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It’s About Time Ruth Wong |
Being ready for tomorrow
provides a margin of peaceHere they come, ready or not -- the holidays, that is.Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, this season is meant to be special. After all, the word "holiday" comes from "holy day."
If you're like me, the busyness is escalating, so I'd like to share a tip that has made a huge difference in my life.
This tip can give you a much-needed margin of peace and help your days flow more smoothly. The tip is "Stay one day ahead of yourself," which means "Be ready for tomorrow today."
Here are some practical ways you can be ready for tomorrow today:
By the time you go to bed tonight, select what you will wear tomorrow and be sure it's wearable (clean, pressed and mended).
Do the same if you have a party to attend tomorrow night -- have your outfit selected and ready to wear by tonight.
If you're going to a party tomorrow, have the card signed and the gift bought and wrapped by bedtime today. In my disorganized days, as my husband was driving, I would be frantically wrapping the gift in the car on the way to the party! That was definitely not a peaceful way to start a social evening.
If you have a deadline tomorrow, have that assignment finished today, by the time you leave work or by the time you go to sleep. Sure, you might think you can work on it tomorrow morning, but we never know what might come up to consume that free time we were counting on.
Ditto for those that have homework due tomorrow. Have it finished by bedtime. Pack your backpack so it's ready to go tomorrow morning.
If you have a meeting tomorrow, review the agenda and gather needed papers today, and have them ready to take tomorrow.
If you're going shopping tomorrow, make your list today. You do shop with a written list, don't you? It's much easier to add items to a written list than to a mental list! Gather any needed coupons and put with your list. I make my shopping list on the back of an envelope and slip coupons inside.
If you need to exchange or return something to a store tomorrow, have the item and receipt in the bag today, ready to take tomorrow. No more last-minute searching for the receipt or a bag.
If you're responsible for bringing soccer refreshments tomorrow, have the drinks and snacks purchased today. Buying them on the way to the game can take more time than expected.
My deadline for this column is 4 p.m. Wednesday, so I've learned to have the column completed by Tuesday night, ready to e-mail Wednesday morning.
While we might not be able to prepare for everything today, whatever we can prepare for can make a big difference tomorrow.
Those days, when I neglect to prepare for tomorrow, the next day finds me scrambling at the last minute. I much prefer smooth days rather than scrambled, don't you?
One huge benefit of being ready for tomorrow today is that you will sleep so well at night knowing that you are ready for the next day. And should there be unexpected surprises, you will be better able to handle them.
Practicing "Being ready for tomorrow today" will serve you well this holiday season and throughout the year. It will be time well spent!
See you in two weeks!
"It's About Time," by Ruth Wong, owner of Organization Plus, runs the fourth Friday of each month. Contact her at "It's About Time," care of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813; or e-mail features@starbulletin.com