My Simpler Life - Simple Living

Are Two Monitors Better Than One?

Beth — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:55:20 +0000

In my desk makeover blog post, I had a few people ask why I have two monitors.

I had been reading about how two monitors increases productivity. (Studies show 20-30% improvement.) I use the computer a lot in my work. But, I wasn’t going to buy a second monitor.

So, I was pleased when my husband said his old monitor didn’t work with his new computer system and would I like it.

He set it up after some fiddling. And I love it.

I can have Quicken up on one screen and the places I am paying online up at the same time. Without moving, shrinking, or messing with the windows.

I can have research up on one screen and my blog open in another.

It’s great for evaluating spreadsheets, copying and pasting, comparing products.

I can videoconference on Skype and have on the other screen what we are talking about.

The website I am working on can be on one screen while the code is on the other.

Not everyone needs two monitors. For the average user, it’s probably overkill. But, for people that do a lot of computer work, you can spend less time working by upping the productivity.

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Weekly Simplicity Tips

Beth — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:13:34 +0000

This weekend was a weekend of family connecting. We got out into the sunshine together. I also was able to call my Mom and Grandma. I love being able to come back together after a week of activities.

Listen to feedback from others.
Schedule thinking, reflective time.
Plan spring holidays.
Take your vitamins.
Respond to phone calls and emails at certain times of the day.
Consider a smaller house.
Cut up unused or overused credit cards.

****

Can you picture a simplified life in your mind? In this one month course you will: Zap your energy drains ~ Clean up your environment ~ Create satisfying routines ~ Streamline your life ~ Learn how to slow down ~ Create boundaries ~ Carve out time for yourself ~ Simplify your errands ~ Manage your finances ~ Create a simple wardrobe ~ Connect with the people you love ~ Beat procrastination ~ Get a life instead of a lifestyle ~ Eliminate projects and to do’s and more!

The Simplicity eCourse:

http://www.encouragingcoach.com/programs-simplicity.htm

***

You can check out all my programs and courses here:

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/the-shop

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Beauty

Beth — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:39:15 +0000

Sunset at Lake Macatawa this weekend

I was immersed in beauty this weekend. Taking photos at Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa with my daughter. Seeing butterflies and sculptures at Frederik Meijer Gardens with my family. Viewing a clear midnight blue sky filled with stars. The presentation of a delicious dessert with caramel and mascarpone was tantalizing..

I wanted to be surrounded by beauty was I got home as well, so I cleared and polished the kitchen table and made the table look lovely.

Housecleaning has never been one of my favorite things. But, what if I thought of home care as creating beauty? What if you framed housekeeping as something other than an irritation? If I’m going to do something regularly, I might as well enjoy it, right?

How will you create beauty today?

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Before and After Desk

Beth — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:43:04 +0000

I came into my office this morning to work at 8:42 and this is what I found:

Yikes. Apparently I had been just throwing stuff on my desk and not cleaning it up every evening. Some weeks are like that.

But, I really didn’t want to work with that mess. In order to clean up I:

hung up my headphones
put yesterday’s water cup into the kitchen
put my notebooks away
put my calendar and to do list on their stand
put away my card making supplies
hung up my scarf
shredded my receipts
put coupons away
put my books on the bookshelf
brought my apricots to the kitchen
put several lipsticks back into the bathroom
put my ipod in its stand
and while I don’t have time to go through all my papers right now, I got them all back into the inbox

At 8:57, 15 minutes later I could work here again. It may not be perfect and I still have my wired keyboard while my wireless one is going back to the company. But, I can focus.

So now it looks like this:

What can you do in 15 min?

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Weekly Simplicity Tips

Beth — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:38:36 +0000

I attempted to hurry last week. When will I learn? I hit my head good, dropped numerous things throughout and couldn’t find something. I find hurry always wastes more time than it gains. So today I am going to act with serenity and grace.

Schedule an hour, afternoon, day or weekend retreat.
Darken your bedroom at night or wear a sleep mask.
Take a risk towards simplicity.
Share the household tasks.
Pause when you get agitated.
Fit in household tasks throughout the day.
Close old, unused bank accounts.

****

The Simplicity eCourse:

http://www.encouragingcoach.com/programs-simplicity.htm

***

You can check out all my programs and courses here:

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/the-shop

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What Do You Love?

Beth — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:02:09 +0000

What you see right now is all there is. All that time regretting your past or worrying about your future, doesn’t do a thing. It keeps you in a frantically paced life where you are never happy.

What do you love in your life right now?

I love…

my Lindt truffles from Valentine’s Day
a pink, purple and copper gypsy-like necklace
being able to look something up on the internet that I am interested in
time with friends
Godiva hot chocolate
watching people do things despite their fears
White Collar and Burn Notice
watching my son speak at the robotics introduction
dinner made by my husband
seeing my daughter grow in her graphic design skills
sparkly eye shadow
singing
exercising every day this week
a fragrant bouquet of flowers
my time with wise women
mentoring for Kid’s Hope
dancing around the house
boots, scarves and gloves to keep warm in the snow
the Comfort Cafe
getting to bed on time
taking pictures and video
watching the skiers that flip in the air
live music
yoga
break time
that I was able to say no to new books at Barnes and Noble
get shown around a place that had amazing artwork
delighting with cluttered being let go in the declutter group
my cat Thomas

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Getting to the Root of Procrastination

Beth — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:40:26 +0000

I have a project I haven’t touched in two weeks. Why? I don’t know. I have forgotten to ask.

One of the main reasons I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to, is that I’ve gotten into the habit of asking why.

We often know we are procrastinating. But, instead of getting to the bottom of it we make excuses like, "Well I’m just a procrastinator" or "I’m just lazy".

Firmly held beliefs about yourself are usually easier to deal with than, "I don’t want to be judged harshly with the finished result, so I’ll do it last minute knowing it wasn’t my best work." Or, "I’m scared I don’t know what I am doing." Or, "I am overwhelmed by the scope of it."

Instead of telling ourselves the truth we lie to ourselves when we only admit we procrastinate.

Until we get to the why, it’s harder to overcome procrastination.

Next time you realize you are procrastinating, ask yourself why?

Then you can talk back to your fear, ask for help, break down the project into smaller pieces or try making the task more fun.

***

You can find other ways to deal with Procrastination in my Procrastination eCourse.

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Is Your Reality Real?

Beth — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:03:07 +0000

I was on a call last week discussing an event. We all went to the same event. But, the feelings, experiences and recollections of the event were totally different from one another. A big reminder that what we all see is clouded by our feelings, our past, even the last time we ate.

This is important to remember when dealing with other people. What we see as truth, may in fact not be reality. Just because you feel slighted by someone, doesn’t mean they were actually trying to slight you. A rainy day doesn’t necessarily mean bad news. The driver that cut you off? Maybe they didn’t see you. Or were rushing their son to the doctor.

Did you get emotional with your boss because of the actual criticism or because that’s exactly what your Mom used to say? Kid’s arguments can set you off one day, but blow right past you another day.

You rarely get to see the big picture. Will this event turn out to be terrible or the best thing that ever happened to you? You can’t know everyone’s motives or their pasts.

Assumptions are beliefs or ideas that we hold to be true — often with little or no evidence required." – Daniel Kies

How many times have you assumed you can’t do something? Even if you’ve never tried.

And when we are miserable about something, it’s almost always because we think something, some situation or someone should be different than they actually are.

Fighting reality is a hard way to live.

Byron Katie teaches what she calls The Work to question your thoughts and assumptions. The inquiry process is right on her web site: The Work

What thought is making you angry, frustrated or sad? Try The Work on that thought.

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Weekly Simplicity Tips

Beth — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:15:27 +0000

I was talking with a few people this week, and one of the greatest barriers for a simpler life is the idea that your life is just too complicated, messy and difficult right now. If you resign yourself to never being able to simplify, you won’t. But, everyone can make their lives a little simpler. Making a menu plan, asking for help, taking 30 seconds to just breathe.

Just because you can’t have a simple life right now, doesn’t mean it can’t be simpler.

Get some sunlight.
Spend 20 minutes with no technology.
What work are you resisting? Can you do 5 minutes?
Keep up with the laundry. (tip: if it’s out of control, take it down to the laundry mat to get it done all at once.)
Set up as many bills as possible for automatic payments.
Are you in too many groups?
Decide on one thing that you will accomplish today.

****

Is your energy flagging like mine tends to do in Feb?

Check out my Energy for Joy Health Plan and get the first week free:

http://www.encouragingcoach.com/programs-energyforjoy.htm

Invite more play into your life with SARK’s Awesome Anytime Adventure http://tinyurl.com/ybd46r3

***

You can check out all my programs and courses here:

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/the-shop

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Put Down the Phone and Listen

Beth — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:22:45 +0000

Are you reading this while talking on the phone or listening to your kids or surfing in another window?

Are you still trying to multi-task?

Multi-tasking is really inefficient – only making us think we are getting more done. But for many of the tasks, they end up taking longer and not done as well.

It takes time to get back into working mode on something.

Say you are writing something, then the email beeps. You hop over to check it out.

Now back to writing. Where were you? Your brain stalls a few minutes getting back into writing mode.

Or you bring your laptop into the meeting. You thought you were listening as you did some research online. But, whoops you missed the last 10 minutes and have no idea what is going on.

Or you are annoying someone you are talking with on the phone because they hear click, click, click of you typing.

Some things are fine multitasking – go ahead what the treadmill while watching TV or reading. (Though they say you walk better without those. But, if it’s the only way to get you on the treadmill, go for it.)

You can fold laundry while watching TV. Or wash dishes while chatting with the kids.

But if you need concentration to do something, it’s not helpful to be doing something else. How many times have you tried to multi-task only to find the work longer or you lost one of the things you were multi-tasking.

Take a look at how you are multi-tasking today and see how it’s working for you. Or not working for you.

***

Photo by Carbon NYC

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