Organizing Blogs by Professional Organizers
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Tag >> home and office organization
Not everyone has their kitchen spices arranged in alphabetical order. I haven't felt the need to have the "alum" in the front of my spice area simply because it begins with "A". I probably won't use it again until next fall when I make that specific recipe that calls for just one teaspoon of Alum - and by that time, it will probably be expired! Your organizing style works best when it works in conjunction with your personality. If a process or system that requires your attention, on a daily basis, is inconvenient - you should consider taking a second look at your system. What am I talking about? Let's take a look at your office. Does it really make sense to have a current client's file - one that you are working in on a daily basis - tucked away in a filing cabinet that is clear across the room? Personally, I don't think so. It should be located somewhere close to where you sit and work for that client. Perhaps it is in a lateral filing system that allows you to have 8 files handy and within reach. (I like these because I can see multiple files at one time). If your client's file has confidential information in it, this may change your strategy. I would recommend that your client files be gathered and put into the very front of a filing cabinet so that they can be locked up in the evening. Of course, it always really bugs me when I walk into a doctor's office and I see piles of files stacked over an entire countertop, knowing that my personal information is in that file and that it is so easily accessible to anyone and everyone. I don't know what I can do about that...but I'm thinking about it! Should your files be color-coded? Should your cabinet have pull-out shelves? What type of storage will work best for your situation? When making these decisions, think about what makes the most sense. Try not to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the new and "must haves" of organizing. There are tons of possibilities to organize the exact same area. But what will work best for you?
To some, it is everything perfectly placed throughout your office and/or home. It looks just like a magazine cover. Perfect, in every way! But is this your reality....it's definitely not mine. I remember, many years ago, I took a girlfriend trip down to North Carolina to do some furniture shopping. (It was actually just an excuse to get away from our husbands and children for a few days). My friend had a long-time friend who lived in the area and she invited us to stay with her so that we could make it an overnight trip. What fun....shopping, relaxing and no one to worry about but myself for a change. "Real girlfriend time". Well, this friend had an absolutely beautiful home. Everything was perfectly placed. Including the toiletry items that were placed in my "private" bathroom. It was better than any hotel I had ever stayed in before. It was absolutely Beautiful...but so darn scary at the same time that I was afraid to touch anything. I remember crawling under the sheets and folding my arms on top of the covers to sleep. I woke up in the exact same position 6 hours later because I was too scared to move around on the bed and even wrinkle the sheets. Everything was too perfect! It was the most miserable night's sleep ever! At Organization Direct we believe that yes, neatness and tidiness all have a part of things being organized in your home and office. However.....being comfortable and productive does not require you to be uncomfortable in your space. After all, last time I checked, we do "work" in our home office and "live" in our home. There may be times that paperwork is still in your "in box" or you have a project spread out across the desk. There is one major key to keeping everything organized - Systems - have a system that you can utilize on a daily basis to keep your paperwork, space, projects and lists organized. At the end of the day you need to know where and how you are going to wrap up your paperwork, be prepared to dive right into the project tomorrow and not waste time with do-overs tomorrow. Two of the most important systems should be your: Mail System and a Filing System
The more we work with home office clients, the more we enjoy hearing their success stories. None of them had a realistic or valid reason that they weren't organized. Their excuses were: not enough time, they felt too overwhelmed to begin the process, they were actually afraid to begin the process and last, they just really didn't have a legitimate reason...just because. Let's check out the excuses: Not enough time. Well, this is just silly! Organizing your home office is one of the best investments that you can make in yourself and after reading this article you still find that you are wanting to get organized but don't have the time, consider hiring a Professional Organizer in your area. This will cut the time in less than half and you will have a fresh set of eyes that will help you not just start the process, but complete the process. Realistically, a lot of business just don't knowso the amount of time that it will take them to become organized becomes greater and greater as the months and years go by. In order to begin the process, block out the time on your calendar - it can be as little as 30 minutes a day. You can easily accomplish this by adding an the extra time in the beginning or end of your day. Remember, it won't be forever! Just until you are organized! Too overwhelmed to begin the process. What I will say is...stop your procrastinating now. When your office is organized your give yourself permission to grow your business. One recent client's comments about her feelings after getting organized were: "Mentally freed", "More efficient" and "My bank account looks beautiful". She knew that her organizing style was simple and easy and we were able to find ways to allow her to organize not just her home office but also her portable office. The result is - No More Overwhelm.
 We are two weeks into the long list of New Year Resolutions that we planned to keep. Truth be told, in my mind, a Resolution is a habit that we are committing ourselves to change. And change is hard! There are always things that we can improve on - in our life and business - and a New Year just seems the logical date and time to make a change. But, with everything else that we change - resolutions don't work unless we commit ourselves to changing a habit. The habits of choice are: exercise, organizing and to quit smoking. As we finish the first 2 weeks of 2012 - Don't Give Up! Let's re-evaluate your New Year Resolutions and Goals. First - Don't expect that you should have reached your goal 100% already. Developing habits takes time. If habits were quick and easy resolutions not be a concern. Second - Every goal takes multiple steps to accomplish. No matter how small, there is usually a list of things that have to happen in order to reach your goal. Think about it...everything that we do takes multiple steps. Keep it simple and specific. Just the simple act of brushing your teeth requires at least 6 steps (pick up the toothbrush, unscrew the cap of the toothpaste, put the toothpaste onto your toothbrush, brush your teeth, rinse the toothbrush, rinse your mouth and then put the cap back onto the toothpaste). It just comes natural to you because you have been doing it the same way...forever. Think about what individual steps you can take to help you achieve your goals and habits for 2012.
You've made the commitment before but 2012 will be different! This is Your Year! You know what to do and how to do it and this year you are going to stick to it! Get 'ur done! Stay focused and reach your goals. You have bought every possible organizing supply and tool that is available because they all promise to get you organized, right! And...they have to work because you just spent a ton of money. So how do you ensure that you reach your goals this year? Your mindset and habits will dictate your success, no matter what your goals are. Just like starting a diet, getting your space and mind organized takes dedication, obligation and accountability. It takes making a change in your daily habits and this isn't always easy. Think about what areas you find the hardest to keep organized. Is it your paperwork - mail and filing; client follow-up; systems; or maybe your daily schedule? Or, maybe it is that your time is drained by interruptions through email or phone. Everything that we do every day is a choice. (Of course, I'm realistic...emergencies can come up that require your attention). But when you have your daily course of action laid out, interruptions are easily handled and the ability to refocus comes easy. The key to keeping yourself on task is developing a habit/system to handle every part of your day. It seems odd to think about something that something as simple as opening the mail should have a system but it makes such a difference. Let's just take the example of opening the mail. I meet with so many people and home-based businesses that just find it "simpler" to open the mail wherever the happen to be at the time. Because of this, there are receipts and paperwork in the office, kitchen, bedroom, car, in their pants pockets or purse, And then...it just becomes too overwhelming to be able to get it all organized. The thought of sorting, organizing and filing all of the paperwork causes stress and anxiety. And now there just isn't enough time to catch up.
Just about everyone "makes" at least one New Year's Resolution. One of the  most popular Resolutions is to Get Organized. Every year we have the best of intentions that This Year will be The year that it Really happens! Really...cross your fingers, hope to die! You Will make the necessary changes and do whatever it takes, Right? And you are willing and ready to jump in with both feet! You'll even write it all down, put it on our calendar and make promises to yourself that this IS the year. The truth is that keeping a New Year Resolution takes more than all of this. You must realize not just what you want to change, but Why you want to change. When you look at your space, office, paperwork or life, does it just drive you nuts? What are you willing to do - besides throwing in the towel and saying, I just can't do it? You may consciously be self-sabotaging yourself , which is the reason that it hasn't changed....Yet! Ask yourself this question - If my space was organized what would it look like? Close your eyes and visualize your space neat, tidy, organized and filed. Picture yourself sitting at your desk writing contracts, filling orders, talking with clients, paying your bills and smiling at the increase in your bank account. What I know is that nothing will change until something changes. In other words, until you take specific and methodical action to Keep Your Resolutions, they won't happen and you will stay in the same rut in 2012. And, no matter what plans your plans include and how detailed they are, it takes dedication and a change in your attitude to make it happen. The words and thoughts that we tell ourselves every day will dictate what we accomplish, how we manage our time and whether or not we reach our goals. So here are some steps to hold yourself accountable to reaching your New Year Resolutions!
Being Organized is a Habit How many times have you wished that you were more organized? You have heard the saying "everything has to have a home". This is really true. When everything has a home, you know where to look for it (and everyone else will know where to look also)....you'll save time and energy looking for it and you frustration will disappear. What is forgotten though is that you have to build the habit of putting things back into the same place in order for this to happen. It is a wonderful concept to have everything in its place and it can happen and does make a huge difference in your daily life. How do you build this habit thought? This can be the tough part. This is why so many people believe that being organized really doesn't work. They become organized then don't build the habit of putting everything back into its proper place. This takes a conscious effort on the part of everyone who lives or works in the space that just became organized.
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