For many of us, thoughts of the coming new year bring ideas on ways to improve life and what we want to change from what life has been like – or perhaps continue the good we have already experienced. Whichever camp you are in – contemplation of what you want is probably crossing your mind on some level. I know it is for me.

I am not speaking about the kind of change as in, “change of season,’ or ‘change your mind’ or ‘change who you are,’ but just how change can be a good thing and often a challenging thing – especially when decision-making is not your strong suit.

If you want to learn how to manage time – stop for a moment and read this:

Firstly, understand you are not managing time – it manages itself just fine, thank you very much, and you can use or waste it as you wish – that will not affect time one iota. What you CAN manage is what you do in that time.

Students are just starting school again for this year and chances are many do not have the proper academic tools to do well – but there is hope! I have outlined the top 3 tips for student academic success at the college student level – although high school students can make use of these tools too!

I saw this timely quote on a kitchen magnet at a relative's home that I had escaped to during the terrible Thomas Fire currently raging on Southern California.

For those with busy lives, organization and time management strategies can be easy to plan but hard to stick to. No matter how much we say we'll accomplish, it can be easy to get distracted and throw the whole day off as a result.

Children with ADHD grow into adults with the imbalance, while other people do not receive the diagnosis until they are adults. The short attention span and inability to concentrate on multiple activities is frustrating; the inability to stay organized is maddening.

Clients are often struggling with their day well before it has even begun – because they cannot wake up. I am going to help all those ‘sleepy-heads’ out there who grapple with the challenge of waking up in the mornings. What does this have to do with productivity you ask? A LOT!

Can a person ever be too organized? Most of the population would probably be elated to be even just a little organized - to be able to arrive on time for appointments, find the things they are looking for, and get tasks done when needed.

I cannot get a handle on my mail. It seems like it would be easy, but it just piles up and I get overwhelmed and then it gets worse. What do you suggest? -Lauri M.