It’s time for another installment (v4) of the What’s Interesting? feature where I share my latest discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring change-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You’re a wonderfully engaged group. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced for you. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Growth

Not a new book, but one I’m currently reading, Dr. Carol Dweck in Mindset proposes that developing a growth mindset instead of a fixed one can profoundly influence how you live your life. “The growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts…everyone can change and grow through application and experience.” With our focus this month on change, starting by looking within is emphasized by the concepts in Dweck’s book.

2. Interesting App – Digital Coach

When change is what you seek, but the door feels locked, consider using the appUnstuck, an “in-the-moment” digital coach. It helps those who feel stuck move forward through a series of thought-provoking questions, tips and action tools.

3. Interesting Assessment – Time & Space

How can we change how we organize and manage our time without awareness, acceptance, and relevant action? Take a look at the newly released Time & Space Style Inventory (TSSITM) created by entrepreneur mentor and speaker, Cena Block. If you want to understand your “natural styles” for managing time and organizing space and for moving forward, this assessment is an excellent starting point for real change.

4. Interesting Product – Organizing

If you’re looking to change your daily getting-dressed-experience from stressful to easy, you’ll want to experiment with this clever tool created by professional organizer, Susan Terkanian. My Wardrobe Geniusis a low-tech tool described as a “personal clothing management assistant,” that helps you assess and sort your clothes so only items that fit and make you feel great are visible and ready for use.

5. Interesting Thought - Change

Integral to change is our movement away from the familiar. While fear is often associated with change, we have the ability to adopt the perspective that change as an exciting opportunity.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What are your interesting finds? Do any of these resonate with you?  Come join the conversation!

Our productivity flourishes when we recognize which environments enhance results. We can be intentional, as in creating designed, organized spaces. Or, we can embrace serendipity as in snow days, travel time, or “blob” days.

With chaos and overwhelm being more the norm these days, I’ve been especially aware how my environment influences my ability to not just be productive, but also to feel energized by a fresh start. Last week I wrote about the restart or fresh start button. This week, let’s focus on ways to increase productivity from our surroundings.

Linda’s Environmental Productivity Ah-Has:

Weather - Be it winter snowstorm Juno or rainy day Sundays, there’s nothing quite like a stop-everything-weather day to transform the “were-supposed-to-be” plans into productive days. I was unable to get to my client’s to organize because of the storm. Instead, I’m utilizing the found time to move other projects forward. 

Travel – There’s nothing as wonderful as that quiet, distraction-free time I experience on an airplane. With my busy travel schedule, I’ve been especially enjoying the airplane bubble that allows me focused time to read, plan, think, and rejuvenate. I experienced this firsthand this past weekend with my flights to and from St. Louis for the ICD Board meeting.

Blobbing – In our family, we like to enjoy “blob days” every so often. On blob days we suspend doing anything productive and give into just relaxing . . . guilt-free. We might stay in our pajamas all day, not shower, and hang out without any goals or shoulds. We let the day unfold, agenda-free. There could be movie watching and lots of snacking. Are you wondering how environment can be productive? Sometimes you need to balance suspending the to dos in order to renew your energy and boost your productivity.

What environment best supports your productivity? I’d love to hear from you. Come join our conversation!

We move through our days and weeks. There are times when things just aren't working. Do you know what I mean? Our thoughts are negative. Our stress is sky high. Our organizing systems that used to work “just fine” are not functioning well. We’re not eating healthfully, sleeping well, or taking care of our emotional well-being. We’re kind of a mess.

So here’s an idea. Computers have a restart button. Why can’t we have a fresh start button? Let’s begin simply. Fill your mind with encouraging ideas. Build from there.

Focus on thoughts that will encourage a fresh start. Here are some favorite positive thoughts to get you started:

 

Do you need a fresh start button? Push the button. What’s next for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation. 

Did you know that January is International Creativity Month? ICM founder, Randall Munson said . . .

“Unleashing creativity is vital for personal and business success in this age of accelerating change.”

What can you do to give your creativity a boost or fresh start?

There are some surprisingly simple ways to activate your creative thinking. We’re not just talking about being creative to necessarily produce physical works of art. Think about using your creativity to solve problems (organizing included), feel happier, and be healthier. In Shana Lebowitz’s article, 36 Ways to Boost Creativity, she mentions ideas such as listening to music, writing by hand, daydreaming, getting social, trying something new, looking at something blue or green, sitting in a coffee shop, getting someone else’s opinion, and laughing.

In The Creativity Cure: How to Build Happiness With Your Own Two Hands, Carrie and Alton Barron believe that “creative action is integral to easing depression and anxiety and to fueling wellbeing. The need to create–to produce something using our minds and hands–is fundamental.”

My next creative venture is a 4-week Comedy Improv class that begins this week at the Croton Academy of Arts. I’ve taken this fabulous course before and was amazed at what got unleashed. It combines so many of the ideas suggested in Lebowitz’s article including laughter, doing something new, gesturing with two hands, and free associating.

I’d love to hear from you. Come join the conversation. What’s your go-to creativity booster?