Do you keep losing things?

Some people are truly well organised - all of the time. Many of us are organised some of the time, but not at other times, and then there are the blessed group - those who are organised all of the time. We might have other less flattering terms for them, and I think they are a minority. However, there are definite benefits for being orgnanised - life will just flow, and we will be more efficient and can save a lot of time, and maintain our calm.

If you keep losing things - such as keys, notebooks or diaries, personal planners, cell phones etc. consider these quick tips:

• Decide a location for these items that makes sense to you
• Put these things in the same place - religiously.
• Make sure other people using these things follow the same pattern.

For example:

• Put keys in a dish, on a hook, on a lanyard and have coloured keys or key rings for identification
• Have extra copies of important keys - keep them in safe places and give a set of keys to a trusted friend or relative
• Engrave your mobile (cell) phone number onto your key ring and other items you might misplace
• Charge your mobile (cell) phone near your keys
• Keep your mobile (cell) phone in same part of your desk, office, house when not used
• Place car park tickets and access cards in the same place EVERYTIME (part of clothing, wallet, handbag)
• Park your car in or near the same part of a car park.
• Take note of your car park bay number and floor (level)

In Summary:
Put things in the same obvious place all the time
Small items are best placed close to where they are used
Have a coding system for different items (colour, size, style)
If you share items, discuss with the others and actively agree with them where to store the items.

Calm in a Storm

I'll admit it. I am not always calm, despite my appropriate branding of
Calm from Chaos (see http://www.sharonnephillips.com). People who know me will vouch for that. It can take a lot for me to lose it, but I can lose it along with the rest of us.

And you know what? I lose it when things don't go according to my plans. I plan well, I know that I can guess where things will fail and I build in safety nets around those predictable failures.

But, when things don't happen the way I expect, I get stressed and disappointed and sometimes angry and frustrated. That's when I lose it.

When I let go of expectations, and go with the flow knowing that I have done my best I can remain calm - that's why people can recognise me as easy going and "in control" (while I KNOW I am NEVER fully "in control").

Can you let go so you can let yourself be calm?