Marcia Francois's Blog, page 37
February 4, 2018
The best book I read in January was….
That’s a serious question for you, dear reader.
What was the best book you read last month?
Before I tell you about the best book I read, I want to check in with you.
Could you take away anything from the two posts I wrote on how to increase your reading this year? If you want to, of course. No-one’s forcing anyone to read.
I just feel compelled to ask because so many people always tell me they want to read more and I’d love to know if those posts were helpful.
Back to this month, which was...
February 1, 2018
Two easy ways to expand time
I know that the common refrain is to say there’s not enough time or we’re all so busy, but I don’t believe it.
After all, I wrote a book on how there is enough time (for everything you want to do).
Focus on your energy levelsTime is elastic, you see, and is hugely affected by energy levels.
If you focus on things that give you energy, you’ll get more done. I realise that’s not always possible but if you intersperse must-do tasks with those energy-giving activities, you’l...
January 29, 2018
What energised me in January?
Well, we’re four weeks into the year and it’s time for the first monthly review of 2018.
I know, I can hardly believe it myself.
What I’ve decided to do differently this year is to focus on a different question on my monthly review sheet (do you have yours yet? Sign up here to get your copy) and share that one question with you here.
If I get tired of doing it that way, I will stop now that I know about upholder tightening 
January 24, 2018
Who do you find it easiest to say no to?
One of my favourite experts on goal-setting, Gary Ryan Blair, said this: “success in life requires a short “Yes” list, and a long “No” list”.
I tend to agree with him.
Whenever I coach time management clients or get interviewed on time management tips, one of the first things I tell people is this:
The absolute quickest way to get results with your time is to learn which things to say yes to and which to say no to.
The no list should always be longer.
There are far more demands on our time t...
January 21, 2018
How to read more this year – tips by my husband, Dion :)
When I was putting together last week’s post, I happened to ask Dion what he would say and he rattled off such a lot that I thought it deserved its own blog post.
I hope you enjoy Dion’s 5 tips to read a lot of books every year.
Set a comfortable stretch goal
Dion sets a goal of about 50 books every year and he is very happy with that goal.
Break up your goal into quarters
If you break up your goal into quarters (instead of months like I do), there is more flexibility if you have an awful mo...
January 17, 2018
How I read 120 books last year
At our last book club meeting of the year, I mentioned that I’d probably reach about 120 books and the question came:
How on earth do you manage to read so many books?
It’s not rocket science but I thought I’d put it here just to remind myself too.
I set a goal (of 72) for the year
I’m a big goal setter and I honestly believe that without goals life is a lot less exciting
January 14, 2018
Ask yourself these questions before you set your goals
I realise that many of you have already set goals, some have no intention of setting goals and still others think it’s already too late.
It’s never too late to start, and it’s definitely never too late to review your goals and tweak them to fit you perfectly.
Whenever I sit down and start working on my goals for the year (or period ahead), I follow this exact same process.
Before I even think about what I want to accomplish, I ask myself 5 questions that I’d like you to ask yourself too:
January 10, 2018
Lessons learned while organising my photo albums
Recently I put an item on my to-do list which was to sort out my photo album drawer.
I honestly thought it would take about 30 minutes but it took forever, because photos! memories! Project Life! scrapbooks!
oh my word, what was I thinking? it always gets worse before it gets better
Granny and Kendra loved looking at the photo albums but how did all of that come out of just two drawers?!
This was part of the before. So not bad but I wanted full photo albums in one place and current ones in...
January 7, 2018
Organising Queen’s best books of 2017
I finished off the year with 120 books read, 40 non-fiction (my highest non-fiction numbers ever!) and 80 fiction.
May all things in life be as neat
January 3, 2018
Word of the year recap and new word for 2018
Happy New Year, readers.
My wish for you is to live intentional lives that matter, and to be at peace with the path you choose this year.
My word of the year for last year was give. It was a good word that served me well. Here’s my first quarter recap and here’s my half year recap.
I gave to myself by going to one more class each week at gym, I went on walks and I slept really well. My sleep average went up to 7 hrs 38 min from 7 hrs 32 min in 2016. I gave at work through helping colleagues...
