The Blog

A Time-Managment Paradox: Why I Can Never Plan for a Nap

06/11/2013 By Nancy Borg With 2 comments

napping man_optAhh, how I long for the guilty pleasure of a really good nap. I think I’ve been waiting for this magical moment my whole life. Since I can remember, I’ve watched many men in my life, asleep on the sofa, casually napping (and snoring, I must add) in the middle of an ordinary day. Lights could be on, TV volume blasting, and lively chatter abound, but they nap like babies.  Frankly, I’m a little jealous that they have perfected the art. It can’t be just me. Honestly, I’ve never seen a women napping on a couch in the middle of the day, ever. Do you think that this is just a “man” thing?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my chances. There have been countless opportunities for me to plan for the nap, but it never happens.  How many dreary winter days did I devote to scheduling it to happen? But it never came, because I learned you can’t force it.  Napping is instantaneous.  For me, it’s less about having the time for it to happen, I think it’s more about my inability to relax; to be still enough to shut down all the programs running in my head.

This past weekend, on a most glorious sunny day, I took my Kindle, pen and paper in hand (I’m a little old school), and scheduled some “me” time.  To me, that means lounging in my backyard, reading for pleasure, and jotting down thoughts that may inspire a forthcoming blog. I was thoroughly enjoying my surroundings, and while my mind was engaged in reading, the natural and serene setting was slowly hypnotizing me. The day was so spectacular, one had to pay attention. I was more aware of the birds chirping, the wind chime blowing soft melodies in the wind, and captivated by the dance of butterfly. I was in my happy place.  I read for about an hour and paused every now and then when a new little creature interrupted me.  It was as if Mother Nature was flirting with me. So I stopped to embrace the moment (for literally a moment), then fought to finish the next chapter, but my eyes were getting heavy. I was so relaxed with both my body and mind, that I gave into the fatigue and relinquished control.  I closed both my Kindle and my eyes, and drifted off into stillness. I knew too well if I didn’t grab this chance, I would lose the moment forever. The last thing I recall thinking was, “COULD THIS BE THE PERFECT NAP I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR?”

Oh yes, my friends, it was indeed. The joy of the power nap!  It didn’t make a difference whether it was an hour or a mere 15 minutes, the fact that I could drift off to an altered state of consciousness was the letting go I was yearning for.  It felt more like a daydream sleep.  When I awoke, I was startled and had to get my bearings.  What had happened? OMG, I napped!

As I came out of the slumber, I realized that I had used time as a “gift,” to myself. Artful Time-management is building in some time for just “being,” not filling every moment with “doing.” 

The nap is not always a time-waster, it’s an energy preserver. Time to recalculate the body, take a personal and physical “time-out.”  For me, it didn’t mean I necessarily shut down, rather I allowed my thoughts to flow freely.  Hence, this nap-inspired blog came to be!

Now I have a new and improved time-management theory;  A time to work.  A time to play.  Maybe time to take a nap?

Hey, some people can impose a nap on command, lucky for them. I for one, will never know if it will ever happen again.

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The Positive Effects of Reality TV

06/05/2013 By Nancy Borg With 2 comments

Modern FamilyReality TV shows are certainly monopolizing our prime time TV these days.  It seems like every day another new program pops onto a network attracting a different segment of the population. While some of the shows are downright awful, some would even argue that they are offensive and exploitative.  But here’s the thing, it creates a platform for so many controversial stigmas of our society.  It provokes a conversation and it gets us talking.

Here are some of my favorites and those that I feel provide some value:

Professionally speaking, shows like Hoarders, Hoarding: Buried Alive, Clean House, and Talk show segments featuring Organizing Specialists, have all given our industry a fresh face.  Even after 25 years of existence, it’s given our profession greater notoriety than ever before, but more so, it has reduced a lot of the shame and embarrassment that chronic disorganization often emits. People no longer ask, “What is a Professional Organizer?” rather they are more interested in “Who is your Professional Organizer?”  These shows expose the trials and tribulations of so many who struggle with disorganization, and raise awareness to the benefits of getting more organized. There is great opportunity for help and viewers realize they are not alone in their challenges.  In years past, this was a taboo subject swept under the rug, and today it is out of the closet. Alas.

The Biggest Loser, a reality TV in its 9th season has also exposed another banned demographic. Although the show centers on overweight contestants trying to lose the most weight, it has raised much more positive awareness about healthy living, nutrition, and body image. We are fighting obesity in America and we need to talk about it openly and honestly, not deny it. I think the show does a great job in talking about the risks and consequences of compulsive eating.  It also invites a serious conversation about the widespread eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.

Cooking themed shows like Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, Iron Chef,  have become super popular in recent years.  Celebrity television chefs made cooking cool and trendy, and these reality shows have inspired people to get back in the kitchen and have fun with  food. Weekly, we watch talented cooks craft a creative dish from prep to plate and are dazzled by their technique, flair and ingredient savvy-ness. Hey, you can learn a lot here…I for one, feel encouraged to step it up and wow my family with some impressive new dish I learned from the show!

Similar to the comedy series Modern Family, there are countless new drama series that portray a gay relationship as an intrinsic part of the storyline.  Blended families of all varieties are indeed part of our culture, and so our reality TV shows should reflect alternative sexual preferences. The evolution of gay marriage is both in the news and on our TV shows, as it should be.  It is art imitating life.

Reality singing and dancing competition programs like American Idol, The Voice, Glee, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance all showcase novice talent and illustrate the power of “self”, and “fighting for what you believe.” That goes for fashion programs like Project Runway too.  While these shows sometimes reveal the ugly side of “dog eat dog” competition, the viewer still walks away with a deeper respect for a “great risks, foster great rewards” mentality.  A great take-a-way, always.

Reality TV is the most viewed genre of today’s television programming, for a reason. Even though it claims to be seemingly “unscripted,” we are not that gullible.  But we do relate to the “Average Joe” status, and we want to root him on. We believe in the human spirit. Perhaps we buy into the drama, but in the end, we also learn the lessons of personal conflict and integrity.

Above all, the recurring message throughout most of these shows is to never give up, and be your authentic self. You can’t knock that. There are some surprisingly good things about bad reality TV, don’t you agree?  What’s your favorite and least favorite show?  C’mon, be  “real” with me.

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