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Make Spring Cleaning Fun and Easy

It’s that time of the year again when the cold weather fades and the snow melts away to make way for warmer days ahead. Everything springs back to life once again, and it’s a wonderful time to head outdoors! But before you make plans for a nice spring getaway with your friends and family, don’t forget to do your annual household spring cleaning first. Most of us associate spring cleaning with a heavy workload, but if done with proper planning and organization it won’t be that daunting a task. Here are a few useful tips on how to plan a fool-proof spring cleaning project.

Equip yourself

Make sure that you have gathered the necessary tools you need to make cleaning easy and successful. Here are some staples that might like to keep on hand:

Rubber gloves
Scrubbing sponges
Used or old toothbrush
Microfiber cloths
Pails/buckets
Rags (can be used towels and even old shirts)
Mop and vacuum cleaner
Broom and dustpan
Window cleaner
Garbage bags
Plastic bags to store tools afterwards
All-purpose cleaner
Baking soda

Make it fun!

It may sound impossible, but applying these ideas will make your cleaning chores a lot less tiring:

Own attractive cleaning tools. A colleague shares that she makes use of a pink vacuum cleaner when cleaning her home, and it simply makes her happy using it. Cute printed plastic totes and charming rubber gloves will make cleaning a bit more fun.
Each night, gather with the family to discuss which rooms need the most work. Do a “divide and conquer” activity. Appoint a specific household member to do a certain task. For instance, one member is assigned to pick up papers and other stuff cluttered around while Dad takes care of the floor with the vacuum. This task delegation somewhat decreases the overwhelming feeling of cleaning the whole house and its surroundings during spring cleaning. Knowing that you have your family and even your friends to give you a hand makes a big difference.
When you’re done with your own spring cleaning, why not help your friend, your neighbor, or your colleague? Share your cleaning techniques with them. It is so rewarding to know that you helped someone else with their own spring cleaning chores.

Make a checklist

To make sure that everything is covered in your spring cleaning, create a checklist or a list of tasks that you need to do. This checklist also serves as your guide to determine your progress on a daily basis. Make sure that you include often-neglected areas such as the attic, storage rooms, garage, and the back yard. You might want to start with your own closet, since you’ll be opening it first thing in the morning to get dressed for the day.

Research practical cleaning tips online

Nowadays, there are plenty of online resources that give you practical tips on how to effectively clean your kitchen sink, your carpets, bathroom tiles, etc. You name it, the Internet has instructions how to clean it. Be sure to choose only reputable websites and get only what you need to avoid being overwhelmed by information overload.

Pace yourself

Do not overtire yourself with all of the chores in your list. You can apply the Pomodoro Technique even for handling spring cleaning tasks. Take a well deserved break each time you finished cleaning a portion or room in the house. It can be in the form of sipping a glass of juice or reading a chapter in a favorite book. Having a time out enables your body and mind to refresh and relax a bit, and simply divert your attention away from the dirt and trash even for a few minutes.

With these simple tips, you’ll be doing your spring cleaning more efficiently and effortlessly. Don’t forget to have fun and celebrate your achievement when you’re done!

Project Management 101: Organize a School Party

Working as a volunteer in projects like classroom programs and activities can be a good training ground for future project managers. Not convinced? Scroll down and read about 5 school scenarios where volunteer hours can turn into project management learning labs.

Build your reputation to encourage future opportunities. Let’s face it: being a room parent does not give you any real authority. Instead, you build a good reputation of bringing together an awesome party for students and being a fun parent to work with. Stories of your classroom successes will circulate, paving the way for other upcoming events. This goes the same for project managers; those who lead by good example and possess great interpersonal skills usually get the most fruitful projects in the future.

Employ good team members. If people see you as an easy and fun person to work with, it will be easier for you to attract talented and trustworthy individuals for your project. This for sure is a fact not just as a room parent but also as a Project Manager.

Consider others’ opinions. Working on a school activity, some parents may tend to scoff at others’ organizational style. It’s normal to think that your ways are better than those of others. But the truth is there is more than one way to coordinate a party and definitely more than a single way to drive a company project. Be open-minded and learn from other project managers.

Reinvent sparingly. For a holiday party, take a successful and fun game from the previous year, then tweak it slightly so you can use it at your current event. You will have more time to focus on other elements for the party rather than starting from scratch. Today’s corporate world puts a huge emphasis on innovation, so it’s really tempting to reinvent everything, every time. But it’s not productive to waste time repeating previous efforts.

A satisfied customer is what really matters. If the kids have fun at a school party, then you know you did your job well. Evaluating success gets more complex when it comes to project management, but the main idea remains the same – did the finished product satisfy your customer? Project managers who concentrate on the needs of their stakeholders are more likely to keep a secure perspective of what needs to be accomplished and can set aside extraneous things.

If you are invited to organize a school party, then go ahead and challenge yourself. Not only will the party goers enjoy what you prepare, but you will be building professional skills as well.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It’s that time of the year once again when a lot of men and women find it hard to make this day extra special for their partners. Some think of building an experience and trying new things together. A lot of money is spent on dinner dates, jewelry, flowers, and chocolates. Below are some of the inexpensive ways to help you impress your Valentine date.

A lot of men resist dancing, while many women love the idea of it. It would be great to see couples taking private dance classes together. When the special evening arrives, prepare a light romantic dinner and play music that you can dance to together.
Don’t hesitate to try your partner’s hobbies and pastimes. If he enjoys golf, then take the initiative and invite him to putt-putt golf or a quick 9-hole game at a Par-3 course.
If your valentine loves cooking, then invite her to be your audience and try out your culinary creations. Try to focus on making her favorite food or dessert. You may also try taking cooking lessons together. It’ll be fun seeing her giggle at your attempts, and if she offers to help you clean up then it’s a sign that you have succeeded.
If your partner is outdoorsy, consider planning a short hike or walk to the park, picnic basket in hand.
If your partner is a great reader, she’ll love it if you will do a book discussion about her favorite author. Consider reading some of her favorite books or novels and discussing them together.
Ask him to be your practice partner at your favorite game or sports (e.g tennis, badminton, volleyball etc.)

Stepping out of your comfort zone will mean a lot for your loved one this Valentines Day. This day does not need to be expensive; it’s thought that counts.

Securing Your Files

There is nothing more frustrating than losing your precious files. Whether you accidentally deleted them or you just did not take good care of your storage devices, the hassle and stress it will bring you will certainly be horrendous. But the good news is that this tragedy is avoidable. Here’s a list of tips that may help you in securing your important data and files.

Avoid data corruption. When removing a flash drive or memory card on your device, make sure that you remove it properly. Not doing so might damage the external drive and files saved in it, making your computer unusable.

Back up your files.Implement a regular back up to avoid data loss. You can never be sure when your computer or other gadget is going to crash. So make a regular back up of your files. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Don’t store your memory cards just anywhere.Don’t just place your storage cards in your bag, pocket or countertop. Though these little things are tough, it is best to store them properly in the plastic storage provided when you bought them. Flash drives can easily be broken or bent when not in a proper place.

Always make a second copy. Just to be safe, make a duplicate copy of important files. Making at least two copies of these files can come in handy in an emergency. You can place the first copy where it is always accessible to you, and the other in a secure place.

Always transfer your photos. In every session, especially during a photo shoot, make sure to transfer your photos to the hard drive of a computer. Some of the experts also recommend not deleting the actual photos on the memory card until they are transferred onto a computer hard drive.

Take advantage of cloud storage. I personally recommend using a cloud storage service like My Cabinet Everywhere. For just a small price, you can always be sure that your data is safe, secure, and accessible to you anytime and anywhere you want it.

The New Year is a time for new beginnings, a time to shed our old habits and a time to make New Year’s resolutions. All of us have good intentions and very high hopes that we will reach all the goals on our lists. It’s very easy to start a year full of resolutions, but let’s be honest: it is not easy to maintain our new habits. By the second or third month some of us may already be giving up on our resolutions and forgetting everything that we have written down. In order to stay on the right track, here are some tips that may help you succeed in your resolutions:

List it. Take time to make a list of everything you want to accomplish by the end of the year. Be true to yourself and spend time considering what you really want to achieve. Then save your list to your My Cabinet account to keep it accessible all the time.

Be Realistic. Make sure that the goals you have listed are realistic and attainable. Do not set goals that can’t be quantified and measured. List everything that you want to do, then remove the goals that you think will not be done by the end of the year. Remember quality over quantity.

Look Back. Don’t just make a list then forget about it. Re-read it as often as possible, maybe every month or two to keep you updated on what you already accomplished and what needs to be done next. It takes some effort to keep goals at the forefront, but focus on your goals and it will surely be worth it at the end of the year.

Create Visuals. Pin pictures of the places you want to go. Save motivational fitness pictures on your MyCabinet account. Take a screenshot of the courses you want to take. These will all help you keep motivated for the whole year. You will be inspired to see what is possible if you keep with your resolutions.

Take control of your life by setting and following through on New Year’s resolutions. You will feel renewed energy and purpose throughout the year and great satisfaction at the end of the year.

Making your Holiday a Memorable Experience

Special moments with family and friends should be cherished and treasured, because we all know that life makes many demands on our time. Holidays are rare opportunities to have fun and share moments with loved ones. And because times like these are few, we want the holidays to be unforgettable and meaningful. Here are some things you can do to make the most of your holidays.

Reminisce. Look for old photos on your MyCabinet app. Dig through your albums to find that cute baby picture or reminisce about times past. Don’t get embarrassed if your friends laugh at your pictures or your outdated hairstyles. Photos bring back memories, which not only make your friends or relatives happy but it creates a positive atmosphere.

Express. Holidays are a good time to express your inner feelings. Share your hard times and your innermost feelings with a friend or a relative that you trust. While you’re feeling the relief that expressing your feelings brings, you’re also drawing closer to others.

Do Projects. Do something together with family and friends, like volunteering at a food bank or planting flowers. These activities can fill your calendar but can be meaningful and bring joy to everyone. You can also look at your saved bookmarks in MyCabinet and unleash your artistic side by doing some arts and crafts you’ve seen on the web.

Fear Factor. Plan a fear factor challenge for the whole gang. Ready yourselves for the most unexpected things that could happen. If one of you has a fear of heights, try skydiving. If you have a fear of creepy or weird creatures, this could be the best time to face it.

Make your holidays with family and friends more meaningful and creative. Don’t just sit around; spend time, take photos, save them on MyCabinet album and make memories that you and your loved ones can cherish for a lifetime.

Time Stealers

“Time lost is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin

We all know how important time is. However, have you ever tried to evaluate how much time you have wasted? This post identifies some of the most notorious time stealers. Being aware of them is the first step toward fighting them.

Unplanned meetings. A productive meeting is very useful. Make sure to set a time limit for meetings, then stick to it. Visibly establish the objectives that will be covered in a meeting. Preparing these beforehand will make meetings more productive and worth your time.

Social networks. Most people today interact through social networking sites, communicate through chat and use email to exchange information. Do not let these applications interrupt you during working hours. Make use of your free time to check out your social network accounts and their contents.

Miscommunication. Poor communication can waste time. It pays to give attention to your interpersonal skills, to avoid repetition and confusion. Dedicate some time to think how you say things and if you are conveying details in the clearest way possible.

Visits and phone calls. Ask visitors to set up appointments and try not to entertain anyone who did not call in for an appointment. If there is no one to screen incoming calls for you, make use of an answering machine for you to get some peace. You will be much more effective when you can concentrate.

Vague Goals. Probably the worst time stealer is not setting up a coherent description of your goals. Defining goals vaguely can lead team members off track so that they work on things that they should not be doing. This scenario often ends with a manager stepping in and redoing work, which is inevitably time consuming.

Learn to respond with a firm “no!” to time stealers. Can you identify other time stealers aside from those mentioned above? Can you think of other ways to avoid them?

Three Useful Life Hacks You Can Do With MyCabinet

Every one of us needs some degree of organization in our lives. Whether you’re a student, a businessperson, a stay-at-home parent, a teacher, or just someone who wants some organized space, you’re bound to unclutter your stuff at some point as the mess gets out of hand. Most often, we organize the physical objects around us, but what about our precious digital files? MyCabinet makes our daily lives a breeze by taking care of digital photos, files, and videos. With this nifty app, you’re just a few taps away from the organized digital world we all dream of.

Don’t get fooled by the app’s straightforward and minimalist interface. You’re in for a surprise once you discover the powerful features that are found under the hood. Today, we’re listing three useful life hacks made possible with MyCabinet:

Need to back up your precious pics from your iPhone to your workstation? With MyCabinet, you can easily sync any photo or video taken from your iPhone to your PC or Mac. Add your pics into a MyCabinet folder or drawer then tap the sync button, and MyCabinet does the rest. The next time you log in to your MyCabinet web app on your computer’s browser, you’ll be able to retrieve your pictures and save them into your local hard drive for safekeeping. Amazing, right?
Got hooked on a bunch of quotable quotes while in a reflective mood? Well, you can keep track of interesting stories, inspirational quotes, brilliant ideas, and cleverly funny memes from the web that captured your senses easily with MyCabinet. Rather than using your brain power to remember it, you can just save that web page from your device and it will automatically be added to your bookmarks. You can label it too with whatever title you want. You can even add notes about the web page you just saved.
It’s tough to balance your time between professional life, family life, and social life, let alone remembering all the appointments and dates you need to attend to. So if you’re a perennial latecomer, let MyCabinet be your personal assistant and never be late again. You can add tasks to any drawer, set up reminders, and add to your Google Calendar for added convenience. These tasks can also be filtered by priority and due dates. MyCabinet also shows which of your tasks have been completed so you can easily identify which tasks you still need to do. Now that’s a blissful life!

Have your own MyCabinet life hack story? Share it with us in the comments below!

User Questions: What is the Difference Between MyCabinet and MyCabinet Everywhere?

Here at AppTime, we’ve created a product that you can download and use for free. This product is a useful organizational tool, and there is value in a free account.

So, what exactly do you get with a free account?

A full digital cabinet structure, created by you to suit your needs.
The ability to personalize your account with thumbnails.
The ability to create new files within the app, including photos, notes, tasks, and videos.
Access to the Web App so you can add up to 25MB of files to your account from your computer via the web.
The ability to add files from your device’s email application.
A task manager complete with notes, reminders, and the opportunity to collaborate tasks with friends and coworkers.
Access to all of your MyCabinet files, regardless of your internet connection. All files are stored locally on your device.

For $19.99/year, you can also upgrade your account to the full MyCabinet Everywhere syncing service. MyCabinet Everywhere will give you a complete syncing, sharing, and storage experience.

If you choose to upgrade to a MyCabinet Everywhere account, you’ll also get

Syncing service to connect multiple devices, including your computer, to your account.
Full access to the Web App, so you can access your account from any computer, add files easily, download and edit files, create new drawers and folders, and edit your thumbnails, just as you would with the device app.
Your files backed up in the cloud, and restoration services if anything gets lost.
The ability to add documents, folders, and tasks by emailing them to your MyCabinet account.
Access to other cloud storage services like Google Docs and Dropbox, so you can integrate files from all platforms in one easily organized location.
The option to upgrade your account when you need more space.

Decide what works for you—the free app is a great product with useful productivity tools to keep you organized and to ensure your files are accessible. A MyCabinet Everywhere subscription provides the features you need to stay organized across multiple platforms.

Full-Featured MyCabinet Web App Now Available

We’ve just released MyCabinet Web, a full-featured web app you can access from any computer. The web app is a feature included in your MyCabinet Everywhere subscription.

MyCabinet Web is the easiest way to get files into your account—just drag and drop files into your drawers and folders and sync your account to have access to your files on any device: smartphone, tablet, or computer. Edit your notes, add comments, change due dates and reminders on tasks, and more!

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