PPC Blog

I used to make to-do lists all the time when I felt overwhelmed or decided, "today I'm going to get organized!" It NEVER really helped! So, why does list-making never seem to result in actually becoming more organized? Why doesn't it get us closer to managing everything we are juggling? Because you don't need a list! You need a ROUTINE! Yes, a to-do list can be part of a routine you've built (I would be lost without my list!) But, the list by itself is simply not enough. Try this instead: First - When do you check in with your...

This is the start of my 13th year as a teacher (wow! That went by quickly!) and I have a few strategies that really help my school year go great.  I hope these help you too, and I'd love to hear what you do to get the year off to an excellent start! Here are my top three tools to make a transition from summer to school a little easier: 1) Take a moment to reflect on last year.  What went well?  What did you resolve to do differently?  What problems cropped up that you’d like to avoid this year?...

I used to think I was just a disorganized person. You know the type—always juggling too many things, forgetting appointments, feeling perpetually behind, and surrounded by half-used notebooks and random to-do lists on scraps of paper. For a long time, I assumed some people were just naturally organized. The kind of people who color-code their calendars, get their inbox down to zero, and somehow never forget to buy birthday gifts on time. But eventually, I realized something big:Organized people aren’t magic. They just have a system—and they actually use it. When Systems Fail Us Once I had this lightbulb moment, I...

You know the feeling. You sit down, open your planner or notebook, and stare at a giant to-do list… and somehow, it makes everything feel worse. The truth? It’s not you. It’s the way the list is written. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frozen, or frustrated by a list that’s supposed to help you stay organized, there’s a good chance your tasks are actually just too big, too vague, or too disconnected from your actual day-to-day energy. Let’s fix that—one small step at a time. Step 1: Break Big Tasks Into Tiny Actions Instead of writing: "Redo website" "Get ready...

Life is busy, messy, and full of interruptions. Whether it’s the kids asking for a snack (again, how often do these little beasties need to eat?), a coworker who loves “popping in” unannounced, or your own wandering thoughts, staying focused can feel impossible. But creating even a few minutes of uninterrupted time each day can make a huge difference for your productivity—and your peace of mind. Here’s how to start: Step 1: Notice Your Interruptions Take a day or two to simply observe what’s pulling your focus. Is it external, like constant notifications or chatty coworkers? Or internal, like an...