10 Organizing Tips for Road Warrior Parents
Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your work requires that you travel. Don't be too hard on yourself or on them when you find it difficult. Here are some tips you may find helpful:
1. Communicate with your family regularly about your travel schedule. If possible, post your itinerary in a prominent place, such as the refrigerator.
2. If your spouse also travels, exchange itineraries. Create a method for a daily "check-in."
3. Whenever possible, establish a regular "check-in" time with the family so they can expect your call. Encourage every family member to have a file folder and/or checklist for "things to discuss" when you call.
4. If you have small children, send a postcard from the airport when you depart so it will arrive the day after you leave.
5. If you use a computer, and have one at home, send a daily e-mail message to the family, or a more personal message to each member of the family.
6. Let your child know you think education is important by participating. For example:
? If you like to give presentations, offer to speak to your child's class on a topic related to your work or interests that might interest him
? Send a postcard to your child's class at school. The teacher may appreciate the opportunity for a geography lesson.
7. Create a checklist to prepare for travel. Keep photocopies near where you store your suitcase, so you can use one each time you pack.
8. Ask your children to give you a photo you can carry with you ? it will remind you of why you are working so hard! Be sure to leave one for them.
9. Streamline housekeeping, yard maintenance, housekeeping, and shopping. Consider using outside services for some routine tasks, so you'll have more family time when you are home.
10. Have a discussion with your children about your travel.
© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com
 Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:55:15 GMT Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Eliana Raszewski July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina's lower house of congress approved the government's plan to increase taxes on exports of grains and oilseeds, risking a resumption of three months of strikes by farmers. Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT Jesse Helms, former senator, conservative icon, dies - Newsday
Newsday - Jesse Helms, the former five-term US senator from North Carolina whose relish for thwarting initiatives he opposed as too liberal earned him the nickname "Senator No," died Friday at age 86. Video: A Look Back At Jesse Helms NC Senator's Hard-Line Conservatism Helped Craft Republican Social ... Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:58:21 GMT California's priority wildfire in check -- for now - Reuters
Reuters - By Jim Christie SAN FRANCISCO, July 5 (Reuters) - Firefighters in California have fended off a blaze threatening more than 3000 homes in and around the coastal town of Goleta and are turning their attention to preventing its spread toward the nearby ... Video: Wind Keeps California Wildfires Raging California's Wildfires Have Scorched 527000 Acres (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:04:28 GMT France's Sarkozy Questions If ECB Rate Increase `Reasonable' - Bloomberg Bloomberg - By Simon Kennedy July 5 (Bloomberg) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy recommenced his criticism of the European Central Bank today, asking it was ``reasonable'' for it to have raised the region's key interest rate this past week. Fighting Inflation, Europeans Raise Rate Euro flat after post-ECB dip Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:50:48 GMT Obama mixes holiday and politics in Montana - Reuters
Reuters - By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent BUTTE, Montana (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama mixed presidential politics with parades and barbecue on Independence Day on Friday, celebrating his daughter's birthday with a picnic and fireworks in Montana ... Play of the Day: Malia Obama's "best birthday" On the Road: Montana Outtakes Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:13:58 GMT SAfrica's Mbeki meets Zimbabwe's Mugabe - Reuters Reuters - By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE, July 5 (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki met Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday to try to help end a political crisis after a violent election that extended Mugabe's 28-year rule. Germany's Merkel hopes for African leaders' support on Zimbabwe ... South African president arrives in Zimbabwe Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:04:03 GMT A Side Competition in Beijing: Island vs. Mainland - New York Times
New York Times - The Taiwanese Olympic table tennis team practicing at Kaohsiung. Taiwanese players have hopes of winning medals next month in a sport China has dominated. Taiwan media, business people welcome charter flights, mainland ... South Africa: Country Should Take Heed of Taiwan's Errors Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:16:20 GMT Increased Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... (This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More Collections are the outward manifestation of a deeply-felt principle or... Read More Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have... Read More Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More Getting organized is hard. If it weren't, we wouldn't put... Read More What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More From time to time I hear this question from an... Read More "I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More I talk about the mail a lot in my newsletter,... Read More What does "time" have to do with getting organized? Everything!... Read More Sometimes major life lessons come from the most unlikely of... Read More Technology has given us the tools to reduce routine tasking,... Read More Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More When I tell people what a FREEING experience moving is,... Read More Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink ?... Read More "The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More Some people would say I'm the last person in the... Read More In part 1, we discussed a system you could use... Read More Worried because you're moving soon? This really doesn't have to... Read More Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More * Cupboards and drawers should contain items that are grouped... Read More Spring is here and its time to sweep away the... Read More Life is really all about CHANGE. In order to make... Read More Questions come my way all the time regarding my God-given... Read More
Adsense
websites
The Organized Move: Unpacking with a Plan
Are You A Collector?
The Top 10 Habits of Organized People
5 Steps From Clutter To Control
Organizing for Today, Tomorrow and the Next Day
Organization Tips - How to Set Up Your Database
Kids Clutter: Organizing at Every Age
Until We Go Paperless
Breathing Life Into Dead Spaces
Create A Working Mail Center
Organizing - Time is of the Essence!
Life Lessons - Get What You Want; A Lesson from a Green Sea Turtle!
Technology...The Culprit and the Tool
Organization Tips - How to Organise Your Computer Files
Lightening The Load
Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
Tossing and Turning
Letting Go of Clutter In Your Office
Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 2
25 Tips and Tricks for an Organized Move
Spring into Spring
Essential Tips for the Kitchen
Spring Clean Your Life
To Make a Change -- Take a Chance
Organized For Life
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
5 Tips to Banish Clutter From Your Life For Good
Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes... Read More
Organization Tips - How to Set Up Your Database
What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More
Lightening The Load
When I tell people what a FREEING experience moving is,... Read More
Simple Ideas to Conquer Paper Clutter
Are stacks of papers, mail, newspapers, and growing "to do"... Read More
Are You A Collector?
Collections are the outward manifestation of a deeply-felt principle or... Read More
Organization and the Opposite Sex
In many of the companies I have worked in, there... Read More
Dont Get Lost In The Shuffle
I have a good friend whom (also being in the... Read More
Organized Living in a Disorganized World
We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization.... Read More
Compartmentalize
The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I... Read More
Stress Management: 10 Universal Laws to Get and Stay Organized
1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More
Thinking Outside the Box
Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More
Organize Your Children & Save Your Sanity
It may be difficult to relate saving money with organization... Read More
Ten Signs That Your Life Is Cluttered
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards to Organize Your Life
Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards... Read More
Organize Yourself Otherwise Your Work Could Kill You
We are in a society where people are applauded for... Read More
Addiction to Clutter
Clutter is a big problem for many people. At a... Read More
Clutter is Postponed Decisions?
Do you ever sit down at your desk buried in... Read More
Overwhelmed? Try the Red Zone Tactic
Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember... Read More
Declutter for Sucess
Finish each day and be done with it. You have... Read More
Creative Storage Solutions
When the things in your home start crowding in around... Read More
The Organized Move: Unpacking with a Plan
(This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More
How Clutter Affects Your Love Life
Clutter in any area of your home is a sign... Read More
3-Step Clean Sweep Program to Organize
3-Step Clean Sweep Program 1 -... Read More
What Balance Looks Like For You
Recently, in an online group, we talked about "balance" and... Read More
The True Definition of an Organization
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |