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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Easy Way to Make Room for the New - Clean Out Your Address Book


This week I have seen the above picture on Facebook several times. It got me thinking about the easiest way to do this without being overwhelmed.

Today, was a rough day and I needed something to do on the train the required minimal materials. 

As I was walking to the train the light bulb showed up! I'll clean our the address book on my phone!


As I started I wasn't ready for the various thoughts and emotions that came up and the actions I took:


  • The "Huh, I don't even know who that is." Action: delete
  • The "haven't had contact with this person in years": 
    • Family member? Action: Schedule time to write/call 
    • Business associate? Action: Connect on LinkedIn & delete from address book, 
    • Old acquaintance? Action: Delete, perhaps send a small prayer to them wishing them well in the world
  • The "Oh, wow can't believe they are gone" Action: delete & send a prayer up to heaven for them.
So, the next time you have some down time, instead of playing Candy Crush, start cleaning out your address book and make room for the new.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

FOF - Focus on Food - 2014 Focus #1



With 2014 just days away I have been brain storming ideas for new year's focuses or themes. For me, resolutions and goals are too limiting and have a end state. Having goals are necessary to get anywhere in life but the themes/visions/focuses will keep you going when the goal is hit.

I had an end state to hitting my Weight a Watcher goal weight of 160 in December of 2012. Once I hit that goal, I fell into the slippery slope of falling back to old habits and a year later I have 14 pounds to lose to get back to that goal.

This new year, I am adopting focuses that will get me to my goals and keep me going before during and after I hit the goals. And, YES, I will hit them!!! 

The first focus I am adopting is "Focus on Food." 

I have execercise and activity nailed. I easily workout 4-6 days a week and have become one of "those people" who really enjoys exercise.

As I learned years ago from an impactful personal trainer, Ron Walton (supertrainer1@gmail.com), is that food is 80%-90% of hitting any fitness goal. It doesn't matter if you are trying to lose weight or gain weight or body build or run a marathon or whatever FOOD is the key to success for any of these fitness goals. Working out is great but to truly see succees get your handle on food.

So today, I have returned to tracking my Weight Watchers points plus values. You aren't a Weight Watchers member? No worries, there are many FREE ways you can track your food:

-Paper journal
-My Fitness Pal (http://www.myfitnesspal.com)
-Livestrong (http://www.livestrong.com)

As you track, pay attention to what shows up and adjust little by little. Is your face getting thinner? Are you sleeping better? Is the number on the scale moving in the right direction?

As you continue focusing on food your biggest "problem" might just be setting new goals to conquer!!!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Happy Thank You Note Day (Now get writing!!!!)



Today is "Thank You Note Day." 

I know a lot of you are thinking, "Wait, it's boxing day." 

Well, since it has been over 200 years since we have been a part of the British empire, I'll return to "Thank You Note Day."

As my friends and family know, I'm a big fan of the "thank you" note. Yes, it's a bit old fashioned but let me build a case in support of sending Thank You Notes.
  • First, there's an actual day for it. :-)
  • Second, the person who gave you the gift knows you received it (especially if they let Amazon.com do the wrapping and shipping).
  • Third, people still LOVE receiving notes in the mail. (Yes, an email thank you note is becoming more and more accepted but you are better than that.)
  • Finally, it's a simple and easy exercise in gratitude.
You have never written a thank you note before? Lucky for you there there are excellent resources to get you started:
Today, start with writing 1 thank you note. Then after, write 1 note each day until you have written to your last "benefactor."

Just like any new activity, keep at it and eventually your "thank you note muscle" will be nice and strong for the next time you receive a gift.




Friday, December 20, 2013

Top 10 List Time - What is YOUR Top 10 for 2013?



This is the time of year that blogs, newspapers etc are writing up the top "something" of 2013.

There is something for everyone (www.buzzfeed.com has a TON):


What is in YOUR top 10 (or more) for 2013?

(Favorite books, favorite movies, epic fails, epic vacation experiences? You are only limited by your imagination.)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

"Sneak Attack" on New Year's Resolutions - What will you attack?



I love finding inspiration in the most "unconnected" of places.

A co-worker shared this blog post http://acuff.me/2013/12/1-way-kill-new-years-resolutions/ in reply to a post about writing outstanding blogs.


The author shares an interesting approach to new year's resolutions: Get sneaky!


I thought I was being silly working now towards my goal of "doing 10 unassisted pull ups by the end of 2014." 

Mr Acuff's post gives me added motivation to continue to use the assisted pull-up machine until I need no further assistance.


What will YOU start attacking now?

Photo Credit: www.abovetopsecret.com 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Happy "Chocolate Covered Anything" Day!!!

Yes, boys and girls, if you were looking for an excuse to cover something in chocolate or to eat something covered in chocolate, today is YOUR day. 

I know, I know. We have chocolate covered strawberries galore since it's the holiday season. But that is just too darn easy.

Up until about 2 or 3 years ago, chocolate covered bacon was a really big deal. But now everyone and their grandmother seems to be making chocolate covered bacon and sadly most have not done it well. 

The very BEST chocolate covered bacon I have ever had was at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company in Seattle at the Pike Market. They cut their bacon down to just one size above bacon bits then pour chocolate all over. You take a bite and the chocolate is blended with the salty and fat of the bacon. 

My very first chocolate covered memories are of chocolate covered cherry cordials. To a child it was heaven. Today, I have "graduated" to the Godiva chocolate covered raspeberries. Ah, heaven.

What are your favorite chocolate covered memories?

Are you skillful at covereing items in chocolate? Share your recipes, tips and tricks!!!

Friday, December 13, 2013

Virtual Book Club Launches January 1, 2014 - Power of Positive Thinking

Join me, and many more, in kicking off 2014 with learning and living a YOU-tastic Life.

Have you always wanted to join a book club but the meeting schedule didn't fit your schedule? Of the location wasn't convenient.

Well, here's your opportunity to participate in a virtual book club starting January 1, 2014.

So, until January 1st, borrow or buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr Norman Vincent Peale.

Then, on January 1st, we will be reading and discussing 2 chapters a week.

1/2 way through the book, we will collect book ideas and vote on the next book to be discussed.

Power of Positive Thinking Reading/Discussion Schedule



Monday, November 18, 2013

Lesson in Wishing Big

Last week, a colleague shared her daughter's Christmas wish list. It was fabulous! When I got to 10, I was stopped in my tracks. 

"#10 - My own star." 

I smiled and thought, "Way to wish big!!!"

I then got sad because my wishes have gotten smaller and smaller as I have gotten older.

I am now inspired to get bigger and bigger with my wishes.

Thank you, you young lady. Keep wishing big!!!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Insanity & Spin - Conditioning for a Move...Who Knew?

This past Saturday, my boyfriend and I merged households which involved more than 6 total hours of lifting & moving boxes & furniture and such.


I was expecting to wake up on Sunday in pure agony and not be able to lift my arms or move anything.


Instead, I woke up surprised that I was just a little tight knowing I did some physical work but I was in no pain.


It then dawned on me that that all of the work I've done in 6am Insanity and Spin classes for the past two months basically conditioned my body to handle this hard physical work. 

My initial motivation for taking these classes and working so hard was to keep my weight in check.


Who knew that Insanity and Spin would set me up for success in other unexpected ways.


What happy surprises have you encountered as a result of focusing on a particular goal?

Monday, August 19, 2013

Four-fers and Alaska

I love two-fers. Three-fers are better. But a four-fer...well that is gravy.

As I was preparing to launch my series of posts about the excellent Alaska cruise I took with Joe, my boyfriend, I revisited the list of You-tastic elements to see if I had covered any on the trip.

I was very happy to see that 4 of the 5 You-tastic elements were covered. Yes, it was by luck but I'll take them any way I can.
  • Find AND enjoy what lights you up I LOVE to travel and the cruise and pre-cruise Seattle sight-seeing checked that box.
  • Always keep learning & growing: I learned on this trip that musher dogs are no longer the fluffy Huskies. This was one of many new things I learned through out the time in Seattle, Alaska and Victoria.
  • Give back: I didn't hit this one but you could stretch it that by my visiting each port and spending money there that I "gave back" to the communities. (I know, a bit of a "weak sauce" connection. That's why I didn't count it.)
  • Make room for the amazing: Hello! I was in Alaska!!! At almost every turn, there was the amazing showing up on this trip.
  • Relax - This is a no-brainer on a cruise ship. 
Have you experienced You-tastic elements in any of your summer travels?

Monday, July 15, 2013

Creating a YOU-tastic Life!!!

It's been over a month since I came up with the revised tag line for this blog, "The Jaxtastic Life: Inspiring You to Create a Life that is YOU-tastic."

I know you have been waiting, with bated breath, to learn more about how to create that YOU-tastic life. 

The waiting stops now!!!

To create your YOU-tastic life play in these 5 areas:

  • Find AND enjoy what lights you up 
  • Always keep learning & growing
  • Give back
  • Make room for the amazing
  • Relax
More to come!!!!

What have you been doing to create your YOU-tastic life?


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Irony of a New Anchor

I am reminded of reading a past company blog post about how Oprah kicked off her talk at a past DIRECTV event at a Jordan High School.  (See details here Oprah Surprises Jordan High School and DIRECTV employees.)

 She asked the students what was the 3rd law of motion. 

A brave student spoke up and said, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."  

Today, I experienced that law first hand, especially the irony of that law. Like a lot of people, I indulged this past holiday weekend. 

On the train ride into the office, I brainstormed ideas on how I can return to my commitment to eating well to support my weight maintenance goals. 

Working out is easy for me and even easier with today's opening of the gym on our campus. 

After a few minutes I came up with my IT!!! The anchor to end all anchors. Every time I considered eating something questionable I would ask myself,

"Would I eat this if I had to weigh in tomorrow?" 

I was sssooo excited!!!! This was THE anchor that would keep me on track. 

Minutes later, I walked past the kitchen on my floor and saw an oh-so-innocent pink box of doughnuts. 

I groaned and though, "Really????!!!! My anchor is being challenged just minutes after creating it? Oh, the irony!" 

I bravely (or stupidly) walked to the doughnuts and again asked myself, "Would I eat this if I had to weigh in tomorrow?" 

The honest answer was, "No" and I walked away. 

Have you had an anchor challenged? What was it? How did you stick to it?

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Assumptions & Surprises


Today on the train a teenager sat next to me with his headphones on and an iPhone in hand. My thinking immediately went to, "I bet he playing on Facebook or texting or looking through his music." When I finally saw his screen I was totally busted. He was playing chess. 

I smiled because My assumption was challenged.

Now, at my favorite coffee house, Republic of Pie in NOHO, I was busted again. A man came to the table area where I was relaxing and he sat down with his baby fast asleep. I saw his wedding ring and thought, "A the wife will be coming over soon." A few minutes later his partner showed up. Again, I was busted.

I smiled again and reminded myself to be careful of the assumptions I make. They won't always be right.

Have a great weekend and may you have your thinking be challenged over and over again. 

Friday, April 12, 2013

Post-It Note Agenda - Streamlining Your Meetings

About a month ago, I started using a square Post-It note to write down my key topics I wanted to discuss with my manager during our weekly 1:1 meetings.

The first time I did this grabbed a second one and kept writing. I stopped and asked myself, "Are all of these topics necessary?" I then challenged myself to only bring one Post-It to the meeting to focus on the truly important items.

I have been doing this for a few weeks now with great results. By focusing on a few key topics, there is more room to for in depth discussion and for other topics to flow into the conversation.

Will you take on the Post-It Note Agenda Challenge? Why? Why not?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Done Is Better Than Perfect


I just read this phrase in Sheryl Sandberg's thought-provoking book,
Lean In.
She shares that this phrase is on a poster at the Facebook and is one of her favorites.

I must say that it is now my favorite phrase and my new mantra.

When I read this I immediately thought of all of the undone projects at work and home just waiting to get done.

I'm certainly no perfectionist but the drive to get things done "just right" keeps me from jumping in and getting done. Specifically, my per perception of how much time it would take to get the projects "just right."

Today,I embrace getting things DONE and not perfect or just right.

Won't you join me?

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

What Is Your Life's Work?

Every day I walk to the gym, I pass by the local convenience store with the electronic lottery numbers. Most mornings I think, "How fun would it be..." and hit the gym hard.

This morning was a little different. This morning, I asked myself, "If I won the lottery, what would I do?" Of course, I'd do the usual things like travel and spend/share some on/with family and friends.  But, after that passes, what would I do?

This, my friends, is the million dollar question. I didn't have an answer for it. It dawned on me that I am so wrapped up in my current job and life that I haven't thought about or figured out my life's work/mission/raison de être.

The thinking starts now.

What is your life's work? Are you actively pursuing it? If not, why? Share in the comments below.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

February "Cure" - Lessons Learned

After amazing results of participating in the Apartment Therapy January Cure I was so excited to create a February "Cure" of my own to keep up the momentum.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the same level of results in February that I did in January.

Instead of beating myself up for "failing" to complete every task, I took inspiration from the HBR (Harvard Business Review) article, "A Simple Ritual for Harried Managers (and Popes)" and reviewed what worked and what didn't work.

What worked:
  • Leveraging the project list I created during the "January Cure" saved me from coming up with something new.
  • Sharing the project list on the blog gave me a bit of accountability.
What didn't work:
  • Scheduling/planning too many projects.
  • Not scheduling enough time for projects (many items take more than 1 day)
  • Not having a "plan B" for when life shows up.
Now, the planning of my April "Cure" will be far more effective using the lessons learned above.

Do you debrief yourself after a project succeeds or fails? Share in the comments below.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Life Showing Up - A Sign to Adjust Your Sails?

A few weeks ago, just before the start of Lent, I posted about what I was giving up ( Weekday TV Fasting) what I was taking on (Daily Blog Posts) for Lent.

About a week after Lent began, life showed up and put a halt on these activities.

You probably notice this has happened to you when you have set a goal. Life shows up in the form of an injury or a tough work deadline or a family emergency or some other form of "life."

Taking a break from your goal is sometimes needed so that you can take care of "life."

Once "life" is handled you have options:
  • Return to your goal
  • Modify the goal 
  • Let it go completely
The last 2 options should always be considered. This flavor of "life" showing up could be a sign telling you to adjust your sails OR to abandon ship.

Where are you in your 2013 goals? Full steam ahead? Adjusting course? Abandoning ship?


Friday, February 15, 2013

"Lighten Up Frances"

Tonight, I got home and my knee jerk reaction was to walk over to the cigar box that hides my TV remote control and kick off the weekend with a show as I get dinner going. I promply closed the lid of the cigar box leaving the remote untouched because Friday is still a weeknight.

No TV for this cowgirl since I decided to give up TV on weeknights (see post here).

I then started thinking about how I could listen to a music station on my satellite television. It's not TV but I can have some entertainment. I then worried, "What if the last channel that was on TV was a show and not a music channel? Would that mean that only after 2 nights I already screwed up my Lenten discipline?"

I quickly told myself, "Lighten up Frances" (fabulous quote from the comedy classic Stripes) and just got to my evening of dinner and chores. I'm having fun observing the sounds in my home. I'm also noticing the pattern of wanting to return to my sofa to turn on a show. I'm also noticing how I can't wait until the weekend so I can watch the shows have downloaded to my iPad.

Now I'm questioning myself about downloading the shows to my iPad for the weekend. Is that cheating? Am I slacking by not giving up TV all of Lent? Am I cheating recording all of my shows on my DVR? Is it cheating to be watching TV in the work lunch room while I'm getting coffee or heating my lunch or washing my dishes?

My final answer to all of this, "Lighten up Frances."

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Love Is All You Need

 "Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love" are the opening lyrics to The Beetles song, All You Need Is Love. It's a great song, especially the version done in the movie, Love Actually.


Even before I received romantic-relationship love, I had (and thankfully still have) all sorts of love around me: the love of my family, the love of my friends and, on occasion, I even loved myself.

Sadly, loving myself was and is a lot less frequent than the other love I receive. Why do I have to be my own worst critic? It's a bit crazy because I am with myself all of the time. Why shouldn't I love the one I'm with even if it's with myself? (Hah! Another song lyric reference: Luther Vandros's "Love the one you're with" totally unplanned but a happy surprise.)

So this Valentine's Day and each day after, I will strive to live this wonderful quote from Oscar Wilde, 

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Finished Reading a Book - Really, this is a big deal!

Yesterday, I completed reading a book, Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me.

This was the book I virtually checked out using my library card I mentioned in the Get Your Library Card post from earlier this month. My due date was THIS Saturday. I know there are no "virtual library fines" but I would have had to re-check out the book to finish it.

THE most important part of this accomplishment is that I have, at any given time, at least 4 or 5 unfinished books in my home. I have no idea why this occurs but I know it's happening.

Perhaps I can use my non-TV watching time tonight to get to work on finishing another unfinished book and maybe dive into why I don't finish reading books.

I think I'll just stick to finishing a book.

What task do you always leave undone? Share in the comments below.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Weekday TV "Fasting" for Lent

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!!!

Although today's theme is gluttony and excess, I've finally figured out what I am going to give up for Lent. I'll save everyone the religious connotations of giving up something and or taking on a discipline for 40 days and 40 nights. You can visit Wikipedia to learn more.

I and using the framework of Lent as a tool to break out of usual habit as well as personal spiritual exploration. I'll only be sharing the "habit breaking" portion of this "program." Besides, the creation of a new habit only takes 21 days.

So, for the next 40 days and 40 nights, I will not be watching TV programs on weekdays.

Yes, I do have a DVR so I could catch up on weekends. However, my weekends are pretty full with weekend fun so I will have to be selective in what I want to watch during my precious weekend time. Also, the programs that remain on my DVR on Easter Sunday will tell me a lot about what is important.

What are you giving up and or taking on for Lent?

Monday, February 11, 2013

Taking Care of Others' Success & Lent Inspiration

I know what you are thinking, " 'Lent' and 'inspiration' in the same sentence? Really?" 

It is a bit of a stretch but I'll get you there. 

This past week brought 3 great opportunities to stretch in the social media world for 3 different "customers." The first opportunity came in the form of launching the @TopDogBarkery Twitter presence for Top Dog Barkery in Newport Beach, California. The second opportunity came at work in the form of launching and maintaining my department's internal social media/business page. The third was launching and making great progress the blog for my Elks lodge: Gardena Elks Blog. Yes, I am an Elk. You'll just have to wait for more details on that one.

Oh! I almost me forgot the opportunity to work with Mabel's Pralines to relaunch their Twitter presence that was re-invigorated thanks to a visit at their booth at the Shoreline Village Mardi GRAS celebration.

It has been so exciting to have these opportunities and yet, my own blog has been neglected as a result. For the past week, after I realized that Lent was coming so quickly in the calendar year, I have been racking my brain trying to decide what to give up (still working on that) and what to take on. 

As I was walking to my home from the train, it clicked!!! I will write a blog post every day for Lent.

Ready or not, 40 days of the Jaxtastic Life are coming your way.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Creating My "February Cure" - Apartment Therapy Inspiration

Inspired by what I was able to accomplish during the Apartment Therapy January Cure, I decided to create a "February Cure" full of tasks for the month.

I started by creating numbered list of 25 tasks to complete in the reamining days of February (2/4 through 2/28).

The list included items I didn't finish in January like hanging pictures (2/13) and some new areas not covered in January like my balcony (2/23) and my car (2/25).

I then let my inner "IT geek" come out and went to the FREE sequence generator at Random.org to have it create a random sequence of the numbered tasks.

Now that the planning is done....time to get to work.

I'll be posting each day with my tasks.

Below is my full task list for February.

What plans for your home do you have this month?

DateTask
2/4Guest Bath-wash walls
2/5Guest bath-wash floors
2/6Master bedroom-purge under-bed crate
2/7Master bath-tub repair on little spot
2/8Master bedroom-purge under-bed crate
2/9Guest Room-Purge closet shelf
2/10Laundry Area-new clips for lid switch
2/11Balcony-wash windows
2/12Master bath-wash walls
2/13Home office-Hang Remaining Pictures
2/14Kitchen-wash floors
2/15Living room-carpet stain spot cleaning
2/16Entry way-wash floors
2/17Laundry Area-new springs
2/18Home office-filing
2/19Dining room-swap candles & crock pot shelves
2/20Home office-scan pictures
2/21Master bath-wash floors
2/22Home office-scan pictures
2/23Balcony-toss all dead plants
2/24Kitchen-clean fridge shelves
2/25Car-trunk light, replace it
2/26Home office-purge office supplies
2/27Master Bedroom-clean/organize sewing/crochet crate
2/28Living room-Purge trunk

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Get Your Library Card!!!

Yes, you read that right. Go get your library card.

I know. I know. You have an iPad or Nook or Kindle to read your books.

Did you know that today's library offers the ability to virtually check out books to your tablet?

Well now you do.

Why should you  check out books digitally?

  1. It's free.
  2. You can check out a book 24/7.
  3. You have a deadline. Remember, you are still checking out a book from a library.
So, make a trip to your library, fill out that application and check out a book from the comfort of your own home or car or train or plane or wherever.

Now, I have to return to reading Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Else Hanging Out Without Me?  because I only have 13 days left on my 14-day checkout time with the Long Beach Public Library.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Tech Sabbath/Media Fast - Can I Do it? Can You?

This past month, a recurring theme has shown up in my world, the idea of taking a break from tech. This is a bit of an ironic for me because I work in IT (information technology) for a living.

However, I'm curious especially after this idea has shown up not once but three times THIS month. First, I saw "media fast" mentioned in the Apartment Therapy (www.apartmenttherapy.com) January Cure. Today, I was reading the January issue of Sunset Magazine (www.sunset.com), and came across an article about a tech free family and it included the theme of tech sabbath. Finally, a few weekends ago, I was driving through a neighborhood where Jewish people were observing the Sabbath by walking to temple and I assume if they were walking to temple I'm sure they were not using any form of electricity, thus taking a break from tech.

It got me thinking, could I totally turn off the tech? More importantly, do I want to? My magazines and some of my books are now on my iPad. The alarm clock that gets me up in the morning is on my iPhone. I'm writing this blog post online. My calendars (yes, I have many) are all online. I record all of my TV on my DVR. I am on a year-long project to scan all of my photos and letting go of the stacks and boxes of photo albums and pictures. I keep in touch with my friends and family via text, email and yes, Facebook.

Maybe there is something to taking a break from tech. It's certainly something I'll need to schedule and prepare for. Part of me is scared to try it. The other part of me is afraid I might like it.

Will you take a tech sabbath/media fast? Have you ever taken one? Share in the comments below.

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Commercial Break Game

I love my DVR. I love design shows on HGTV even more. Unfortunately, I found that I was spending more time watching design shows than tending to the my home. The joy I felt seeing the breathtaking reveals was clouded by guilt for not folding my clean laundry or neglecting the stack, ok stacks, of paperwork.

The past week the guilt has lessened and things are actually getting done since I started playing the "Commercial Break Game."

When the commercials start, I stop my show (who watches live TV these days?) and let the Coffehouse Rock channel play in the back ground while I get a load of laundry started or unload the dishwasher or file a few papers etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

I return to my show for more design eye candy feeling a little less guilty and a bit more proud.

Commercials start, the game begins again.

Now you try it. Share, in the comments, your experience playing the Commercial Break Game.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Paperwork Dragons & Elephants

A New Year is upon us and we all know what that means: weight loss ads, white sales and New Year’s resolutions to "get more organized."

This "get more organized" resolution usually involves trips to Home Depot or, better yet, the Container Store for organizing supplies.

STOP!!! Don't do it! 

I'm not saying don't ever go to these great places again. I'm a fan and customer of both businesses. What I am going to suggest today and always is that you take on your organization FIRST instead of just throwing on a Band-Aid in the form of storage boxes and folder systems and such. 

“Where do I start?” is probably your first question. I say start with your paperwork, 15 minutes at time.

I know what you are thinking, "Are you nuts? Have you seen my papers?" My answer is, "No." But I have certainly seen mine. 

You have probably attempted to slay the "paper dragon" in many a marathon session only to be burnt out and angry at yourself for not handling all of the paperwork. Then you avoid paperwork for a very, very, very long time and the dragon grows larger.

I suggest that you treat your paperwork as less of a dragon and more of an elephant. Dragons are scary. They fly and they breathe fire. Elephants may be large bit they are docile (unless you mess with one of their babies) and move very slow.

And how do you eat an elephant? You eat it one bite at a time.

You are going to "bite" your paperwork elephant by taking ONLY 15 minutes out of each day to deal with one piece of paper at a time.

Yes, you read it correctly, 15 minutes at a time. No more. No less.

I don't care if you are on a roll after the 15-minutes are up. Stop after 15 minutes.

Yes, yes, I still haven't seen your piles of papers and I don't have to.

ONLY 15 minutes a day. 

Now let's do the math. Multiply 15 minutes by 7 and you have 1 hour and 45 minutes of paperwork handled in 1 week. After a month, you are looking at 7.5 hours spent on paperwork, in bite-size, sanity-saving chunks.

What are you waiting for? Go and eat your paper elephant!!!