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Get Organized
by Karla Jones |
Visual Noise
Imagine trying to respond to an urgent telephone call
in your home or office while at the same time a
cacophony of sound is bombarding your ears--jazz and
rock 'n roll music, a news and sports program on TV,
your secretary or children--all competing for your
attention.
Physical clutter is called Visual Noise. Just as it
is impossible to work and live productively with
constant noise, so is it impossible to live and work
productively when your environment is in chaos. Clutter
uses up valuable space, saps your energy, robs you of
time and costs money.
Think of each object left lying about as having a
sound. If the sound is soft and pleasant, leave it (a
thriving plant for example). But if the sound is loud
and distasteful (a wilted and dying one), get rid of it--put it away. Would you let noise disturb you
constantly? Don't permit clutter do so either. Few of us
are aware of just how much junk we have or how long we
have had it. An organized space means a return to peace and
quiet.
Why Be Organized?
You will feel more in control -- reducing the stress
that unchecked clutter in your home or office produces.
You will have more room -- A reorganization of almost
any drawer, closet, room or office produces more space,
even if you eliminate nothing.
You will be able to find something when you want it --
saving endless time spent looking for keys, files,
telephone numbers, or any other item which seems to
disappear just when we need it the most.
You will be making a favorable impression -- on the
people around you. Your colleagues, clients, friends and
family will admire your ability to be on time, fulfill
your commitments and maintain order.
You will save money -- by not having to buy a second
of something because you couldn't find, or didn't
remember you had, the first. You won't be charged for
those missed appointments either.
Paper Management
Everyone is overwhelmed with too much information. It
becomes a burden, not a resource. Here are some tools
you can use to gain control of this paper monster.
First, establish a permanent location where you
routinely handle all your paperwork. There are five
places for the repository of the information you
receive. They are:
- A calendar. Get into the habit of extrapolating
information you need to your calendar and then throwing
out the paper.
- A "To Do" list. A place to organize things that need
to be done.
- A projects file. A place for information about
on-going activities.
- A reference file. A good quality filing cabinet for
the information you need to access later.
- A giant wastebasket. The best circular file and
should be used aggressively. Research shows 80% of the
paper we collect is never used.
Managing Time -- The "To Do" List
For all of us there are only 24 hours in a day, but
some people accomplish more than others. Why? Because
they have learned to use proven time management
strategies, and you can too.
The first and easiest of those strategies is the
"To
Do" List . A daily "To Do" list provides a
consistent place for notes to yourself: eliminating the
envelopes or miscellaneous pieces of paper on which you
jot reminders.
A small spiral notebook which fits easily in your
pocket or purse is preferred by many because the pages
can be deleted easily. A daily planner often has a
designated location for this type of information.
But most importantly, whatever you decide to use, you
must use it consistently. Because the "To Do"
list is a way of organizing your activities, it can
contain everything you hope to accomplish that day,
including phone calls, letters, errands, or purchases.
At a glance, it will help you prioritize your time and
efforts.
You must carry your list with you at all times,
because as new items occur during the day which require
attention, they can easily be added to your list. The "To
Do" list becomes a way of decluttering your mind,
freeing you to be much more efficient.
Finally, you should review your list at the end of
the day, transferring the items, which were not
accomplished, onto the next day's list.
© Copyright 2002 Karla Jones. All Rights Reserved.
Karla Jones, a professional organizer,
speaker and seminar leader. In her business, "Get
Organized," she utilizes skills she developed from a career in
the business world, to assist individuals and businesses manage
time, resources and paper, with the goal of reducing stress,
eliminating chaos, simplifying life and becoming more productive. Karla is a member of National Association of
Professional Organizers (NAPO). Her website is www.get-organized.com
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