, right?  That’s what my Dad believes, and his philosophy rubbed off on me.  But seriously.  I asked my 8 year old boy to inventory the paper products before I went to Costco.  Serious error on my part. Now we have close to 40 paper towel rolls in the garage.

But I digress.  My intent here is not to talk about buying habits, but to give some solid advice about NOT accumulating ‘stuff.’  I’ve gathered 6 helpful tips for staying within your means for the Holidays.

  1. Establish a Holiday Budget — Decide what you can afford, together with your spouse/family, and stick to it.  Try to plan for everything: gifts, meals out, travel expenses, special ingredients, wrapping materials, etc.
  2. When you are out shopping, make sure to have a list with you — Stick to your list. Now, you can allow yourself some impulse buys, just make sure it’s something you had in mind.  Not something the store has in mind for you.  Retailers are so good at placing the good deals on endcaps or pricing their surplus attractively, and we tend to fall for it. Beware of wandering through malls and other stores, and DON’T bring your children, they will fall for the marketing and displays too!
  3. Before you bring an item home, or even put it on the cart, think about it — Is it something you need or is it just something you want?  Can you afford it, will it fit in your home,  will it be on sale after Christmas, etc….

In the past, I have fallen for marketing lures.  I remember the time years ago at Christmas when I really over-bought everything from wrapping paper to presents. I’m really glad my husband didn’t do the numbers like the accountant in “Skipping Christmas” to find out how much I spent that year.  I am especially vulnerable to marketing at that time of year, wanting everything to be ‘perfect’ for the special day.

  1. Focus on making memories — Remember, trying to buy the perfect Christmas gift is not realistic.  The things we remember best are the memories we make as we bake together, do crafts, sing carols, create a Nativity play, and serve others together.  It’s the traditions or activities that mean the most, not the number of presents under the tree.  One of my best Christmases, almost everything we received was homemade by my mother; red flannel nightgowns, puppets and a puppet theater.  We spent the day putting together puppet shows and had a ball.
  2. Encourage gratitude — Instead of a spirit of entitlement, as many children have these days, let’s teach gratitude and giving by encouraging them to either make or buy gifts for others, including their teacher.  Also, have each child write a thank you note to grandparents, aunts and uncles they received a gift from.  We tried this last year and it caused the children to think about the generosity of others and their own gratitude.  An added benefit: the grandparents were so tickled!
  3. Start a family tradition that helps someone in need — Whether they need companionship (the elderly) food, or something fun under the tree, you can easily find a family service opportunity.  Last Christmas, we used the money from our Christmas jar (which we put change in throughout the year) to buy presents for elderly.  The gym had a “senior” tree with items they needed.  Many of the things were actual needs, like pajamas, winter gloves, and so on.  We took the kids shopping with us and they were surprised by how quickly our money dwindled.

To sum up, be careful this season, don’t go into debt for the Holidays!  Know what you have to spend, use your list, don’t fall for marketing lures, and spend time making memories and focusing on others. These are the ingredients for a truly memorable Holiday season.

Resources:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/10/22/6-tips-to-steer-clear-of-holiday-debt

The Christmas Jar by Jason Wright

https://www.mainstreet.com/article/10-best-ways-to-avoid-holiday-debt-beware-the-spending-danger-zone/page/3

by Jenny Morin

Simplify Your Holidays

December 15, 2014

Don’t stress, do less!  At the holidays, people are busier and have more stress.  Whatever your religious faith is, the holidays bring extra mail, concerts, requests for donations, parties, special dishes to make, deliveries to friends, presents to buy, phone calls to make, cards to write, et cetera.

Your head might be spinning now just thinking about all the things you need to do before the holidays hit.  For me, having a list eases my mind and actually makes everything easier.

5 Reasons why a list will keep you jolly:

  • Tasks not written down often bounce around in your mind, distracting you
  • You see what you need to do
  • Crossing off items as you complete them brings a feeling of accomplishment
  • A list helps you prioritize your tasks
  • Your holiday preparation will be more efficient

Every project needs a Plan of attack . Now, I know most of you know how to write a list, but do you know how to whittle your list down to the bare essentials?

The Write way to create your list:

Write it down.

Brainstorm all the things you have to do or want to do before the big holiday.  This can usually be done in one sitting, though you may think of other things and add them later. Once your list is complete, ask yourself, “Is this really possible?” Can you really accomplish all of these things in the next few weeks?

Identify the things you don’t have time to do or don’t intend to do.  Then, cut those from your list.  For example: if you have 30 jobs written and you realize you only have time for half,  you need to somehow cut 50 percent, or 15 tasks from the list.  This will result in a savings of several hours’ worth of time.

Option 1:  Figure out how to let those things go.

Option 2:  Determine how to get them done without spending your valuable time.

Delegating and outsourcing are excellent ways to accomplish this! (Link to a list of local resources at the end of this post.) Next, take what remains of your list and determine what needs to be done first, second, third, and so on.  Otherwise known as prioritizing. Now you have a plan of attack with a pared down list, and you are ready to take on the holidays without fear or dread.  Don’t delay; start today!

Just for you:  See how many things you can cross off your list with my Simplify the Holidays guide, a free gift!  This guide lists Grants Pass and Medford resources for outsourcing holiday decorations, lights, gift wrapping,  sendout card services, and more! https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/simplify-holidays/

by Jenny Morin

Three Reasons we Procrastinate

February 4, 2013

Procrastination is like a leaky faucet.

Procrastination –it’s a killer. It slays good intentions, New Years’ resolutions, and big-picture goals.
When is the last time you procrastinated? What did you put off? I procrastinate blogging, big time. Other people procrastinate cleaning out their pantry, their sock drawer, their shower, whatever. Oh yeah, I procrastinate cleaning my shower, too. Since we’re being honest…

The point is, if you want to stop procrastinating, you MUST figure out what the root reason is for your Herculean procrastination efforts. If you find yourself cleaning the fridge (assuming you work from home) just to avoid having to call someone back or write a proposal, there is a reason for that. Because cleaning out the fridge is a nasty job, so you must be desperate to avoid something.

Sometimes you procrastinate because you don’t have enough information. An example: If I need to call someone, but first I have to look up some information online, I may put off the phone call every time I think of it because I have not made the time to go online and find out about the XYZ product they want for their desk. So if the task has too many steps, that may lead to procrastination.

Sometimes you procrastinate because you don’t have the skills to do a task. Example: organizing. Many people berate themselves for not knowing how to organize their miscellaneous drawer at the office, or their files, or their pantry. Whatever the chore is that you’re putting off, it may be that you simply don’t possess the skills to accomplish it. That’s when you call in an expert, like me. If you had a leaky faucet and your water bill goes up, it makes sense to hire a plumber to fix that leak, right? The same goes for organizing. How many hours are you going to waste looking for those post-its or envelopes which you wrote a potential client’s phone number on? Not only do you waste time looking for it, it also distracts you from the productive flow of work because you get flustered and possibly upset with yourself, which can cause you to “lose your place” in the day’s work.

Sometimes you procrastinate because you just don’t have the desire to do a task. That’s how it is with my shower. I love my shower. It has 2 shower heads. But it is HUGE and it takes 20 minutes to clean it right. So I hire my kids to do it. They’ll do my shower for a nominal fee. That makes me happy.

So three of the reasons you procrastinate are: Lack of information, lack of skills, lack of motivation. Find the root cause and you are on your way to fixing whatever is holding you back.

Please contact me to continue this discussion…

Any time one of my blogs strikes a chord, please take 30 seconds and forward it to a friend who needs to hear it! That’s how my business grows best. Thanks!

by Jenny Morin
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