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Life Coach Sue Brenner, PCC, PMP and founder of Action Symphony encourages us to brainstorm what we can do in small time increments. Susan says, “To maximize your time, learn what you can do in small increments. It’s not about cramming things in. It’s about discovering brief openings of time in your day. What can you do with 15 minutes?  Don’t fritter them away. Spend these small blocks of time intentionally on things that will make a difference.”day.

A checklist of ideas for 10 or 20-minute sprints and breaks in the day.

This week provides a checklist of ideas for “mini-breaks” in the day. Print a copy of this list and keep it in your planner. When you find a mini-break, take advantage of it to fine tune an area of the home or your environment. Many of these ideas can be done in 10 minutes–others may take 20. One fun exercise can be to schedule time to visit the Housework Helpers for one or two (or three) hours. Using the sprint structure, see how many items you can check off this list! Here are a few of Susan’s ideas… De-clutter Your Car: Are you early for a meeting and want to get something done? De-clutter your car! Gather up all the recyclables, including plastic bottles, soda cans and paper, and put them in a bag. Put all trash in another bag. Use a damp cloth or disposable wipe to clean all surfaces. Group any remaining things that you need to remove from your car later, such as clothes and newly purchased items. When you leave your car, take all the trash and recycling with you. Remove the other items as soon as you get a chance. If you’re picking up clients for a meeting, they’ll appreciate the serene setting you’ve just created in your car. Note from Brook: I keep a travel-pack of car wipes (or you can use household wipes or even baby wipes) in my glove box, along with a couple of dusting cloths. I have a 4 ounce, 99 cent, plastic spray bottle filled with Windex. (You can find these at stores like Wal-mart, Walgreens or Target). This car kit takes up little room, and allows me to take advantage of rush hour or arriving early to an appointment by doing a quick-clean. This kit has also come in quite handy when spills happen! Sprint Clean Your Office: Scan your office. Pick the one area that needs the most attention first. Do you have folders stacked on your desk? Are there three coffee mugs from the past week? Your desk top may be your first target area for action. Remove what doesn’t belong there. Use a tissue to dust. Either file or put papers in your out-box for future organizing. The goal is to pick one area and clear it. Then experience a sense of calm and relief. Eliminating a mess you’ve been putting up with recharges your batteries. Fix Something That Is Broken: You know all those things you think to yourself: “I have to change the light bulb,” “I need to get the latch on that window fixed,” “I have to let I.T. know about my computer glitches”? Use a small time block to actually do something about them. If you’re handy, take that time to actually fix something simple yourself. For example, if the arm of your chair dangles, find the screw and bolt under the seat and tighten it up yourself. If you can’t (or don’t want to) fix something yourself, take the time to contact someone who can. Prompt your IT person to come assess your computer problems, or see if he or she can do it remotely. Call maintenance to repair your window. Take the first step, so you can stop thinking about it. Prep for a Meal: Do you find yourself eating out every day? Do you want to eat healthier, but end up grabbing the quickest and most convenient food at meal times? When you have an extra 15 minutes at night or in the morning, use it to prepare a meal. Slice some sourdough bread and make your favorite sandwich for a bag lunch. Then enjoy more time at noon because you won’t have to run around and wait in line for your food. Or your meal prep might include tossing some meat, spices and vegetables into a slow-cooker or crock pot. Then you can return home from work to a nourishing, warm meal. You can sit down, relax and enjoy your food solo or with your family. Ideas from Brook: Match the Socks: Grab a container and pile all solo socks inside. Match what you can. Rotate the Closet: Do you really need all the winter coats in the coat closet during summer? If it is winter, is anyone going to wear the open-toed shoes? Move out-of-season items to an unused closet. If you don’t have one, consider hanging a small line in an infrequently used area of the house. Once this is complete, look at what you have left. Are there items that “ended up there” but don’t really need to be there? Move any to their proper home. Repair “Message Central: “Wherever messages are taken, clutter seems to arise. Go through any miscellaneous messages or notepads and discard items no longer needed. Test the pens; get rid of those that don’t work. Clear off your answering machine. Clean Off The Fridge: While putting coupons on the fridge seems like a logical place to remind us to use them, it is amazing how quickly they age! Remove outdated items from your fridge display. If you have kids’ artwork wallpapering the front, consider the “feature” method included in the previous lesson addressing children’s artwork. Sort the Mail: Gather all the mail into one place. Don’t read the mail–just make piles. Create a pile for garbage, one for bills, one for to-read items and additional piles for other people in the home (i.e. give to husband, child, mother.) When done transfer the piles for others to somewhere they will see them. Put the to-read items in a place you will read them. Toss the junk in the garbage. Return the bills to the inbox. Go through the Bills: This is best to complete after the task above. Remove all bills from their envelopes and lay flat. Staple of paperclip those with multiple pages.. Tuck the return envelope around the bill. Throw out all the miscellaneous offers included in the bills. Stack them in three piles… receipts/file only (if you use auto-pay), to pay within the next 14 days, to pay after 14 days. Wipe Down the Appliances: Grab the Windex and wipe down the front surfaces of your kitchen appliances. Clear the Junk Drawer: Empty the drawer entirely. Go through each item and either throw it out or return to its proper place. There is no reason to use up prime storage to hold “junk.” Sort Your Chargers: If you are high-tech, gather all of your gadget-chargers together. Wrap the cords neatly. Label each one with its purpose. Move car-compatible chargers to the car. Place the others neatly in a drawer. Wipe Down the Microwave: Give your microwave a thorough cleaning–inside and out! Wipe Down a Shower Door: Spray the front and back and let it “set” for a couple of minutes while wiping down the vanity area. Return and wipe down the shower door. Wash a Window: Wash a set of inside windows (or outside for that matter–your pick). Match-Up Your Media: Return CDs, DVDs, video games and computer programs to their proper storage cases. Go through Your Media: Do you need to keep the install disks to printers you no longer own or programs you no longer use? Get rid of any unneeded items to make it easier to find what you do need. Photograph Your Home: Create a “photo inventory” of your home for insurance purposes. Check the Medicine Cabinet: Check the expiration date of all vitamins, prescriptions and medicine cabinet supplies, discarding any expired items. The Bye-Bye 10 Game: Find 10 things in your house to donate or throw away. Sweep the Entry Way: Take a moment to sweep the outside entrance of your home. Purge the Post-Its®: Gather a stack of loose papers and transfer them to your planner.

(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Making sure we are getting ample rest is one of the single-most important factors in maintaining a positive attitude and lower-stress which in turn increases our ability to challenge life,  care for our selves, and care for others. With today’s hectic pace  many of us aren’t refueling with adequate sleep or quality sleep.

Lack of sleep or lack of quality sleep is not something to take  lightly. When we are tired we lose our ability to operate at our  best which can quickly damage relationships, self-esteem, and job  performance.

Are you getting enough sleep?

Answer these questions based on the last 7 days:

- Do you sleep through your alarm clock (once or more a week)
– Do you use the snooze button to sneak some extra sleep?
– Do you sleep in on weekends or days off?
– Do you wake up feeling non-refreshed?
– Do you find that you are irritable during the day (especially in the afternoon)?
– Do co-workers or family members often ask what is bothering you (they can’t identify an obvious source)?
– Do you have difficulty focusing on a task for over an hour and completing it accurately?
– Do you find yourself making “little” or “silly” mistakes?
– (Mistakes that could have been easily avoided by paying attention to detail.)
– Does the amount of sleep you get each night vary by more than an hour? (Example: 6 hours Monday, 5 hours Tuesday, 8 hours Saturday)
– Would you describe yourself as moody or would your co-workers or family?

Someone who is getting adequate sleep will usually answer less than 2 yes responses. If you marked between 3 and 5, lack of sleep or lack of quality sleep is likely having a negative impact on your life. If you marked 6 or more, lack of sleep or lack of quality sleep cannot be ignored any longer. Not only is it bad for your health and stress level, it is also a risk for hurting your overall performance and relationships.

Notes: If you scored 5 or more, you may want to re-take this quiz each week to monitor your improvement. Also, scores can vary week to week depending on hormones. We shouldn’t seek continual perfect weeks, but we want to make sure that more often than not we are getting our zzzz’s. Aim to be marking 3 or less yes responses 3 out of every 4 weeks.

How much sleep do I need?
That answer varies greatly person-to-person. The best way to uncover your personal sleep quota is to use the above quiz as a guideline. Experiment with different hours of sleep each week. When you find your scores are low, you are likely in the right range for  you. However, prior to monitoring your nightly zzzz’s to determine your optimum level, make sure you have followed the suggestions that follow. By following these suggestions you can avoid having to “oversleep” to compensate for poor habits. As a general rule, 8  hours of sleep should be plenty for a healthy adult.

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep:
Choose a schedule and stick to it. Choose a time to go to sleep and a time to get up. Maintain this daily, including days where you have the privilege of sleeping in. Sleeping in just 1-2 days a week can throw off your sleep schedule for the entire week. If you lay  down and aren’t sleepy, don’t get out of bed. Read a book or listen to music to relax.

Avoid caffeine: Cut off caffeine (even if you think it doesn’t affect you) at least 6 hours before going to sleep.

Smokers: If you smoke, avoid smoking an hour before going to bed. Smoking can cause restless sleeping.

Health Watch: Our need for sleep is tied to body weight – the more we weigh, the more sleep we need. Snoring, which interferes with solid sleep, can also often be reduced through weight loss and physical activity. Excess weight doesn’t just affect us during the  day, but at night as well. Consider beginning a health regimen to increase energy and improve sleep.

Worried? If your mind is filled with worries, write them out in a journal before going to bed.

Create a Relaxing Routine: A bath or shower before bed, reading a book, listening to calming music or doing some stretching can all help slow down the body and mind for more restfull sleep.

Avoid late night snacking: After dinner, minimize any snacking to very simple and easy-to-digest snacks. If a body is working to digest a lot of food it can hamper the sleep process. Avoid snacks with additives or artificial sweeteners and avoid protein.

Prepare at night: Prepare as much as you can for the day ahead. Set out clothes. Plan you day. Advance preparation helps people relax so they can sleep better.

Activity matters: As our activity increases through this program to 5 days-a-week of 30 minutes activity, you should find your sleep quality improves. Try to avoid exercising right before bed as exercising creates endorphins and energy that will make it hard to
sleep.

Make a sleep-friendly environment: Make the room as dark as possible–use an eye mask if necessary. Use ear plugs to block out sound or use a fan or soft-constant music to mask sounds that can disturb sleep. Turn your clock so you cannot see the time.

But I don’t have enough time to sleep!  If you don’t get ample sleep and score high then you are going to have a lot of extra pressure and problems to deal with. Instead of  spending hours of dealing with stress, why not just use those hours to get the sleep your body needs? When you sacrifice sleep, remember that you aren’t only affecting you–but all of those who interact with you! Need more help on sleep? Check out the National Sleep Foundation at www.sleepfoundation.org

Your Weekly Challenge: How did you score on the sleep test? Based on your answers, what are two changes you can make this week to improve the quality of your sleep?

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8 Principles for Living Each Day with More Contentment and
Happiness! by Brook Noel

Part Two of Two
Missed the first part? Click here…

MTM Life Principle 5: Enhance Your Immediate World: Whenever you
leave the house—or come into contact with another person ask
yourself: What can I do to make a positive difference?

My mom raised me with very few rules in our single parent home.
However, one rule she engrained (and boy did she engrain it LOL)
was: Leave everything touch you better than when you came into
contact with it.

Now, she didn’t mean be a perfectionist, what she meant, was within
reason, to leave our special touch. Unfortunately, we live in a
world where many people walk around and wonder.. “What’s in this
for me?” Today’s high-expectation world is much different than the
world of our great grandparents! When we begin looking for
opportunities to give back in the littlest ways, we start a ripple
effect.

Kindness is contagious–like the “smile syndrome.” Have you ever
noticed what happens when someone smiles at you? You smile back!
This starts a chain. If everyone who read this today smiled at
everyone they met (stranger or friends), can you imagine the smiles
that would spread in a single day?

We can make the days a bit better through very simple actions. When
you check out at the grocery store, instead of digging through your
purse or checking your missed calls, why not sincerely engage the
cashier? Whenever you pay for something, why not place the money in
the person’s hand and look them in the eye and smile? When a person
is grumpy… why not treat them even better? Resist the temptation
to spread the negativity–it’s too contagious to let into your life.

MTM Life Principle 6: Do a Nightly “Make Today Matter” check. When
you are done with the day… BEFORE climbing into bed, ask
yourself– What is one more thing I can do to make today matter?

I started doing this after I lost my brother suddenly. I realized
how magical each day was. Instead of putting something off for
tomorrow, I embraced one last thing each day.

Some days, I would get online and find a site to email a solider.
This only took 3-4 minutes. Sometimes I would just get something
ready for the next day. Sometimes I would make a quick call or jot
a quick note. I took one last moment to appreciate and live that
day before climbing into bed!

MTM Life Principle 7: At Night.. Let it All Go!
While you are preparing for bed, think of all the things that
happened that were stressful during the day. They have something to
teach you– even if you don’t know what it is– thank them, then
LET THEM GO! (Thanking them doesn’t mean you like them… and
letting go doesn’t mean you are happy about them.) Take any upsets
and do the same.

Then take all the good things and wonderful things, be thankful for
them, write them in your gratitude journal, and then let them go,
too! It is VERY important to appreciate, remember, but let go. This
allows us to focus fresh each day.

There is a quote, “Never let yesterday use up too much of today.”
We don’t live in the past. When we accept and appreciate each day
for everything it is or isn’t… and then let it go, we clear
ourselves to live fully the next day.

MTM Life Principle 8: End as You Began
Once you are in bed, imagine yourself waking, saying your
affirmation, identifying your intention for the day, moving
smoothly throughout the day–feeling confident, feeling beautiful
and strong. Imagine yourself handling what needs to be handled,
reacting in appropriate ways, handling any stressors with calm
assurance. Imagine yourself achieving your goals, interacting with
others with happiness and grace.

Studies have shown time and time again that those who visualize the
day ahead have a MUCH HIGHER success ration of achieving what they
see.

All-in-All:
Living the life we want, living in contentment and happiness begins
in our mind, and then in our choices. Each day we can choose
auto-pilot or we can choose to enrich our lives. We don’t remember
days, we remember moments. This Make Today Matter formula helps to
turn off autopilot and plant seeds for wonder-filled moments.

Your Weekly Challenge: Try adding 1 of these simple routines to
your day each week. Once you have one down, return to the list and
add another.

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8 Principles for Living Each Day with More Contentment and
Happiness! by Brook Noel

Part One of Two

Have you ever climbed into bed wondering, “Where did the day go?”
Have you ever felt you were on a treadmill–trying to a “somewhere”
that never arrives? In our busy world, we often find ourselves
living on auto-pilot with one day blurring into the next.

Several years ago, I implemented “8 Make Today Matter Life
Principles” into my daily routine. These Principles take very
little time and are so simple to implement–you could start using
them tomorrow if you like. The Principles have allowed me to
realize great contentment, happiness and meaning in every day. The
days of auto-pilot living have been replaced by purpose-filled
living through the application of these “Make Today Matter”
Principles.

MTM Principle 1: Good Morning: The first thing I do after opening
my eyes each morning is say (aloud or to myself): Something great
is going to happen today–I can’t wait to see what it is! When I
started this practice, it was a bit awkward–perhaps, because I was
at a low-point and didn’t fully believe the words. I said it
anyway. Everyday. Soon after, great things started happening. Why?
… because I was looking for them.

If we awake thinking about stressful events, the tough day ahead,
everything we need to get done, we start the day “on defense.” We
prime our life for a stressful day–we expect it–and we usually
find it. Even when little or large blessing bestow us, we often
miss them. After all, we aren’t look for blessings–we are looking
for stress.

Starting my day with this affirmation has proven an effective
method for turning my attention to blessings instead of barriers.

MTM Life Principle 2: The 3-Step Action List: For those who have
read the Change Your Life Challenge or taken part in MTM Online,
the 3-Step Action List will be familiar. Each day, I choose three
tasks to complete during the day that will MAKE TODAY MATTER…
even if everything else goes astray.

We all know how life can interrupt our well-made to-do lists.
Narrowing our focus to three priority action steps helps us focus
and prioritize our day. The items on this list needn’t be mountains
to overcome or extremely time consuming; … they simply need to
MATTER and move us forward.

I began this practice when I realized how busy my life had become.
I was always BUSY! BUSY! BUSY! Boy was I busy. What was even more
amazing than how busy I was…..is how LITTLE I was getting done!
We often confuse BUSYNESS with ACTION! We can be very busy and not
move forward…. (just look at a hamster)!

When we carefully choose 3 things that matter each day…we end up
with over 1,000 things done each year! Things that matter! How many
people can say this confidentially: Last year I completed over
1,000 task that mattered or moved me forward… and I am doing it
again this year.

You can have a mile-long to-do list if you like, but mark three
things! Stay focused! Life will interrupt and when it does, you
will be ready for it!

People often ask–what about when you are sick or not feeling
well? I still have a 3 step list. Every single day. On those days,
examples of 3 things I might choose to make the day matter and move
me forward might be:

1. Take my vitamins
2. Get extra rest!
3. Feel good for taking care of myself.

MTM Life Principle 3: Each Day, LEARN or TRY something new. This
“something” can be little. You don’t have learn a second language
or anything, but each day learn something new, try something new,
or see something you have not yet seen.

Examples include learning…
* a new word…
* a piece of trivia…
* see something you haven’t seen before on the drive home….
* try driving a different route,
* try a different store,
* try a different recipe,
* try a different type of book,
* read a book on a topic that interests you,
* do something fun–finger paint,
* color
* make a snow angel
* stop and look at the sunset versus walking (or driving) past it
* go stand under a tree in your yard and look at it from below
* make up a constellation, try to find it every night

We often get caught up in the same ol, same ol, and forget about
how exciting each day can be (if we let it be)! When we learn, try
or see something new, we awaken our senses to gather many of life’s
riches.

MTM Life Principle 4: Say YES! At least once each day or twice if
you are a parent, say YES instead of NO, or I CAN instead of I
CAN’T.

NO and I CAN’T have become auto-responses for many of us.

Can you come make a snow angel?
No, I can’t.

Can you play a game?
No, I can’t.

Can you meet me for dinner?
Sorry, I can’t, I’m busy.

While it is good to say NO to those who cross our boundaries, when
we are with those in our inner circle, or with our self, we need to
let go of these auto-barriers and say YES and I CAN!

I discovered this principle because I actually became tired of
hearing myself say “no” to my daughter when she was younger. When
she went through her “threes” she would ask if she could do
something. I would say “no,” on autopilot. She would ask: Why? I
didn’t have a good answer. Since “NO” didn’t seemed to be a good
reply, I tried “yes” instead.

By really being present and adding daily spontaneity, my life
changed. What a magical world kids (and pets) live in! I was so
happy to finally climb down from autopilot world and see that
perspective!

PART TWO COMING UP NEXT WEEK!

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Around the Corner:		23 Games to Play in the Car… or Anywhere
ONLINE CLASSES
Starts July 11th EHM Summer Enroll Through July 18th – Only $49 Order now and get Brook’s 3 Step Post-it Notes Free! Learn more and registe Starts July 11th – Searching for Something Enroll Through July 18th – Only $39 Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want Learn more or register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package - LIMITED TIME ONLY – 20% OFF PLUS BONUSES! Learn more and order Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives		How many of you have summer travel plans involving a car ride? Or maybe you find that riding to or from an event, school or camp accounts for some of the quality time you have with your children? Instead of spending that time in silence or frustrated because you are listening to the same child-music CD for the 18th time that day, try a fun car game. These games often lead to laughter and memorable moments. These are also great when trying to keep children entertained in lines, waiting rooms, etc. Here are a few that I have learned over the years, heard about from friends, or created with my daughter. Guessing Games Car Colors: Choose a time limit such as 10 minutes or 30 minutes – depending on the length of the drive. Have each rider make a guess about how many cars of a certain color will be spotted during that time. The closest guesser wins. You can also do this in “sprint fashion” by using 3 -minute intervals as your time limit. Whoever is closest gets a point for that time segment. The first one to 5 points wins. Odd or Even: Each player makes a guess at how many of the next 20 license plates will end with an even number. The one who is closest wins. It helps to have a little tally chart to keep score. You can lengthen the game by increasing the number of license plates. Spy: You are probably familiar with this one. One player announces something that they see and the other players try to guess what it is by asking questions. The only trick when doing this while driving is that it has to be something that won’t go out of view – like the sky, the road, etc. Someone announces that they “spy” something and gives a clue. Example: I spy something blue. The players then take turns guessing until some one gets it. Whoever guesses correctly starts the next spy-turn. 20 Questions: One person thinks of a famous person, place or thing. Everyone else is allowed to ask the player 20 questions which can only be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Whoever guesses correctly becomes the next person to think of something. (We play this without a limit on the number of questions.) Observation Games The Alphabet Game: I am sure you know this one! Each player sequentially works through the alphabet looking for something that starts with a specific letter. For example: A might be apple tree or a word on a sign. Once a player finds an A word, they move onto B. (Have fun with Q, X and Z!) The first rider to work through the alphabet wins. Variation: Use only letters found on billboards, or letters on license plates. The Animal Game:If you are in more rural areas where cars aren’t abundant, try the animal game. Keep on the lookout for animals and when you see one be the first to make the animal sound. For example if you saw a cow you would say “moooo.” The first person to make the animal sound wins a point. Play to a designated number of points. You can make this game a bit more complicated for older kids by adding a designated number of points depending on the commonality of the animal – i.e. cows are 1 point, pigs are 2 points, etc. Find it First:Choose an item such as Volkswagen bugs, farms, people taking walks, silos, etc. Then choose a number like 5 or 20 depending on the length of your drive. See who can find the designated number of the chosen item first. Music Games Hum-Along: One rider hums a song and the other passengers try to guess. The person who guesses goes next. The first one to guess 3 right wins. Radio Game 1: Hit the “scan” button on your radio until it stops on a song. The first person to guess the artist wins. Radio Game 2: This isn’t so much a game but a way not to fight over music! The first person to take a turn goes through the dial until they find a song they like. You then listen to that song until completed. Then the next rider does the same, etc., etc. The only rule is that if you go all the way through the dial without finding a song you like then you need to listen to the last song you land on or lose a turn. Radio Game 3: While the radio is off, each rider chooses a word. Turn the radio on. The winner is the person whose word is spoken or sung first. Creative Thinking Games Story-Telling: One passenger starts a story with a single sentence. Then the next person adds a sentence. Continue until you build a complete story. The Question Game: Take turns asking open and thoughtful questions and allowing each person time to answer. Examples: o If you were on a deserted island and could only take 3 things, what would you take and why? o Who are your mentors/heroes and why? o If you won the lottery what you do with it? o If you could have lunch with a famous person, who would you pick and why? Note: If you really get into this game, you can purchase small books called “The Book of Questions” at most bookstores that give you a ton of subjects to choose from! Word Games Word Sequence: Choose a topic such as animals, places, television shows, people, fruit, etc. Name something in your category. If you choose animals you might say “panda.” The next player has to name an animal that starts with the last letter of your animal. In this example, their animal would have to start with the letter “A” such as “alligator.” Play continues until someone can’t think of a word. They are then eliminated. When you have only 1 person left, they are the winner. You cannot use any animal name twice. (If you are playing with real young children, let them have the handicap of being able to use the same word twice). The Round Game: My daughter made up this one and we have had great fun with it. Even my best friend who is single and childless enjoys this game over dinner with us. We choose a topic such as vegetables, board games, television shows, cities, types of cereal, flowers, movies, etc. Then we name something within that category. For example for cereal the first player might say “Cheerios.” Then the next player names a cereal. Play continues until someone can’t think of an item, then they are “out.” Play continues until there is only one person left. For young children, let them have three “passes” as a handicap. The Rhyming Game: Someone picks a word to start with, such as “ball.” The next player has to come up with a word that rhymes. Play continues until someone cannot think of a rhyming word. As always, give younger players a hint or two. You make the game more difficult for older kids by having each player recite the previous list of words before adding their own. Tongue Twisters: Choose a person that you all know, example, “Sara.” Then start with a phrase about that person that uses only the first letter of her name such as “Sara says strawberries…” take turns adding “S” words with as few “connectors” as possible (a connector is a word that doesn’t start with S) to see how silly of a tongue twister you can create! Memory Games My father/mother owns a grocery store: One player begins the round by stating, “My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells (something that begins with the letter A; e.g., ant traps).” The next player states, “My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells ants traps and (something that begins with the letter B; e.g., bananas). “Play continues with each player having to recite the current list and then add something that begins with the next sequential letter of the alphabet. For young players, offer them “3 strikes” where you will help them if they forget the list. Adults–sorry, no handicap for you Variation: You can vary this game to match your interests or those of a child. Example: o My mother owns a clothing store and in it she sells ____________ o My brother owns a music store and in it he sells ______________ o My sister works as a producer and she has produced __________ (insert television show) o My father owns a bookstore and in it he sells _________________ Just Plain Silly Games Laugh A Lot: Choose a player to keep a straight face. The rest of the players choose a silly answer for the player to use such as “My shoe.” Then players take turns asking questions such as, o What do you brush your hair with? o What is your favorite snack? o Who is your hero? o Where is your favorite vacation destination? The player keeping the straight face has to answer with “My shoe,” while trying to keep a straight face. If they laugh then play passes to someone else and a new phrase is established. Math Games Add-it-up: Call out the numbers on the license plate and see who can add up the numbers the quickest. For example D572-43X – players would have to calculate 5+7+2+4+3. Whoever answers correctly gets a point. The one who reaches 5 points first is the winner. (No calculators allowed.) Games that Require a Bit of Preparation Travel Bingo: Make a bingo board with color names in the squares. Print out several on your home computer. As you drive, players place an X when they see a car of the specific color. You can add to the excitement by letting each car only be used by the first person to “call it.” Try 4 corners, blackout (filing up the whole card) making an X on the card, etc. Variation: Make a “mixed” car board and include different types of items on the card such as: o Fire truck o Stop light o Grocery store o National Historic Monument o Lake or Pond o Farm o Police Car o Billboard Speed Talking: (You will need either a timer or watch with a second hand) Choose a topic and then talk for 60 seconds straight without repeating yourself or pausing. One point is awarded if you accomplish the goal. Take turns playing to a designated number of points depending on the length of your drive. If someone makes it 30 seconds, award them ½ a point. Game for a Tired Driver Statue: On a long trip and need some quiet time? Play a round of statue. The person who can stay still and quiet the longest wins! Your Turn Review this list with your children of choose a few games to try to turn otherwise “long trips” or “long lines” into cherished family moments.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:
ONLINE CLASSES		Join my Visual Journaling for self discovery course beginning June 6
Starts June 6th - Visual Journaling Enroll Through June 13th – Only $39 Order now and get a FREE CD ROM with nearly 200 images on it! Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more or register Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives		Self-expression and discovery through images – let your imagination soar! It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and those who keep visual journals have found that statement to be very true. If you have tried a written journal and become frustrated for lack of the “right word,” or if you want to take your journaling to another level, a visual journal just may be the answer. 4 weeks – $39 – Click here to register for Visual Journaling One-Time Special Offer! I will ship my Images on CD ROM and one of my signed art prints, FREE, for all class orders through June 13th, 2011. Also available in e-book/CD-ROM format – Click Here
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:			“We all live in suspense, from day-to-day, from hour-to-hour; in other words, we are the hero of our own story.” ~Mary McCarthy
ONLINE CLASSES: Starts June 6th - Visual Journaling Enroll Through June 13th – Only $39 Order now and get a FREE CD ROM with nearly 200 images on it! Learn more and register Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! My best friend shared this quote with me and I was very moved by the words. We truly are the hero of our own story. There is very little else to say— except one simple question: Are you living like the hero in your life? Or are you living like the victim? Your turn: You are in control of your story. What are you going to choose to live? Remember that those around you (including your children) emulate you. So are you the hero? Are you the victim? Are you somewhere in-between? Today is a great day to change, isn’t it? There is nothing holding you back from being a hero today. Your affirmation: Each day, I choose to be a hero instead of a victim.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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