Ask a Productivity Expert: When Precious Memories Become a Burden

By Erica Duran

Question: Hello! I really enjoyed our phone session last week! I am seeing shifts already in how I go about my projects!

What I want to ask is what do I do with all my old paper photos and movie tapes? I love being able to search and share photos digitally in my computer, but I have so many old photos in boxes and I really don't want to be a scanner jockey for the next five years converting them over.

Productivity Expert's Answer: Hi! Glad you are seeing results from the call! I think the Critical Path Timeline we created is going to transform your marketing process. As for the photos and movies, I have a confession to make... this is the one area in my own life that I have the most trouble de-cluttering. I am very fond of past experiences that make up my memories and love to capture everything in photos. But, finally last year I was able to put a process in place to get these memories digitized, protected, and shareable. Not-to-mention I got back about a 6 foot by 3 foot closet space that was storing all the photo boxes. And, remember, digital photos can become clutter to in your computer files.

Here is what I would suggest for all the different mediums of photos:

Paper Photos:

One of the phrases we often hear from people is "I really need to figure out how to organize photos... I have SO many photos that I've been meaning to organize for YEARS!"

And they're seriously stressed about it.

Let's get rid of that stress right now. Sound good?

Repeat after me: "Photos are not sacred."Go ahead, it's really OK to say it. "Photos are not sacred."

You are not creating the National Archives. You CAN throw some of your photos away if you don't like them, and you can (gasp!) save them without putting them in photo albums or creating fancy scrapbooks if you want to. Scrapbooks and albums are great... but not at the cost of your peace of mind. Also, all the supplies can be quite costly, the photos are not as protected and they are harder to share, and just think of all that space you will clear up clearing out all those scrapbooking tools and freeing yourself from those guilt-inducing projects! You can store them very simply. Or you can be elaborate. Just don't be stressed about it.

They are just photos.

Enjoy them, let them make you happy, and have fun with them. Let's look at how to organize photos in a way that really works for you.

First of all, keep only the photos that you really love, with people you enjoy and memories that make you smile.

Get Rid of Photos:

• That are blurry, have people with red eyes, or with half the person cut off
• That remind you of unhappy times or unhappy relationships
• That you can't remember the people, the place, etc.
• Too many of a similar shot (keep the best, toss the rest)
• Where you don't like how you look
• That make you feel bad or upset or fat or whatever

It is also much better to learn how to organize photos very simply (and actually DO it) than not at all.

After you get rid of all the photos with the above criteria, almost all photos now-a-days are digital and can be easily backed up. Why are you holding onto paper photos that fade, deteriorate and can be lost or destroyed?

The first thing you need to do is get these old paper photos scanned as soon as possible! Worry about organizing them later! The only photos that should be kept in the paper format are the ones you will frame and display around your home or office. Even then you must make the commitment to frame and hang them soon! Do not hold on to paper photos and empty frames that you have been meaning to frame and display!

There are companies out there that transform shoeboxes of photos and movies into digital formats that make it easier to organize, share, and enjoy. Remember when we said you need to get rid of some photos? Well, here is another good reason why you should toss the ones you don't like - these services will be a bigger investment if you scan every photo you have - good or bad.

Here's how to organize photos the easy way:

Round up your photos in one place. You've probably got them stashed in drawers, some in albums, some in the basement, get them all in one place so you can see what you've got.

1. Sort them: Sort by category (whatever makes sense to you - keep this simple). Toss as many as you can as you go, sorting by person, year, event, or location. For speedy sorting, sort into piles, large envelopes, a plastic bin or recipe box with tabs that you can label, or in manila folders.
2. Choose a system to EASILY store and protect your photos while they are in the process of being scanned. Now that you can see what you've got, you can decide what organizers you'll need. Choose a VERY simple way to keep your photos. The easiest, fastest way to sort, store, and keep up with your photos while they are in the process of being scanned, is to use acid-free photo storage boxes or envelopes. You use tabs to label each category within the storage box or envelope. It's also a good idea to label the photos with the date, name, event, and/or location while you can still remember it.
3. Now celebrate, because you've organized your photos!
4. Then, LATER, if you decide to scan all your old photos or you want to create scrapbooks or albums at your leisure, feel free. Give yourself a break if you think you should be making scrapbook albums but don't have the time just now. Organize and protect your photos first, and give yourself permission to save the option to create scrapbooks later (if ever).
5. Maintain your new system. Whenever you process a new roll of film (if you will ever take paper photos again), get in the habit of labeling and storing photos in your photo box right away or sending them off to be scanned.

Digital Photos:

Learning how to organize digital photos is becoming more and more important; it is so easy to take them that we can end up with literally thousands of photos!

Too many photos end up being clutter and too hard to sift through when you are looking for that one special photo. We're going to go through the simplest, lowest possible technical way (and extremely effective) to sort and organize your digital photos on your computer. There are a lot of software, tools, etc. available as well, so if you want to explore them, a couple of good ones are Picasa free from Google and iPhoto for Mac (you can do basic editing and organizing on both). My suggestion is do the easy sort first, and then if you want to get fancy, go right ahead.

Here's how to organize digital photos the easy way:

1. Your best tool for handling your digital photos is your delete key. Be liberal in your use of the delete key.
2. Gather your digital photos together. Transfer photos from all of your cameras to your computer into one program or folder on your computer to start.
3. Decide how you want to sort your photos. Create a folder structure, organizing the pictures first by year and month, then by event or person. For large events, such as weddings, you may need subfolders (example: 2008 June - Mary's Wedding for the main folder, Reception, Wedding, Opening Gifts, etc. for subfolders). Keep it really simple, so it will be easy to find the photos you're looking for.
4. On a Mac the photos will automatically get organized by date and event by iPhoto when you hook up your camera or iPhone to your Mac.
5. Sort photos and move into the appropriate folders. For example, you would move all of the photos related to "2009 Thanksgiving" to that folder. Do this sort step fairly quickly. Don't stop to label each individual photo (leave this until later), or reminisce. And remember to delete as many photos as you can. Once you have completed this step, celebrate. Your digital photos are all sorted and organized!!
6. Once you have sorted all of the photos into folders (deleting as many as you can), you can go back and label individual photos if you want (it's a good idea). Give each photo a descriptive label, and use the same format each time. For example: 2008 June 23 Mary's Wedding Dress.
7. Back up your photos regularly to an external hard drive and/or virtual cloud.

Home Movies:

Basically, the same concepts and rules apply for home movies as photos. Except home movies are usually viewed even less often than photographs! This is a real shame since home movies have not only the sights, but sounds and voices to really bring back the memories.

If you have any old 8mm, VHS, Slides, Digital 8, Betamax, hi8, MiniDV, VHS-C, Super 8, 16mm in a shoebox somewhere get them converted into a digital format NOW!!!!

If you have to squeeze reformatting all your memories into your busy schedule we are afraid it just won't get done. Better to use a professional service for transferring your movies to a digital format too.

After you movies are converted to a digital format it will be even easier to edit them using the iMovie software on your Mac or the online editing software that ScanDigital provides. Use the same criteria when editing a home movie as you did when you "edited" your paper and digital photos:

Editing Home Movies:

• That are blurry or the film is not steady enough
• That remind you of unhappy times or unhappy relationships
• That you can't remember the people, the place, etc.
• Too many of a similar shot (keep the best, toss the rest)
• Where you don't like how you look
• That make you feel bad or upset or fat or whatever
• That are just plain boring and you and/or your friends would not enjoy watching them

Editing movies is a bit of a project, you will have to make a point to carve out some free time in your schedule. Maybe over a weekend? Maybe work at it for an hour on those days that you don't go to the gym? Maybe on a holiday where there is not much going on like Presidents' day? Just know that you will have to make an appointment with yourself to get each movie or event done.

Now that you have all your movies converted and edited they will be MUCH easier to enjoy and share!

But, what about the endless amount of film coming in?

Now that most people have digital video recorders even on their smart phones there is more film than ever to go through because it is so easy and inexpensive (no developing costs).

The next time you think you will want to film an event or vacation or anything else, give it some thought. Sometimes it is just better enjoying the moment than fussing with a camera.

But, if you do decide that this is a film worthy activity - be sure to get the movie off your camera and into your computer to edit as soon as possible!!! When you get home from vacation or the event is when this activity will be the most fun and you will be able to make the best movie because it is still fresh in your mind. Later, when you return to reality, editing the film often becomes a chore.

Lastly, remember that life is happening constantly and you don't want to cause yourself stress or miss what is happening today while you are archiving the past.

Erica Duran is a Productivity Expert and Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). At Erica Duran International (http://www.ericaduran.co), she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and business owners. She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, and balanced lifestyle.
Want to ask Erica a Question and be featured in her electronic magazine, blog, and other articles. Submit your question here: http://ericaduran.co/ask-erica/#

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Ask a Professional Organizer: To Delegate or Not to Delegate

By Erica Duran

Question: "I know I should get a VA (virtual assistant), a housekeeper and help with bookkeeping but I don't know if I am ready yet? I still don't have a full coaching practice and can't justify spending the money on these luxuries. And, honestly... I am worried that the tasks won't be done correctly or on time and that will tarnish the reputation I've been working so hard to build. What is the best way to dip my toe in the delegating pool?"

Professional Organizer's Answer: Hello! Nice to hear from you! Thank you so much for your honest question. I am sure many new entrepreneurs are feeling torn as well between their current financial status verses what they know they need to move their business and life forward in a big way.

First off, I must mention this quote that I am paraphrasing that is over-used but so true:

"You will never reach the level of success or income you desire by doing $10 hour tasks"

Here is an exercise that shifted my own thinking on this subject: Keep track for a week or two of all the time you are spending on these little "nonprofit" tasks that someone else could do as well (usually someone else can do these tasks even better than you). Then, figure out your average hourly rate that you would earn in your business and multiply it by the amount of hours you tracked doing mundane tasks. If you had these hours back to yourself so that you could work on revenue generating activities and bill out your hours or use the hours to create and market a new product how would your income grow and lifestyle grow?

I know that this is hard to do when you are starting out and on a budget, so you don't always have to delegate the task, you may also find that they can be automated or better yet deleted! More often than not delete tasks off your list is the best way to getting more done ironically. But, we all know that there are just some things that can't possibly be deleted, like bookkeeping.

We have an extensive delegating checklist in my Time Management and Productivity Course but here are examples of tasks you can delete, delegate or automate:

• Housekeeping
• Errands (post office, bank, pet vet & groomers, dry cleaning, auto repair, etc.)
• Bookkeeping
• Shopping
• Social Media
• Food Preparation
• Routine emails and letters
• Bill Paying
• Appointment Setting

Most of these tasks take very little time to set up automatically or get someone else to do them. Just the fact that you are asking for help in these areas tells the universe that you are taking your business seriously and you will even start to shift the way you are working with your clients.

There is something else that happens when you start delegating "nonprofit" tasks to an assistant or virtual assistant. For example, let's say you used to input all your business cards from networking meetings into your database no matter who the person was that you met and if you thought there was a useful connection made. Not all contacts are useful - you know that right? Now, when you make the leap to actually pay someone else to do the task it automatically doesn't seem worth their time. So, then why was it ever worth your time at your higher rate per hour? Shifting all the non-revenue generating tasks to someone else really shows you how much time you really weren't spending on the big important pieces of your business.

If you are on a budget, you will want to get the biggest bang for your delegating buck. So, choose the tasks that are essential to do (can't be deleted), take the most time, tasks that you may not like to do, and the tasks that may be the least expensive to outsource. For example, house cleaning will probably be first on this list for most people. It must be done, it takes a long time to do yourself, and it is relatively the cheapest thing to delegate. You can start with this task and while the house cleaners are there vow to yourself to only work on revenue generating activities to obtain an instant ROI (return on investment) from the money spent on the house cleaners.

Now we must take a look at the other part of your question. You were worried that the tasks won't be done correctly or on time if you delegate them and this will damage your hard-earned reputation. Here are some tips to lessen the grip you have on these tasks.

1. Take great time and care up-front to hire the right person. And, don't feel guilty if you have to let them go if it doesn't work out. You are doing yourself and them a favor in ending the arrangement if it isn't working.
2. Prescribe the deadline for the task. For example, "I need this opt-in report in my email inbox by noon every Friday, Pacific time" rather than "I need this report next week".
3. Explain to your assistant or help exactly how you want the task done and why you want it done this way. People have all different frames of references and your assistant or VA may think they know a better, cheaper, or faster way of doing things. You need to explain up-front why you would like it done the way you are telling them. This takes a little more time at the beginning but saves a lot of mistakes later.
4. Don't micro-manage. After you've prescribed a deadline and explained how and why you would like the task done there should be no need to micro manage. Gracefully, give your team the confidence and space to get the job done for you.

Lastly, try not to use all your new found free time towards your business. Fill some of the newly regained hours to achieve those fun or personal things you say you never have time for like reading a novel, donating time to charity, escaping to a spa for an afternoon, taking a sushi preparation class, or dancing to that Zumba DVD you received for Christmas three years ago!

Erica Duran is a Certified Professional Organizer CPO® and Productivity Coach. At Erica Duran International (http://www.ericaduran.co), she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and business owners. She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, and balanced lifestyle.

Want to ask Erica a Question and be featured in her electronic magazine, blog, and other articles. Submit your question here: http://ericaduran.co/ask-erica/#

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Video Titled "I Heart My Planner"

By Erica Duran

Yes, it is 2012 and I am still using a paper planner! And, if you know me at all, you know I don't like having any paper cluttering up the place. I even had an iPad-like tablet computer back in 2004 before anyone knew what a tablet was. It even had a "pen" and Franklin-Covey software to emulate the paper planner with my own handwriting electronically, but that didn't work either. There is just something magical about the paper planner. I have strayed many times over the past 20 years when a new gadget, app, or system would come out and I really did feel a sense of guilt. My planner had been my BFF through so many highs and lows in my life.

People who know me virtually really well give me strange looks when they meet me in person and see me (of all people) break out a paper planner in meeting, but then they are always intrigued at my calmness and ask me a ton of questions about it.

What I have come to realize is that our life planner system is just way too important to leave up to a virtual cloud. And, although to the untrained eye it may just look like a bunch of notes, appointments, and task lists - the planner is really a blueprint for creating our entire lifestyle. It contains and lays out all the components, plans, and goals that it takes to create the life we want neatly in one place. So you I grant you permission to cut your electronic leash and try working in the clean open space paper allows.

You will not only look more professional using the planner, but have a tremendous confidence that you know where everything is at all times, have a clear head because you use your planner as a "dumping ground" - keep track of things in your planner and then you can completely forget about them until it's time to handle them. And, eliminate ALL stray papers.

Here are some common objections I get when suggestion my stressed-out clients try going back to a paper based planner system:

"I must sync my calendars online so my whole team has access to it. How do I do that with the paper planner?"

If you must sync calendars with your team you can have an assistant (traditional or virtual) update the online calendar for you a few times a day. You should be planning ahead right? At least a day in advance. For example, I don't let my assistant or online calendar book anything for the next day as a general rule (unless it is a big opportunity). For most of us, we don't have a life or death situation at work tomorrow and Oprah isn't calling us anytime soon. There should not be too many last minute items that you need to add to your calendar immediately. Give yourself that space. If there is anything that is an emergency just email your assistant to add it to the online calendar or add those very few and far between last minute appointments yourself.

"The paper planner is so much bigger than my phone! Do I have to carry that thing around all the time?"

Yes, isn't building a successful career, arriving gracefully and on-time to appointments, having visibility of your entire month, eliminating all scrap paper and sticky notes and mail, etc. more important that saving a little space in your workbag? Do you like to be in control and plan monthly or weekly to avoid just reacting to your day and filling it with busy work? Besides, I've seen your big fashionable handbags ladies! This planner will fit and eliminate the paper clutter in your purse and on your desk.

"Having everything in my phone is efficient for me."

Have you ever been trying to set date or meeting with someone and they have to click around 20 times to see if they are available? Or, have you tried to make an appointment on the phone with someone, but couldn't get to your calendar because you are on the phone with somebody and the calendar is in the phone? Have you ever lost all your data due to a software update to your smart phone? This is a personal decision, but I feel so much pressure and stress trying to get my electronic calendar up on my phone while someone is waiting for me to see if I'm available. Then, I'm always in a rush and type the appointment in wrong - most likely not even for the correct time. Myself, I just like to flip to the appropriate month's tab, write the appointment in and get on with life.

Things to consider when deciding to go to a paper planner system:

• Having a planner that doesn't fit your own style, that you don't enjoy using, or that is overly complicated means that you probably won't use it or get the most benefit from it.
• Your planner needs to be portable so you can take it everywhere. Yes everywhere - even if you sometimes leave it in the car you can get it quickly when needed.
• Your planner must be customizable. This is why I favor ring-bound planners over spiral bound model. If you can't customize it to fit your business and lifestyle needs perfectly you will end up with multiple notebooks and paper clutter.

Your planner must be able to handle:

Appointments & Events - Time driven meetings. List them on the two-page monthly tabs and then your daily appointment schedule as you plan for the upcoming week

Tasks - List those "things to do" that are not time driven like an appointment is

Notes - (one page per day preferred) When you're organizing papers, if you have a planner but still write yourself notes on yellow post-its and napkins all over the place, you will continue to be stressed. So using your planner for everything means NO little post-it note reminders all over your computer, NO piles of invitations or clippings from the paper about activities you want to do... everything goes in your planner!

Reminders to Yourself - For example, make yourself a task note 7 days before the wedding you are attending to purchase, wrap and ship the gift.

Projects - Big projects can be listed in a separate section in your planner and broken down into tasks so they don't clutter up your daily task lists before you are ready to focus on them

To Dos/Errands Lists - Your basic out and about errands list... remember to batch your errands!

Goals - Have a specific space to write out the big picture and dream.

Tolerations - A whole other subject for an article. See our upcoming Ezine article about tolerations.

Contacts (this is the one exception thing you can keep in your smart phone if you don't want to have the A-Z contact tabs in your planner. Contacts in your phone make it easier to dial and change if when someone changes their information).

Your planner can also be customized to house a variety of information to simplify your life and enable you to have all vital information at your finger tips. We do of course, have some suggestions on what to use the extra tabs for a healthy and productive lifestyle such as:

• Mileage Log - The easy way to keep track of your odometer readings for your taxes.
• Client Intake Forms - A new prospect calls and you flip right to your intake form and gather all their info in one place.
• Food Journal - If you are writing everything down after you eat it maybe you won't grab that extra cookie.
• Time Journal - Feeling off track with your time? Start jotting down everything you do after you do it and see where the leaks are in your time bucket.
• Expenses - Record them while you are out and about and then send to your bookkeeper.
• Gym Class Schedule - pilates, yoga, Zumba! Most gyms have a printed schedule you can shrink to fit and punch holes for the planner.
• Usernames & Passwords: It seems like everything has a username and password now-a-days! Keep track of all of them on under one tab in your planner.
• Menu Planning for the Week w/Shopping List - You will be less stressed, eat healthier, lose weight and save a tremendous amount of time if you plan a weekly menu for your family and create a shopping list from the menu. No more guessing "What will I ever make tonight for dinner?" or having to run through a drive through!
• Gift Lists - List your friends and family and then when you are shopping and spot a good gift item jot it down here.
• Hobbies - Create Lists of books you would like to read, movies you want to see someday, bird watching guide, place you want to visit, wine tasting notes, helpful tips from magazines (so you don't have to tear out that paper!) etc. That way when you find yourself with nothing to do you can take a look at your list or refer back to something.

Here are the essential items to get your started:

1. Classic Size Ring Binder
2. Daily Pages in a design that appeals to you
3. Two-Page per Monthly Calendar Tabs
4. Storage Case
5. Starter Pack with Compass and Compass Cards
6. Clear Zipper Pouch
7. Extra Note Paper or Half Sheets
8. Seven Hole Punch

When you are just starting out and learning the planner system, you may feel like it is a lot of work and that it is just too cumbersome for you. It actually takes 21 days to make something a habit so keep at it! Use your planner for everything!

We all know that having clear roles, goals, and values creates our lifestyle. By having everything in one place we can check in with ourselves yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily. By bumping up your to-do list against your roles, goals and values, you may just find that a lot of tasks cluttering up your to-do lists can be simply eliminated. You will be more focused on what really matters most! How freeing this is for you!

I've been using the same planner system since high school. Yes, high school... don't laugh - get your kids started on this habit now and watch their grades soar and the scholarships come in!

Using your planner for everything takes an enormous load off your mind!

Erica Duran is a Certified Professional Organizer CPO® and Productivity Coach. At Erica Duran International, she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and business owners. She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, and balanced lifestyle.
Learn more at http://www.EricaDuran.Co

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

The Hierarchy of Clutter

By Erica Duran

Clutter isn't just about the "stuff". Clutter shows up in our lives on every level. I have defined seven levels of clutter that we experience in every area of our lives. This article isn't as "how-to" as most of mine are. But, it is meant to awaken your awareness of all the types of clutter around you - even the type you can't see or touch or donate to the Salvation Army.

If you are feeling tired, drained, and overwhelmed, it is possible that it is not only the state of your physical space, but many other areas and levels of you life and being.

For example, do you not get to the gym because not only is your time management out of balance, but mentally you don't feel that this one workout will make any difference and you've just had an argument with your spouse that left you drained and exhausted. Or, maybe it is still the physical clutter keeping you from working out - your treadmill is dusty and under a pile of clothes you meant to take to the dry cleaners.

This is just one example of how one task or goal, getting to the gym, can be affected by many levels of clutter.

I created The Hierarchy of Clutter to visually demonstrate this concept. You can see a the graphic/photo of the actual pyramid on my website. But for now, picture a pyramid pointing up with the base being Level 1: Your Time and Activities, that I speak about first becaue it is the foundation for everything else.

Level 1: Your Time and Activities

This is the basis for all other levels of "clutter". This is why I so strongly believe that we need a visual and physical way of controlling and planning our time in form of a paper day planner. I despise paper in any other area of life, but this foundation of time management and productivity sets the stage for everything else. How are you using your time? Activities, obligations, hobbies, work, playtime, time spent watching TV, time spend maintaining your body, your hair, your home, your kids, your pets. It is estimated that only 80% of what we do day-to-day we truly enjoy or is actually moving us forward to our goals... everything else is just clutter.

Level 2: Your Physical Environment

Items in your physical environment: your home, your office, your car, papers, and files. This is the typical area that people think of about when you say the word "clutter". And, what those shows on HGTV try to demonstrate in a half hour transformation. Everything in your physical environment should be useful or beautiful. Something you absolutely love and are willing to take care of. Anything that is dusty, buried under a pile, stuffed in the back of a closet or garage is not respected. Give the item it's dignity back and release it to someone else that can appreciate it. Or, if it is beyond repair or not work passing on to someone else... lay it to rest and dispose of it. Don't let these physical items block your productivity, energy, or creativity, any more. Don't let them suck up this precious short time you have on earth.

Level 3: Your Virtual Environment

This is a new category for my hierarchy. A few years ago I didn't have this on the pyramid... but now this topic has slowly shifted and it is almost surpassing physical clutter!

How much time and energy are you spending on social media? Unnecessary emails? Misplaced files and documents on your computer? Endless distractions in the form of "I'm just taking a break for a few minutes with the Angry Birds or Solitaire game. Constantly checking your email? Spam? Distracting yourself with the internet into a state I call "Browser Blackout" - this is where you don't know what happened the last few hours because you were surfing the internet. Lost time, energy and data due to not having the proper backup to your electronic data? Time wasted scanning document because you thought that might end you physical paper clutter only to clutter up your hard drive? How many useless apps do you have on your smart phone? Believe it or not all these "virtual" things take space and energy in your life. Be a little more strict in what you let into your virtual world.

Level 4: Your Relationships

Interactions with people that drain your energy or affect you negatively, including spending time with people you don't like, gossip, or allowing misunderstandings and conflict to continue. Go through your address book or you contacts in your smart phone and delete anyone who is draining your energy, who you don't feel happy and energetic when their call shows up on your caller ID. You can still love them... from afar, but start distancing yourself from these people. You need to make room for the people that will energize you and push you forward in your life and business, not have you in a constant state of bad habits through peer pressure and unnecessary guilt. Remember your position in your life and income is the average of the five people you most associate with.

Level 5: Your Five Body Senses

Level 5 refers to anything in your environment that has a negative impact on your five body senses, which include sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Examples include body weight that isn't natural and healthy for you, an overabundance of adrenaline, irritating noises in the background, unpleasant odors in your home or office, poor lighting, foods that don't taste good or are unhealthy, or textures that feel uncomfortable to the touch. Take a moment to become aware of all these external influences that are attacking your sense energy and make a list of how to combat them. Let go of scratchy sweaters in your closet, add a white light task lamp to your desk area even if you have overhead lights, throw out any processed food, update your iTunes playlist with positive songs or songs that don't remind you of a lost love, place a bouquet of lavender on your nightstand.

Level 6: Your Mind

Thoughts that include negative self talk, stress, worry, anxiety, judgments, blame, anger. It really is "all in your head". This takes a lot of awareness, concentration and the building new habits, but there are ways you can reprogram your self talk. Worry and stress work "on" you not "for" you. Blame, judgements, and anger is allowing the other beings get power over your own. This is a much bigger topic than the scope of this article, but my intent is to just let you know that this is all just another level of clutter. Negative thoughts are as worthless as a pair of socks that has lost its elasticity, nothing greater - so just release it.

Level 7: Your Spirit

Spirit clutter is anything that gets in the way of your connection with spirit, your deep desire to maximize your yearnings, your gifts, your potential, and your self-fulfillment. This is different than your Mind Clutter. With little effort you can recognize your Mental Clutter and have it "in-check" and say affirmations all day long, but your spirit is different. The only thing that I can say is that you will know when you are "in Spirit" and "not in Spirit". Being in Spirit is when things just "flow" and the task or project isn't a struggle.

In my work with my clients I usually start with the Time Clutter because if you can't create any time you won't be able to tackle the other levels of the hierarchy. Then I work with them on the Physical Clutter, because I have found that it is the easiest way to access the thoughts, beliefs, actions, and ways of being that are creating the clutter in the first place. Like I've said many times, isn't about the "stuff". The "stuff" is just a reflection of what is going on inside. And, if you don't gently clear the clutter and acknowledge the "stuff" you will never be able to move up the hierarchy and be truly free.

Erica Duran is a Productivity Expert and Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). At Erica Duran International, she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and small business owners who want results fast! She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, profitable and balanced lifestyle. Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Focus On Follow-Through

By Erica Duran

Are you blaming your unfinished projects and goals on a lack of motivation? After reading this article you may find where the real blame lies. Usually, it is not a lack of motivation or inspiration keeping you from completing what you want.

If a lack of motivation were truly keeping you from being productive you wouldn't have these items on your list in the first place, right? The only reason you have a to-do or project list in the first place is because you were, at one moment in the past, inspired to completing it! If not, then I highly recommend you reevaluate the current goals and projects you've committed yourself to - but that is a whole other article!

The real blame for your lack of follow-through and finishing what you want does not go to motivation, but your habits! Your habits totally to blame for any lack of follow-through you are experiencing. Once you create the habits around what you are trying to achieve you'll be literally on autopilot for completing it.

The compound effect of simple daily choices is what changes everything!

Simple right?

Simple yes, easy... not so much.

I'm not going to sugar-coat this... creating new habits or trying to stop a bad habit is a challenging process. If it was easy everyone would be in amazing physical shape, no one would smoke, and you would never have the same resolution on your list every New Year's Day.

So, if getting things done isn't really about the fact that you "feel" unmotivated, the real question then is how do we make habits easier to form?

1. Be aware. Simply being aware that new habits can be difficult to form will help. It takes the problem outside of you. It isn't personal, it is just a process. Now that you are aware that it may be difficult to form a new habit you can put systems and/or routines in place to help you along.

2. Don't beat yourself up. Telling yourself that you are "lazy" or "unmotivated" is not productive! You are not really lazy, are you? If you were, you wouldn't be reading this. Again, you just haven't put the habits and systems in place to support you and your lofty goals.

3. Stop waiting to feel inspired or motivated. If you are waiting to "feel" motivated, you might be waiting a really long time. You can't make yourself feel motivated. But what you can do is start. Start on something... anything! Start in any direction or on any one task, no matter how small. You may need to course correct as you go, but just starting will bring you the motivation to continue without struggle in most cases.

4. Push through even when you don't feel like it. Professional and success people do things even when they don't feel like it. If they commit that they want to get something done they just do it.

The best example I can think of for "doing it even when you don't feel like it" is when you push yourself (or your trainer pushes you) to go to the gym even when you don't feel like it. I never hear people, once they get to the gym and get started, say afterward that they wish they stayed home. Start applying that concept to other tasks and projects in your life. I swear you will feel better when you start and finish your project.

5. Start small. If you have many little unfinished tasks and projects set aside a few hours to take care of all of them. Many of them are probably on your toleration list that we explained before. It is hard to get motivated or create a new habit when you have lots of unfinished little messes around. Start with one, no matter how small and finish it. Then, don't let the "mess" pile up again. Make a habit of taking care of things on a regular basis or create a schedule to complete them as they come.

6. Stop expecting it to be easy. Many worthwhile projects and tasks that you want to achieve take either a lot of creativity, time, hard work, commitment, discipline, focus, etc. Accept that you are going to dive in, it will probably be difficult but it will be worth it. If it was easy everyone would be successful, right?

7. Not done is not an option. If something on your list is optional, you may find yourself creating all the scenarios of why it isn't necessary to do. Ever notice when youhave to get something done like renew your car registration or take your dog to the vet it just gets done? Don't make your projects and tasks optional. If you are unsure about a particular project, maybe it should go back on your Master Task List for safe keeping until you are ready to commit. Remember, when you break little commitments to yourself, it actually hurts your integrity and self confidence greater than you think.

8. Go on a project cleanse. Go through your current project list and see if you can delete any of them. Then, do not commit to any new projects until you get the ones you've committed to done. Start with the project that will give you the most joy or the greatest impact on your income and do each task until it is done. Then you can move on to the next with greater momentum, a sense of accomplishment, and maybe even the higher revenue generated from the completed project.

What are your strategies to stay focused and follow-through? What new habits do you need to put in place so that you can stop waiting around to feel motivated? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

And, if you need some help setting up your schedules, habits and/or systems? I would love to help you map them all out in an easy step-by-step plan! I use many original techniques customized to the way you work and your lifestyle. Let's get it done together.

Erica Duran, CPO, is a published Productivity Expert/Coach, Web Designer & Certified Professional Organizer. She has been an entrepreneur and consultant for over 20 years.

Erica works with new entrepreneurs who are just starting their business and have a ton of questions! She also works with those who have been in business for years but long to be more productive, organized, and "get their life back" by doing what they love and make a profit at it.

If you've liked this article, you'll love Erica's dynamic courses and programs to help you get productive, organized, & profitable and stay that way.

Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Trust the Empty Space and Polish Everything Around You

By Erica Duran

The last five months I've been traveling and working on the ultimate de-cluttering project. Now, I'm back in Newport Beach, CA! And, it took me literally 15 minutes to unpack! Really! I had a witness who was amazed to see how little I had brought with me. You see I've been experimenting on several layers of de-cluttering in my own life.

The first time was years ago when I moved from a packed picket-fenced house and sold almost everything to get a place at the beach. Then, a few years later (which would be this past May 2013) I sold absolutely everything else to travel and work remotely. I learned a lot! So now I can help others with a de-cluttered mobile lifestyle design. I will share much more about these experiences in the future, there is not enough room in one article!

This past May, I literally got down to my laptop, planner, cell phone, clothes, and my dogs. Actually, the dogs had more stuff in the car than I did!

I will still continue my own "work-cations" and help others to de-clutter and build a business that can be done from anywhere, but now the pups and I will also have a place to come home to.

For many, de-cluttering is a highly emotional and exhausting challenge. Trusting in empty space is extremely freeing (and bonus, there is less to clean!)

But, it can initially feel uncomfortable when you have let go of things you have held onto. This uncomfortable feeling is often simply part of the de-clutter process for many people.

Knowing how to trust in that empty space, and knowing how to allow whatever comes up around it, is an important part of the process as well. You must be aware of and acknowledge the feelings

Otherwise, you will consciously or unconsciously start filling up your space again to get rid of that uncomfortable feeling.

The next step after de-cluttering is to "polish" everything around you. It is like putting a fine shine on a high-quality pair of shoes. Without the shine, they're just shoes that will protect your feet as you're walking. When they shine beautifully, they give you and everything you are wearing a glow, a feeling of quality, and a sense of confidence.

The same goes for your environment. Once you have cleared out everything that is no longer adding value to your life, it's time to polish and beautifully arrange the things that are left.

Here's where organizing comes in. At this stage, organizing becomes more about making your things beautiful and easily accessible than about fitting more stuff into the available space.

Rather than focusing on adding more things, this concept is about upgrading everything around you so it delights and supports you just the way you want it.

Have you experienced an uncomfortable feeling after de-cluttering? Did you just stop the process and put everything back in your home or office? Did you feel like you needed time alone? I'd love to hear about your experience.

Erica Duran, CPO, is a published Productivity Expert/Coach, Web Designer & Certified Professional Organizer. She has been an entrepreneur and consultant for over 20 years.

Erica works with new entrepreneurs who are just starting their business and have a ton of questions! She also works with those who have been in business for years but long to be more productive, organized, and "get their life back" by doing what they love and make a profit at it.

If you've liked this article, you'll love Erica's dynamic courses and programs to help you get productive, organized, & profitable and stay that way.

Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran

Video Titled "How to Menu Plan"