Stuff comes up and sooner or later you are deep in the fight.
The question is do you keep swinging or give up?
Having cancer meant finding my inner badass. You have one too.
~Catherine Avery
GI Joe, Thin Mints and Happiness
I'm taking a happiness course on Coursera through Yale. It was mentioned to me in a group Happiness is sort of a strange thing to talk about when you're talking about productivity, right? But productivity can help us be happier. That's not really entirely the point of...
How To Get Sh%&T Done!
The daffodils and hyacinths are blooming, we have shed the winter jackets, and this weekend we will return our rental skis. I prepped for Bob’s birthday dinner on the back patio on Saturday. And happy surprise, it was warm enough to host outside as well.Last weel, two...
On Vacation
I took last week off from the ezine. Hope you didn’t miss me too much. We took a two-week family vacation to Europe. Bob and I were last there in 2003 for our luna de miel (honeymoon) in Italy. Doesn’t honeymoon sound so much better in Italian? We wanted...
Productivity Process – Part 1
Recently, a client asked me about choosing the priorities in creating a productive environment. How do you choose where to start? Where you start may not be quite what you think. There are fittingly five P's to the Productivity Process. 1. Problem2. ...
Being Unplugged
Last Friday, March 1st, was the National Day of Unplugging. Sounds like a foreign concept for most of us, yet there are many religions who value turning off everything for the Sabbath or more frequently. The Sabbath is about a ritual day of rest. Rest is...
Digital Declutter
Monday February 11, was National Clean Out Your Computer Day. This reminded me of the challenge I ran recently called the Digital Detox. Below I share a few of the best strategies that you can start doing today to clear out your computer. There's no reason to wait...
Decluttering – How Can Kon Mari Work For You?
Marie Kondo's new television show, Tidying Up, is all the rage. I am all in favor of anything that inspires people to organize their lives. Even our teen daughter was inspired to organize her containers of slime in her craft area so that’s a win, right? Believe me I...
How Will You Simplify In 2019?
2018 went out with much fanfare for the Avery family. We traveled to Florida to spend time with my parents. I was excited to meet (again) and talk with Franco Harris (yes the Pittsburgh Steeler) after the game. We have been making a few minor updates to our lower...
Three Productive Things To Do In The New Year
Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful holiday. At this time of year, my clients often ask me how they can start off the new year on the right foot. So here are 3 things you can do right now to set up your 2019 for success. Defrag Your Computer When is the last time...
How to Gift an Experience Instead of More Stuff
Over the weekend, we enjoyed the connections of friends. Our daughter’s classmates gathered at our home to bake and decorate holiday cookies. It was so much fun, even for the grownups. We gathered by the fireplace and enjoyed a low-key afternoon. Familia Avery has...
Making Merry
Happy Holidays! December marches on as we continue to make merry here at Casa Avery. Casa Avery Client's Bathroom I stopped by a business colleague’s home project recently to add the finishing touches just in time for the holidays. He and his family needed an upstairs...
The Importance of Boundaries
As the holidays encroach, it’s an opportune time to remind you of the importance of boundaries for your productivity. It’s easy to be the person who says yes and then ends up with burn out and pneumonia just before the celebrations. Ask me how I know… So here are...
Staying on Top of Everything During the Holidays
Thanksgiving in the US is only a few weeks away rapidly followed by all of the celebrations of December. And you’re probably already wondering how you will manage it all. Productivity pointers to the rescue! Plan First, make a plan. I wrote about planning in the last...
Planning, Preparation, and Productivity!
Ever have a time where you felt like your life was a roller coaster? You just hold on and go through the ride… This week has been like that. Someone close to me is in the hospital, which means I have been working remotely and at odd hours. If you are a small business...
What’s Your Story?
Stories...we all tell stories. Stories were handed down from generation to generation long before a person put reed brush to papyrus or chisel to stone. The tribe gathered around the campfire to remember, record and reflect. This week marks my 3 year anniversary since...