Time for Golf
Golf Getaway: Make It Happen
Certified Professional Organizer Cyndy Ratcliffe shares her preparation tips to make your last-minute golf getaway dreams reality.
Looking to make a quick getaway to your favorite golf resort? Does the thought of anything spontaneous
seem impossible or not worth the effort? The idea behind a getaway is
to enjoy yourself and your family—not to give in to the stress and
pressure of making it happen. Setting up pre-planned systems and checklists
is the key to an easy getaway strategy that won’t overwhelm you. Here
is a plan that can make the idea of a last minute trip a reality:
Keep weekend schedules as open as possible. If you can’t get away, maybe you can play a round of golf locally or just take pleasure in a relaxing dinner at a clubhouse in your area.
Prepare a pre-packed “kit” that includes duplicates of regular health and beauty items.
Create standard checklists for groceries, equipment, clothing, etc.
Establish a relationship with pet/house sitter A and with backup B.
Standardize a pet/house sitter checklist that includes duties like watering plants, bringing in mail, taking out garbage/recycling, etc.
Draft a household preparation checklist that includes tasks such as setting the thermostat and water heater, giving a key to the sitter, etc.
Pick up new travel games or movies for kids when you spot them.
A little planning goes a long way toward making your hope of a golf getaway a reality.
Finding Time to Play Golf
Utilize ten minutes each day to plan your schedule and tasks; this will give you back one hour each day.
Create boundaries in your schedule to stay on track.
Take one hour of uninterrupted time each day. Turn off your phone and establish an interruption-free zone. Use this time for those high priority items that need your strict focus. Trying to complete the same task while allowing interruptions will take you three to four times longer!
Use a timer when working on your emails or when you are connected to the internet. This will force you to focus on what is most important in your emails and to not “get lost” in the rest of it.
Before opening your email in the morning, complete important tasks from your schedule.
Opening email creates new tasks and can throw off your schedule.
Emergency messages do not typically come by email. Check email just three designated times per day to control its interruptions.
Arrive one hour earlier than usual. Enjoy the focus time before others have a chance to interrupt.
Mom and Son Share Quality Time Playing Golf
Well, my 13-year-old son finally got me out on the golf course to play 9 holes! It started out pretty good, my drives were straight and I was getting good distance on the ball...even my short game was respectable. Then we hit the 4th hole, and it went downhill from there. Needless to say, my son creamed me. Playing with my child, I had to remember to watch my language (I think I made my lip bleed). In my defense, I hadn't played or even gone to the range in years. If I had, maybe I would have had a fighting chance.
Being out there reminded me of how much I missed golfing, not to mention the opportunity it gave me to spend some time with my son. We agreed that we will be committed to playing more this year and, with that, I hope to eventually be able to share a story of me winning against my 13-year-old. Even if I don't, I will be happy to share our adventures on the course together with all of you. If you haven't lately, I suggest taking your son/daughter out to play!! - Cindy, Wake Forest, N.C.
Certified Professional Organizer Cyndy Ratcliffe shares her preparation tips to make your last-minute golf getaway dreams reality.
Looking to make a quick getaway to your favorite golf resort? Does the thought of anything spontaneous
seem impossible or not worth the effort? The idea behind a getaway is
to enjoy yourself and your family—not to give in to the stress and
pressure of making it happen. Setting up pre-planned systems and checklists
is the key to an easy getaway strategy that won’t overwhelm you. Here
is a plan that can make the idea of a last minute trip a reality:Keep weekend schedules as open as possible. If you can’t get away, maybe you can play a round of golf locally or just take pleasure in a relaxing dinner at a clubhouse in your area.
Prepare a pre-packed “kit” that includes duplicates of regular health and beauty items.
Create standard checklists for groceries, equipment, clothing, etc.
Establish a relationship with pet/house sitter A and with backup B.
Standardize a pet/house sitter checklist that includes duties like watering plants, bringing in mail, taking out garbage/recycling, etc.
Draft a household preparation checklist that includes tasks such as setting the thermostat and water heater, giving a key to the sitter, etc.
Pick up new travel games or movies for kids when you spot them.
A little planning goes a long way toward making your hope of a golf getaway a reality.
Finding Time to Play Golf
Often times just having a few extra hours outside of work allows us to escape to the beach or make time for a golf outing. Certified Professional Organizer© and Time Management Expert Cyndy Ratcliffe shares her tips for using your time at work effectively so you can enjoy more leisure time.
Establish systems for paperwork. Messy desks and files cost us six weeks a year in searching for documents!Utilize ten minutes each day to plan your schedule and tasks; this will give you back one hour each day.
Create boundaries in your schedule to stay on track.
Take one hour of uninterrupted time each day. Turn off your phone and establish an interruption-free zone. Use this time for those high priority items that need your strict focus. Trying to complete the same task while allowing interruptions will take you three to four times longer!
Use a timer when working on your emails or when you are connected to the internet. This will force you to focus on what is most important in your emails and to not “get lost” in the rest of it.
Before opening your email in the morning, complete important tasks from your schedule.
Opening email creates new tasks and can throw off your schedule.
Emergency messages do not typically come by email. Check email just three designated times per day to control its interruptions.
Arrive one hour earlier than usual. Enjoy the focus time before others have a chance to interrupt.
Mom and Son Share Quality Time Playing Golf
Well, my 13-year-old son finally got me out on the golf course to play 9 holes! It started out pretty good, my drives were straight and I was getting good distance on the ball...even my short game was respectable. Then we hit the 4th hole, and it went downhill from there. Needless to say, my son creamed me. Playing with my child, I had to remember to watch my language (I think I made my lip bleed). In my defense, I hadn't played or even gone to the range in years. If I had, maybe I would have had a fighting chance.
Being out there reminded me of how much I missed golfing, not to mention the opportunity it gave me to spend some time with my son. We agreed that we will be committed to playing more this year and, with that, I hope to eventually be able to share a story of me winning against my 13-year-old. Even if I don't, I will be happy to share our adventures on the course together with all of you. If you haven't lately, I suggest taking your son/daughter out to play!! - Cindy, Wake Forest, N.C.