3 Steps to Upgrade Your Time during the Holidays

Morgan Farr, an Army wife, has four children and a new puppy. You can imagine how she needs to wisely plan her days. But Morgan is one of the most organized gals I know. In this Christmas Time Management UPGRADE, she shares three steps that help her use her time wisely during the holiday season."When someone says—'Are you ready for the holidays?'—people often sigh and joke about all the things Santa has to get done with the help of his elves," Morgan says. "It seems the holidays produce a lot of anxiety and pressure for many people."

I (Dawn) remember what it was like to have two young boys as I rushed around preparing for Christmas. I could have used some of Morgan's expertise back then!

Morgan continues . . . 

As I have gotten older and become a mother, I realize the “magic of Christmas” is actually a lot of hard work by family members to help make the holiday season bright. 

But in the age of Covid, political unrest, racial tensions, and the rest of the challenges that 2020 has brought, how do you make the holiday season bright? 

And more importantly, how do you do it without having to add extra hours into your day?  

Step One: Get organized

The key to any good plan is structure and organization. 

Now before you panic, I am not saying you need an organized home in order to organize your time. What I am saying is that you need to start with a clear idea of what you need to do.

1. Weekly Planning Meeting

My husband and I have a weekly planning meeting every Sunday night. It doesn’t matter what is going on or if he is TDY with the military, we still connect for a minimum of 15 minutes every Sunday night to sync calendars, manage any scheduling conflicts, and discuss upcoming major events. 

This is also a good time to check on your family budget and make sure your finances are in order. If both parties come to the meeting prepared this should take no more than 30 minutes, but can help prevent major issues later in the week. 

2. Nightly List Write Up

Each night before I head upstairs for bed, I grab my 99 cent spiral notebook and make a to-do list for the next day. I use the same notebook each day so I can roll over any unfinished activities from the day prior if need be. 

This practice takes about 10 minutes total, but it saves me a lot of time the next morning, because I can just glance at the list to see what my next steps should be. It also helps to prevent me from freezing up and being unable to decide what to do next.

3. Daily Involvement 

Get the whole family involved in daily management tasks! Every single day, everyone in my family is involved in the daily aspects of helping to keep the house running. 

• My children help with sweeping, wiping counters, clearing the table, and taking out the trash every single day.
• When it is time to bring in groceries? You bet my kids help bring them inside and help put them away.
• Laundry? Everyone is responsible for putting away their own clothing. 

In the early years, this can seem counter productive, but if you want your children to do it when they are twelve, start with small tasks when they are two. This teaches responsibility while also helping to keep the house orderly.

Step Two: Out with the Bad, in with the Good 

We, as a society, fill our hearts and minds with the most ridiculous things.

We also waste a lot of time on things that have zero eternal significance while bemoaning the lack of time we have.

So to combat this I have a few simple recommendations. 

1. Cut the Cord 

Did you know that the average person spends five hours watching TV every single day? That translates to 35 hours a week—which is almost a full-time job! 

At the end of the holidays no one is going to be sitting there saying, “Man, I wish I had spent more family time watching Netflix.”

If you cut out even one hour per day of TV watching, that will give you back 7 hours in a week. That is almost a full workday! 

2. Use Caution 

I know that during the holidays it can be really tempting to sit on social media and scroll through everyone’s gorgeous family pictures. I love seeing how creative friends and family are with their holiday celebrations. 

However, in 2019, the average person spent an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes on social media every single day! That is 15 hours a week on social media, often when our children should be doing other things like school and work. 

Scale back on your social media time. 

If you need help, most smartphones, tablets, and computers offer a way to set time limits on apps. Set a time limit for yourself or have someone hold you accountable. 

Ultimately, no one will remember if your place setting was perfect for Instagram, or if the gifts were wrapped Pinterest perfect.

What people will remember is spending time—safely during Covid—with the people they love.

Make sure you are giving the gift of your presence this holiday season, not just presents. 

Step Three: Remember the Reason

Finally, remember the reason the holiday even exists.

There are some excellent advent devotionals available for both children and adults. (*)

I have also found that listening to the book of Luke on an audio Bible is really good for my heart. There are 24 chapters in Luke and reading or listening to one per day for the month of December leads me through Jesus' life while I am celebrating His birth.  

[Note: There are many audio Bibles on YouTube. Here are three of the Book of Luke: (NKJV), (KJV), and (NIV).]

"Jesus is the Reason for the Season."

That is the saying you can find all over decorations and signs during the holiday. As Christians, we need to remember the entire point of Christmas is to celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ and His eventual redemption of our sins. 

What we focus on during this season says a lot about our faith and what we believe about the importance of Christ’s birth.

Let’s make sure we are honoring God with our advent celebrations. 

Which step can you take to help upgrade your time this holiday season?

(*) If you need recommendations for advent devotionals, feel free to send me an email at my blog link, below. ~ Morgan

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is learning to train dogs, developing her four young children, and tackling homeschool life… while moving all over the country. Morgan writes about her transition away from feminism and much more at The Forgiven Former Feminist.

10 Sneaky Spaces to Get Organized!

Marcia Ramsland practices what she teaches. I have been in her well-ordered and welcoming home. In this Organization UPGRADE she offers suggestions each of us can tackle to make our living space more organized.

“Sneaky Spaces” are small clutter troves hiding from your everyday life... until you face the embarrassment of someone spotting them," Marcia said.

"Worse yet, they are clutter of one category that keeps you from finding exactly what you need fast."    

I (Dawn) identify with that "sneaky spaces" concept... and the embarrassment of someone seeing them. I opened a closet with guests present, and blushed as some photos—in a loose, messy stack—tumbled out onto the floor! Red-faced and uncomfortable!

Marcia continues . . .      

Do you have what I call “Sneaky Spaces” that fill up with small items?

These spaces are small clutter troves hiding from your everyday life... until now. Use them up and let them go!

Pick a couple of areas below and entertain yourself and/or your family sorting them. It’s fun, easy, and productive to do in an evening. 

You’ll wonder how so much collected and how little of each you actually use.

This remind me me of Luke 16:10 when Jesus said, “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.”

What is it we are to be faithful stewards of? That which we own is at the top of the list.

As you read below, check how many you might feel “guilty” of... and then simply schedule the time (30-60 minutes) to deal with one of the “sneaky clutter spaces.”

 10 Sneaky Spaces to Get Organized 

1. Use Up Bathroom Products

All those little makeup samples, shampoo products, conditioners, nail polish, lipsticks, soap samples equal clutter!

You know what you like. Minimize the rest by using it up or tossing it out.

2. Sort Linen Closet Bedding and Towels

Take the time to wash all the towels, keep the sets you like and “Demote, Donate, or Trash” old stuff you don’t use.

3. Recycle Batteries and Lightbulbs

Gather them in one place, organize what works, and create a box ready to recycle when you can.

Now is a good time to replace bulbs and fire alarm and flashlight batteries.

4. Label Cable and Cord Collections

Do you have a stash of cables and wires you don’t even know what they are for? Now is the time to get family together to divide and conquer the cord collection.

Label chords, especially those that only the techie at home knows what they’re for.

5. Shred Old Credit Cards and Papers

You probably own a shredder, so now is the time to use it.

Credit Cards are good “fodder” and can be shredded as well as old financial papers that are filling up file drawers. Now is the time!

6. Fix it or Toss It—Repair Stuff

Do you have a random pile of things to be glued or repaired? Now is the time to use it or lose it.

Make a repair list, take it to dinner and decide who’s going to fix it or if it’s time to let it go.

7. Give Up the Receipt Collection

Continue shredding with receipts that have piled up.

You can practically have a confetti party when old receipts are gone through and gone!

8. Sort Your “Bag Lady” Stash

Seriously, how many bags do you need?

• Divide the plastic bags into Small, Medium, and Large and store in plastic containers with a lid.
• Refold canvas and cloth bags with the handles inside and the smooth edge lined up like books on a shelf.
• Don’t forget to include the ones in the car!

9. Clean Up Car Clutter

What a good time to get outside and cleanup the inside of your car.

Clean out all the clutter, vacuum, and be ready for the day we are released from Home Quarantine. It is well worth having a clean car.

10. Recycle Kitchen Plastic Ware

So often we collect more plastic containers than we use when food comes packaged in them.

Count, discuss, and release what’s filling up your cabinets.

Make a Clean Sweep of your kitchenware!

Today’s Tip:

“One of the fastest ways to save time is to organize what you use and let go of the excess.

"Keep your favorites and let go of the rest.”

Take a few minutes now and get started decluttering simple, small spaces like those listed above.

Be faithful in all the small spaces of clutter in your life.

It will reward you 10 x over once you get just what you need back into organized place!

What “Sneaky Space” would save you time and energy each day if you organized and decluttered the collection – makeup, receipts, cords, or bags?

Marcia Ramsland is well known as the “Organizing Pro” and teaches ten online organizing courses and coaches individuals to be highly productive personally and professionally. She is the author of the Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay that Way book series, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Marcia believes anyone can become more organized and live an organized lifestyle that’s easy, simple, and productive - even YOU! For courses, personal coaching, and free inspirational materials visit her website at www.organizingpro.com

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Shaun Finn at Pixabay.

5 Ways to Create an Inspiring Workspace

Marcia Ramsland is one of the most organized women I know, and she's professional and so nice when she teaches others how to be organized too! In this Organization UPGRADE, she tackles an area some women think is just too hard to deal with, especially when paperwork takes over—the Workspace.

“An inspiring workspace will help you focus and be ready to work when you sit down at your computer,” Marcia says. “Make it tasteful, streamlined and inspiring!”

I (Dawn) think this is an excellent time to think about re-ordering our homes. With all the cautions about the Coronavirus pandemic, many people have more time to organize their home offices, and to think about how they might change their personal workspace.

Marcia continues . . .   

In organizing hundreds of offices and workspaces, I’ve discovered these 5 elements that can make for an inspiring environment. When any of these is out of balance, making it “just right” can change a person’s entire outlook.

And they take so little time.

When any of these five elements is out of balance, you can make it “right” and improve your entire outlook. And they take so little time.

Which one can you do right now?

1. Pick Your Focal Point and Set the Tone.

The main focal point of your workspace is what you first see when you walk into your workspace, usually the space above your desk or computer. It should be currently inspiring and calming.

Visual space sets the tone to increase your mental energy when you work.

This should have a picture that sets the tone in style and color for your whole office, whether it’s a canvas print from a store, a landscape that means something to you, or simply a framed poster.

Hang something pleasant to look at!

2. Lighting is Key to Where You Work.

Ideally, the lighting should be directly over your clear workspace in the center of your desk.

So often I see people working in a limited 15-inch space because that’s where their lighting is. If you’re crouched over your keyboard trying to do paperwork, readjust the lighting to have desk space to work on.

If you want a warmer touch or meet with people in your office, add a lamp with a shade to soften what could otherwise be a sterile workspace.

Pick a lamp base with wood, metal, or a color that you like. Make your choices by asking, “What is my style that reflects who I am now?” Let that show up in your workspace.

3. Clear your Desk and Organize Your Paperwork.

Clear your desktop of paper piles and office clutter!This one action makes a huge step forward in creating an inspiring workspace.

Paper piles are clutter and distracting to your concentration.

Clean up your desktop daily by writing a Master To Do list of items clears your mind, too. It allows you to file projects until you are ready to work on them.

I’ve organized hundreds of desk and workspace areas and this one step makes a HUGE difference. For inspiration look at these six “Before & After” desk spaces I’ve coached clients through.

4. Motivate Yourself with Uplifting Inspiration.

Inspiration can be anything from a poster to family or friends’ photos with you in the picture. Frame these photos with a similar style of your workspace.

Be sure to have a photo of your family that is no more than six months old so you don’t have to apologize for how outdated the photo is. It’s a conversation piece as well as a motivator for you.

5. Personal Items Should Be Tasteful.

What is tasteful? It’s what your boss, spouse or mother would approve of!

What you put in your workspace becomes public and others often will make a judgment about you based on what they see.

It’s completely acceptable to include elements that reflect your passions, a framed photo of a favorite vacation, or a saying that always inspires you.

If you find yourself sighing and dreading sitting down in your workspace, some simple changes to “own” your space will change your outlook—especially if they include things that have meaning and touch you in an emotionally positive way.

Maintaining an organized workspace reminds me of Jesus’ words: "Whoever can be trusted with little can also be trusted with much…” (Luke 16:10).

Manage your space to write, create and communicate responsibly.

The Lord Himself cares how you manage this one “little” aspect of your life. Do it for Him and for yourself, if even no one else sees it.

My Helpful Tip: Be selective about what goes in your workspace. Become visually aware of workspace clutter. File and recycle paper piles until they’re gone. Clean it up and clear clutter out so you stay focused and inspired.

What could you organize and improve right now to create an inspiring workspace you love to work in?

Marcia Ramsland is well known as the “Organizing Pro” and best-selling author of the Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay that Way book series, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Marcia teaches her online Organizing Courses and Coaches individuals to be highly productive personally and professionally. She believes anyone can become more organized and live with ease—even YOU! For “Before & After” desk organizing photos, visit organizingpro.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of DarkWorkX at Pixabay.

Upgrade Your Homemaking with the 7Ps

Morgan Farr is a multi-talentd woman with great influence both biblically and practically. In this Homemaking UPGRADE, she applies a military concept to home skills for greater success.

“Prior Proper Planning Prevents Painfully Poor Performance,” Morgan says. “This is a saying that is often posted in military circles, often referred to as the 7Ps.”

I (Dawn) think that’s a mouthful and hard to say, but it certainly drives home an important point! 

Morgan continues . . .  

I have used my own version of the 7Ps to successfully run a military garage gym ministry, and I want to share my 7Ps of Homemaking. 

I have found that almost all of my stress in homemaking has been related to not having enough time or energy for a task. With my 7Ps for homemaking I am better able to manage my time and energy.

These are the Ps that I follow: 

• Planning and Preparation
• Pace and Play
• Pen, Pew and Prayer

1. Plan and Prepare

The first thing that I would recommend to anyone looking to upgrade their homemaking would be planning and preparation. These are crucial aspects of running a home well.

From planning the meals, doctors appointments, and vacations, to planning guest visits… homemakers plan a lot.

“Let everything be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Find a way that works for you and use it to help you plan and prepare well. 

While I am aware that there are a million calendar apps out there, I am still a paper planner kind of gal. I have a large wall calendar and a small spiral bound planner that stand between me and disordered chaos.

I use a different color coded pen for each member of the family. That way I know at a glance who has something major each day. This helps me to plan out my week and see any major issues ahead of time.

My husband and I make certain that we are available on Sunday evenings for a planning meeting for the week. We discuss upcoming events, things that need to be added to the grocery list, and anything else that needs to be prepared in order to keep the family running smoothly. 

2. Pace and Play

Once you have a plan and you have prepared to follow through on it, the next thing you should do is decide on your pace and play rhythm.

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done" (Genesis 2:2-3).

The Creator of the entire universe rested on the seventh day.

Be realistic about how much work you can bear at this point and create opportunities to recharge. 

There are many ways to get ahead in this area and upgrade your homemaking. I have alarms set on my phone for 1:30 pm every single day. This helps me to pause whatever project that I am working on, and take a break.

This break could mean:

• I read a book,
• I walk on the treadmill,
• I sit and drink a cup of coffee, etc.
  

It depends on the day and the projects I am working on. If you are someone who loves the outdoors, maybe that means stepping outside to enjoy God’s creation for 15 minutes on your lunch break.

The important part here is to realize that while hard work is good, it is equally important to set a healthy pace with opportunities to play the way that works best for you. 

3. Pen, Pew, and Prayer

My final—and probably most important—recommendation is to make sure you spend time with a pen, in a pew and in prayer.

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

I think everyone should keep a journal, no matter the season of life. This can help you avoid sin patterns, love the people around you, and understand yourself better. Even if all you can do is write in a one word entry, that can help you later to see where your heart and mind is headed over time. 

I would also strongly encourage you to get in the pew at church.

By that I mean:

• Be a part of the fellowship and accountability.
• Find a mentor and a mentee in your community.
• Be a part of the body of Christ in both a physical way and in your prayers.

Sharing our burdens with other believers is one of the greatest mercies of the Christian faith. We have to be vulnerable enough to open up our hearts and share the burdens that we carry, especially as homemakers where much of the battle is unseen among mops, children, and groceries. 

God has given us the incredible ability to be keepers of our homes. It is our responsibility to ensure that we do the absolute best job of it that we can.

Taking the time to ensure that we follow the 7Ps helps us to honor God with our homemaking. 

Which of these 7Ps do you need to devote more energy to?

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is working to better love her husband, develop her three small children, and learn more about homeschool. Morgan is a homemaker dedicating her time to ministering to other Army wives through Bible studies, one-on-one mentoring, and physical training. She writes about her transition out of feminism and into biblical womanhood at The Forgiven Former Feminist. 

Graphic adapted, courtesy of RawPixel at Pixabay.

Happy Productive New Year

Pam Farrel is one of the most "get it done" women I know. In this New Year UPGRADE, she desires to help us be "get it done" women too!

"Achievement, attainment and accomplishment feel GREAT!" Pam says. "Completion brings a certain satisfaction and fulfillment, especially if our goals and tasks positively impact our life."

I (Dawn) have personally seen how many accomplishments Pam has made over the years. She must have some secret, I thought. Turns out, she does! And she's sharing it here.

Pam continues . . .

Our productivity has even more value when it means that other people are blessed and built up too. When our accomplishments encourage and equip others, the joy is multiplied!

People sometimes ask me, “How did you write and publish 46+ books, speak almost every week, run a ministry, keep a vibrant marriage, raise three great kids, build a wonderful friendship circle and keep your home in order?

Honestly, I was inspired long ago by the Proverbs 31 woman.

While I recognize this description of a godly woman was penned as a tribute and likely covered the accomplishments of her lifetime, while studying the passage, one VITAL trait consistently popped off the page:

The Proverbs 31 woman didn’t just hope, dream, wish or plan—the girl took ACTION!

Let’s look at this famous passage. (I have emphasized the action verbs):

An excellent wife who can find?

    She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

    and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm,

    all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

    and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant;

    she brings her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night

    and provides food for her household

    and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself with strength

    and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

    Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff,

    and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor

    and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,

    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes bed coverings for herself;

    her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates

    when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;

    she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

    and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

THE RESULT

And what is the positive outcome of her proactive action plan?

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

    and let her works praise her in the gates.

In summary . . .

• Her kids rave about their awesome mom;
• her husband proclaims her strength, value, talent, and character;
• she is held up as a role model of virtue and godliness, a woman to be praised by people; and
• best yet, her OWN WORKS—those accomplished tasks and the character developed in the pursuit—provide an extra dose of praise!

Inspired by her diligent action, I thought,

“How can I replicate this hard-working woman’s 'get it done' style?”

In Get It Done, Girl! Maximizing Your Moments Action Planner, I share a simple acrostic that helps me plan and then take A.C.T.I.O.N.

A—Ask God.

Invite the Creator to give you a heavenly perspective. 

I begin each day asking Him to order the steps of my day. By taking the time to pray, it has helped me recall a person, an opportunity, a need, or inspired a creative thought for a book, a blog or a business.

C—Clear the “Must Do’s.”

I keep the Due Date next to each task in my action planner and also, as a reminder, on my phone’s calendar.  

I ask, “Which of the many things I have written has the worst consequence for inaction?” I mark these MUST DOs with a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in order of priority.

T—Tackle Tough Tasks.

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day.

Your “frog” is the most vital task each day.

I try to handle the hardest things early in the day—then I greatly reward myself!

I—Invest in the Future.

At this point, I get to select the tasks and actions to make progress on. 

For bigger projects,

• I break them down into more bite-sized portions,
• assign due dates,
• then select time blocks to work on these items.

I track my projects and try to make forward movement.

O—Organize Space and Personal Life.

Being organized can lower your daily stress and raise your productivity.

You can either:

• pay a maid,
• delegate chores to your children—which helps them grow up to be responsible adults,
• or handle your tasks yourself.

The key to our happy, long-lasting marriage is this:

The one who has the RESPONSIBILITY has the AUTHORITY to handle that task, their way, their time, with their creative ingenuity.

And the spouse’s role is to THANK and APPLAUD their mate for handling the job.

N—Nurture Those I Love.

Just because you are a “Get It Done, Girl” kind of woman doesn’t mean you are all work and no play! 

The most productive people I know have a healthy work/play balance. Their motivation for the work is to provide, protect and bring a peaceful environment to their life and family.

A happy family is a more productive family.

And while we are talking about nurturing, treat yourself as kindly as your Heavenly Father would treat you.

How can you press in and take not procrastinate? What in this blog will help you take A.C.T.I.O.N. so those in your life arise to bless you?

Pam Farrel is an international speaker, author of the Get It Done, Girl: Maximize Your Moments Action Planner, her 47^th book. She and her husband, Bill, are Co-Directors of Love-Wise. To help with your productivity, in their book 10 Best Decisions a Parent Can Make there is a list of what chores and responsibilities children and teens can handle by their age and stage of life. In Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti, the Farrels share how they divide and delegate work, ministry, home and family responsibilities.