My life is pretty mellow. eBay is my primary source of income and I throw the live-in out to look for work if we need extra money.
Even more mellow lately as I took a couple of weeks off from eBay and he compensated by finding a bunch of little 2-5 day projects.
But now I find that I have three major labor intensive things I have to complete by Sept. 2 - I'm trying to figure out how to get it all done.
-I have a yardsale planned for Sept. 1 - no need to go into what needs to be done, as you all know this.
-50 auctions I'd like to start Sept. 2 - normally a breeze from now until then except for the other two things.
-Out of the blue, a friend of mine finds she needs a partner in her b&m space, and this is something I've been wanting to do forever, so I pay rent as of Sept 1 - needless to say I want to put as much in there as possible.
My organizational skills are rusty due to my mellow lifestyle. Can anyone help me? How the heck can I get it all done?
posted on August 27, 2001 07:50:51 AM new
Start early and work a full day just like you were punching a time clock and don't take time to shop or get your hair done or other things that working people do in the evening or on the weekend. You will get an enormas amount done.
I don't like it but I have to do that every couple weeks.
posted on August 27, 2001 08:05:58 AM new
It's hard for me to get organized. Sometimes I just set a couple rules for myself such as, no coffee breaks or trips to the store until I list 5 or 10 items. If you're having trouble deciding what to put in the store, you can always change the merchandise around after awhile if you think it would sell better on eBay. I'd just start gathering together the things you plan to put in the store, get an idea of the price you'd want and get it marked. Also, after the yardsale, if something doesn't sell and you don't think that it will sell well on eBay or in the store, I'd donate it right away so that I could forget about and not be bothered with packing it back up to store it.
Brainstorm with your partner for suggestions. She may have ideas that will help you cut corners.
posted on August 27, 2001 08:51:28 AM new
Hi Sadie,
Just focus on one project at a time. When it's completed, move on to another project. You would be surprised how fast you can get through a project by this method.
Flitting around and becoming distracted is what leads to frustration and stress.
I started a thread one time just about this frustration in so many lives, mine included.
I found my answer in "Organizing from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern. It is excellent for all areas of your life, including time management.
I instituted her methods about 1 1/2 years ago and it was life changing for me.
And now, I, too, am a mellow person.
Sadie, just because your rent is paid for the month of Sept. does not mean you have to have your items in there by Sept. 1. I see this as your 3rd priority on your list. After your 1st two projects are completed, you will have the whole first week of Sept. to stock and tweak.
posted on August 27, 2001 09:52:28 AM new
If two or more tasks have equal priority, do the task that you least like, FIRST. You'll work faster because you want to move on to the task you like.
If you leave the least likeable task to last, you'll tend to procrastinate to avoid having to do it.
posted on August 27, 2001 10:17:08 PM new
Thank you all for your input!
I've calmed down a little bit and broken everything into "what has to be done at given times," and "what can be done during non-business hours, etc."
Then, like an angel, without me asking, my new partner called to say that since she gave me so little notice, I could pay just half rent my first month - which means I'll just concentrate on getting my highest dollar items in for the long weekend, rather than trying to get everything in.
