All The Posts – Page 4

Teaching Him To Sew

January 17, 2016 by Quin 1 Comment

My little guy is HARD on his clothes. I swear he doesn’t mean to be, he just lives life fully.

He had been wanting to learn how to sew for quite some time; I always had an excuse as to why he wasn’t ready.

Really, I wasn’t ready.

It’s work, and the machine was expensive. He was too young, I was too busy.

I hardly ever drag it out anymore, but I had a burning desire to sew a quilt, so I went with it.

Then he saw the sewing machine asked again… “Hey, can I try to run that thing?” “Can I just push the pedal?”

Alright.

It was important to me that he didn’t just do it for fun, but that he would appreciate the value of the machine, and the work that it could do with the help of his two hands and a foot.

Backstory: Since he was a toddler he has been watching me sew off and on. For the past 6 years each time I’d get my machine out he would watch the way my foot controlled the pedal, and how that pedal told the needle to bounce up and down. He studied how the thread went into the machine, wrapping around all sorts of things, then being finely threaded through the needle. He had turned the power switch off and on a dozen times to see the way it controlled the light.

I don’t know why I didn’t teach him sooner, I honestly think it was pure laziness on my part.

He was ready, and finally one day this winter, I was too.

We got out the machine and he stitched up a hole in the sleeve of his favorite Spiderman shirt. The pride on his face after a job well done was THE BEST!

It was a simple stitch, but we all start somewhere, right?

Yes, he’s a guy… Yes, I am teaching him to sew.

I am appreciative of guys who have a natural curiosity for learning new things. I think this 8 year old little fella of mine will be a man with many hidden talents, just like his daddy, and just like my dad.

The first time I heard my dad, a biker who has always worked maintenance jobs, play Yankee Doodle on a ukulele I was blown away! I knew he could fix anything, I knew he was kind, I knew he was incredible at public speaking, I knew he could cook- but I did NOT knew he could play a string instrument. And I was already a teenager at that point!

I think my son will impress people like that someday too; That is if I keep following his lead and teaching him the things he wants to learn, or find someone who is able to mentor him in a trade he is interested in.

3 Mudroom Hacks You Can ACTUALLY Do!

January 16, 2016 by Quin Leave a Comment

This past fall we were on one of our regular IKEA trips when I found myself wandering areas of the store that I didn’t even belong in. My husband caught me in a trance staring at dish drainers. He walks up and says “Why would we want one of those?” He had a point. We’ve lived in this house 10+ years and haven’t needed one yet, but I still couldn’t stop gawking at them.

They were so simple, but so sophisticated. The construction was solid, and the powder coated metal frame felt good in my hands. I tried thinking as fast as I could about how I could justify purchasing one, knowing I wasn’t going to use it in the kitchen, and there was a chance I wouldn’t use it at all.

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Insert a random “Quincey Idea”, as my husband would call it.
I begged him to just listen to me for a minute, and reminded him that he’d be rewarded with a frozen yogurt cone at the end of our trip if he had good behavior and displayed patience. 😉

I pieced together and blurted out the idea that they could be used under the window in our mudroom. They’d be placed over the vent and the kids could put their hats and gloves on it to dry after they’d been out playing in the snow.

He hesitated a little, but he could tell I wasn’t going to budge, so he agreed to let me put it in the cart. Then I did the unthinkable…. I asked for a second one! “Sure” he says, as he trailed away looking for that promised cone.
I picked up two of the drainers and one rail. Because the rack can hang over edges of the rail it didn’t matter that the width dimensions would be a couple inches different.

I ditched the bottom plastic tray that came with the rack, because I wanted the air to be able to flow better.

We’ve been using this setup for a two months and it’s working extremely well! Thank goodness for that, because I don’t know how many more of my quirky ideas this guy will agree to before he puts me on house arrest and cuts up my credit card!

Here’s all you need:

2 Bygel Dish Drainers & 1 Bygel Rail

Safety Warning: Whenever you’re drilling into your walls, be sure you know where the studs and electrical lines are. A Stud Finder is a must for a DIY’er that likes to take on Home Improvement projects! Thankfully I have my own personal stud to run our Stud Finder! Bahaha, I’m so cheeeeesy!

Hack # 2:

Install a couple of simple Command Hooks (and yes, it’s driving me crazy that they don’t match, but it’s what I had on hand).

The white one obviously is holding a basket, and that’s so the toddler can reach her own gloves and hat. The Brushed Nickel is for her coat. I can’t believe how well it holds even with her tugging her big winter coat off of it each day.

Hack #3:

For hack numeral three I used more command hooks! This was a flighty idea, but it has proved to work well! I put two hooks on the back of the door for my big kids to hang their soaking wet snow pants when they come in from outside. This way they drip onto the entry rug, and not our beautiful built-in oak hall tree.

Bonus Real Life Snippet:

This is what I WANT this area to look like:

Here is what it actually looks like on a typical day:

The kids have baskets on the hall tree to put their winter gear into once it’s dry, so it isn’t supposed to linger on the rack, but it does. And really people, just set your boots up straight! haha, oh well, I’m just happy we know where everyone’s hats and gloves are now!

A Toy They All LOVE: Pattern Blocks by Learning Resources

December 26, 2015 by Quin 1 Comment

We’re snowed in and enjoying our traditional post-Christmas morning. Ordinarily the kids would all be off in separate rooms happily occupied with their new toys, while Mr. Awesome and I continue trying to assemble whatever hasn’t been put together yet.

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This year though, the kids all woke up and gathered on the living room floor to play with little sister’s new pattern blocks from Learning Resources. It was such a sweet sight to see!

From ages 3-13 each of my kids are enjoying these blocks! I regret not buying them at the beginning of the school year when I was purchasing our 2015 homeschool curriculum.

I printed off some pattern block templates from PreKinders last night and laminated them front and back. Prior to this my youngest was sorting them by color into her new pots and pans for her kitchen. That kept her busy for hours yesterday!

We also ordered the set of pattern blocks that came with cards, but those haven’t arrived yet. I think they will be a New Year’s Eve present (that’s a thing, right?).

I prefer wood toys, but after reading reviews about the color coming off of the wood pattern blocks by the same makers, I decided to go with the plastic ones. The wood may have been just fine, but I didn’t want to take any chances with our beige carpet. These plastic ones have not disappointed us at all! Even my husband and I have been playing with them…. for the kids, ya know? 😉

Anyway, I just wanted to share in case you have been on the fence about these. We’re loving them!

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My Top 3 Thoughts on Christmas Morning 2015

December 25, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

As we gathered around the tree to open presents, I was left with 3 strong thoughts in my head. This is the first year we have commercialized Christmas in our home in many years. If you’ve been around a while or follow me on Social Media, you know I love Jesus and celebrating Christmas for two big reasons- First, for the miraculous birth of Jesus and the humbleness that it brings my heart, and Second for the beautiful twinkling lights all over the place. I love me some glitz.

Each year we explain to our kids how it isn’t about the gifts, and we focus fully on celebrating God and talking scripture. They’ve never begged for a gift or whined about it even once, they’ve just known that’s how we do it.

Personally, I’ve truly hated the way the stores commercialize and capitalize on this holiday.

Then I prayed for a change of heart, because every shopping trip since Halloween has left me bitter. I wanted to enjoy this Christmas the way everyone else seemed to.

So we still talked scripture, we still explained what this day was about, but to be honest, I kind of felt like I was screwing my kids out of the kind of Christmas morning I remember as a kid. I remember waiting for Santa, being fully surprised by my gifts, and playing with whatever I got all year long. There’s just something extra special about the gifts that were opened on Christmas morning versus gifts opened any other time of year.

My top 3 thoughts after opening gifts.

1. Everyone needs a 3 year old in their house on Christmas morning. There were SO many great big bear hugs, so many THANK YOUs shouted, and so much excitement. The gratitude was genuine, folks.

2. 8 year old boys LOVE toys from the dollar store. Although I cringed as a mama because I was buying cheap toys knowing they wouldn’t last long, the excitement as he opened the gifts and the hours of play afterwards made it so worth it. Cheap dress up armor has been his favorite thing for years. He is the son of a warrior after all.

3. Once you have a teen in your house it is totally acceptable to hang prepaid phone cards from the tree as an ornament. It makes for the most practical gift and you can visibly see the burden lifted off their shoulders as they realize it’s another 3 months of cell phone charges they won’t have to pay for themselves. My teen’s second favorite gift may have been cotton candy. Don’t worry, she got many other amazing gifts, she’s just a simple girl like her mama and loves the ‘little things’.

You wouldn’t believe the things I bought in the name of Christmas this year. From homeschooling manipulatives to toys, to electronics, to skateboards, and more, I did alright. This year I didn’t feel like I ripped my kids off, OR Jesus. This year, I feel like I finally found some Christmas-season balance as a Christian wife and mom.

This year, I am grateful for the simple things like always, but now I am even able to be grateful for the big things too. All because I asked God to change my heart, and He did.

Giving materialistic things on Christmas can feel good, even as a Christian. In fact I think especially as a Christian. We are blessed so that we may be a blessing.

I’m beginning to understand a tad of the commercialism (only just a tad though).

I’m praying that you too are finding a balance this Christmas season.

Ps. We didn’t make our traditional sugar cookies for the first time in over 10 years, and I don’t even feel guilty about wiping that off my slate. We all survived just fine! My SIL brought some to Christmas at my father-in-law’s house, so that did help fill the void a little bit.

Too Many Words Wednesday: Christmas 2015

December 16, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

I know the holidays are beautiful and fun and meaningful, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas. I’m seeing “It” everywhere; the modern day Christmas cheer. My social media feeds show me perfectly decorated homes, happy moms baking with their kids, husbands buying their wives jewelry, big families gathered around the immaculately adorned tables, friends buying expensive and thoughtful gifts for each other, and the list goes on.

I’m not denying that this cheer is real. I’m just saying we may play it up to be a little bit more ‘perfect’ than it really is.

When I think of the mom snapping a picture of her magazine worthy Christmas tree with matching ornaments and garland (not a sentimental childhood ornament to be found), I have to wonder how many times she hollered at her little children to not touch her masterpiece. I’m not sure, the posts never say, and I don’t dare ask!

Full disclaimer: If I “nail it” with something this Christmas, whether it be perfect cookies, well dressed kids, whatever, I am going to post it. I’m sorry. Please don’t think that whatever I post is the whole story.

Example: Last weekend as we were getting ready for the Christmas program, my youngest insisted she was going to wear a puffy white tutu and her black yoga pants. I insisted she wasn’t. After some tears we compromised and she was able to wear it under her dress that I picked out. You can’t tell it in the pictures we snapped, but I promise you it’s there.

The internet doesn’t always tell you the whole story. I know you moms already know this, I just think it’s worth being reminded of.

That doesn’t mean everyone is a fraud, it just means they aren’t as prefect as you’re imagining them to be, so don’t be so down on yourself!

I decided not to put up my BIG Christmas tree this year. I told my husband it was just too much for me right now. We have a pre-lit 5 foot tree that is taking its place, and although it isn’t as big and beautiful as our original tree, it’s doing the trick. I feel joy when I look at it, and that’s what I’m searching for this Christmas; for JOY.

It’s just that other tree is SO BIG. There’s no denying that it’s beautiful, but I feel like it’s all for show. It takes SO much work to set it up, it takes up so much space, and when two different people asked if I was going to put it in my window again, I knew I just couldn’t do it. That’s not what this season is about to me. It’s about Jesus, and I get the way other people are honoring Him with their amazing trees and perfect homes, but that’s not how I’m doing it.

That doesn’t mean I’m right, or they’re right. It’s just how it is.

I know it’s easy to feel sad and depressed this time of year over absolutely anything and the reasons aren’t silly or unjustified; the loss of a loved one, family quarrels, money, too many people to buy for, no one to buy for, etc.

That first Christmas after my MIL passed away was R.O.U.G.H. It’s gotten easier, but my heart still breaks a little each time I see my husband missing his mom and her traditions.

Each gathering as we peel potatoes we laugh about his mom shoving 20 lbs of potato peels down the garbage disposal and needing to send a couple guys to go buy a clean plunger to unplug the sink. The house was full of about 20 people waiting to eat. Oh we laugh and laugh about it, and then we go silent and tear up.

To each of you who are hurting at Christmas, I want you to know that I’m praying you find a way to experience a cheerful heart. I am praying that God shows you JOY. I’m praying for a renewed spirit around what this season is all about. I’m praying you don’t feel alone, especially when you’re surrounded by people.

Please don’t feel like you have to out do anyone, or even yourself. If you need to take a time out, do it. If you need to buy your cookies rather than bake them, do it. If you don’t love doing crafts with your kids, don’t do it.

Do what works for you, and know that may not work for everyone.

Love,

Quincey B.

KonMari: All Things Books

December 9, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

As I told you at the end of November, I’m going to be going through the book titled “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”. You can find a link to the book at the bottom of this post.
When you’re going through this one of the first things you’re supposed to do is define your “WHY?”

Why are you wanting to tidy?

My short answer: Plain and simple; I want fewer choices so I can open more time in my day.

The slightly more detailed answer: We have so many choices here; one trip to a Super Target or a Dollar Tree and you can clearly see we aren’t hurting for options. It gives me so much mind clutter. I want to be able to think quicker, and more effectively, so I can move on to the next thing. I want my children to be able to make choices quicker. I want to clear out the physical and the mental clutter so we can enjoy more time together. I’m looking forward to spending less time cleaning up things that don’t spark joy for us, but that we merely own. When I look around, I want to see only things we genuinely LOVE and not just things that are kind of pretty or useful.

I love how the author highlights not just the why, but also the how. You can read more about that in the book.

She suggests that there are 3 things you need to remember to use her method effectively:

1. Touch everything, don’t just look at what you’re sorting, actually touch it.
2. Sort by what you want to keep, not what you want to throw. This is opposite from how I usually sort/tidy/declutter/clean
3. MOVE QUICKLY; don’t spend too much time over analyzing.
Today we are tackling the BOOKS! We’re homeschoolers, and we LOVE books. Without a doubt I know we have way too many though, and that many of them don’t spark joy. Some of them I paid way too much for and they actually spark regret, and guilt.
It isn’t about getting down to a certain number of books, but about only keeping the ones we genuinely LOVE.

My challenges:

1. I buy too many books because they’re cheap at second-hand stores.
2. I write everything off in the name of homeschooling.
3. I run an unofficial neighborhood Little Library, so I keep extra books on hand for swapping out to both boys and girls of all ages from toddlers to teens.
4. I have children of both genders, and with a fair age gap between them, so I feel like I should hang on to books from my oldest to pass onto my youngest. That may mean I’m storing so-so books for 10 years just waiting for them to be read!
5. We have books stored all around the house, so the biggest challenge right now is getting them all into one place. Bless my sweet little kiddos for being excited about doing this and hauling baskets of books to the living room for sorting!

I’ll post a very raw honest looking before and after once we’ve completed this task!

Something you should know: We just “sorted” our books this summer and I gave away easily a hundred children’s books. I didn’t use this method though, so I am curious to see if I feel differently by tackling our shelves this way.

If you’re interested in grabbing a book and joining me you can find this title on Amazon.

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4 Ways to Improve Your Efficiency at Home

December 2, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

Previously I shared about how to improve your efficiency in the work place. I know many of my readers work from home, whether through a company, direct sales, home businesses, or by being the CEO of their own household (hats off to you, mama).

I mentioned that I’d share this post, because improving your efficiency at home is so similar to improving your efficiency in the work place.

Just like last time, these aren’t in any particular order at all, but here are my top 4 tips in this area.

Cut the Clutter

First of all, for the love of all things, please CLEAN OFF YOUR SURFACES. Okay, I don’t know about your house, but imagine you’re going through the same thing I am so I thought this needed mentioning. In our house if there’s a flat surface somewhere, it’s bound to get covered. Clearing our spaces help us clear our minds.

It’s hard to get anything done when you walk into a room for something and we’re distracted by something else that needs tending to, like a pile of mail, a stack of clothing, a book out of place, an armload of toys, etc.

Only surround yourself with the things you LOVE, and make you happy to see. For us, this meant storing away some heirloom pieces rather than displaying them, because honestly, they didn’t bring us joy.

Very specifically clear off your kitchen counters. We all need to eat, usually even more than once a day, so why not keep the kitchen environment one that you can work in easily?

We did away with our microwave a few years back, and I am SO happy about the counter space it cleared up. I can say 100% that I do NOT miss it a bit. I know there are the over the stove ones now, but that’s just not for me. I also put most of the appliances away in a cupboard, just so I can enjoy the simplicity of cleared off counter tops.

Limit Distractions

I’m not a master here, but I have a couple tricks that really do work for us, and have worked for the people I’ve suggested them to.

Don’t turn on the TV unless you’re going to sit and watch it. Don’t just have it on for background noise, it’s too easy to get sucked in, 3-5 minutes at a time. It doesn’t seem like much, but I encourage you to set a 5 minute timer and see how much you can get cleaned instead, or how far you can read in a book. I bet you’ll surprise yourself!

Turn off the notifications on your phone. If you can, only turn on the Wi-Fi when you’re going to use it. I’ve been turning my phone on silent at night, and not turning the ringer on until we have a break in our school day. Most days this works fine, some days I miss oodles of texts and phone calls. So I need to readjust my system to ringer on/Wi-Fi off.

As a mom, I’ve limited the amount of toys in our living room. Even the kids can’t play well when they’re overwhelmed and distracted with too many options. We have lots of toys in totes in the basement that we switch out every so often.

Use your break times wisely

If you’re taking a break in your day to check social media, SET A TIMER. Now for a blogger & homeschool mom like me, this is tough, because I want to just.keep.reading. Really. I want to read all the things. Every bit. I don’t want to miss a thing; and somehow even though I know the internet is bigger than I could imagine, I think I can still tackle it all in a day.

I’ve finally decided it’s okay if I don’t know every new trick for teaching, or score every free printable that we *might* use in our homeschool. It’s okay if I read a friend’s blog a few days after she actually published it. It’s okay.

Cleaning Breaks: I set timers for all sorts of thing, especially for cleaning. My kids are so used to this they don’t even complain anymore. It goes like this “Okay guys, we’re doing a 10 minute cleaning break!” I set the stove timer for 10 minutes, we all clean our tails off, and it’s done. Things look amazing, in 10 minutes! It very rarely takes longer than that to clean our main living area. Often times we’re done before the timer. The kids’ bedrooms usually take 30 minutes, but that’s because of all the teeny-tiny Lego pieces. Specifically those blasted clear ones! Who thought of those? And why do I keep letting the kids buy them at the pick your own section of the Lego store?

Have a clear goal in mind

This is an exact copy and paste from my last post about efficiency. No need to reinvent the wheel here.

It’s hard to work towards something when you don’t know exactly what it is you’re working for. It’s too easy to get distracted and start doing something else. Make a quick list of your top 3 priorities for the day and keep plugging away until they’re done.

Give these quick tips a try and let me know if they helped!

Embarking on the KonMari Method

November 29, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

Have you heard of the KonMari Method? I’m basically obsessed with the idea of it right now. I’ll preface this with a disclaimer that I am one of “those women” who enjoy the act of cleaning the house. Specifically, I like organizing. Actually deep cleaning and scrubbing isn’t my thing, but I can alphabetize my books, sort glasses & plates by size, and rearrange the closets all day long. I check the mail and recycle the junk within minutes of getting in the door. I just like things tidy.

I’ve been intrigued by the Instagram hashtags for #Konmari. After doing several Google searches and coming up with bits of information, I decided I’d just buy the “KonMari” book and see what it was all about. I’ve spent $10 on things more silly than a book to teach me to organize, rather than actually getting up and organizing!

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If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, KonMari is a Japanese method of tidying. It was invented by Marie Kondo, who like me, also loved tidying at a young age.

I’ve loved cleaning and organizing since I was a preteen. I can remember organizing the built-in drawers in my childhood home and rearranging the medicine cabinet above the bathroom sink in our tiny upstairs bathroom, all the time.

No matter how many times I had organized it, I just kept checking in on that cabinet and trying new ways to group items together. I’d experiment with organizing by size, category, or color.

It was fun.

Only once did it ever become compulsive where I felt like I HAD to do it. That was after I had moved out and came back home to find my parents had put all of their stuff in the cabinet and I claimed it a disaster! At that point I stopped doing it all together, I mean it wasn’t my stuff anymore, and I was getting so worked up over it.

I didn’t want to be owned by it.

I am not a perfectionist. In fact, I am very much fine with half-heartedly doing most of my projects so they’re “good enough”.

So my disclaimer here is if you are someone who gets obsessed easily or feels compulsive when you’re cleaning, get a buddy to do this method with. Find someone who can keep you accountable. If you are reading this, you are not a baby, you can do this*. For the sake of your happiness, and the happiness of anyone else living with you, you can do this. If nothing else, I think implementing some of this method will help cleaning and picking up before company to go much faster!

*Tidying Takes Tough Love.

I don’t feel like we have a ton of clutter, but there is always room for improvement. I like a good challenge! I know that I’m in a better mood when the house is cleaner, and so are the kids. I think in general most children have far too many toys, and most women have far too many clothing and kitchen items, so I’m excited to be focusing on those areas. I’d love for Mr. Awesome to sort through his tools (and his baseball hat collection), but we will see if the book covers that. You know, if the book suggests it, he’s going to have to do it. It’s practically the law or something. haha!

I’m going to be going through this book and sharing about my successes and failures here.

If you’ve read this or used this method, how did it turn out for you? Are you still doing it?

I’ve read so many great things about this book that I feel like I’m already in love with it and I’ve only read just a bit of it!

Thankful Thursday: Thoughts on Thanksgiving 2015

November 26, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

Today I am thankful for the ordinary, everyday things. I’m thankful to have our oldest daughter in our care. I’m thankful for the beautiful person she is, for her kindness and compassion. I’m thankful for her desire to learn and for the joy of cooking (& adoration of kitchen gadgets) that we share.

I’m thankful for the sink full of dirty dishes, because it represents meals shared together.

I’m thankful for soap. I know it sounds silly, but not only are we blessed to have it when so many don’t, but we even have options when picking out soap.

I’m thankful for a little boy who is full of feelings. From feelings of excitement to feelings of sadness he has them all and he’s in no way embarrassed to show them to us. He prayers for people all the time. Do your 8 year old boys do that? I hope they do. I just think it’s so special. He’s adventurous and up for trying new things; like rinsing potatoes in the dishwasher.

Speaking of that: I’m thankful for Pinterest to find these crazy ideas. I know they don’t always turn out, but that isn’t really the point.

The journey is fun.

I’m thankful for social media to share ideas, words, pictures, all of it. I’m thankful for the sweet people I’ve met through the internet.

I’m thankful for my youngest child who delights in the simple things. She has never been overly entertained or impressed with fancy toys, but give this girl a couple bowls and a wooden spoon and she keeps busy for hours. Truly, hours. It amazes me.

I’m thankful for homeschooling and where it has brought our family.

I’m thankful for field trips, for curiosity they spark. I’m also thankful for the good food we eat on field trips, and the friends we share it with.

I’m blessed with a few different groups of mama friends. I’m thankful for the way we can encourage one another, and enjoy warm fellowship. *Take note high school girls, the majority of your friendships now are nothing like what your adult friendships will be like. You won’t understand this yet, but trust me when I say that you will be thankful for this some day.

I’m thankful for my very own husband. I’m thankful for the work God has done in each of us to bring us to where we are. I’m blessed by his carefree, fun personality. I’m amazed at his strength, both physically and emotionally. He’s been through so much pain and keeps pressing forward and blessing the socks off of everyone he can.

Broken and Beautiful.

I’m thankful for our extended family and our church family, which is all just an extension of our little family here at home.

I’m thankful for where I’ve been, and where I have yet to go.

I’m just all around so thankful.

I’m thankful for the boy who broke my heart after high school… because I found a lot of strength after that ugly mess.

I’m so glad I serve a God who can take our messes and turn them into something beautiful.

I am thankful for YOU!

4 Ways to Improve Your Efficiency in the Office

November 15, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

In no particular order at all, here are my top 4 tips on how you can improve your efficiency in the workplace, specifically the office. I know it’s been quite a few years since I’ve worked in a cubical, but the 4 simple steps in BOLD can be easily adapted for anywhere. Next week I’ll tailor this list for where I’m currently at in life, as a SAHM who blogs and homeschools her children. The concept is oddly similar.

Cut the Clutter.

Clean off your desk space. If you have a cubical with walls don’t clutter them with anything and everything. Select a few choice things, such as a family picture, an inspirational quote, and one fun thing, like a ticket stub from one of your favorite events. You don’t need 30 writing utensils; pick about 5-10 that work well and keep those stored vertically in a pretty cup, store the rest somewhere else. Keep it simple. A clean work space is not to be underestimated.

Limit Distractions.

I’m serious. If you find yourself checking your cell phone more than just at break time, turn the darn thing off! I know that’s a little harsh, but so many of us are so reliant on our phones and I’m noticing the younger generation cannot go an hour without at least glancing at it for the time (every few minutes!) Turn your cell phone to vibrate, or even airplane mode, and if you really have a problem with it, keep it in a desk drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. You aren’t probably being paid to check Facebook. Think of it this way, if you were the one writing the checks, how would you want your workers to handle their time?

Use your break times wisely.

I know it’s nice to check social media during your break times, and that’s perfectly okay; especially if you have introverted tendencies and really need that break to be alone. But how about a couple times a week you just visit with your co-workers during break instead? Sans the phone would be best. Chatting at break time, when using kindness and consideration, will increase the good vibes in the work place. You’ll increase your bonding with your co-workers, and in turn feel like you want to be more efficient and do a good job because there are real people that you know counting on you. Accountability is important.

*Don’t make a habit of skipping breaks to work through them. Your brain needs little breaks to stay sharp.

Have a clear goal in mind.

Give these quick tips a try and let me know if they helped!

Bonus Points if you send me before and after pictures of your desk, because those are my absolute favorite! Seriously, post them to my FACEBOOK WALL.

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