5 ideas for getting better organized

When I wear my travel writer’s hat, I have to be super organized. This time, I’ve headed for the hinterlands of Germany, to be followed by a two-week jaunt to Southern Spain and then, possibly, on to Dubai.

Before I head south, I’ve promised to cook my new friend, Celicia, an authentic, Afghan meal.(Even at this writing, the chicken kabob is marinating in yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice and about a thousand spices.)  In the meantime, I have clients back in the U.S. and Mexico whom I must serve just as though I were in their home town.

So, how do I do it all? After all, I have some pretty important personal goals, too, such as meeting great people, eating good food and relishing centuries-old art, music, cities and traditions.

Well, here is what I recommend in order to balance work/play/travel:

1.    Notes. I write everything down including notes about conversations, random thoughts and ideas or reminders to myself. I record the money I spend on a trip, if I have time. And, of course, I journal every day I can. I may not get back and reread everything, but the process of writing it down seems to record these thoughts in my brain.

2.    Plan. Make a schedule every Sunday or daily, if that’s your style. Ideally, I like to plan trips about a month in advance. (Lately, it’s been more like a few days, though!) Do some budgeting of your finances: what do you plan to spend each week or for the month? Later you can compare your plans with what actually happened. You might be surprised!

3.    Ask for help. Don’t let pride or greed stand in your way of asking for help or hiring someone to assist you. This goes along with making yourself available to help others, too. It’s called “building relationships.”

4.    Just say “no.” If you are properly planning and scheduling, then you’ll know when you are overly subscribed. If someone asks you to do something and you’re not sure if you have the time; tell them you’ve got to think about it first and you’ll get back to them. This one is big on my list, because I have a tendency to overcommit.

5.    Breathe in and out! This is what my mom used to say whenever one of us would whine about our problems. “Just breathe in and out." Remember that you are doing the very best you can and celebrate that. Allow yourself to...well, to reward yourself!

The chances that you are a workaholic in this society in the world, today, are strong. So while you’re working on your planning and scheduling, don’t forget to carve out some “me” time! Maybe you can’t do it all, but you should be enjoying whatever you do the most.