Why won't they stop???

This recent post from Unclutterer is so relevant for me at the moment and I am sure many of my readers will find it interesting too. Here are 9 tips that may help you to stay on top of the plethora of emails that don’t stop when you are travelling:

1. Tie yourself to a smartphone. If you want to stay on top of email, you have to keep a smartphone on you. Keep the ringer off and the message alerts set to vibrate.
2. Enable automatic sorting and color coding in your smartphone’s email program. Have a filter that automatically routes all messages out of your inbox and into separate folders where you are copied instead of listed as the main recipient, all newsletters or read-only emails you subscribe to, and all emails from sources you know are not going to be must-respond-now messages. Have your system color code messages from your boss and/or other very important folks so these messages will catch your attention when they come into your main inbox. (If you’re on a Windows-based phone, there are macros and add-ins for Outlook you can install. If you can legally route your work email through Gmail, you can also do this. I was unable to find an app for the iPhone that enables these features.)
3. Check messages during lulls in your schedule. As you wait in the line at the airport, switch between sessions at a conference, or grab a snack, process your priority emails then.
4. Only check work email. If someone needs to contact you about an important personal matter, he/she will text or call you. Check your personal email account on weekends or after you get home from traveling.
5. Only respond to items that can be handled in less than one minute. Delegate as much as possible, delete or archive anything that doesn’t need a response, and only send short messages of less than a paragraph to the priority emails you respond to.
6. Manage expectations. Have an automated out-of-office message enabled on your account that says you will have limited access to emails and no one should expect a response until you are back in the office (be sure to list that specific date). Provide detailed contact information for someone in the office who may be able to handle emergencies, and give that person in the office your cell number so he/she can call you if there is a major event. Also, let your office contact know when you expect to be on flights and/or completely out of connection.
7. Manage more expectations. When you reply to someone from your smartphone, have a “Sent from mobile device, please excuse typos and brevity” signature on the bottom of every message. You might also want to consider posting your return date on your out-of-office message as the day after you return so you have a full day to gather your bearings once you’re back in the office. Under promise, over deliver.
8. Have access to cloud file storage. Not all smartphones allow you to attach documents, so you’ll need to be able to send links to documents stored online with services like Dropbox. If your employer doesn’t allow file posting online and attaching documents to emails is essential to your job, you’ll want to get the smallest, lightest laptop you can because you’re going to have to carry it with you instead of a smartphone.
9. Work on email every night when you get to your hotel room. It will add to your workday, but taking 30 minutes or an hour every night to process the entirety of all your email inboxes and folders will guarantee you don’t have an avalanche of messages when you get back to your office.

Read more here: http://unclutterer.com/2012/04/03/how-to-manage-email-when-traveling-for-work/

3 rings a day keeps the doctor away!

I have just recently returned from a fabulous couple of weeks in Phuket celebrating our 20^th wedding anniversary. While I was there I picked up a lovely bell from the Big Buddha statue to use to lift the energy of the homes of my Feng Shui clients. It sounds delightful.

But when I returned and had jetlag for the first day, I started ringing the bell and almost immediately my mood and feelings of lethargy lifted – it was amazing! The same happened effect happened to the energy of the house when I walked around ringing the bell – everything seems lighter and brighter (sounds bizarre I know!)

I then came across an article online that outlined this very effect:

Once stagnation sets in around your home, you may also experience a rise in aches and pains and you may feel less energetic, and maybe even depressed.

Low home vitality can express itself in your personal energy, creating fatigue and lethargy. Over time, it can make you vulnerable to other afflictions and problems that range from rashes, allergies, and infections.

If you find that your energy is low and little health complaints numerous, it might be a good idea to employ sound therapy in your home.

What is sound therapy?

A house that is still and quiet is the type of home that creates yin energy – and over time that kind of energy can depress the person with even the brightest and happiest outlook.

To lift the energy of your home, try incorporating the clear, pure sounds of a brass bell. The sound of a bell emits a tonal frequency that cuts through yin energy and dispels it from your home.

Begin by ringing a bell in the centre of the room or house and then move from the door in a clockwise fashion making sure to ring the bell in dark corners and stagnant areas. These areas collect yin energy and become a vacuum, drawing more yin energy to them.

When a bell is used, the sound penetrates through the yin energy and creates a clearing effect. Do this three times in each room to fully penetrate the area with cleansing sound chi.

If you want to permanently lift your energy and the energy around your home, be sure to use sound therapy daily. Install a water fountain, play music, or hang a windchime near a window to keep your home filled with active, natural sounds.

Even a radio or TV playing will keep a home energized with the sounds of life and activity – a key to keeping your home’s chi vibrant and the chi energized and refreshed.

I am the one on the left...

I am so excited – I am taking the trip of a lifetime to walk the Great Wall of China to help my beloved bears find freedom and a new home!

Hooray for iron free clothing!

The professional organisers association had our montly meeting this morning and we got onto the topic of travelling and packing tips. Then lo and beyond, here in my inbox is Zen Habits once again with the very same thing: we must certainly be on the same wavelength! I am heading off to Sydney tomorrow and Thailand in a couple of weeks so this blog post certainly appeals to me.

Here are 7 top tips for packing light and travelling easily:

Essential

1. Pack little. Take a small backpack, and don’t pack it too heavy either: one pair of jeans, 2-3 T-shirts, 2-3 quick-dry underwear,  maybe a light sweater. Wash things in the shower if they get dirty and hang them to dry overnight. Minimal toiletries: deodorant, toothbrush, liquid soap, dental floss, basic makeup. There is no need to check your bag for flights and you can pack in 5 minutes.
2. Have no agenda. I often ask for recommendations from locals, and get a list of incredible things. I’ll also put everything on a Google Map, so I can see where everything is. Then I toss all that out and let the day lead me where it will. Having no set agenda means you aren’t pressured to get anything done each day, which means you can enjoy yourself fully.
3. Walk a lot. The best way to explore any place is to walk. Walk all over, with no set directions. Get lost.
4. Eat lightly. Eat anything you want, but don’t eat a lot. I like to mix fruits and veggies in with the heavier stuff, so I don’t feel so heavy.
5. Find space to relax. Most people try to do too much, and rush around all day. Stroll casually, find good coffee shops or tea shops to relax in, or a good sidewalk cafe with good wine. Find parks and enjoy them. If it rains, walk in the rain. Read a lot.
6. Be present. Don’t be on your smartphone or laptop all the time. Don’t always think about what you’ll be doing later, or work stuff. Be fully present, and you’ll have a great time.
7. Smile at people. Talk to the locals. Ask for recommendations. Find out about their lives.

Just like a set of babushka dolls!

Having just returned from an Easter camping trip (on a motor cycle!), I can truly appreciate this fantastic set of cooking pots that all fit inside each other for perfect storage.

My husband and I can only manage a small saucepan and a frying pan – hence our meals are usually boring pasta, rice or sausages! Think of the feasts we could make in these. Now all we need is someone to invent a 5 burner fold up stove!

Available from Amazon (a bargain with the Aussie dollar being so high) they can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/MSR-Flex-4-System-Cookset/dp/B001QWFAE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1303959077&sr=1-1

Gorgeous countryside wherever you look in NZ...

Having just returned from 10 days in New Zealand, I am still on the “travel high” – the high you get when your body still hasn’t adjusted itself back to regular time, when your travel clothes still haven’t been washed and you are busily downloading photos from your camera.

Unfortunately not everyone has such a great time when they travel; there are just so many little things that can go wrong that often do – if you let them!

A recent post by Zen Habits gave me some good insights into how to “go with the flow” and bounce back from any setback that is thrown your way:

From departure lounges all over the world to nice hotels on every continent, I see the same thing no matter where I go: some people are having the time of their lives, and others, well, would rather be at home.

There are probably several reasons for this phenomenon of unhappy tourists, but one of them is that  travel can be overly stressful and unnecessarily complicated. If travel becomes too complicated, you can end up defeating yourself before any external pressures even arrive.

To counter the stress, here are 5 “big-picture” strategies and 8 specific, practical tips you can use to simplify your next big trip. Some of them will help you save time and money – both worthy goals – but all will help you cut out some of the stress.

5 Big-Picture Strategies

Create Your Own Travel Philosophy – Prioritize what’s important to you, and plan your trip according to that. A lot of people have expectations or ideas about travel that they have received from others. I think it’s better to decide for yourself what you value about travel as well as how you like to travel.

As for me, I like to do it all. I go between nice hotels like the one I’m at in Egypt and $10 hostels… or even sleeping on the floor of airports from Dallas to Singapore. Yes, I know it’s crazy, but that’s the point – I travel on my own terms. Why not discover what you enjoy and do that?

Become comfortable with some amounts of stress – I don’t think it’s possible to travel completely stress-free; I’m more interested in finding a low-stress solution. You might be able to avoid any stress at all by escaping reality on a deserted island, but that kind of trip is rarely gratifying in the end. Focus instead on reducing stress by making simple choices.

Goal-Setting and Vacations – It sounds strange to some, but I suspect manyZen Habits readers will “get it” – I recommend setting a few personal goals for every trip, even a vacation. My goals may be as simple as running a few miles every day or writing two pages in my journal every morning, or they may be more detailed like completing a writing project I’ve been working on. If you have daily habits of productivity and goal-setting, you don’t need to completely set them aside just because you’re away from home.

Forgive yourself for mistakes – I’ve been to 94 countries so far in my quest tovisit every country in the world, and I’ve probably made every mistake you can think of. A couple of months ago in between visits to Iraq and Eastern Europe, I even double-booked myself on two completely non-refundable flights home to Seattle. Yes, I assure you – if a travel mistake is possible, I have most likely made it. Along the way, I’ve learned that whenever I do something stupid, I have to let it go at some point.

Travel Zen – Even if you didn’t make the mistake, lots of disruptions and challenges can easily set you back while you’re in a distant land. Here’s where I invoke the Travel Zen mantra: “Life is an adventure.” If I wanted routine, I could have stayed home.

To read more go here: http://zenhabits.net/13-ways-to-simplify-international-travel/

Meeting the inspirational Julie Morgenstern!

Today is actually day 2 in New Zealand but the first day was the plane trip and dinner with my family in Sumner, which I am sure you don’t really want to read about…however I did rearrange their lounge room before I left. Hey, I am an organiser/stylist afterall!

So day 2 in NZ but day 1 at the Professional Organisers Conference in Christchurch and my head is already spinning!

Not only did I get to meet Julie Morgenstern, a world famous professional organiser from the US (who shared her ideas on a good business model with me – thank you Julie!) but who also gave us all some fabulous inspiration to move forward and help make the world a more organised place, one client at a time!

It is soooo refreshing to be part of an industry that is all about sharing and support rather than competing for clients. There are more than enough cluttered and disorganised folks around the world for all of us to help. How does it get any better than that?

I can’t wait until tomorrow…now time for the gala dinner!

And no waiting for luggage at the carousel!

I am heading to New Zealand next week, firstly for a conference and then I am taking some days to explore the South Island, particularly Milford Sound.

I am so looking forward to it, but now the challenge begins – how can I take two weeks worth of clothes into a cabin bag? (I am flying Jetstar Light and I know they are Nazis when it comes to weight restrictions!)

So I thought I would share with you my tips for packing light:

1. Coordinate your clothes around one or two basic colors (preferably black and white). This cuts down on the number of shoes and accessories you have to bring.

2. Take as few clothes as possible. Plan on laundering.

3. Wear and carry washable silk clothing whenever possible. It is as warm as and as cool as cotton. It dries overnight.

4. A lightweight rain coat can double as a windbreaker or a coat to keep the chill off in fine weather.

5. Take older clothes that can be discarded along the way.  Think how much shopping can fit in the space.

6. Jeans – never take them as they take so long to dry, take lighter weight pants.

7. Two pairs of shoes – walking and a bit dressier. That is it!

The majestic Milford Sound NZ

Seeing that today is Saturday, I thought my post should be more orientated towards pursuits of pleasure. My number one pleasure is travelling – whether that be just a day trip out around my home city of Brisbane Queensland or heading to the other side of the world to discover Turkey like my husband and I did in 2010. Hint: you MUST go to Turkey.

In February I am “jumping the ditch” to New Zealand, firstly for a Professional Organisers conference in Christchurch, then heading off on my own down south to the beautiful Fiordlands to explore Milford Sound. My husband and I were there last year after he returned from six months in Afghanistan (the contrast between brown Afghanistan and green NZ almost blew his mind) but unfortunately a snow storm hit so we couldn’t get in. As an image of Milford Sound is still on my vision board, it is imperative that I make it back.

This time I shall be on my own, travelling by bus, staying at a backpackers in Queenstown, eating two minute noodles – and I can’t wait!  Now…where are my hiking boots?