Could You be Better Organized?

It may seem like a silly question. Of course we could all be better organized. I run an organizing company and I could sure be a little better organized myself. But what does it take to be more organized?

Use the right tools for you!

There are a lot of tools out there to help keep you organized. Everything from day planners and calendars to electronic assistants and apps are available everywhere. I am a very visual person and therefore need to be able to see my calendar out in front of me, an entire week at a glance.  I use a printed day planner (Quo Vadis, Minister Week At A Glance) showing a full week on a two pages.

I jot down everything, and I mean everything – appointments, meetings, reminders, to do’s, people to call, websites to check out – and I cross them off when done. It really gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment when I cross something off the list for that day.I feel SO good.  It’s one way of seeing just how productive you actually are! Find what works for you and stick with it.

Less reading, more doing

I encourage you to spend less time reading and thinking about it and more time actually doing it. Many of my clients will read a lot of publications and articles regarding organizing. Good for them for taking the initiative to educate themselves and learn, but there is such a thing as too much reading. Don’t like what the book says? Do you move on to another one? Maybe you are looking for a reason to put off the task of organizing.

To do’s are too long

Don’t let the “To Do” list get too long. When making a list of what needs to be done, keep it to perhaps 5 of your most important. Having a list a mile long is only going to frustrate you and give you a feeling of hopelessness and never being able to catch up. You can jot down the rest of the items and put them away for now but the list that stays out in the open on the fridge or in your reminders should be a short manageable list. Tackle a couple and then add a few more once one or two have been crossed off the list.

Upkeep

Finally, make time for upkeep. When I finish a project with a client I like to think I have left them not only with an organized area but also with the tools to keep it organized. Their job is to make the time to review things periodically to ensure that the systems we put in place are still working for them.

Being organized is not just completing one project or striking an item off your “To Do” list. Being and staying organized involves a commitment to yourself as well as to the new system of organization that has been implemented. Organization is an ongoing process that involves regular maintenance, paring down and adjustments to keep you on track and in turn, keeping stress in your life to a minimum.

If you need assistance to get organized or to stay on track, contact us for a free telephone consultation. You chaos. Our solution. Your peace of mind.