Abraham Lincoln once said, 'If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend four hours sharpening the axe.' Although probably few of us have the task of chopping down a tree on our list of TO DOs, these words of wisdom can still help us when it comes to our own day-to-day lives. In our quest to be more efficient at home, work, or wherever, we often lose sight of the real issue at hand. Maybe our real problem isn't that we are not very efficient. Maybe the problem is that we didn't take the time to prepare.

The first step to being efficient at anything is to have a plan. This is why contractors use blueprints and pirates use treasure maps. Going into any project, be it big or small, without a plan in place beforehand is a sure recipe for disaster. Being impatient and wanting to jump right into a project before mapping out your path can really backfire on you later.

It is true that planning takes a little time and will delay your start on any project, but being prepared will inevitably save you time in the long run. Say you decide to bake cookies. You grab a bowl and start mixing the ingredients before you take the time to read the whole recipe. You get four ingredients in and then realize you don't have any eggs. You then have to stop what you are doing, run to the store (or a neighbor's house), and get what you need. True, this is not a big life emergency, but if you had taken the time to think things through start to finish before jumping in, this would not have happened.

The same can be said with anything you set out to do. A big part of being efficient is being prepared, and thinking your jobs through start to finish BEFORE you jump in. Mapping things out ahead of time will help eliminate any unplanned interruptions along the way.

Also, in our efforts to be more efficient, there is one mistake many of us make. We attempt multitasking. We all like to think that we are great multitaskers, able to accomplish great feats in a fraction of the time that others do. In reality, focusing on too many things at a time generally does not end well for anyone.

If you are working on a list of things that you want to get done, it is better to focus entirely on one thing at a time, rather than several all at once. Spreading yourself too thin tends to lead to mistakes that need to be corrected later or a list full of half-finished projects that never seem to go away. Instead, carry out one thing on your TO DO list, start to finish, before beginning something new. At the end of the day, one completed project really is better than five half-finished ones.

Are You Tired of Dealing with Back Pain?
You Don't Have to Keep Suffering
Erase Your Back Pain...Naturally

For people with chronic back pain, some days it's worse than others, but the pain is always there. The things you used to take for granted, like taking a walk, kneeling down to do some light gardening, or even reaching for a coffee mug, can feel nearly impossible sometimes.

For some folks, the pain is so intense that they no longer do those things and chronic back pain has taken a part of their life away from them.

About 80 percent of people experience back pain in their lifetime. In fact, it's the second leading cause of lost work time (after the common cold).

Since most of us get back pain due to our desk/phone/computer-bound lifestyles, we all have similar imbalances and weak spots that must be addressed.

And while back pain can happen to anyone at any time, the older you get, the more likely it will happen to you.

For your back pain, perhaps you've even tried chiropractors, acupuncture, physical therapy, pain meds, or Yoga.

People who suffer from back pain are almost constantly looking for relief. In most cases, they've tried multiple methods already, usually with little or no success.

This is why, if you have back pain, I highly recommend you learn about Back Pain Relief for Life. It's well worth it. I personally know friends who have benefited immensely from this information. Erase that back pain today. Visit:

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

GON Quick Tip: Overnight guests? Make them feel at home. Here's how...
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GON Organizing Technology: Control email overload using the 2-minute rule
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Dirty Little Secret: Having trouble opening that jar? This secret weapon is a must in the kitchen...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-opening-jar.html





Mini Challenges: When it comes to organizing, it's easier to stay motivated when you don't give yourself unattainable goals. Here are 7 challenges you CAN definitely meet this week.
getorganizednow.com/organizing-challenge-attainable-goals.html



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

New Web Poll: Our question is, 'How do you do with public speaking?' Take our web poll and let us know. It only takes a few seconds and you'll be able to see immediate up-to-the-minute results. getorganizednow.com



Theme of the Week: Our theme of the week is 'effort' and my home page quotes reflect that.
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GON April Checklist: Start your own personal season of rebirth. Start today with our April 2018 Organizing Checklist. You'll find it on our home page.
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1) Donate a bag or box. A great way to get rid of your clutter, fast, is to grab a bag or box, fill it with clothing, kitchen items, books, etc. that you no longer need, and drop it off at your local donation center. Why not do that this week?

2) Downsize your bills. Most of us have at least one or two bills that are silly for us to have. For instance, perhaps you have a paid movie subscription service, but you never watch movies. A friend of mine just got rid of her cable services and saved tons each month. Did you know that 67% of people have a gym membership, and they never go to the gym? It's true. What about your landline? Do you use it, or is your cell phone your only form of phone communication? It's very easy to keep paying bills just because you have been paying them for years. This week, try to downsize one bill. Just say no to something you're paying for, and not benefiting from.

3) Sometimes, it's OK to 'just let it go.' . A few days ago, I ordered a take-out hamburger with lettuce and mayo. When I left the establishment and unwrapped my order, I found out I received a hamburger with bacon, onions, and brown mustard. Yes, I could have driven back and had my order corrected, or called and complained, but this time, I decided to just eat what I got and chalk it up to a new adventure. It was actually very good...and I didn't have to waste a moment of time trying to fix a problem that wasn't really that big of a deal to me.

'Always plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.'

--Richard Cushing




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!

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

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-- Maria Gracia