When we sat down to dinner last night, my husband began telling our 14-year-old daughter a story, but the cell phone that was sitting beside her kept popping up notifications on her screen. She couldn't help but keep glancing down to determine what was happening with her friends. We immediately had her remove the phone from the table so we could enjoy our dinner and conversation in a more focused, uninterrupted, polite matter.

We all have our own set of distractions. For some of us, it is one of our little ones tugging at our pant leg looking for some attention. For others, it is the continuous interruption of text messages or emails coming in. Still others have their attention drawn away by the constant activity going on outside of their window. Whatever the case may be, we can all fall victim to life's distractions from time to time. But, if being in a constant state of distraction is a way of life for you, it is time to regroup and take back control.

Distractions are everywhere. The only way to completely avoid them is to seal ourselves up in a soundproof room with no windows for eight hours a day. Hardly a practical way to live and work, but think how much you could accomplish if you were able to somehow block out all of the distractions that are constantly thrown your way. Reports could get written, bills could get paid, novels could be born, and all of the things that you wanted to accomplish could be done in a much faster, more efficient way. So what can we do, short of adding on a room?

We all start out on an even playing field. Rich or poor, male or female, we all have the same number of hours in the day. When you get right down to it, it is how we use these hours that makes the biggest difference in what we can accomplish. A young mother of a busy toddler has the same number of hours in a day as a bank president. It is how they both use these hours that matters.

The key is to plan your schedule around the things that you know are going to be a distraction for you. Granted not all distractions can be foreseen, but many things can be. For the young mother, trying to prepare meals, while her 2-year old is up and running around, may not be the best time to do so. A 20-minute meal prep can quickly turn into double that when she is constantly having to stop to tend to her child. A longer meal prep time can push back dinner time, then bath time, then bedtime...until the whole night is off schedule. This is when we can start feeling like there are not enough hours in the day.

Although it can be difficult, it is possible to become a more efficient person with the time that you do have. Falling victim to the same distractions over and over again will set you up for falling further and further behind on what you want to accomplish.

Instead, plan your day around the times when you are least likely to be distracted by things around you. For example, if your house is a zoo in the morning, maybe get up a little earlier before the rest of your house is awake. Use that quiet time to get bills paid or answer some business email before everyone is screaming for your attention.

If meal time is when things get most hectic for you, start doing the next day's meal prep later in the evening when things have calmed a bit.

If your phone is what distracts you the most, keep it in a different room while you are working so that you are not tempted to peek at it.

The key is to make note of that which distracts you the most, and then find times to complete tasks when you can best avoid these distractions. Use the hours that you do have in the most efficient way possible by recognizing what distracts you and then working around those things. You may be surprised at how much more you are able to accomplish with a little insight and focused efforts.

Think You Can't Sing Well? Think Again!
In Just 5 Minutes A Day, You Could Start Singing With Incredible Control, Power, Pitch, And More Freedom Than You Ever Imagined...You'll Even Amaze Yourself!

For super quick details on how you can sing better than you ever imagined, visit:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-sing.html

Do you LOVE to sing...but don't feel you have a good enough voice to do so? Are you frustrated because you don't have the tone you want when you sing, poor pitch, a weak voice, small vocal range, or even cracking and breaking?

If so, I highly recommend you watch this complimentary video by voice expert Aaron Anastasi. He not only provides 3 great tips, but he also explains exactly how you can have the singing voice you've always wanted.

Over 10,000 singers, including professionals, recording artists and even total beginners, have used Aaron's easy to understand, step-by-step methods to experience vocal breakthroughs.

Whether you like to sing in your car, at karaoke bars, at parties, with your family, in church, or on a more professional level, you'll be amazed at the improvements you'll see when you follow Aaron's: Superior Singing Method.

The Superior Singing Method is like having a personal vocal instructor showing you exactly how your voice works, and how to work with each muscle group in your voice to get the results you want.

If you love to sing, and wish you could sing better, this complimentary video will be SO WORTH your time. Check it out...visit:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-sing.html

GON Article: 6 Keys for Respecting Your Time
getorganizednow.com/organizing-article-respect-time.html




GON Ask Maria: 'I have too many too-good-to-throw-out papers...help!'
getorganizednow.com/ask-maria-too-good-to-throw-papers.html




Dirty Little Secret: Here's how to use up every last drop of your laundry detergent, shampoo, ketchup.and more!
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-every-drop.html




Mini Challenges: Do you ever have the type of week when it's a challenge to even put your shoes away? Here are 7 mini challenges that you can get done... even if you're having a rough week.
getorganizednow.com/organizing-challenge-boost-brain-power.html



In ADDITION, on our home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

GON Monthly Organizing Checklist: March into a super-organized month. Start today with our March 2018 Organizing Checklist!
getorganizednow.com




New Web Poll?: How good is your memory? Excellent? Horrible? Let us know in our brand new web poll. It only takes a second to vote and you can see up-to- date results immediately.
getorganizednow.com


Social Media Feature: What's something you've never done? Let us know!
getorganizednow.com



Theme of the Week: Our theme of the week is 'apologies' and my home page quotes reflect that.
getorganizednow.com

1) Make Easter plans. If you celebrate Easter, now is a good time to make plans for the holiday coming up on April 1st. This year, my family is planning on church services, followed by family dinner and a play. We already purchased our tickets and are looking forward to that special Sunday. No matter what your plans, making a TO DO list and planning early will help ensure your Easter is relaxed and memorable.

2) Organize your bedroom nightstand. Look at your bedroom nightstand. Is it beautifully organized or hopelessly cluttered? Take a few moments this week to clear it off, except for a select few items...like a lamp and the current book you're reading. On my nightstand, I keep a box that resembles a mini treasure chest. It holds (and hides) other items I like to keep nearby when I'm in bed...a packet of tissues, lip balm, a bookmark, hand cream, and my phone charger.

3) Organize your user names and passwords. Jot user names and passwords in a paper journal if you wish, and keep that journal under lock and key. Better yet, use an online password manager, preferably one that allows you to choose very strong passwords and to easily change those passwords, without much work, when you wish. My family uses a service called 1Password. I like it because I only have to remember ONE password...the system remembers the rest for me.

'There are always distractions, if you allow them.

--Tony La Russa




I'd love to hear from you.
Comments, suggestions, or just to say hello. Just REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

getorganizednow.com

(c) Copyright 2018 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

* Copyright, contact and reprint information:
getorganizednow.com/contact.html

* You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in.

* We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.

* If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, its likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, I only recommend stuff that I truly believe in and share with my friends and family. If you ever have an issue with anything I recommend please let me know. I want to make sure I am always serving you at the highest level.

* To subscribe, visit:
getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html




* To unsubscribe, if you absolutely must go, please click the link below. However . . .

YIKES! - If you unsubscribe, you'll lose all the complimentary organizing resources I share with my loyal readers each week. You'll lose the Weekly Tips, Reader Tips, Reader Clinics, complimentary videos, ebooks, resource recommendations, and the many valuable bonuses I offer each month (some totaling hundreds of dollars). Please don't go. I love sending you all of this free training. I'd be lost and lonely without you. If there is something more you would like from my newsletters, then please reply to this email and let me know.
-- Maria Gracia