Productivity Archives

Got a Vision?

December 16, 2020 by Heather Filed Under: Art & Design, Creative process, Inspiration & Education, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

It’s been a challenging year and allowing ourselves to plan for the future still doesn’t quite feel natural. So for those of us use to planning, this state of uncertainty feels uncomfortable and possibly even scary. Yet, there are a lot of different ways to plan for the unknown. One way is to envision where you are headed. This type of planning is less rigid than sitting down with a calendar and deciding on goals, penciling in when you want to achieve them, and mapping out how to get there. A vision board is a wholly different kind of map.

Over the past five years, I’ve led quite a few vision board workshops at conferences, meetings, and art studio’s, one thing they always have in common, they are so much fun and unexpectedly powerful! Everyone from Oprah and Ellen to life coaches and artists uses vision boards as a creative tool to help gain clarity on setting intentions and goals. Have you created a vision board before?

When I create a vision board and lead a workshop I begin with helping you get clear about what you want to see happen in your life. Our imagination gets lazy and when that happens we sell our-self short of amazing possibilities! Imagine bigger, brighter, easier outcomes that are more joyful! Imagination is a muscle that requires regular exercise.

Think of making a vision board as a fun workout for your imagination!

The process of creating a vision board is a powerful tool for setting our intention and creatively visualizing that outcome. For some of us, these might be “goals.” For others, it might be an “intention” or a “feeling.” Through words and images, we can map our vision. This process helps us find clarity about what we are creating in our day-to-day lives through the choices we make. Our vision boards become a powerful touchstone to bring us back to our intentions when we feel we are off course or unclear.

When we get stuck or overwhelmed in the process of working through change in our lives, it can be refreshing to get out of our thinking mind and into our creative body. By asking ourselves what we want things to look like and how we want to feel, we embrace and tap into our creative connection with the universe, god, whatever that might mean to each of us.

So I am offering an online vision board workshop on Sunday, December 27th from 1-5 pm EST. It’s a pay what you can and I am inviting the first 12 people who sign up (here) to join me. If you can pay something (suggested $26), great but it’s not required. I want to see more powerful positivity manifested in 2021, this is my small contribution.

Even if you can’t join this time, I will offer the workshop again online soon. For those of you who want to do this on your own, the following instructions will get you going!

STEP 1: Gather : Flip through magazines and cut images and words that “speak to you”. Collect anything that delights or calls to you and have fun with the process.

STEP 2: Sort : If you run out of magazines or feel like you have “enough” begin to sort through setting things aside into three piles:

KEEP/LOVE!-These images and words feel right, bring you joy, you feel connected and they make your “heart sing”- trust your intuition.

MAYBE-These have an element that has attracted you but don’t quite excite you as others.

DISCARD- on second thought, something doesn’t feel quite right about these, it’s okay to put them away for later.

STEP 3: Arrange : Group images and words together as you begin to place them on your board. As you do this, you’ll get a sense of how the board should be laid out. You can follow a more aesthetic look or go about this in a random manner, there’s no right or wrong!

STEP 4: Attach : After you’ve arranged all the items in a way that works for you, paste everything onto the board. Take your time, attach smaller pieces to larger, think in layers.

STEP 5: Display : Hang your Vision Board in a prominent place where you’ll see it regularly, like the laundry room a closet, or inside a door.

The vision board process can help us find clarity and communicate our ideas in an effortless and creative way by tapping into our intentiohns, dreams, and envisioning them. The process doesn’t have to be exact or precise to work either! We can manifest how we want to feel, where we want to live or what we want our days to include. Vision boards can work in many areas of our life. I keep a small sketchbook that I create two-page spreads based on categories I dream about such as love relationships, home, travel (on hold for now;) and more.

Please give this a try and share your results with me if you like! Email me photo’s of your vision board or share via social media with #hkpscreativevisioning

Essential College Organizing (for in-person & online learning)

August 22, 2020 by Heather Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

This year, in particular, transitioning to or back to college might feel particularly overwhelming for both in-person and online classes. There is a lot that has changed over the past year but keeping organized is a strategy that will help improve study skills, lifestyle habits, and time management. These skills become more important the more we have at stake and college is a time where we are asked to juggle building new relationships, living independently or with new extended families, and building knowledge. Any of these on their own is a considerable undertaking, so approaching this transition should be undertaken with a good dose of strategy, support from people who care about you and want to see you succeed and a large heaping of self-care. If you’re feeling overwhelmed already, break it down into smaller manageable tasks and be mindful of your emotions! It’s a big change in the midst of an already crazy world, so don’t dismiss how you feel!

The intention of this post is to share some helpful strategies for getting and staying organized for both new and returning students. Some of you may have eagerly planned, shopped and packed over the summer and are settling in or getting ready to. There are still lots of folks preparing for the new school year, either in dorms or online. No matter where you are taking classes (in person, online), these Essential Organizing tips will help you get a handle on planning for and transitioning into this experience!

Productivity, Routines, and Schedules

By now you should probably have the school year calendar and have a target date for the start of classes and moving to campus. The following categories as they relate to routines and schedules can help make this a more mindful transition for life schedules and productivity.

Transportation-Will a car be available or will is it going to be transportation by bus or college shuttle? Is there a metro or other public transportation in their new city? Be sure to understand the best method of transportation and if cars are allowed on campus (not the case for many freshmen). Work out travel transportation arrangements ahead of time for upcoming school drop off, pick up and holidays (through the end of the year). This might include airfare so book ahead and know the rules and download any useful local apps for mass transit.
Planner or Calendar-Decide how to keep track of calendars so that everything needed is in one place, based on what works. Use either a digital or paper planner (there is a big trend to return to paper!) to keep track of important dates, orientation, move in, class schedule (and locations on campus), appointments, projects, finals, and holidays. Consider something like a whiteboard (in the dorm/room) to track schedules while adjusting to this new way of life. If possible, do this ahead of time before heading off to school where the tendency will be to get caught up in the excitement of new campus life! Planners are only helpful if they are with you so keep it where it’s needed (in a backpack or purse etc).
Activities, sports, and clubs (most will be transitioned to online or postponed this fall)-If your college planning to get involved in sports, clubs etc…get these activities booked on your master calendar along with the school schedule and decide on any necessary transportation. Cross-reference these activities with the school schedule and keep it all in one place. It’s great to get involved, but be sure there’s a sense of balance between schoolwork, activities, and “play” or free time to be with friends, socialize, relax, etc.
Productivity, routines, and study time– Think and Talk about to-do lists and schedule planning (daily, weekly, or monthly) to stay on top of important tasks, projects, classes, and dates. Consider what routines and systems have worked in the past and set up systems for successful and focused study time. This will be different from situation to situation but consistency is key, especially simple things like waking up at the same time daily, making your bed, weekly shopping & laundry, etc. When it comes to studying if you are easily distracted by other people being around, have a plan to seek out a quiet place on campus or at home (dorm or with family) that will enable successful focus. Create a few simple rules and rituals, like picking up daily (5 mins/day), keeping your desk clean, empty/repack your bag daily so you have what you need ready the next day. Have a plan for note-taking, setting up binders and folders by class (color code, etc), or other systems that have been successful. Find a routine for self-discipline, this means getting 6-8hrs of sleep a night, eating regularly, taking necessary medications, self-regulating screen time (games, apps, etc), and generally acting like an adult! All the freedom is fun but when things spiral out of control have a plan to get back on track. Most of us thrive with routines and it’s even more important in transitions to implement them for our own success:)

Supplies and Shopping

This is always a big part of school preparation. If you need to order equipment, uniforms, supplies, books, etc you may already be in the process of doing so. If your state (or the one the college is in) has a Tax Free Weekend (usually in August), plan accordingly so you can make major purchases over that weekend.

Supplies-Create a master list based upon all the supplies needed. “Shop” your house first, gathering anything on the list into one container (box or bag).
Budget-set a limit (realistic) on what you can and will spend so you don’t get sucked into extras.
Categorize-Break the shopping items into categories (see below). E.X. categories might include books, school/desk supplies, clothing, dorm room, meals, electronics, etc.
Shopping-Do a little preliminary research online and either make the purchases online or decide where you will go for what.

A-Z Dorm Essentials for Cleaning and Organizing

These are great resources to have on hand and will be helpful for a variety of uses in the dorm. I’ve created an Amazon Shopping list with suggested items here.

Backpack or bag
Bedside Caddy
Bed Risers (optional)
Hooks (a variety of sizes & types including command & over the door)
Hangers (check to see if you need to bring them but probably!)
Labels (a label maker or write on labels)
Laundry supplies (basket/bag, detergent)
Over the door or under bed shoe organizer
Overnight bag
Permanent markers
Poster Putty for hanging decorative things on the walls
Power Strip-surge protector
Small rolling Cart (with shelves or drawers)
Shelf &/or drawer dividers/organizers (assorted sizes)
Toiletry or shower caddy
Trash & recycling bins/bags (so many people don’t have them!)
Under-bed storage bins (will fit with bed risers-wait if you don’t know)
Zip bags in assorted sizes
Zip ties (assorted sizes for cables, hanging items, etc)

ABC’s of Dorm Packing Essentials

There are a ton of great resources and lists over on Pinterest, so I won’t recreate them but here are general packing categories. It’s best to wait on things like a mini-fridge, microwave, dishes (other than a cup/mug, plate and one set of silverware), Iron/Board (unless fashion is your thing!), vacuum (maybe a dustbuster and mini broom), TV and Printer. These are all things that others or the school will have. Besides, you might not need it at all or you can get them later.

Bathroom-Toiletries
Cleaning Supplies (lots of extra or a plan to get more as needed)
Clothing
Cooking & Dining Supplies
Desk Supplies
Dorm Room
Food
First Aid Kit
Electronics
Furniture & Decorations
Medications (Supplements, cold & Rx)
Personal Items
School Supplies
Sports Equipment

This is a lot of info in one place! I hope these Off to College Essential Organizing Tips will help prepare for schedule and lifestyle changes, supplies, and shopping, and finally packing before this next adventure begins!

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Apps with a focus on Personal and Business Productivity

May 20, 2020 by Heather Filed Under: Digital Organizing, Organize, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

People often ask me what productivity Apps I use and recommend. It’s been a while since I’ve included a roundup on the blog so as requested, here are some useful Apps with a focus on Personal and Business Productivity.

Apps with a Focus on Personal and Business Productivity

Asana
Created by Facebook co-founder, Dustin Moskovits, and fellow Facebook associate Justin Rosenstein, Asana allows teams to track their work through project and task assignments that have the ability to feature notes, comments, attachments, and tags without having to use personal email to communicate. Instead, when changes are made to projects by team members, a message is sent to the project manager’s inbox through Asana’s internal messaging system.

Basecamp
Since its inception in 2004, Basecamp has seen two new product launches in 2012 and 2015 of Basecamp 2 and Basecamp 3, respectively. This platform stores and organizes your work in one place through the use of team message boards and comment threads, real-time chat, automatic check-ins, to-do lists, document and file storage, a centralized schedule, reports, and a very handy search feature for digging up old docs.

*Evernote
This multiplatform app comes in free or upgraded paid version. Evernote is best for note-taking, organizing, and archiving. Users create “notes” which can come in the form of formatted text, a webpage or excerpt, photograph, voice memo, or even a handwritten “ink” note. Notes can also includes attachments; be annotated, tagged, edited, commented on, or searched; and are exported as a page in a notebook.

*Goodreads
For the bookworm in all of us. Goodreads is an Amazon company through which “social cataloging” allows users to search and save books and reading lists. The platform is heavily driven by the use of its members who can create group book suggestions, blogs, polls, and discussion threads; generate library catalogs, and search through the Goodreads ever-growing database of books and reviews.

*Google Drive
Whether you are using it for business or personal purposes, Google Drive is a great option for accessible, user-friendly cloud storage. Google Drive features Google Sheets, Docs, Powerpoints, and a variety of templates that can be stored and edited by those they are shared with. Alternatively, users can upload their own files and images to the drive. One of selling points of Google Drive is that it is relatively low-maintenance and can be customized to meet the unique needs of each user through a variety of add-ons that can be downloaded from the Google App store.

*Our Groceries
Few things are more frustrating than arriving at the grocery store only to realize you have forgotten the grocery list on the kitchen counter. Our Groceries is a free mobile app that will save you this grief by saving your grocery list to your smart phone or web browser. Features include a drag-and-drop component to allow you to move items on your list based on the layout of your grocery store, a tap function to delete list items, and optional categories to organize your list into aisles or food types.

LastPass
Internet security is a growing concern these days especially when every platform we use requires a login and password access. LastPass is a secure platform that uses a master password that only the user, not even LastPass, has access to in order to safely store their passwords. Additional features include cross-browser synchronization, secure password generation, password encryption, form filling, importing/exporting of passwords, portable access, fingerprint identification, and credit monitoring.

*Ovuview.
This app is great for all women whether you have a pesky period or are trying to conceive or simply want to track your menstrual cycle. Ovuview uses features like cycle statistics, tracking and reporting of temperature and symptoms, calendars, fertility awareness methods, and more to help women maximize chances of pregnancy, avoid pregnancy, track weight gain, headaches, and other PMS-related symptoms, and conveniently chart their cycle on their phones.

Prezi
Prezi is a cloud-based service that allows users to create professional level presentations with great ease. Unlike Powerpoint, Prezi utilizes a single canvas that can be zoomed in and out on to a single group of text or images making for a very dynamic presentation. The freeform design also allows Prezi to be used effectively as a collaborative whiteboard, great for teamwork in the office or with clients.

RescueTimeBecause we have all fallen into the great abyss that is Facebook or Wikipedia or Buzzfeed. RescueTime monitors and tracks how you use your time on the internet. Reports are then generated that allow you to see just how productive, or not, you are being. For a slightly pricey premium upgrade, RescueTime will also track phone calls, breaks, meetings and even send you notification reminding users to get back on track.

Slack
The name is more than just ironic. Slack is actually an acronym that stands for Searchable Log of All Converstaion and Knowledge. The cloud-based software allows for highly effective team collaboration through features like topic-centered conversation, private and direct messaging, task and project management, file storage and sharing, and a search feature. Additionally Slack also conveniently integrates with other platforms including Dropbox, Google Drive, Trello, and and GitHub to name a few.

Stayfocusd
Whether it’s flashy ads or Facebook notifications, the internet often feels like it built as one huge distraction. Stayfocusd was designed to help users do just that – stay focused. The app has highly customizable features that block time-wasting websites, impose time limits on certain sites, and set times of day or days of the week to allow for a a quick web surfing indulgence or two.

*SwiftKey (Android)
For Android users, SwiftKey swaps out your traditional keyboard for a smarter, more user-friendly keyboard. This multilingual app allows your fingers to glide over the board and tracks your conversational habits to better predict what you are going to type. If you choose to, upon installation you can give SwiftKey access to your social media accounts to even better understand your typing behavior.

To-Do’ist
To-Do’ist is much more than an app to stores lists. The app is functional across multiple platforms, devices, inboxes, and browsers and includes a number of features that allow users to share lists, collaborate on lists, set notifications and reminders, make comments, form sub-tasks and sub-projects, give priority to certain tasks and lists, and organize with labels and filters. On top of it all, To-Do’ist also tracks your activity and produces visual reports to help you gage how most effectively manage your tasks.

Trello
Trello is a web-based project management tool that can be used on both a professional and personal capacity. Boards represent projects which contain task lists. Within each list are cards that, using the drag-and-drop method, can be passed from list to list or reassigned to different users. This system is meant to mirror the flow of projects from idea to implementation.

*Unroll.Me
Whether you signed up for them on purpose or not, subscription emails and newsletters have a tendency to muck up our inboxes and distract us from the more meaningful messages that should take priority. Unroll.Me solves this issue by consolidating your subscription services into a manageable summary. This way instead of receiving 20+ newsletters a day users of Unroll.Me get one much more digestible email.

Microsoft To-Do, (formerly Wunderlist see alternatives here)
Similar to To-Do’ist, take task management and personal productivity to a new level. Features include sorting lists into folders, list-sharing and collaborating, synchronization across multiple devices and with Microsoft Office, notes and comments, reminder and due date notifications, mail and print functions, and an add-to feature that can turn things you run across on the web into actionable items.

*Items I personally use-please note which apps are available for (Android, iOS).

Do you use any of these Apps? If so I’d love to hear what you think and if there are others I’ve missed, please include them in the comments below. Happy Apping!

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Intuitive Planning

January 13, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Welcome to 2019! I’m excited about what this year is inviting us to discover! I’d like to share a bit more about my Intuitive Planning process and Word for the year!

There’s always an exciting sense of possibility at the beginning of a new year. I think a lot of it has to do with our collective conscience. So many people with big ideas, plans, resolutions, and goals to do new things, accomplish BIG dreams and it all seems do-able with so many days ahead, Right? I also know there can be a bit of a mind trap here because we often bite off more than we can chew. I’ve learned to dial it back over the years and break my goals down further before I decide WHEN I think they need to happen. My planning process now allows me to meander a bit more along the way, leaving room for surprises, changes in direction, spontaneity, and failures. None of us want to fail but if we are going to fail, do it quickly my friend and move forward.

What good is a destination without the Journey?
We never begin something with the INTENTION of failure, but if we don’t plan for our journey, then failure might be inevitable…or maybe we will discover something entirely different on the path and that is certainly a different way of living than many of us are taught. We are taught that we need to control, set goals, budgets, plan our days, years, months, and before we know it our life is spent in the GRIP of what we think we need to do to be happy!

What if there was another way we could trust and let go just a little bit? For those of us who have a deep need to maintain control (raises hand:), color inside the lines, and do the “Right Thing” it can be terrifying to begin to let go. Having a word of the year is a practice I started about 6 years ago and I always discover that you can’t PLAN for what that word will teach you on the journey.

Last year my word was Fearless and I learned a lot about what it really means to live fearlessly…I embarked on the year thinking it would lead me to grand adventurous gestures. That was not the case. I discovered that being fearless means getting out of my head, into my heart, trusting myself, trusting my body, trusting my Intuition! This is exactly what I PLAN to do for 2019. I arrived at the word Intuition for this year because of my journey last year and my discoveries along the way.

ENOUGH about me…Do you choose a word for the year or have any resolutions? How do you plan for the year? Do you start with a vision, and Intention, or resolutions? I also use the process of creating a Vision Board and am offering a workshop to Envision Your Year on January 28th, click here to learn more and register!

Do you break your planning down into bite-size pieces by area of your life? Do you plan your year out on your calendar? I’d love to hear more about your planning process…leave a comment below and tell me more!

Learn to see like an organizer…

July 11, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Home, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Planning & Goals, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

How can you learn to see like an organizer? When an organizer a designer, space planner, realtor and others walk into a space they are trained to “see the possibilities”. By using this process yourself you can also begin to see your space with a fresh set of eyes. I co-presented on this topic at a local home and design show and along with a kitchen designer and another organizer, we shared how we have learned to cultivate the practice of seeing with a fresh set of eyes! It’s something that I hear over and over, “I just need a fresh set of eyes” and it’s something we can all cultivate!

So often we put things where we put them and forget about them. Sometimes we literally forget where we put things, sometimes we put things in certain spots out of habit and sometimes we just glaze over and stop seeing what’s right in front of us.

[bctt tweet=”Practice cultivating the art of seeing by shaking things up!” username=”hkpowerstudio”]

We get accustomed to seeing or rather, not seeing what surrounds us daily.
Be willing to try something different, be open to other peoples suggestions & ideas.
Seeing things with fresh eyes is a creative process, look for inspiring ideas (magazines, websites, experts).
The skill of seeing things differently can be cultivated.

Pausing and asking ourselves to take a fully conscious moment in our space to learn to cultivate the art of seeing can begin by asking ourselves a few questions.

How do you feel when you walk into a space?

What feelings are evoked when you walk into the space? Something pleasant, or stressful? How do you want the space to feel?
What do you do in the space and how do you use it?
What doesn’t need to be here?
How would you use the space differently?

Rethink how you use your space. Does a space feel uncomfortable or off somehow? Spend some time there and determine why you are unable or uncomfortable in the space. If you had a blank slate, how could you use the space differently? Sometimes it’s a simple matter of re-arranging the space, other times, replacing furniture with something more functional might be a simple solution. Now, close your eyes & Imagine the space transformed!

Learning to see like an organizer might mean de-cluttering and imagining a home for everything that is used in the space, or maybe it means completely re-imagining how the spaces are used. Practice envisioning your space transformed into exactly what you need and imagine how it feels.

Common pitfalls that can prevent us from achieving our newly envisioned organizing goals can include, lack of labels, lack of lighting, buying containers before the stuff has been purged and sorted and overfilling containers. Leave yourself a bit of extra space in each bin, overstuffed spaces are hard to maintain!

Organize by Category

Transform awkwardly defined spaces by determining specific uses first. Think about how you want to use the spaces. Determining your needs and assigning the space a specific category for use can lead you to unexpected surprising and successful solutions! Below, the solution started by defining a need for easy access snack storage!

Make the Most of Unused and small spaces

Go Vertical-Hang it! Look up in the Rafters, or store narrow items on the wall
Consider Inside/backs of cabinets & doors
Awkward spaces like under the stairs, unused closets or niches can create beautiful and functional storage

Store things where you can see them

Hang things like jewelry, accessories, small tools, hardware where you will see them and use them daily!

Create simple customized solutions

Tricky spaces sometimes need clever solutions. If you know what you need to store in a certain spot and can’t find an off the shelf solution, work with a handyman or carpenter to build something to your specifications. Custom doesn’t always mean expensive or complex! Above, a custom closet created just for overflow paper goods and ironing supplies-closer to the clothes, away from the laundry area)

Finally, Make it Easy + Make it Fun!

Aim for organized…not perfect
Repeat what works
No right or wrong way
Your space, your style
Have a friend help

If you have been able to cultivate the art of seeing like an organizer but have lost your momentum once you begin the process, head over to this post to check out how to maintain the momentum of your organizing project! Do you have examples of how you have transformed a space by re-organizing or design? I’d love you to join us and share them over in our Facebook group!