You and I share at least two things in common. We both have 24 hours in a day, and our days are finite. Yet how we experience and use our time varies widely.

Perhaps you are time-aware. You know how much time you have and spend it intentionally. Or maybe you have difficulty keeping track of time, feel time-poor, are easily distracted, and never have enough hours to get things done.

If you think of your relationship to time on a scale from zero to one hundred, with one end representing a total lack of time awareness and intentionality and the other representing high time awareness and intentionality, where would you place yourself? Whether your number is zero or one hundred, several concepts can improve your relationship with time and help you approach it more compassionately.

Time Management Scale

Before I share the strategies, review the Time Management Scale to get a sense of where you are right now. This isn’t an exact science, but the scale will help you identify your strengths and challenges. Understanding your relationship with time, combined with the concepts I’m about to share, can be a game-changer for you.

How to Use the Scale

• Reflect honestly on where you are today

• Identify your target range and desired habits

• Take consistent action to improve your score over time

Remember that small choices about how you spend your time today shape your future.

3 Ideas to Encourage More Compassionate and Aligned Time Management

There are three ways to align your time in a more compassionate and powerful way. As I mentioned earlier, the time available each day is fixed. Your life and the time you have left are finite. None of us knows how many days remain. How you use this precious resource shapes your life.

1. Energy

Have you noticed how your energy ebbs and flows throughout the day? For example, I have more energy and mental clarity earlier in the day, and my energy lessens as the day goes on. Matching high-brain-demand tasks, such as planning or writing, with the time of day I’m ‘fully charged’ works better for me. Lower-brain-demand tasks, like resetting spaces or grocery shopping, can be done when my energy is less.

As you plan your available time and how you will spend it, factor in your energy. A while ago, Executive Coach Marcy Stoudt introduced me to the reframing of time management as energy management.

It’s helpful to consider how you’re planning and using your time. One thing I’ve learned is how much longer tasks take when my energy isn’t aligned. For example, when I’m tired and my energy is low, it takes me two to three times as long to do certain tasks as when I’m well-rested and in my high-energy, brain-power part of the day.

Aligning your energy management with how you use your time is a compassionate practice.

“Small choices about how you spend your time today shape your future.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

2. Priorities

Have you noticed that some priorities, especially those tied to values, are fixed while others are flexible? For example, family might always be a top priority, so you’ll drop everything if someone in your family needs you. Or, when planning, family considerations drive your choices.

Flexible priorities are tasks, goals, and commitments that matter but don’t require immediate action or have a set deadline.

Flexible priorities could include:

• Projects with open deadlines

• Buy groceries sometime this week

• Meet a friend for coffee in the next few months

• Edit belongings to downsize

• Plant flowers in the garden

• Clean out the garage this season

• Improve sleep habits

• Try a meditation app

When considering your available time, aligning your priorities with your values and clarifying which tasks are fixed or flexible can lead to a more compassionate way forward.

3. Reality

Ah, yes! The old reality check. Here’s where time management can go sideways. Many people I know, including clients, struggle to align their available time with how long tasks take. This is where optimism needs to be balanced with a realistic understanding of time.

Has this happened to you? I see it most often on ambitious to-do lists. For example, you sit down to write your daily list. You have twenty or thirty items and expect to do them all today because they’re all “equally important.” Yet as the day goes on, you’ve only gotten to a few items. It’s clear you won’t finish everything. The day isn’t over, and you’re starting to feel stressed and defeated. Believe me, I get it. Reality and intention are two very different things.

• Reality Check 1: Not everything is equally important.

• Reality Check 2: Your list is too ambitious to complete in one day.

• Reality Check 3: Optimism is great, but balance it with a realistic understanding of your available time and how long tasks take.

• Reality Check 4: Reduce the size of your list. Curate a daily list of 1-5 items. Get those done, then review the time you have left before adding more to your day.

When you stop planning for an ideal day and start planning for the day you actually have, you gain a greater sense of control, accomplishment, and ease.

Are You Ready to Bring a More Compassionate Approach to Time Management?

The number is 24, as in the hours in a day. The number of days you have left is unknown. You have choices about how to spend your time. Use understanding and compassion as you plan and decide.

What will that look like for you? Which time management ideas resonate most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, and time-stressed? Are you struggling to manage all your tasks, goals, and commitments? I’m here to help! You don’t have to do this alone. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Fill out the Contact Form

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Managing your time, getting organized, and living with more ease are possible, especially with support.

Enjoy the latest edition (v55) of the “What’s Interesting?” series, featuring my most recent finds that inspire, spark curiosity, and relate to organizing and life balance. These unique decluttering discoveries reflect this month’s blog theme.

You are an engaged, vibrant, and generous group. I am deeply grateful for your ongoing presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community. I look forward to your participation and further contributions to this curated collection.

What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? – 5 Best Next Step Discoveries

1. Interesting Read – Less Clutter

Do you feel overwhelmed by how much your things are taking over your life, space, money, and energy? If so, find inspiration and hope in The Year of Less by bestselling author Cait Flanders.

Cait takes us on her twelve-month journey to stop shopping and give away most of her belongings. During that year, she bought only items on her ‘sanctioned’ list of consumables, decluttered her apartment, let go of 70 percent of her belongings, learned to fix things, paid off debt, navigated family challenges, and worked through addictive behaviors and unhelpful habits.

Through personal stories and practical strategies, Cait guides you toward a more mindful life with less consumption and more time for what matters most to you. When working to reduce the things in her life, Cait said, “I had to let go of the stuff I wanted the ideal version of myself to use, and accept myself for who I really was.”

By the end of Cait’s year, after she took control of her life, released many of her belongings, saved money, and embarked on the next phase of her life, she said, “… all that remained was the real me. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. It was enough. I had enough. I was enough.”

2. Interesting Perspective – Time Clutter

Clutter isn’t only physical stuff that piles up. There’s also time or calendar clutter. Time clutter can show up as overcommitting, no downtime, double-booking appointments, consistently running late, being overstimulated, never having enough hours in the day, or feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list.

Artist and writer Jenny Odell coined the acronym NOSMO, “the necessity of sometimes missing out,” in her book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Saying “yes” to everything, ignoring your needs, and lacking boundaries can leave you feeling stressed, time-poor, and exhausted.

If you want to declutter your schedule, start editing. You don’t have to accept every invitation. Instead, focus on how you want your days to flow, how much time you need for transitions, and how much time you want for relaxation.

What can you let go of today?

3. Interesting Article – Aspirational Clutter  

In the HuffPost article, “Do You Have ‘Aspirational Clutter’? Here’s What You Should Know,” professional organizers explain why this type of clutter can be especially challenging to let go of. Why is that? Aspirational clutter includes “objects tied to our hopes and dreams.”

Aspirational clutter can look like gym equipment that’s never used, clothing that might fit someday, an abundance of yarn you’ve stored for years for sweaters and blankets you want to make, or sets of dinnerware and serving pieces for parties you hope to host someday. There isn’t anything inherently problematic about any of these, except that they aren’t based on what your life is actually like. These things take up space and mental and emotional energy, often accompanied by guilt and ‘shoulds.’

Some other thoughts include:

•  Seana Turner said, “Aspirational clutter refers to possessions we hold onto for our ‘future self,’ or an idealized future lifestyle.” 

• Regina Lark said, “Letting it go can feel like giving up on a dream version of yourself, or that you’ve failed yourself in some way.”

All is not lost. The article offers excellent suggestions for managing aspirational clutter, such as

• Give yourself permission to let go.

• Recognize that priorities shift.

• Determine how your space could be better used if you let go of aspirational clutter.

• Focus on the benefits of letting go.

• Acknowledge who you are now.

“It was enough. I had enough. I was enough.”

— Cait Flanders

4. Interesting Product – Organizing Clutter

The truth is, I don’t recommend organizing your clutter. Start by editing and decluttering. Why do that first? You’ll be left with only the things that remain, which are meaningful and useful. Second, the less you have, the easier it will be to organize and maintain.

When it’s time to organize the ‘keepers,’ Aozita’s multi-use caddy organizer is a great choice. Use it to organize art materials, desk supplies, bathroom products, kitchen utensils, or school supplies. It’s portable, available in many colors, adjustable, and inexpensive.

5. Interesting Thought – Life Clutter

What comes to mind when you think of clutter? In the 30-plus years I’ve been helping people declutter and get organized, I’ve heard clutter described as overwhelming, heavy, chaotic, burdensome, bothersome, impossible, frustrating, constant, distracting, stressful, paralyzing, and noisy. Do any of those resonate with you?

Many emotions are intertwined with your experience of clutter. As Peter Walsh says, “Clutter is…anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”

What would life be like if you unburdened yourself of the things weighing you down?

Which Clutter Ideas Work Best?

When clutter feels overwhelming and paralyzing, what will help? As I shared, there are many types of clutter and strategies to help you move forward.

Which of these discoveries resonates most with you? Do you have any decluttering resources or ideas to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? Is clutter preventing you from living the life you want? I’m here to help. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk. I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Fill out the Contact form

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Decluttering and getting organized are possible, especially with support.

Life is full of signals and cues that often go unnoticed. Maybe you're distracted by thoughts, are overwhelmed, stressed, or feel too busy to slow down. The idea of being present or quieting yourself enough to notice a cue might seem out of reach.

Imagine you’re driving down a busy street. You approach an intersection with a red traffic light. That’s your visual cue to slow down and stop. What if you didn’t? If you ran through the intersection and ignored the signal, it could be disastrous.

What happens instead when you notice the cue (red light) and align your next action with it? You see the red light, take your foot off the gas, step on the brakes, and come to a complete stop.

By noticing the signal, you quickly identified your next steps. The direct benefit was that you chose an option that led to a positive outcome for you and those around you.

What Types of Cues Are Available to You?

Cues are sensory. They can come from what you see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.

The traffic light is an example of a visual cue that guides your next action. Many other types of signals appear in our daily lives.

Here are some common ones and possible next steps:

• Green flashing light on the toothbrush > Recharge the battery

• Red flashing light on the air purifier > Change the filter

• Smell of coffee brewing > Review schedule for the day

• Last piece of toilet paper > Install a new roll

• Timer goes off > Wrap up what you’re doing

• Magazines spilling out of the basket > Sort and recycle the oldest ones

• Receiving W-2s, 1099s, and other tax forms > Prepare and file your income taxes

• Jaw tightening and shoulders up > Take a few slow, deep breaths with slightly longer exhales

• Purple crocus emerging > Smile because spring is almost here

What cue do you notice that guides you clearly to your next step?

“Cues are sensory. They can come from what you see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

The Value of Awareness

There are cues all around you. Spotting them is very helpful because it can lower stress, overwhelm, and feelings of busyness. Taking a moment to recognize an indicator gives you space to be aware of what you’re feeling and gently choose your next step.

What would help you put this into practice? In which areas could this be most beneficial? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed or disorganized? Do you want to take your next step but feel stuck or unsure? I’m here to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Fill out the Contact form

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Moving forward and getting organized are possible, especially with support.

You have arrived. The page has turned, and a new year has just begun. Do you feel the weight of last year? Are your thoughts occupied by unfinished projects or goals never reached?

Hi, friend. You are not alone. As much as you wanted to wrap up one year with a neat little bow, it wasn’t possible. You have leftovers and incompletes that are still in progress. I’m here with you.

Some things take longer or have deadlines that extend from one year to the next. While you want to move on and truly engage with a fresh start, you aren’t ready yet. However, I’ve got good news.

There is one small thing you can do to help change your energy in a positive direction during this transition time. It will lift that weight and reframe what a fresh start can be.

Reframe Your Fresh Start

Consider the “reset button,” which Glennon Doyle referred to in Untamed. Push that imaginary button to clear your mind and prepare for what’s next. This is especially useful when you feel stressed, anxious, stuck, in between, or pressured.

When you identify your preferred buttons, you can access them anytime to reset and start fresh. This viable strategy is not time-specific. You can use this simple practice today, tomorrow, or months from now.

What is the Reset Button?

As Doyle says, “My reset buttons are just little things.” Her list includes:

“Drink a glass of water.

Take a walk.

Take a bath.

Practice yoga.

Meditate.

Go to the beach and watch the waves.

Play with my dog.

Hug my wife and kids.

Hide the phone.”

As you read those, did you imagine the resets working for you? Did they spark other ‘button’ ideas?

I have most of Doyle’s buttons on my list, although I no longer have a dog to play with and prefer a hot cup of tea to a glass of water.

“My reset buttons are just little things.”

— Glennon Doyle

These additional resets also help me:

• Write in my journal.

• Talk with a friend.

• Run an errand.

• Have a snack.

• Make the bed.

• Clean the kitchen counters.

• Get a pedicure.

• Watch water flow.

• Wash and moisturize my face.

• Do something new or outside of my routine.

Your Fantastic Fresh Start

Release your worry and angst. Invite in patience and perseverance. Get out your button-pushing finger and get ready to press the reset. You can:

• Change your state of being

• Switch gears

• Create a space to move forward refreshed

What will help you facilitate a fresh start? Which ideas resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you want support organizing, planning, or making the most of this new year? I’d love to help! Virtual Organizing is an extraordinary path forward – A local feel with a global reach.

Please schedule a Discovery call, email me at linda@ohsorganized.com, or call 914-271-5673. Change is possible, especially with support.