This is the newest book by the co-author of Driven To Distraction, John J. Ratey. I can’t say enough good things about this book! It begins with a description of a school district that has implemented a P.E. program that focuses on fitness over sports. The changes this has made in the schools is amazing. I am now gung-ho to get this program into the schools my children attend.
That, my friends, is just the beginning. Mr. Ratey explains how exercise can make your brain work better in very simple, engaging terms. The benefits of exercise exceed anything I’d ever imagined.
The second part of the book is where you might find the most relevant information for your life. There are specific sections on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Addiction, Hormonal Changes and Aging which are interesting to read but you can skip around to the area that most effects you. In the end, he sets out a training regimen that will best serve your brain and will get your body in shape at the same time.
If you needed a compelling reason to exercise, this book should motivate you to get off your fanny and stick to a regular fitness routine.
 If you’re interested in receiving an e-mail when I review a new book or have a book to recommend I read and review, please e-mail me allinorder@rcn.com.
 
Thanks for reading!
Anne Busse, Professional Organizer

I’m only writing here about books I find inspiring and useful, so you already know that I think this is a great book. Mr. Loehr and Mr. Schwartz have developed a system to make you a “corporate athlete.” If a book is too much to handle, they wrote an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “The Making of a Corporate Athlete” which gives you a very abridged idea of what their program is about.
For those who are stuck and want to make changes, get organized, or increase their productivity through better time management, this book gives you a roadmap on how to make lasting changes.
I enjoyed the book for a few reasons. First, they take into account the whole body. They talk about Mental, Physical, Emotional and Spiritual health as all necessary and important for performing your best. It’s rare to find a book that really brings all these together and doesn’t dwell on just one.
The second reason I liked this book is that it deals with the Spiritual domain in a way that is engaging without mention of religion and without new-agey language that turns many people off (myself included) to the idea of connecting with your core values. They also use so many real-life examples to show what they mean and the effect that developing your spiritual “muscle” can have. I was inspired to re-assess my values and write them down!
Third, they give you a plan of action. If you have a coach, great, they can help you with accountability and self-awareness as you develop and follow your plan. If you don’t have a coach, you can use it to work out your own values, your vision for yourself (personal and business), what’s standing in your way and what you are actually going to DO to make changes. They even have an accountability log so you can track your progress.
So, if you are trying to make some changes and have had trouble with how to do it, this book might make the difference. I don’t assume that any one method works for everyone, so if this book doesn’t work for you, keep checking back and I promise eventually I’ll get to a book that’s right for you!
If you’re interested in receiving an e-mail when I review a new book or have a book to recommend I read and review, please e-mail me allinorder@rcn.com.
 
Thanks for reading!
Anne Busse, Professional Organizer

2. pch@ant.net to stop mail from Publisher’s Clearing House

3. 1-860-285-6100 to stop mail from ADVO (coupons,etc)

4. Send your name, address, zip code and a request to “activate the preference set up” to remove your name from the DMA list for 5 yrs (you can also do this online but there is $5 fee):
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 15012-0643

5. Cloudmark has software to help stop e-mail spam

Just as a testimonial, I did this and haven’t received any credit card offers and many fewer bulk mailings in general. Catalogs still have to be stopped individually.

Anne
All In Order
202-236-3411

]]> http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/ways-to-reduce-your-mail.html/feed 0 http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/hecht-of-an-organizer.html http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/hecht-of-an-organizer.html#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:37:07 +0000 admin http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/?p=61 All In Order is proud to be a partner with Hecht of an Organizer.

As a professional organizer, I looked everywhere for a fashionable and functional way to carry my supplies to clients. I have files and catalogs and tools that I need to have in my car “just in case” as well as specific information and files for each client. For years, I went from job to job with an ugly plastic file box that broke or cracked due to being left in the car in the freezing winter and baking sun of summer. It was too heavy to hold everything so I ended up with multiple boxes requiring too many trips to ever empty them out of the car.   
The Hecht of An Organizer and Tote are the perfect solution for me. I keep the organizer in my car with extra supplies, files and catalogs and the tote travels with me EVERYWHERE! Both the organizer and tote are lightweight but very strong. Because they start out weighing nothing, I can carry more things without hurting my back. I no longer use my heavy briefcase that weighs ten pounds before I even put in a file. Here’s how strong the organizer is- stuffed with papers and catalogs, my organizer weighs almost 40 pounds! I thought the box would break but it’s held up for over a year without even sagging. The portability is key as I can now move all of my organizing supplies out of the car easily when I need the space for other things.
My husband is an architect and also tends to work out of his car. As soon as he saw the Hecht of an Organizer, he had to have one too! I can’t go anywhere without a friend or client (or family member) asking me where I got my organizer and where they can get one too!

For more information, check out the Hecht of an Organizer web site or e-mail us at allinorder@rcn.com.

]]> http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/hecht-of-an-organizer.html/feed 0 http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/ten-organizing-tips-for-your-home.html http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/ten-organizing-tips-for-your-home.html#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:32:56 +0000 admin http://www.allinorder-professionalorganizing.com/?p=59 1. Ask these questions about each item in your home. If you answer “NO” to either question, it’s time to let it go! 1) Do I love it? 2) Do I have a place for it?

2. Designate a place for everything in your home. Make your stuff fit the space you have designated for it or find it a new home.

3. Don’t expect clutter to disappear in a short amount of time. It took a long time for you to accumulate the clutter and will take time to get rid of your clutter.

4. Make sure you have all the tools you’ll need before starting to clear clutter.  Then, set a timer and get to work. Don’t take out more than you can sort and put away within your time frame.

5. Have your timer end 15 minutes before you need to end an organizing project so that you have time to clean up after yourself.

6. Set up routines for your day and week. When you have a time for each task, you don’t have to worry about it all week!

7. Break the cycle of want…need…have. Make yourself wait at least 24 hours before making a medium sized purchase and a week for a big purchase.

8. Don’t buy anything if you don’t have a specific place for it already cleared out in your home or office.

9. Clean up messes as they happen. Once you get into the habit of cleaning up before moving on to another task, you’ll have a much more organized home.

10. Keep a “time log” for a week to figure out what you enjoy doing and find ways to eliminate those tasks you dislike. You’ll also discover where you are losing time.

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