A few weeks ago, I wrote this post about all the things I've been clearing out of my house. For many years, I’ve been good about throwing out or donating things I don’t use. My house is not filled with clutter. We have very few toys from when our kids…
Last year, a friend of mine helped orchestrate his parents’ move from their house—the one my friend grew up in—to an apartment in a high rise. In the high rise, they would no longer be responsible for maintenance of their home, the cleaning would be reduced dramatically because the apartment…
This is guest post by Alex Romero. You’re a nervous volunteer at a nursing home. You're nervous because of the sounds you're hearing coming from a room down the hall—metal screeching, drawers falling, and floorboards scratching. Hopefully the residents are okay. You get to the room and find three elderly…
“Be Organized” is the fourth of my Six Simple Rules for a Better Life. I read a piece in Fast Company about the secrets of the most productive people. Following are some of the “Be Organized” strategies shared in the piece, along with some additional thoughts from me: Belinda Johnson…
One of my daughters was telling me about a position she was considering running for at her sorority. She had already taken on a lot (and accomplished a great deal) during her college years—at her sorority and in general—and had, at times, been overextended. I wrote to her: "If you…
Being disorganized adds stress to my life, and I would argue to most people's lives. Though while "Be Organized" is the fourth of my Six Simple Rules for a Better Life, I've also been trying to avoid placing too much importance on being organized of late; otherwise being disorganized becomes…
Many years ago, my wife (Marcie) and I were presented with the idea of hiring a personal chef. It sounded like an odd idea—like something for the super-rich. But, we did some research, calling around to various places (this was before Google had become our go-to). We found a chef…
This is a guest post by Bethany Rosselit. Bethany blogs at Online Life Coaching, where she offers tips, e-courses, and individual e-mail, chat, and Skype sessions to help people simplify their lives, overcome their fears, and achieve their dreams. For the first 10 years of my marriage, I thought had…
Much has been written about the importance of drinking lots of water. I've heard 64 ounces a day and I've heard half your weight in ounces per day. I've also heard if you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, the number of ounces can be fewer. I do not…
Judging by the comment cards, one of the most popular takeaways from my speeches is the concept of eating the big frog first as a way to conquer procrastination. I thought about it again when a couple of my family members returned to New York from Australia. I’ll explain that…
This is a guest post by Fay Wein. Fay is a communication specialist. Naturally a hoarder since childhood, getting my home and my life organized were not a cinch for me. Although still far from perfect, I’ve managed to bring some semblance of order to my life with some useful…
Rather than waiting until the New Year to begin making changes, just start now. Here are some examples: Can't decide whether to join a board of a local not-for-profit, or to serve homeless at a soup kitchen, or to fund raise for the eradication of a disease? Just pick one…