Review: The Other 8 Hours

After reading a few other reviews online of Robert Pagliarini's The Other 8 Hours, I actually paid full price for this hardcover, I was so excited to read it. What could possibly be so interesting about a business book to a Stay-At-Home-Mom? Well, technically, it's a time management book, and I'm all about that. So here's what thought of it.

First, I have to say that several of the reviews I read commented specifically on his "course" language. I personally found absolutely nothing offensive. Nothing. I think at one point he used the phrase "get off your ass", but that was it, and I was actually looking for offensive language since I couldn't imagine how it would fit in a business book. So if you also read those reviews, allow me to throw in my two cents - there's nothing offensive here, at least to me.

Now that that little issue is out of the way, let me summarize the book. Basically, Robert suggests a four-step approach to getting more free time, specifically making the most of the "other 8 hours" you aren't sleeping or at work, and then using it to make money and make your life better. Sounds good, right? Sure, but what about those of us on more flexible schedules? I still found his suggestions effective. Robert isn't going to clock you with a stopwatch and make sure you use all 8 hours, nor does he encourage you to do that to yourself! However, if you apply even some of his suggestions, I think you'll notice a more productive day. I have. For example, one of his suggestions is to do brain things and body things at the same time. Since reading The Other 8 Hours, I've rethought if I want to spend my workouts listening to my iPod blindly or using that time to listen to motivational podcasts, digital books, reading real books, etc... Last week I planned an upcoming meeting while on the recumbent bicycle, and yes, I could read my writing!

The section on making more money with your other 8 hours is very detailed with a lot of specific resources and step-by-step guides. It was a bit overwhelming for me as a SAHM who has been out of the business world for a while, but it's clearly valuable information. I started with the blogging section (something I'm obviously comfortable with) and I hope to experiment with some of the other ventures as the courage and creativity hit me. The final section is dedicated to making the most of your personal life during the other 8 hours, and that immediately struck a chord with me. That's what I'm all about, making time to read to my kids, getting fresh air, learning to tat or become a better photographer. I like that he places equal emphasis on the importance of these activities and not just on working 24/7 to get rich.

The only part of the book I found a bit lame was the "LifeLeeches" section, which lists a number of ways we lose our other 8 hours to less than stellar activities. I suppose there are people out there who still need to be told that TV, social websites, whining and water cooler gossip are all wastes of time, but for me, the list was simply common sense. Still, if that one reader suddenly realizes how much more he could accomplish if only he stopped checking daily on Lindsay's latest adventures or gaming until 3 am, then I guess it's worth it.

The book, by and large, is filled with simple, direct motivation, clear suggestions, and useful resources. Perhaps most telling is the fact that after reading this book, I was motivated to create a list of other books I've been meaning to read, hit the library, and start reading them. So one good book has lead to a list of others, all of which (hopefully) will pour a little more good into my head. To learn more about this book and others I've enjoyed, check out my book recommendations on the right.

Organize Now!

That's not me yelling at you; that's the title of the latest organization book I picked up. I'm a total lit junkie, so I read all the time, but I don't often find a book I like well enough to give it the ol' college try. Organize Now! by Jennifer Ford Berry may be one of those books.

The first thing that caught my eye is that the book is spiral-bound, which implies quick reference and interaction to me. Sure enough, there are checklists for each week, along with space for notes. And, although there are 52 weeks of topics, the author invites the reader to use them as she feels best. Good - that means I can skip stuff I don't like! Oh, did I say that out loud? I meant I can skip over areas in which I'm already perfectly organized. The book is a compact 6" x 8" or so, so I can bring it with me if I like, and has hard covers to endure the trip. This author obviously has a real life and thought of some of this stuff! Actually, she's a professional organizer in the NY state and has kids and everything. See? She is real after all. Here's her website, Organize This Life.

This week I'm trying Week 1: Organize Your Mind. Ha! Oh, sorry, was that out loud again? Actually, it was really easy to incorporate the weekly goals into my usual weekly planning (I use a Franklin-Covey paper planner, not a PDA or computer program). I just added the goals to my tasks or appointments or on my Compass Card as needed. Most of the goals for this week are very useful and practical - basic, "square one" stuff that I should be doing all the time. Some people may find it redundant, but I needed the reminders. For example, one of the goals is to get 7 hours of sleep a night. No, I don't, but I am keeping track of it this week and actively working on getting more and better sleep. Two of the more challenging goals are to well, make goals, and to eliminate negative "energy drainers" in my life, including unhealthy relationships and clutter and unfinished projects. I kind of feel like if I could do all that in a week, I would be the one writing the book, but I appreciate the direction she's taking, starting with taking care of the reader herself before worrying about where to file receipts. That's nice.

I don't anticipate doing everything in the whole book, and I won't bore you to tears with tales from my sock drawer, but I will let you know my overall opinion of this book over time. There are SO many resources out there that it's a relief to find a really good one. I'm hoping this is one of them!

Namaste'

Recycling & Getting Green

Sure, recycling is great for the planet, but in some cases it can put cash in your pocket, too. Who doesn't like getting paid to go green?

Gazelle.com pays cash for your used electronics, then recycles it. In fact, if for some reason your old electronics are so old and useless that they can't make you a cash offer, they'll still accept and recycle it for you. You'd be hard pressed to find electronics so outdated they offered you nothing, though. I recycled a 1996 laptop through them last year, and the hardest part was lugging the thing to the UPS store to ship it. I guessed the wrong processor when I gave them the information, so they did lower their offer when they received it. It was my mistake, and I had the option of declining the new offer, in which case they would have shipped it back to me. However, I was perfectly happy to accept "only" $ 103 for my ancient hardware. I just wish I had more stuff to send them!

PaperbackSwap.com is another useful site, especially for an avid reader like me. At PaperbackSwap, you send in used books and earn credit with them. Then you can use that credit to pick up books others have sent in. It's sort of a combination of a public library and Netflix, but for books. In spite of the name, they offer more than just paperbacks. Many people have been able to find books on this site that they couldn't locate anywhere else, and my book club can always find enough copies of our monthly read for everyone. Before one move a few years ago, my family donated 6 cases of brand-new hardbound books to the local library. While I'm all for supporting your local library, just think of how many new books we could have read if we'd used PaperbackSwap instead!

So dust off those old electronics and raid your bookshelves. Recycle your used electronics and books and enjoy the rewards.