Heather K Powers

Your Desk Assignment

January 14, 2013 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Paper management, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources

Since January was GO Month, I’m continuing to bring you Get Organized tips. Today, here’s your Desk assignment if you choose to tackle it! Because, you know…it might be a mess regularly, or you may need to start getting tax papers together.

You know your why, I’ll show you how.

Spend the thirty minutes to hour of your day at work keeping your desk organized for a more productive week, month & year!

Really! If you spend 30-60 min’s today and clean up your desk, it will make you feel so much better, more productive, more effective and less stressed when you sit down (or stand) to get back to work.

Here’s a quick breakdown with a few tips to keep in mind as you are tackling this little (or maybe not so little?) task:

If you already have a good filing system in place, sort & file or toss/shred the rest. IF NOT…
Decide if you are A filer or A piler (more here ). If you are a ‘filer’ proceed to the next step using a vertical file sorter. If you are a ‘piler’ then proceed but modify this system using a horizontal filing baskets, bins or small drawers.
Create a ‘Tickler or Action file system’ for the items that need to remain nearby. There are several types like 43 Folders or a more action-based system. Sort items & file or toss/shred the rest. Action files may include: To Do, Pay, Contact, Research or Decisions, Complete, Pending, Read, Delegate, Upcoming events, File, Current projects (by name) and more.
Clear supplies off surfaces. Put them in drawers or bins/boxes/baskets and label as needed. Keep only what you use regularly on the desk. One pen/pencil and one notepad and the electronic paraphernalia.
Utilize vertical space. Hang a cork, whiteboard, calendar, or action file sorter (not where things should live permanently!). Consider anything else that you can remove from your desk to better use vertical space.
Remove anything unrelated to work or home office (toys, mail that hasn’t been sorted, tools, knickknacks, etc.)
Optimize your workspace ergonomics. Check the height of your chair, monitor, and desk. Add good lighting and consider using or adjusting arm rests, using a riser for your monitor, a wedge for your wrists etc.
Include something beautiful (not a bunch of things!). One or two beautiful objects like a plant, a crystal, a photo, candle etc. that give you a place for you to rest your eyes. Cast your gaze on these when you are taking recommended 3-min breaks from your monitor.

IF this doesn’t seem like a task you can tackle in 30-60 min’s and you can’t do it all at once then tackle the tasks above that seem easy and check them off the list. When it comes to the BIG piles, can you do a quick sort and keep only the things you really need on/near your desk in a desktop sorter of some type? The rest can go into a box for you to label “SORT” and work on a little at at time (30 min’s a day) for the rest of the week or until it’s done.

Coming to work tomorrow will be that much more joyful with a neat an tidy desk!

Brought to you by National Clean off your desk day! Who thinks of these things? Hallmark? Is there a card for it?

Now, I’m off to take my own medicine! Happy Clean Desk Day!

Visualize your Organized Life

January 7, 2013 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Organize, Wellness & Mindset

As part of Get Organized month I’m sharing some of the big (& small) ways I use to set my intention and get going on the right footing for the new year. The first thing I did was set my intention with a word of the year. This year it’s all about being Radiant!

The next step in my practice for BIG (annual) planning/organizing/strategizing & goal setting is creating an Vision Board. I started this practice back in 2011 and over the last couple years I’ve been so amazed at how fun it is to choose where I want to go and set it down in a concrete visible way. Some people call these Vision Boards others call them Action boards (for those that feel the word “Vision” is to pie-in-the-sky). There are many ways to create these boards via fancy software, fun apps, images, text, or even Pinterest. I just go with the good old fashion cut and paste from magazines (which I always have on hand)!

How does this help you get organized? If you feel there are areas in which you would like a different outcome in your life try creating a vision board to activate and attract what you want to accomplish and how you envision it in ideal reality. Use images and words that feel the way you want to feel about your space and your life.

2013 Vision Board

I prefer one that is all words/text and in a month or two I may create another board with images. For me the clarity of a text board is more appealing and I find it easier to find specific words (rather than images that convey a feeling). I’ve been very careful about how I combine the words I place on my board to draw into my life the specific intentions I desire. When I’m finished I keep it in either my office or studio (alternating) & check in with it for inspiration throughout the year, if I come across something I need to add, I’ll do that as well.

However you want to create your board and whatever you call it, just know that by being very clear about what you want to manifest in your life and putting it down in a concrete way you are more likely to draw attention to theses aspects of yourself (actions, thoughts, etc). It’s all about the law of attraction. When I look back at the last years vision boards I’m truly amazed at the ways in which the specific wishes, desires, dreams and actions have been attracted into my life!

This year, I’ve chosen words that are bigger and bolder in both action and font/colors; I’m reaching for even more!
How do you envision the next year? What do you want to attract and are you creating any type of vision board to activate the process?

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Wednesday’s Word::RADIANT

January 2, 2013 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Photography, Wellness & Mindset

Yes, this is it! My word of the year for 2013 is RADIANT! This word feels perfect after quite a bit of soul searching and some writing exercises (see HERE for recommendations).

This word also builds upon last years word; Soar. I have soared through the past year and this year I’m choosing light, happiness and joy! I choose to be radiant in all that I do and to attract into my life what makes me feel radiant.

ra·di·ant adj.

1. Emitting heat or light.

2. Consisting of or emitted as radiation: radiant heat.

a. Filled with light; bright.

b. Glowing; beaming.

1. An object or a point from which light or heat rays are emitted.

2. Astronomy The apparent celestial origin of a meteoric shower.

radiant

adjective

1. happy, glowing, ecstatic, joyful, sent, gay, delighted, beaming, joyous, blissful, rapturous, rapt, on cloud nine, beatific, blissed out, floating on air
happy (opposite of low, sad, miserable, gloomy, sombre, sorrowful, disconsolate, joyless, down in the dumps)

2. bright, brilliant, shining, glorious, beaming, glowing, sparkling, sunny, glittering, gleaming, luminous, resplendent, incandescent, lustrous, effulgent Out on the bay the morning is radiant.
bright (opposite of black, dark, dull, gloomy, sombre)

Yup, BLISSED OUT, FLOATING ON AIR and JOYOUS pretty much sum up exactly what I have my intentions set on for this coming year.

If nothing else I will practice being RADIANT in 2013!

Happy New Year 2013::FEEL, BE, LOVE…

January 1, 2013 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Organize Leave a Comment

Happy 2013!! With the beginning of each New Year many of us are full of resolutions, hopes, commitments, goals and eying up new opportunities.

We are envisioning a year where we accomplish MORE, dream BIGGER and behave BETTER. Maybe we have carried over some resolutions or goals from last year or maybe we are dreaming new dreams!

Whatever you have your heart, soul and mind set on for this coming year, know you are perfectly as you are meant to be right at this moment! Nothing is wrong with hopes, goals and resolutions but as you take the time to set you intention for 2013; ask yourself…

How do you want to FEEL, who do you want to BE, who do you want to LOVE more (yourself, kids, spouse, friends, parents?) and what do you want to LET GO OF in order to really LIVE WELL?

Wednesday’s Word::Soar

December 26, 2012 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education 3 Comments

As the year 2012 comes to a close I have been reflecting on everything that has happened and how I feel about the past year’s accomplishments, changes and challenges. Each year for the past 2 I’ve chosen a Word of the Year. I began this tradition in 2010 with the word Clarity as I longed to find a new direction, then last year I continued with the word Soar as we made a big transition to a new place and life. Now 2012 is almost over and I’m thinking of all the meanings behind this years word.

What does it really mean to SOAR?

go with the flow (ride the currents),

flap your wings-easily & furiously,

transition & fluctuations,

shift in perspective,

elevate to new heights,

transcend this world,

dive towards the ground,

suspended moments with out grounding or gravity (zero point),

glide effortlessly,

complete free flight (freedom),

and come into contact with angels!

Wow! I certainly didn’t think about all the meanings intertwined with what it means to soar when I picked the word. Now that I am reflecting back on weather I truly soared I have concluded that I did indeed in more ways than I could have imagined! I had simply focused on a singular meaning without contemplating the up’s and down’s and the rocky turbulence as well as the complete freedom and experience of flying in the presence of angels! As I prepare to choose my word for 2013 I am in awe of how perfect SOAR was for me for 2012. My experiences transcended my expectations of finding ease and rising above my old life, soaring to new heights. This year has blown me away, every experience I’ve had has truly expanded my horizons! I look forward to continuing the practice of choosing a word for the year and in the future I’ll be sure I have a very expanded idea of how the word I choose can be defined, influence, reflect and set intentions for the year. Setting intentions is a a powerful practice and one that I much prefer to creating resolutions (which is a very goal-control oriented way of working towards new accomplishments).

When you set an intention, there is no possibility of failure, only reflection and expansion.

Are you planning to choose a Word of the Year (or One Little Word) for 2013? If so below are a few links that might be useful for you as you contemplate your 2013 Woty.

Danielle LaPorte

Ali Edwards (word ideas)

Christine Kane (writing exercise)

Kim Klassen (an exercise in discovering)

Huffington Post (a broader exploration of this idea within media)