Keeping Your Cool as Temperatures Rise Tips for planning better and staying calm under stress!
PLANNING:
1) Write it down.
Itineraries of travel plans and contact info are perfect examples of One Home For Everything and Like With Like in written form.
Include key phone numbers, email addresses and any other ways to be in touch should the unexpected crop up.
2) Call ahead.
Contact vendors, tour companies, and parks departments ahead of time to verify locations, reservations, timetables, and arrangements for special needs. Say thank you (!) and always get staff names.
3) Review your itinerary.
When you arrive, ask for people by name. Everyone loves to be recognized, and forging real connections at first meeting practically guarantees that you'll have a friend if you're ever in need.
4) Follow suggestions.
If you're traveling somewhere that's provided a checklist in advance, trust them to know best. That way you don't over pack and you also don't show up missing a key item that everyone else has and you can only buy on site for three times what it cost at home.
5) Don't obsess.
Whether staying local or traveling far, use a checklist to ensure you don't forget the one item that will bring the trip to a halt. And then have fun. Even planning can upset you if you forget its purpose was to prevent anxiety and not be another source OF anxiety!
STAYING CALM:
1) Give yourself a time-out.
Take a minute or 5 to sit still before you react. That could be include meditation, prayer or just concentrating on your breathing as it steadies.
2) Move your body.
Go for a short walk. Even once around the block will do.
3) Ask for help.
If help involves a call, Remember that the person you'll talk with probably did not create your distress, even if the company they work for did.
4) Practice the Golden Rule. Don't take out your frustration on customer service reps OR clumsy strangers who cross your path while you're upset. Your frustration may alienate a source of assistance.
5) Find something to enjoy.
Count to ten even in moments when you are waiting, delayed or frustrated.
The unexpected may happen whether you're relaxing or not. Author Leo Buscaglia tells the story of his mom spontaneously creating a family picnic during a car breakdown -- it was one of his best childhood memories and a great lesson about having fun wherever you are.
If life gets in the way of your original plans, a deep breath or two will help you respond creatively.
Remember what brings you joy and use it as your secret weapon when something starts to upset you.
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Greetings!
Summer is here!
Do your plans for this season include a vay or staycation?
Whether it's a picnic in the park, a week at the lake, or touring a land of new experiences, organization is key to carefree, fun-loving relaxation and travel.
They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I think that's doubly true when it comes to planning.
You can't plan for or anticipate everything, but you do know the little things that irritate you, your family and friends.
Why not be proactive and ensure that those things you CAN control get enough attention to eliminate obvious upsets? No one wants to rush out of the door to discover AT THE AIRPORT that the tickets or your passport are still on the kitchen counter. OR arrive at the beach without sunscreen and a blanket!
A few minutes of thinking through any event from beginning to end will help you to imagine where things may go wrong and what some corrective measures might be.
Picture the end result you hope for. Then work your way backwards until you can create a list of actions that need to happen for the desired outcome.
Project planning, whether it's a trip to the beach or a whole house renovation, starts exactly the same way. One step at a time.
You'll find lots of useful tips in the sidebar on HOW to plan better and how to stay calm if things don't exactly work out AS planned.
Also this month, our friends at Dove Men+Care are offering some great giveaways, including an autographed basketball from Shaquille O'Neal, so check out the contest below.
Graduations, celebrations and Father's Day offer lots of chances to be creative in how you show your love and pride ... beyond an easy purchase. With all due respect to Erich Segal, I'm going to turn another phrase on its ear: Love means never having to create clutter.
Summertime is precious -- let's enjoy as much of it as we can!
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Out and About
Where in the world is Andrew now?
 The last few month's events at Earth Day Marin, Whistlestop, San Geronimo Valley Community Center and NY Small Biz Xpo were a lot of fun for everyone who attended, and at several of them we were literally bursting out of the room. Wow!
This month, I'm teaching at both the JCC of Manhattan and NY Open Center, so if you're local and looking for a jump start or refresher on getting and staying organized, check out these chances to get some one-to-one time with me close to home.
BONUS: On June 20 at NY Open Center, we're offering a FREE 45-minute intro class. Register here as these things always sell out!
On June 30, also at NY Open Center, Dr. Eric Schneider and I are co-leading, "More Love, Less Stuff" for couples. So if you or someone you love is struggling with disorganization, you'll find useful, practical tips and tools to live more harmoniously and still find anything you need in 30 seconds or less. And if it's both of you, then you can't afford to miss this workshop! Learn how to get organized and stay in love while doing it.
One-to-One Clients: While I'll be away some during June, there are still a few days available for a private session with me in NYC. Whether you're a prospective client or a regular, please drop a line and we'll set something up!
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Speaking of Stuff
Featured products, services and reviews
 In honor of Father's Day, we're running a contest on Facebook.
Share your favorite story of your dad and stuff or YOU as a dad with stuff! The top five entries will win a dopp kit from Dove loaded with great new products for men.
In addition, one lucky GRAND PRIZE winner will also win a basketball signed by Shaquille O'Neal!
For details on the contest, visit my Facebook page. The judges includes blogger and author Jen Singer, the creative genius behind Mommasaid and blogger and author Jim Higley, better known as Bobblehead Dad.
Join us in celebrating dads AND get a lil' something for sharing!
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What's Love Got to Do With It?
Thoughts and ideas about stuff
"When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."
US Naval Academy,
Class of 1928, Annapolis
My colleague and friend, Sarah Byam, recently relayed a story in which her car overheated and slowed to a crawl on the freeway. As she navigated to a safe stop, she asked her passenger for 10 minutes so she could meditate and then come up with a plan.
"Thank you," her passenger replied in relief, "for not getting hysterical."
Read on ...
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