Visions of a Simple, Calm, Beautiful and Creative Life
Ranked #21,352 in Education, #437,831 overall
The purpose of this lens is to inspire you to relax and help create a world of beauty, wonder and simplicity for all to enjoy through creativity and vision.
Calm Working Spaces
Book excerpt on Homeportfolio.com
Discover innovative ideas for creating a haven of peace and productivity."Whether you are part of the home-working revolution and work at home full-time or simply need a well-structured place to do paperwork, Calm Working Spaces will help you to create a haven of peace and productivity..." See more images and check out the rest of the homeportfolio website
8-point Energy Solution
By Daryn Eller, Prevention
"From the cutting edge of science, a daily master plan guaranteed to keep you going and going and going." Read the article on MSN Health and Fitness.
Organizing Resources to the Rescue
Check out some of these sites or blogs for ideas on how to get - and stay - organized.
- The Clutter Diet Blog
- Get organized! Lose clutter, gain time, and reduce stress with help from a Professional Organizer. Get Your House in Shape!
- National Association of Professional Organizers
- National Association of Professional Organizers
- Help for the Disorganized
- Here are some of her tips for getting organized:
- Organization | zen habits
- This is one of the oldest organizing truisms around, but it is probably the most important of all: a place for everything, and everything in its place.
- Get Organized | Organizing : RealSimple.com
- How to keep everything, from your files to your wallet, under control
Loads of Articles from GAIAM Community
Launched in 2006, Gaiam Community (Community.Gaiam.com) is Gaiam's first attempt at using the Internet as a gathering place to communicate our values and to provide people with a gathering place to share thoughts, ideas and feelings about the world we live in and our relationship with it. We hope that our microcosm of the world community is a nurturing, supportive, positive destination for people seeking health, wellness and sutainable living. Article list. Cultivating Calm
By Hagar Scher
Great article on the writer's personal experience in dealing with the stress of everyday life...and what to do about it. Originally published in Good Housekeeping. Below is a link to the articel in full on MSN."You don't have to go to a spa. Here's how to achieve peace of mind (plus health and happiness) from the inside out." Read the article.
Links Plexo: Simple Furniture Companies
You vote! Choose the Simple Furniture Company that works for YOU.
Plain and Simple -- Amish Furniture and Quilts (Evanston, IL)
Plain and Simple (Evanston, IL) offers top quality more...1 point
Wood Desktop Organizers
Wood Desktop Organizers - Information, News, Produ more...1 point
Shelving Store
Want to know a few more places that sell chrome wi more...1 point
Real Simple Furniture
Find wood furniture and unfinished furniture for y more...0 points
KNOTHEAD - Simple Furniture Built To Last
Knothead Furniture is the result of an ongoing col more...0 points
Pottery Barn | Furniture
Pottery Barn began in 1949 as a single store in Lo more...0 points
windham patio furniture
Unwind this year with a beautiful Cast Aluminum Di more...0 points
Log Furniture Hand Made- Montana Log Furniture-Log Bedroom Furniture
Log furniture made in montana by montana log furni more...0 points
wood shelves
wood shelves0 points
Pattaya Villas
Located just meters away from the sandy beaches of more...0 points
Medical Outsourcing
Medical outsourcing provides received recognition more...0 points
Plain and Simple - Amish Art and Furniture
Plain and Simple offers American folk art from selected contemporary artists. Their work reflects the simplicity and elegance we prize in our furniture and quilts. Here you can enjoy photos of the striking paintings of Chris Smith Evans, the noted graphic artist who tells her story in the attached commentary. See more here... 37signals Resources
Simple software that works! Versions ranging from FREE to scalable business solutions. Easy-to-use interfaces save on time and training.
- 37signals site
- "We aim for the software sweet spot: Elegant, thoughtful products that do just what you need and nothing you don't."
- Signal vs. Noise weblog
- This is Signal vs. Noise, a weblog by 37signals about entrepreneurship, design, experience, simplicity, constraints, pop culture, our products, products we like, and more. Established 1999 in Chicago.
- Basecamp
- Web-based project collaboration
- Campfire
- Web-based group chat for business
- Backpack
- Web-based information organizer
- Writeboard
- Web-based collaborative writing
- Ta-da List
- Web-based dead-simple to-do lists
- Ruby on Rails
- Open-source web application framework
Great Stuff on Amazon
Success
Make It Simple: Be the Person You Want Your Kids To Be
Here's a thought: What if you put more effort into making yourself into the person you are trying to make your kids become (or would want your kids to become). Kids model behavior. You will have significantly better results by modeling the behavior than you ever will with the typical "do as I say...not as I do" parenting style. When you are contemplating an action or making a choice consider what you would want your kids to do. You don't accept your kids excuses for making poor choices, so why should you accept your own. Tell yourself that your negative thoughts or behavior patterns are unacceptable and model the behavior you try to get out of your kids. It seems simple when explaining it to your kids...right? Cutting-edge Technology and Old-world Craftsmanship
Milwaukee Art Museum: The first Calatrava-designed building to be completed in the United States, the Quadracci Pavilion incorporates both cutting-edge technology and old-world craftsmanship."The heroic design by Santiago Calatrava gives the Milwaukee Art Museum an artistic identity that reflects the greatness of our collections inside and creates a world-class landmark for Milwaukee that will further the vibrant cultural history of this city," said Gordon. See photos.
Signature elements of the Calatrava design include the Reiman Bridge, a 250-foot-long suspended pedestrian bridge that links downtown Milwaukee directly to the lakefront and the Museum. The bridge features a distinctive 200-foot angled mast with cables and reflects Calatrava's unique experience in bridge design throughout Europe. Take a virtual tour.
The Ten Laws of Simplicity
John Maeda in his blog on The Laws of Simplicity defines Ten laws based on his research:Law 1: REDUCE - The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.
Read the rest of the The Ten Laws.
Books on Simplifying Life
Ranbom Flickr Photos - "Calm"
Updated weekly
The Joy of a Clutter Free Desk
Don't you just want to sit down and start working at this desk? More thoughts and ideas on this topic to come. See more here... Blog Posts from Google
- Simplicity of yore Manny Ramirez's best hope
- It was a scene of pure simplicity, a baseball classroom unveiled. If the A's experiment with Ramirez...
- Job Simplicity Home Building Software Helps Olson Construction Take Control of ...
- General contractor cites ease of use, integration with Sage Simply Accounting, and ability to get up...
- This week in tablets: For devices, publishing and even parenting, simplicity ...
- Simplicity, both in purpose and design. Two weeks ago, news broke that traditional magazine publishers?Hearst...
- Inspiration from the spire | A salute to simplicity
- Religious people (from all faiths) revere and follow Francis's teachings of prayer, simplicity, poverty,...
3 Steps to a Permanently Clear Desk
From zenhabits
Once upon a time, my desk was cluttered with all the things I was currently working on - not to mention dozens of things I wasn't working on: notes, post-its, phone numbers, papers to be filed, stacks of stuff to work on later. I was too busy to organize it, and if I ever did get it cleared, it would pile up soon after. Read more...
Once upon a time, my desk was cluttered with all the things I was currently working on - not to mention dozens of things I wasn't working on: notes, post-its, phone numbers, papers to be filed, stacks of stuff to work on later. I was too busy to organize it, and if I ever did get it cleared, it would pile up soon after. Read more...
In Praise of Slow
by Carl Honore
Are you always in a hurry?Does life feel like a never-ending race against the clock?
These days, many of us live in fast forward - and pay a heavy price for it. Our work, health and relationships suffer. Over-stimulated, over-scheduled and overwrought, we struggle to relax, to enjoy things properly, to spend time with family and friends. The Slow movement offers a lifeline. It is not a Luddite plot to abolish all things modern. You don't have to shun technology, live in the wilderness or do everything at a snail's pace. Being "Slow" means living better in the hectic modern world by striking a balance between fast and slow. "In Praise of Slowness" is the first handbook for the emerging Slow movement.
Quotes on Simplicity
"Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means." - Koichi Kawana, architect of botanical gardens"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
"You can always recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity." - Richard Feynman (1918-1988)
"Our lives are frittered away by detail; simplify, simplify." - Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
"If you can't describe it simply, you can't use it simply." - Anon
"Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought." - William Hazlitt
Some Random Thoughts to Improve the Workplace
DO MORE OF THIS:- Cooperation, collaboration, teamwork.
- Helping people do their best by providing tools, processes, suggestions and feedback.
- Positive attitude. Follow the principles defined in books like "The Success Principles" and the "The Secret". Unlearn your bad habits.
- Set proper and realistic expectations and achieve those expectations (or exceed them without disrupting the balance in other areas of your life). Studies show that people are more impressed by someone that exceeds realistic expectations than by someone that sets seemingly unrealistic or aggressive expectations and either causes balance in other areas to be compromised in order to achieve the goals, or falls short (even if they actually exceeded the more realistic person's achievements).
- Energy. An open and collaborative team setting. The best work gets done in this environment. Trust is built, people are energized and engaged; not defensive and closed-down.
- Facts. The facts are the facts regardless of whether or not they work in your favor. When facts are mis-represented and the truth is not sought out regardless of how it may make you look - trust is at risk. Do the ends really justify the means?
- Clear and open communication.
- Focusing on one thing at a time. Getting the most important tasks done and then moving on to the next. Prioritization...not reaction.
DO LESS OF THIS:
- Chaos and multi-tasking. You can't stay focused nor can you do your best when trying to juggle too many things. Studies show that even though it may seem like you are getting more done by multi-tasking, you actually are not.
- Running "90-miles an hour." Not taking time to process changes in direction. Not explaining and re-strategizing when goals shift. Not having adequate time to prepare for meetings. Making hasty decisions and then having to deal with the consequences of them. Like the best sports teams, if you control the pace, you control the game.
- Unclear expectations. Working based on reactions instead of defined goals and strategies.
- The stress and conflict that result from poor communication or poor expectation setting. Distractions. Personality conflicts. Unhealthy conflict, intimidation, fear.
- Overtime. Something always has to give when an area goes out of balance. Sometimes overtime is required...that's life; but this should be minimized.
Stress Relief Methods
From Lifehack.org
If the stress in your life is out of control, here are some simple stress relief methods you can implement into your life to improve your day.
Reader Feedback
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flaminglacer
May 5, 2007 @ 1:56 am | delete
- Squid Angel Star
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rksmythe
May 4, 2007 @ 10:24 pm | delete
- You've been blessed by a SquidAngel. Keep up the good work.
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Jennifer
Apr 26, 2007 @ 3:11 pm | delete
- After reading the articles here...I am at peace! Thank you =)
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Creativity Resources
- FreelanceSwitch
- Welcome to FreelanceSwitch, a Community & Resource for freelancers of all varieties - designers, writers, programmers, illustrators, photographers ...
by awarmbreeze
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