How To Organize And Get Things Done

Do you feel like you’re always working to keep up, but don’t really get anything done, especially around holidays? In his best-selling book Getting Things Done, David Allen gives you an effective time management system to help you organize your stuff, your work activities and your personal life. Allen’s key idea is to start with a “mind sweep” ─ get everything out of your head and down on paper (or other written form). Once your mind is cleared, your productivity goes up and you can focus on creative action. His five basic stages of mastering your personal or professional “workflow” are: 1) Collect. Capture anything and everything that is on your mind. 2) Process. Decide what each thing means. Is it something you should do? Do it now or later? Can you delegate it (and track on a “Waiting For” list)? 3) Organize. Place the items in categories, such as Projects, Calendar, Next Actions and Waiting For, and sub-categories of your choice. (To help you visualize this, he includes a diagram for navigating through the processing and organizing phases of your workflow.) 4) Review. Go over Calendar and Action lists daily and do a weekly customized review to get clean and current. 5) Do. Make choices about your actions based on what you can do, how much time and energy you have and your priorities. Another one of his most popular methods is the “two minute rule.” If any task can be completed in less than two minutes (for example, a quick email response), do it immediately. Stop putting those little things off.

Clever Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide

• Disinfect countertops and cutting boards. • Pour a little over your toothbrush after every use. • Mix 1 oz in 1 quart of water and water your plants. It adds oxygen to the soil and helps roots grow.

Can we Develop Charisma?

Yes, you can, says, D.A. Benton, author of Executive Charisma. Here are five skills you can practice to improve your charisma quotient. 1. Be confident. When introducing yourself say your name and then tell something about yourself. This helps to draw a question from the other person, and can lead the person into a conversation with you. 2. Walk with purpose. Pause before entering a room and project confidence as you walk into the room. 3. Use the double hand shake. When you shake someone’s hand, use the two-handed grasp. While shaking with right hand, your left hand grasps the person’s arm at or below the elbow. 4. Focus on your goal. Charismatic people know what they want and are passionate about it. Focus on what you want and how to get there. 5. Be a good listener. Listen when other people talk. Value their opinions and make eye contact.

Eat These Superfish

Salmon is great for you but here are other fish that may also help your heart:  Rainbow trout – a 3 oz serving has 20 grams of protein and almost 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.  Catfish – provides 100% of the daily requirement for vitamin B12.  Mackerel – one of best sources of vitamin D (good for bone health).  Pollock – a serving provides 73% of the daily requirement of selenium, which may lower your risk of diabetes.

Save $$$ On Your Phone Bill

Have you reviewed your phone situation lately? Consider one or all of these options to save hundreds of dollars a year: Eliminate your landline. First, study your phone bill to see if you’re paying for extras (like caller ID) you may not need. If you decide to ditch your landline because you have a cell phone, make sure you have excellent cell coverage at home. Another option is to switch to VOIP (voice over internet protocol) like Vonage, Skype, Ooma and even MagicJack. Unlimited local and long distance calls can range from $5 to $20 a month, that can save you over $100 per year. Bundle your services. You can save $20 or more per month if you get your cable, Internet, and landline from the same provider. There’s an extra $240 each year in your pocket for the same services. Ask your cell phone provider for a cheaper plan. If you talk to the same people daily, a “favorites” plan may better suit your needs. If you’re sending more text messages, go to an unlimited texting plan. Or, consider a pre-paid cell phone where you only pay for minutes you use. Depending on your talking time, that could save you up to $500 a year.

Seven Basic Principles for a Healthy Home

1. Keep your home dry. Check for external and internal leaks in roofing and plumbing. Moisture invites mold, which can cause serious problems. 2. Keep it clean. Clean surfaces frequently to control allergy-causing dust. 3. Keep it safe. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Have fire extinguishers available on each floor. 4. Keep it well-ventilated. Increase the amount of fresh air, which improves respiratory health. 5. Keep it pest free. Seal cracks and openings to keep the critters out and store all food securely. 6. Keep it contaminant free. Check for deteriorating lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. Have your home tested for radon. 7. Keep it well maintained. Routinely inspect your home and make repairs. Better to fix small problems before they become bigger ones.

Risky Investor Traps

You’re anxious to rebuild your nest egg but want to make sure you invest wisely. Here are some of the top products and practices you should avoid, according to the North American Securities Administrators Association: Foreign Exchange Trading Schemes. Beware of salesmen who claim to have algorithms or propriety software programs that allow them to beat the market. State regulators have found situations where there are no trades; the money is simply stolen. “Green” schemes. New energy-efficient technologies are popular, but be wary of those exploiting headlines related to the Gulf oil spill clean-up and “clean” innovations, such as wind energies or carbon credits. Oil & Gas schemes. These investments tend to be unsuitable for smaller investors who can’t afford the risk. While ventures can be legitimate, some promoters structure their “general partnerships” to avoid securities regulation. Affinity fraud. Scam artists like to prey on groups, such as church members and professional groups. Seek further information from an unbiased, independent source. Undisclosed conflicts of interest. Demand that anyone giving advice or recommendations disclose how they are compensated. Private or special deals. Although properly used by many legitimate issuers, private offerings have become an attractive option for con artists who steal money by promoting special deals. “Off the Books” deals. Be cautious if your broker offers an investment on the side instead of one sold through his or her employer. Unsolicited online pitches. Fraudulent investment scammers are now using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist, YouTube) to solicit unsuspecting investors. Approach any unsolicited investment opportunity with suspicion. How do you avoid getting taken? Do your homework, be skeptical and only do business with licensed brokers and advisers. Check out any adviser before you invest at a site such as www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Report any suspicion of fraud to your state or provincial securities regulator.