Sometimes, we discover new things on our own. Other times, we learn through conversing, listening, or reading. In my case, what seemed like an innocent conversation with a friend has become a new way of being. As a result of that conversation and my willingness to try something new, I have gained time management, relationship, confidence, and health benefits. Are you curious? Continue reading, and I’ll share my discoveries with you.

Have you heard of subscription food or meal kit services like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh? These companies deliver fresh food, all the ingredients needed, and detailed, easy-to-cook recipes directly to your home. Several months ago, my husband and I signed up for Blue Apron.

11 benefits we’ve noticed so far:

• Save time by not having to shop for food.

• Save time and stress by knowing what to cook for dinner.

• Learn new cooking tips and techniques.

• Enjoy more time together by tag teaming it in the kitchen.

• Eat at a more leisurely pace.

• I am more confident in our cooking skills.

• I appreciate how well-organized the packaging and recipes are.

• I am more experimental and more willing to try new foods.

• We have reprioritized cooking together and sharing meals.

• We are eating more healthfully.

• We’re having even more fun with lots of high-fiving each time we make a new recipe.

“Save time and stress by knowing what to cook for dinner.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

I love the communal use of time, doing a fun activity that yields a delicious result. Plus, I get to hang out and cook with my husband. This is simple, basic stuff that I had been missing.

If you want to try Blue Apron, I’m happy to offer you a “free” one-week trial. I'll send an invite to the first three people who email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com. I don’t get anything by sharing the offer, only the satisfaction of knowing that you might enjoy the benefits I’ve been enjoying, too.

Have you tried a meal kit service? If so, what has your experience been? Is it a time-saver? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation!

The latest installment (v10) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature has arrived with my newest discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring time-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme.  You are a wonderfully engaged group. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced for you. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Time Simplifier

Author and editor in chief of Unclutterer.com, Erin Rooney Doland, promises to help you “simplify your life one minute at a time,” in her newly released book, Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter. It’s written for busy people like you and me. The underlying premise is that by organizing your space, you can make room for what matters most. Erin says, “When you’re able to clear the distractions that are cluttering up your time and space, you can eliminate stress and burdens and focus on your priorities.”  I was honored to contribute to the book a passage about mind clutter, which can effect how we manage our time. I said, “We don’t often consider our mind as being in ‘disarray.’ If I’m not clear about priorities for that week, day, or moment, everything becomes more challenging. My physical space can be completely organized, but without clear thinking, I’m more easily distracted, overwhelmed, and less productive. For me, organizing my thoughts and releasing extraneous mind clutter is essential.”

2. Interesting Article – Timeless Question

SpareFoot conducted a survey to people in the U.S. asking this timeless question, “Why do we save stuff we don’t use or need?” We expend a lot of time and energy managing our things, even thouse we no longer use.Do any of these reasons sound familiar to you?

Here are the top five excuses:

63% - Might need someday

51% - Sentimental reasons

26% - Plan to sell

22% - Guilt

19% - Give as a gift

3. Interesting Resource – Time Saver

On the one hand the Internet makes it extremely easy to source what we need. It can also be a major time waster with the endless searching possibilities. The concierge service, Operator, provides an alternate to shopping at a store or online. Operator provides the best of both options by offering human interaction with online convenience. They promise to “do the research and leg work helping you save time and money.” Download the IOS app, type in what you need, and answer a few questions. You’re routed to an expert that will provide you with two to three suggestions. When you’re satisfied, you can click the “I’ll take it” button to purchase the item.

4. Interesting Product – Time Capsule

Our children grow up way too fast. With the passage of time come many keepsakes that remind us details about who they were and how they’ve grown. There’s a lovely keepsake box set to organize your child’s documents and objects. There are a few options, but I love Savor's The Library: Baby Edition Keepsake Box, which has a unit with small drawers to hold baby shoes, locks of hair, and other memorabilia. There is also a School Years Edition.

5. Interesting Tech – Time Centered

The Stop, Breathe & Think app developed by the non-profit organization Tools for Peace, is a “friendly, simple tool to guide…meditations for mindfulness and compassion, ” in short, 5-minute sessions. Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present by observing our internal and external life with a non-judgmental, open mind. Mindfulness training improves focus and our experience of time.

6. Interesting Thought – Time Factor

The past is gone. The present is now. The future in influenced by what we choose to focus on today. How do you use your time?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What are your interesting finds? Do any of these resonate with you?  Come join the conversation!

During a local errand run, I came across a luggage tag that grabbed my attention. Written in bold, clear lettering it said,

“Collect moments NOT things.” 

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a collector of things. I derive pleasure in looking at and playing with fun, colorful objects like my floating pens, Pez dispensers and miniatures. But what I am a deeply appreciative of are the brilliant moments that life offers us at every turn.

The key is allowing the time to pause and acknowledge what we’re seeing, hearing, feeling, or noticing. Maybe the moment is the slight breeze cooling you off on a hot day, the scent of the rich, brown earth after a heavy rain, hearing the soothing voice of a loved one, the taste of that first morning sip of coffee, or sensation of your body exhaling as you lay down to relax after a long day. The list of wonderful moments goes on. Which moments fill your time? Which moments are there to appreciate?

While some moments are solitary, we also have shared ones with our friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, and strangers. Who are the people that you share your time with?

Linda Goldfarb and Linda Samuels - ICD 2009

Our time is limited. This was made all too clear as I mourn the recent loss of my friend and colleague, Linda Goldfarb. She passed away this week and will be deeply missed. Over the last fifteen years, our paths crossed many times at NAPO-NY, NAPO National and ICD events. I had the great pleasure of working with her on several projects for ICD. She was a woman of her word, creative, patient, focused, and always delivered on her promises. Linda was passionate about traveling, spending time with her husband, Bob and being a foster parent to dogs waiting to be adopted. She was a giver. Her moments counted.

While I’ll continue to collect a Pez dispenser here or a miniature there, the larger focus will be on collecting and appreciating amazing moments both simple and deep, solo and shared, because life is made up of those tiny instances. Time goes all too quickly. These moments are waiting for us to embrace.

Amazing moments are the ones we notice. Which moments fill your time? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation. 

Last month, we focused our conversations on the topic of clutter. This month, we’re shifting gears to discuss time —how we manage it, how we manage ourselves, what our challenges are, and more. Today, I’m thinking about what happens when we have so much going on every day that there’s no time left for not doing.

We’re so busy that we don’t give ourselves any transition time. We’re overscheduled and overwhelmed. Does this sound familiar? Do you wake up each day knowing that you can’t possibly accomplish all the items on your list?

In general, I’m a pretty good manager of my time. However, something surprising happened to me this past weekend. My husband and I sat down to discuss our summer plans and activities. Even though I was looking forward to all the things we wanted to do, I found myself getting very stressed, even a little freaked out. As we started looking at dates, I saw weekends disappearing.

One of my goals for 2015 is to be more conscious of the white space in my calendar. To me, that white space represents unplanned time. It’s a potential time when I can relax, do, or not do. I can say “yes” to something on a whim because there’s the space to do that. The white space is like a free pass. With the many commitments that I do have, that white space becomes essential for my sanity and well-being.

As Steve and I planned, instead of feeling happy and excited, I felt anxious. This wasn’t pleasant to experience or watch. However, it was important to identify what I was feeling, understand the significance, and embrace being uncomfortable. By doing that, I realized that I am the guardian of my own white space. Duh. No one is saying, “Linda, you have to schedule every waking moment on your calendar.”  In fact, my body had a visceral reaction when I thought I was going to overschedule my time. My response was so intense (and impossible to ignore) that it prevented me from making all of the decisions we wanted to make.

Here’s what happened. We prioritized. We made a few plans. We kept some weekends free. We might choose to secure a few more dates on the calendar, but for now, I’m guarding that white space. What my mind understood earlier this year, my body reminded me of loudly and clearly.

How much white space do you need? How do you manage and protect your time? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join our conversation.