Here are 8 of my favorite ways to be happy every day...by ensuring your days are organized!

1. Start every today, yesterday. Don't wait until today to begin planning your day. If you do, half the day will pass you by before you even get started. Starting today, begin planning for tomorrow. Determine what should be on tomorrow's TO DO List. Be sure to include both work items and fun items to reward yourself for all of your accomplishments--no matter how small. Always look at your calendar to determine if you have to do something or be somewhere important tomorrow, so you know what's coming up. While you're at it, do whatever you can do right now to help you get an even more productive morning start. Decide on what suit you'll wear to tomorrow's business meeting or wash and dry a load of clothes before you go to bed, rather than during the morning rush.

2. Get some shut eye. It's very difficult to find the energy you need each day, if you don't get enough rest the night before. Determine how much rest you need to feel ready-to-go when you wake up. I need a solid 7 hours of sleep to be able to give my important projects and tasks the focus and energy they deserve. Some people may need more time; some may require less. Determine how much you need, and make an effort to get that amount of sleep each night. In addition, avoid going to bed at different times each night. An inconsistent sleep schedule can throw off your body clock.

3. Avoid de-energizing foods. Pay attention to the types and amounts of food that make you feel tired and drained. For instance, if I start the day off with a huge breakfast, there's a good chance my energy will be pretty low around noon. So, if I have to do something important in the early afternoon, I start the day off with a light breakfast. Listen to your body. If you're feeling tired, you may need to avoid certain foods, or you may need to eat something that will boost your energy. Come up with a plan that works for you.

4. Chart your course. When you're ready to start your day, the very first thing you should do is look at your TO DO List. Choose your first item and begin working on it. You can either work on this first item all the way through to completion. Or, work on this first item for a set amount of time, such as an hour. Then, work on your next item, and perhaps come back to your first item later in the day.

5. Don't over do it, or under do it. The majority of time, when someone asks me why he is having difficulties finishing everything listed on his TO DO List, it is because there are too many things listed to complete in a given day. Everyone has a personal threshold of how many tasks could realistically be completed each day. And, of course, the number of tasks also depends on the size, importance, and complexity of each task. For example, someone may be able to complete 10 very little tasks on her list in a given day, or a combination of 8 very little tasks, and 1 larger, more complex and important task. You are the only person who can determine how much you can realistically get done. Come up with a rough idea of what you think you can get done (number of larger tasks, number of medium tasks, number of smaller tasks) and include a mix of those items on your TO DO List each day. If you can complete everything each day, great! If you can't, you have too much on your list. If, by chance, you get everything done with plenty of time to spare, you may want to include a few more items on your list. Perhaps you can do a few more tasks each day than the average person.

6. Keep it clear. Working on a project or task in a cluttered environment, no matter what that project is, is going to be more stressful and more time-consuming than if you were working in an uncluttered, clear environment. When you're working at your desk, the only project opened up on your desk should be the one you're working on right now. Other projects should be in filing cabinets, in a file holder, or on a nearby table. There's no way you can be productive and focus on something, when you're working amongst piles of mail, an inbox reaching to the ceiling and sticky notes all over the place. Even if you're not working on something, it's less stressful to be spending your time in an organized place. Clutter equals chaos, and chaos equals stress.

7. Handle interruptions immediately. While some interruptions are unavoidable, the majority of interruptions put a kink in our schedules because we allow them to. Unless you must answer your phone when you're working on a project, let your voicemail or your assistant field your calls. A good excuse for answering your phone may be that your boss requires you to pick up the phone every time it rings. In that case, you may tell your boss that a particular project is going to take longer because of the constant interruptions. He or she may then allow you to let your calls go into voicemail for an hour or two. Close your door when working in your office. Tell people stopping by to chat, that you're trying to complete an important project and you'll get back to them later on. If employees are constantly interrupting, this problem can easily be eliminated. Most questions are not emergency questions and can wait until later. You may set up an hour each day to meet with your employees to answer questions. Or, perhaps questions must be submitted to you via e-mail, so you can answer them in writing, and in the priority and time that you feel to be appropriate. If your children keep interrupting you, set some boundaries. For instance, if you must work on a project from 2pm-3pm, tell your kids that, unless there is an emergency, you cannot be interrupted during that time.

8. Make a comeback. No matter how much you plan, something is bound to go awry and throw you off schedule. The important thing is that you don't spend time fretting and complaining that your schedule has been interrupted. This won't help anything. Just take a deep breath, and then determine what you have to do to get back on track. Make a comeback--and remember, the disruption is rarely earth shattering, and you can usually easily get back on track in a reasonable amount of time.

P.S. If you enjoyed these tips, I have tons more for you in my book, Finally Organized, Finally Free for the Home.

To fast forward to GON GLOW immediately, visit:
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The holidays are upon us, and so are those extra temptations that cause most people to put on additional weight this time of year. But what if I told you that it's perfectly OK to eat Christmas cookies and enjoy those fun holiday indulgences? It really is...as long as you focus on losing those extra pounds, toning up, and eating healthy most days. You're going to love my resource: GON GLOW. You'll discover how to:

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* apply daily, do-able healthy living advice

* keep your body and mind strong and healthy

* make meals that are delicious and easy to prepare

* stay motivated and inspired...the most important component to sticking to healthy living

With GON GLOW, you will get sound advice, motivation, and (most important) support and guidance...ALL FROM ME...to help you throughout your journey to a thinner, healthier you. And you'll be able to do this WITHOUT starving, WITHOUT food restrictions, WITHOUT smoothies/supplements/vitamins, and WITHOUT intense exercise.

P.S. It gets even better and brighter! When you get GON GLOW BEFORE Friday, November 19...you will also AUTOMATICALLY get 5 COMPLIMENTARY bonuses valued at over $100. For details, visit:

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___ 1. Do today's task on my November Monthly Organizing Checklist. The November 17 TO DO focuses on bread. You read that right...bread! Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my November Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Clear a surface so you can work on a project. Whether it's your desk, kitchen table, or computer armoire, clear a surface so you can begin a project in a neat, organized environment.

___ 3. Give yourself a smile this season of Thanksgiving. Every day is a good day for a smile on your face and in your heart. Visit: GetOrganizedNow.com to access Thanksgiving Words of Wisdom, with a bit of humor.

'Tired minds don't plan well. Sleep first, plan later.' (Walter Reisch)

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Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
getorganizednow.com

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