Travel List - 10 Travel Tips To Help You Make The Most Of Your Trip Whether You Are Traveling On Business Or For Pleasure

We are more connected today than at any other time in history. Many of us have friends or family in other parts of the country or even in other parts of the world. We travel to visit friends and family. We also travel to visit customers, partners, and to conduct business in other parts of the world. With all of this travel we may as well make sure that our trips are the best possible experiences. The following short list of 10 items will keep you organized on you next trip and help you make the most of your travel experience.

1. Print your travel itinerary in the order you will need it – flight, car, hotel, parking, etc.– put this in a dedicated folder that you can quickly access in your carryon and when you jump into a cab or go to rent a car or check in to a hotel.
2. Bring your travel numbers, frequent flyer info, hotel rewards cards, membership cards, etc. If you don’t wish to bring the cards, make a spreadsheet with the numbers and bring that instead.
3. Bring your cell phone AND charger.
4. Bring a prepaid calling card – your cell phone may not work everywhere, especially deep within the hotel you may be staying at. The calling card will also save you some dough.
5. Bring enough cash, 2 credit cards and your drivers license and/or passport. Also, bring coins if you will rent a car and pass through tolls. The exact change will save you time otherwise wasted in lines.
6. Bring your expired license and tuck away in your luggage. In the remote chance you misplace your current license or passport, you’ll still be able to get home.
7. Build a schedule that allows you time to get from home to the parking lot, from the parking lot to the airport, from the airport through security, then time to get a bite or cup of coffee with plenty of time to read a magazine at the gate prior to boarding. Remember, arrive early to read a magazine or arrive late and read a book – it’s your choice. Pad the schedule unless you have a history of perfectly predicting traffic patterns. If you do have this history please leave your phone number in a comment on this post. I’m sure we would all like to speak with you.
8. Bring a PAD and pen. See the related article comparing PDAs and PADs. On your trip when you realize you forgot something (this will happen) write it on the last page of the PAD. The next time you travel consult this list before you leave to improve your next trip. Examples of things you are likely to forget include sunglasses, lip balm, camera, charger, medicine, ear plugs, sandwich or snack for plane, you get the idea.
9. Pack bottles of water, fruit, and other snacks in your luggage for late night snacks in the hotel room or while driving.
10. Print restaurant names and reviews and other things to do that are close to where you will be staying. Do some research ahead of time to note hours and days of operation. If you are traveling on business take a side trip to see something of interest in the city you are visiting. Get a fast map or other local map of the area you are visiting. Make the most of the trip while you are there.

Follow these 10 tips to make the most of your trip whether you are traveling for business, pleasure, or both. Too many people go on a trip then later regret not seeing something or doing something that they wish they had. Avoid the need to take the same vacation twice. Plan ahead and make the most of the places you visit – the first time. Happy and Safe Travels.

Bonus Tip - Bring the addresses of a few close friends or family. Send a post card while you are away. It will tickle your loved ones.

Graffiti Syndrome Seen in a Neighborhood Near You

In an Atlantic Monthly article in 1982, New York City sociologists created the term “Broken Window Syndrome". They realized that a single broken window pane in an industrial area, left untreated, quickly escalated into additional broken windows, graffiti, and increased vandalism. They realized that by fixing the broken window pane quickly, they prevented any such decline.

Much like the Broken Window Syndrome happens outside the home, Graffiti Syndrome occurs inside. Left unchecked you, or family members, may contribute to Graffiti Syndrome sending your home on a disastrous downward spiral to cluttersville.

The signs are obvious when studied by qualified messologists but to the novice may go completely undetected. It usually starts with a pair of shoes left out, then some mail piles up, add to that a laundry basket, workout gear, book, blanket, another pair of shoes, etc. The problem becomes exponentially worse with each contributing member of the family.

Be especially aware of the suitcase left out after a trip. You may recall the scene from Everyone Loves Raymond in which Ray Romano and Debra fought over who was going to put away the suitcase left out after Ray returned from his trip. Ray escalated the motivation for Debra to put it away by placing limburger cheese inside the suitcase. To Ray’s dismay, this did not work. This is a hilarious episode from the 7th season.

Even if a Ray doesn’t live in your house, you may be an offender yourself. Just as Graffiti Syndrome is the downward spiral of messiness, there is an upward track that you can jump aboard as well. When you come back from a trip, unpack right away and put items in their place.

Here is an easy acronym as a way to remember how to conquer Graffiti Syndrome no matter what stage it's in.

S - spread the word to household members that graffiti will not be tolerated.
M - move offending items, as you leave a room take something to put away.
A - act quickly, as though you’re swatting a mosquito buzzing your ear
C - consider using a taser or pepper spray on offenders
K - keep vigilant

This should help you SMACK some sense into you or others and keep Graffiti Syndrome from taking hold in your home. Remember SMACK!

Organized Tribbles Wish Dog Not Super Human Are

If you’re like most people you go through bouts of getting organized but overall you feel less organized than you’d like. This is completely normal and part of being human. Some may argue that extremely organized people, those who seem to get everywhere on time or recall the whereabouts of anything, are Super Human. You know of these people but chances are unless you’re Martha Stewart, or Bree Van De Kamp on Desperate Housewives, you’re not one of them.

Did you know that the average person buys more books each year than they read? They accumulate books with the great intention of digesting all of them. But, many of these books sit on shelves, the original excitement for reading them fading, as fresh books cover them. The cycle continues and one day you purchase a book you already own.

Have you ever bought the same book twice? Have you forgotten to whom you loaned a CD or DVD? Chances are… you have. If you are like most people you are reading this and thinking, “Yeah – that sounds like me, but what can I do? There are not enough hours in the day. The task of getting organized is too daunting.”

Here are a few secrets of the well organized:
Secret #1: Getting organized is a process not an event. It takes 30 days to form a habit so include getting organized into your daily routine. After 30 days, it becomes second nature. You probably have other wellformed habits like a morning cup of coffee, checking your email, or watching your favorite television show. Now, build a daily routine to support Getting Organized.

Secret #2: Find your inspiration. Like most people you may need someone or something to get you started. This could be a professional organizer, a life event, an inspiring television show like TLC’s Clean Sweep, or even a trip to IKEA. Whatever works for you, find your inspiration and use it.

Secret #3: Sometimes you have to slow down in order to speed up. No matter how much money each of us may have we all have the same amount of time every day. We all suffer from time poverty but investing time into getting organized can pay big dividends. Spend the time organizing your garage, pantry, or bookshelves and you’ll better be able to find what you want when you need it.

Most likely, these ideas do not sound strange to you. Some people embrace them wholeheartedly, while others agree with them but still don’t take action. You have the power to move from thought to action. The benefits of being organized are obvious. Beyond not buying the same book or movie twice, you can reduce your stress and reinvest time you would otherwise spend looking for things.

What will you do with the time you save? How about spending time with family and friends, writing a letter, reading a book, walking with a friend, listening to music, or sipping a warm drink. Now that is a prescription to be a Super Human.

Here is one inspiration that can help you in the process of Getting Organized. Check out the Flic Scanner Media Organizer for yourself or a disorganized loved one. Use it to organize your Music, Movies, and Books. This is the gateway to greater organization and to becoming Super Human. Learn more at Flic Scanner Media Organizer.

You can also read about it here:
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Comparison between Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and Paper Analog Device (PAD)

As promised in my list comment, I said I would post a comparison between two high tech gadgets, namely, the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and a Paper Analog Device (PAD).

Let the attribute comparison begin...

Boot time
PDA - Much less than a laptop but certainly not instantaneous.
PAD - About 2 blinks of the eye. Maybe a 3rd blink to access a specific page.

Battery Life
PDA - Varies but can be recharged daily with docking station.
PAD - Indefinite life; requires minimal human power to flip pages.

Stylus Replacement
PDA - Replacement cost is about $10 for a 3-pack at most office superstores, that is, provided they carry your style.
PAD - Compatible with all Pens, Pencils, Crayons or other writing devices. PAD accommodates any color writing device. Writing devices widely available from stores, junk drawers, craft boxes, children, etc. May use lipliner in a pinch.

Cost to Replace Device
PDA - $199 and up.
PDA - About $1

Likelihood of Return
PDA - If you lose your PDA, chances are you won’t see it again.
PAD - No transferable value to others if lost – if lose your PAD it will probably be returned especially if you write your phone number in the inside front cover.

Size
PDA - Handheld but still a bit big for your shirt pocket.
PAD - Fits in hand and can easily be concealed in your shirt pocket.

Ability to Double as a Phone
PDA - Yes, increasingly these devices are phone capable.
PAD - Not very useful as a phone but you can definitely throw it at somebody to get their attention.

Ability to Annoy Others
PDA - Very likely especially with audio or phone ringer turned up in meeting, restaurants, or other public places.
PAD - Doesn’t ring or have audio output but pages may make a crinkling sounds when flipped rapidly which could irritate dogs or those with senstive hearing.

Ability to Survive an Electromagnetic Pulse
PDA - Very unlikely since an EMP will wipe out all elecronic devices.
PAD - Will easily survive an EMP since it contains no electronic components.

Ability to Play Music
PDA - Many PDAs now can play music files, some even have FM tuners.
PAD - Unable to play music files but useful for writing down song lyrics or music that your interested in purchasing. You can also make a modified thumb kazoo or you can run the pages rapidly across your thumb. The latter has the advantage that you can create an animation to accompany the sound - think of this as a poor man's music video. It is worth rementioning that this music video would survive an EMP.

I currently carry a

Palm Treo 650 as my PDA phone and a Square Deal Marble Memo Book as my PAD.

Here are a couple of tips if you use a Paper Analog Device (PAD).
PAD tip #1: Shrink a 1 page calendar and paste it to the 1st page of your PAD.
PAD tip #2: Date each page and keep your daily todo list there. Update it throughout the day.
PAD tip #3: If you get a great idea or inspiration write it down immediately in your PAD.

Here Is A Nifty Garage Gadget To Get Your Stuff Up Off The Floor

A few years ago my wife and I visited the Seattle Home Show and were introduced to the concept of shelving that could be placed above the garage door. What – gain more space that is currently unutilized! This sounded like a good idea. However, we were not to thrilled with the high price tag that came along with these storage systems. We were looking for something a bit more Simple and Affordable. We turned to the web and did a bit of research, finally settling on the HyLoft Overhead Storage System. Regrettably we were unaware that Amazon sold these and purchased elsewhere at a higher price. This product has helped our family to get organized and live a better life.

We now store coolers, lawn chairs, bins full of BBQ and out of season holiday stuff, and sporting goods above our garage in what was previously empty space.

These did take a bit of time to install but they didn’t require any special tools or knowledge. They blend right in and free up loads of floor space.

I recommend the HyLoft OverHead Storage System to take back your garage!

Use it to store whatever you like and free up your cluttered garage. Heck – you may even be able to park your car inside again.

The $5 Rule – At Rates This High, Can You Afford to be a MessMonster?

We’re all guilty of leaving papers lying around. You’re pressed for time, you don’t quite have the perfect place to stow them, so you place them in a pile, to be dealt with later.

Hopefully, you do deal with them later but, if you are like many people you move these papers several times over the course of time.

Here is a self reinforcing method to clear your clutter, prevent paper buildup, and stop the paper parade. It is called the $5 Rule and here is how it works.

Each time you move a piece of paper to a new location affix a $5 bill to it.

Here’s an example:
Let’s say you receive a piece of mail that you intend to “read” later so you set it on the counter. Later that evening, you move the paper to the living room to make room on the counter for meal preparation. The paper sits unread in the living room for the next several days then is whisked away to a drawer because visitors are arriving.

Your visitors arrive and subsequently leave.

The paper, meanwhile, is now a resident of the drawer, stowed away with other drawerly items such as random keys, paperclips, pens, and tape. Weeks later you dive into the drawer to retrieve a paperclip and rediscover the paper that you had intended to read from weeks before. You place the paper back in the living room with the refreshed intention of reading it. Either of two scenarios play out at this point.

Scenario 1 - you actually read it then recycle it, shred it or otherwise properly dispose of it.
Scenario 2 - you continue the paper parade, adding clutter and stress to your environment.

Let’s see how much Scenario 1 would have cost you if you affixed $5 to the paper each time you moved it.
Paper placed on counter (the first one is free)
Paper moved from counter to living room +$5
Paper moved from living room to drawer +$5
Paper from drawer back to living room +$5

If you read the paper at this point your messiness has needlessly cost you $15.

Scenario 2 – if you continued the paper parade, you may be into your paper $100’s of dollars.

This is crazy - at these rates you can’t afford to be a MessMonster. Whether your parade involves papers, shoes, clothing, or anything else competing for space in your environment, you can get this under control with this simple $5 rule.

If attaching a Lincoln to your paper is a bit of a stretch, then affix a mini Post-it note and mark $5 on it each time you move the item. You will reach the same conclusion either way.

You cannot afford to be a MessMonster!

You may also want to read a related post on this blog - Sift Your Mail

Use TiVo to Get Organized and Save Time

It is hard to remember life before TiVo just as it is hard to remember life before Google, Cell Phones, and Television. Add Toilet Paper to the list if you go back far enough.

I use TiVo to keep organized and live a better life.

I have my usual shows that I watch, of course fast forwarding through the commericals - well, most of the commercials. I have to admit some commercials are definately worth watching and I find myself going back to watch them. You know the commericals, the Capital One neanderthals and the numerous commericals now involving Monkeys or the Creepy "Burger" King.

In addition to my usual shows (yes I have a few that I watch), I also use the WishList feature to Search on (Actor, Category, or Keyword). This is slick and saves me time. In fact, unlike other clutter around the home or things that pile up in the junk drawer, TiVo automatically deletes unwatched programs after they stack up for too long. This makes room for new programs to be recorded. By the way this is a useful rule for items coming into the house - what will you get rid of to make space for the new item. It is probably work mentioning that you can keep shows from being deleted by using the "Keep Until I Delete" feature if you really must delay watching a program.

If you don't have a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) you should check them out (TiVo or a competitor). They are definately time savers and allow you to watch your television programs in blocks of time that are convenient to you.

Oh yeah - did I mention the 8 second rewind feature. Who among us has not been interrupted by a friend, child, phone call, or doorbell while watching TV. Pause and 8 second rewind allows to to go back or pause live television so that you can temporarily divert your attention. The 8 second rewind feature is also cool if you didn't quite hear what an actor or actress just said. I swear this must have been the inspiration for the movie Click where Adam Sandler has a remote control device for life. TiVo for life would be really cool. Heck, I'd take the 8 second rewind feature alone or maybe the pause feature.

There are other cool features but I'll let TiVo tell you about those.