Feeling overwhelmed and can’t see your way out of the demands that clutter your life? Sometimes in our microwave society, where everything is push button ready, it seems impossible to imagine that we can manage our time, stay one step ahead of things, and still have an enjoyable life. In the movie “Multiplicity”, Michael Keaton had what looked to be the perfect solution — clones! Pastor Chuck Swindoll once said ,”Never allow the tyranny of the urgent to sabotage the significance of the important”. How can we avoid it? There’s always so-o- much to do! We think if we only had more time, more help, we could handle things better. The key is not in having more, but in managing better.
The following tips will help to simply your life:
Determine your Priorities
A. What things are most important to you?
B. How would neglecting them impact your life and those whom you love?
C. Which responsibilities cannot be set aside?
Organize your Time
1. Utilize a wall calendar for your home and a planner for your purse/briefcase.
2. Highlight deadlines you have to meet.
3. Ask family members and significant others to write activities on the calendar they have planned for the week/month and want you to be a part of.
4. Block out segments of time for the essential activities that are non negotiable. Work all other activities around these.
5. Review the calendar on a weekly basis to accommodate any adjustments you need to make with your time.
Manage your Possessions
6. 
Set aside a day specifically designated for decluttering drawers, closets, children’s toy boxes, and the garage. Warning: You may need more than one day if you have a lot accumulated!
7. Classify items (listed above) into 3 categories: keep, give away, and throw away.
8. Give rid of anything you have not used in a year or the children are no longer playing with! Learn to RDST!
a. Recycle items, if possible.
b. Donate gently used items to neighbors, friends, family, or nonprofit organizations. (STOP! Would you want that item donated to you?)
c. Sell on consignment or have a garage sale. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”.
d. Trash anything that is broken, irreparable, or badly stained!
9. Put items in appropriate containers for transport. Remember somebody has to be able to pick it up!
10. Make this a family affair! It lightens the load and gives each member ownership of the process. You’ll be surprised how quickly you get the task completed.
