英语故事:真正值得付出的投资

【英文原文】

We invest our time, energy and money on buying and acquiring things while futilely trying to achieve the life we want. I can assure you that you gain more return on your investment when you switch your focus from buying stuff to being organized. Here are just a few examples:

ROI: Self-confidence.
Put an end to the apologies you make for being late, forgotten commitments, and lost or misplaced information or belongings.
Investment: Time management basics
Stop over-scheduling. We often try to fit in “just one more thing” before moving on to our next commitment. We end up running late, frazzled, overwhelmed, and distracted. STOP and THINK, how long will it really take to get there or prepare for that meeting? Are you being realistic about traffic? Parking? Etc. Honestly, the worst thing that can happen is that you will be early. The horror! Bring a magazine or book and catch up on your pile of reading. Yes, you know, I’m talking about that “I’m gonna read it someday” stuff that has taken over your horizontal surfaces.

ROI: Quality Time with loved ones
Stop spending your “free time” maintaining, cleaning, storing, battling through, and tripping over your stuff.
Investment: Letting go
Let go of the stuff that you don’t love and don’t use that gets in the way of stuff that is important — which isn’t really stuff at all, is it?

ROI: $$
Investment: Clear your Kitchen
Unclutter your kitchen, rid your cabinets of idle appliances and gadgets, toss the excess plastic storage with no matching lids, and clear your counters of unused spice racks and unitaskers. Instead, create a functioning kitchen where you have room to breathe and the ability to access what you need. Involve the family (including children) in the cooking experience. Not only will you save money by not eating out as often, but you will be teaching your children a lifeskill.

Small investments in being organized will provide you with a huge payoff. If you are having difficulty getting started, check out the NAPO Professional Organizer Directory to find an organizer that’s right for you.

What are some small investments that you have made and what is the ROI?

【中文译文】

我们常常在一些事情上投入时间、精力、金钱，但最终却没能得到想要的回报。我可以保证如果你将注意力从买东西转到规划自己上，你可以得到更好的投资回报，下面是仅仅是几个例子:

投资回报：自信

你不再需要为迟到、忘记承诺、丢三那四而道歉

所需投资：基本的时间管理

避免过度安排进度，我们常常纠结于那么一件事而无法向下一个目标进发，最终以延迟、疲惫不堪、不知所措、心烦意乱而结束。好，那么停下来想一想，我们赶到那儿或准备那个会议实际上需要多少时间？你是否实际了解交通状况？停车的情况？...坦诚的说，这样在你身上能发生的最坏的事情就是你提前了。你可以拿本书或杂志放在你的书桌前，然后说到“我将来有一天会去读它的”，直到它们占满了你的书桌。

投资回报：和爱人在一起的甜蜜时光

不要再将你的“空闲时光”用在保养、清洗、储藏、大扫除等这些琐事上

所需投资：让它们随它去吧

让那些你不喜欢且用不着的东东随它去吧

投资回报：$$

所需投资：打扫你的厨房

打扫你的厨房，清理你的橱柜，扔掉不用的东东，扔掉那些已经找不到盖子的塑料罐，将那些没用到的的调味品罐清洗干净。将你的厨房改变成一个你可以尽情呼吸又能做一些你想要的东西的地方，将你的家人（包括孩子）一起喊过来享受做饭的乐趣，这不仅能帮你省下大把的在外面下馆子的费用，还能教会你孩子一项生存技能

在规划自己上的一些不大的投资能帮你带来不小的回报，如果你感到开始很困难，可以在NAPO专业规划目录中找到适合你的方案

亲爱的读者，你又是已经做了哪些小投资呢？投资回报又如何呢？