Simply Put

Time management is such a source of stress for so many of us. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day. Trying to squeeze so much in can lead to perpetual lateness.

The problem with lateness is multi-layered. It is disrespectful to the people waiting on us, it makes us anxious, and it sets up a pattern of continued lateness.

One of the best ways to combat this problem is with double timing. Simply speaking, when you find yourself saying things like, “I can get there in 20 minutes,” or “That project will only take me an hour,” double time yourself.

September is a wonderful time of year. Here on Amelia Island, like other parts of the country, kids are back to school, the nights are a bit — OK, just a little bit — cooler, and we all look toward getting back into the groove of life. Even though we are lucky enough to wear our flip flops for a few more months, we are getting back to routines, and it’s a great time to step up our organizational strategies.

Everyone knows the phrase “tools of the trade.” It’s the gear that’s needed to get a particular job done. When we talk about organization, if we gather our own “tools for the task,” we can save time, make our responsibilities more pleasant and reduce frustration.

Yes, I am talking about George Carlin. Whether you liked him or not, I think most of us will admit, he was a great satirist. Carlin was not afraid to push the limit, to make us laugh and make us look inside at the same time.

I think if we pay heed to what he was trying to say, we can all live a little better, a little fuller, a little more honestly.

One of my favorites of all his “bits” is “A Place for My Stuff.” He knew how to gnaw at our relentless consumerism. He knew how to make us question our choices.

“A house is just a place to hold your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.”

My kids have begun their end-of-school year questions.

“When are we getting out of school?” “When does vacation start?” “When are we going to Chicago?” “Are we going to fly or drive?”

I have been getting that barrage of questions every other day or so since April.

It’s a bit (OK, a lot) annoying, until I stop and really look in my children’s eyes and see the eagerness and excitement behind all those questions.

This onslaught of questioning is all about them anticipating the positive. They are prepping themselves for the good stuff. They are lit up like Christmas trees talking about what toys they will bring, what we are going to see and do while there, etc.

Time off, whether for vacation or a special event like our wonderful Shrimp Fest, is such a treat. It is an occasion for us to take some time away from our busy schedules to do something fun. But we all know that vacations, even a day at a festival, can go all wrong. The very thing we do to relax and create a little leisure time can end up turning into a stressful and aggravating source of frustration. We have all had the feeling that we need a vacation to recover from our vacation.

I am convinced there are ways to ensure a spectacular day, weekend or week away. It's really as easy as remembering to "take five."

Simplicity is about living our lives with fulfillment, happiness and balance. Practicing simple tools consistently is a great way to build the lives we desire.

There are decisions and then there are decisions. This article is not about those big decisions, like, “Should I buy a house, start a family, relocate?” This is about those small decisions we face as we live our day-to-day lives.

This is for all of you who have stared blankly at the wall of gifts, wondering what to get. It’s for those of you who have asked the waiter to come back twice while you waffle over appetizers. And if you are like me, it is for those of you who look every time at the menu board in the fast-food drive-through as if you have never seen it before.

Simplicity is about balancing our lives to really make them count. Making small changes and working on those changes over time adds up to transformation in our lives.

One area we often struggle with is our busy schedules. Sometimes it feels impossible to even take a moment to stop and breathe. How many of us have gone through an entire day, only to realize we haven’t stopped for a minute?

We can fool ourselves into thinking that we shouldn’t take a break. “If I stop now, I’ll never start again.” But in truth, if we learn to pace ourselves with small breaks, we end up with more energy and focus in the long run.