Professional organizer and Mission: Organization guest Karen Ussery offers web-exclusive tips.The biggest organizing mistake I see is when people try to implement a new system without completely thinking it through. For example, they may decide to create a complicated tracking system involving forms and notebooks, but give it up after two weeks because it takes too much energy to maintain.
Another example is when a person buys all kinds of sorters and organizers at the store, but then sets them up without having a specific purpose for them. These "organizers" simply become more places to put all that clutter. The key is to think through what you want to accomplish, then find the right system and tools to help you do that.
Pay attention to what systems and habits have been easy and effective for you in the past. See if you can take what worked about it and apply it to your current situation.
I can't stress enough that you should make it as easy as possible. Are you really going to three-hole punch every piece of paper so it can go in a binder, or would popping it in a file make more sense?
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you decide to get organized:
- What do I need to have a place for?
- Does it need to be within arm's reach, or can it be put away?
- What supplies will help me stay organized?
- How can I label them clearly so I remember their functions?
- Is this the easiest possible way I can set this up, or is there a simpler way to do the same thing? (The easier and more convenient it is, the more likely you are to use it.)
- Do I like the way it looks and functions? Again, even minor annoyances, like a drawer that sticks, may stop you from staying organized.
- How will I remind myself to use my new system until it becomes a habit?
There is no one right way to organize yourself. The key is to find what will work for you. Ask yourself these questions first, and you'll be on the right track to getting--and staying--organized!
