The first stop on my geek train has to be my new homepage. Yes, I've gone over to the dark side that is google (and they didn't even have to lure me with cookies!)

iGoogle is now my homepage!

I must admit this was not my idea, I got the tip from The Lady Bloggers last week and I'm glad I took the few minutes to explore the idea.

If you use Gmail, this homepage is a beautiful thing!

Since we all know me and organization don't usually travel in the same circles    I'm up for any ideas that can push me in the right direction.

Enter the iGoogle home page. Now on my homepage I've got my email (so I can see at a glance when a new email comes in and what it is!) I've got my twitter feed (cause ya know I've GOT to have my twitter.) My google calendar is front and center (I've got calendars for my writing - where I post blog ideas, meetings, deadlines, promo and my personal and family calendars as well. All color coded!) Then I have a "to-do" list for those little pesky things I need to remember like buying food - LOL.

You can customize your news feeds, and so much more - it took me a while to get it just the way I wanted it. You can even choose from dozens of headers and color options.

Your turn! What get's you geek on for your homepage?

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Have you ever seen the demonstration with the glass jar filled with rocks, pebbles and sand?

The idea is your day is represented by that empty glass jar.

First in, the rocks, the most important obligations - your family, your job, etc.

The jar looks pretty full, but you can still dump in some pebbles that find the crevices. The pebbles are the lesser obligations, maybe some appointments like hair or nails? Maybe it's shlepping the kids to lessons and scouts?

Now the jar looks packed tight, and then some sand gets poured in - again finding places to settle. Because you know there's more to your day that just major obligations and being the taxi. The sand is helping with homework, talking to your friends and family, catching up on emails, etc.

Now the jar is completely full isn't it? Wait. A glass of water is added and it fills the jar.

What is the water? Is it the time you veg out in front of the TV? Is it the moments completely to yourself you THOUGHT you couldn't make time for?

The idea is we all have to juggle the rocks, the pebbles and the sand - but even that little bit of water can still fill in those empty spots, find a home in your day. And you know what? You can't leave it out. For that jar to be filled to the brim, you need to have those YOU moments. Even if it's just five minutes with your favorite drink, the time alone in the car to and from one of the "rocks or pebbles" in your jar - you need to recharge those batteries.

We have a saying in our house (to be fair, it's the hub who says it) "If Mom isn't happy, the whole house isn't happy."  He's right. Even though I don't have much to do with the financial stability of the family - I'm the spiritual one, the emotional glue. If I'm frazzled, the whole house is out of whack. (If you've read my blog before you know this does not mean I am organized...me organized? hahahahaha)

How do you find the balance, the time for yourself to recharge? We're all different and have varying methods of reducing the stress levels of our lives. For me,  I know that writing even that one page gets me closer to my next contract. Releasing my words to the page is my therapy - my emotional glue. I get up earlier than everyone else to give myself those quiet moments to get the words on paper. At night, it's that cup of tea and anything chocolate (and lately, followed up with tums chaser, but I digress.)

It's what I do.  How do you sneak in those "you" moments? 

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Yes, somedays I feel like I live here...

glitter-graphics.com

 

 

And I'd love to know what other people do in the way of organization. Most days I feel like the juggler with a hundred balls in the air.  Luckily I have a hubby who takes care of more than his share around the house, but still - it can be like a circus around the house.

 With three kids, a hubby, a cat, a house, a very active critique group forum to run, V.P of our new local RWA chapter, a part-time job and a writer on a deadline - you can see I've got a few balls in the air.

First I found google calendar! I've got different colors for personal and business, I post my agenda and important tasks and gmail emails me my schedule every morning! cool beans.  I even synced it with my phone so I can choose to have an alert sent to remind me of appointments!

Next, I decided I needed to plan dinner (cause when I'm in the writing zone, I tend to not think about feeding the troops until they start complaining - at which time it's a little late  So, this week I've planned my dinners for the entire week, bought the right ingredients from a LIST (woohoo) so I won't have to run out or stop on the way home from work. My daily dinner menu is listed on my calendar, so it's part of my alert first thing in the morning to remind me if I need to prep anything before I leave the house. (Okay, this may be too organized for me!)

I've added words to my calendar - as in "get that book done already" words - another alert first thing in the morning. My goal is to check that off every day and make some real headway on getting my butt in the chair and plowing through. I'm hoping all these other organizational tips are going to free up some of my mind. (stop laughing!)

Organized my writing life! Yes, I bought some funky binders, folders and a small index-card binder for my character cards - all in the effort to organize my space. I've got notes for my WIP and papers for chapter business. I've got pages upon pages of html codes and tricks for all my website/blog projects. Now everything has a nice tidy place. (Honestly, it looks great - but I can't guarantee it will look like this long - my track record when it comes to organization isn't good

Do you have any tried and true organizational tips to share? What keeps you on track?

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