Organized: To Be or Not To Be?

Organized: To Be or Not To Be?
By Jeff Earlywine
 
Recently it occurred to me that people don’t attend seminars or conferences to learn to be unorganized.  They attend to learn tips that will help them manage and organize their time, lives, schedules, work environment, homes, and even their eating habits. Which is the reason for writing on the subject of organization in this article.
 

It has been said that the main reason people don't begin or can't stay organized is because they feel overwhelmed with the task. One of the best ways I have found to get any task organized is to start with the end result in mind. For instance, if you are planning to paint your house you must first decide what you want it to look like when you are done. Once you have visualized your house with its new coat of paint then you have other decisions to make.  Decisions regarding the budget, color, type of paint, application method, tools needed, etc… Basically you must first see where you are going and then lay stepping-stones back to where you are now.  In other words, break down each area of the project into workable pieces and attack them one at a time. This process can be applied to any task on your to-do list.
 
At times you may still feel overwhelmed by the task ahead of you, but keep the bigger picture and end result in mind. Always remember that being organized will release creativity rather than restrict it. Therefore, persevere! It will take time to make changes in your organizing habits. One change will lead to another.
 
The tips I am going to give in this short article are by no means exhaustive, but can be applied to every area of your life. 

• Decision-making is a vital part of the process of getting and staying organized. Organizing is deciding what you want the end result to be. Being organized is being ready! Ready for the phone to ring with the proper file available. Ready for opportunities!
• Set your priorities. What do you want your office, home, or life to look like? What information do you need to track or what does your filing system need to do for you?
• Begin with a “written” list. Things often seem less overwhelming if you put them in their proper perspective. Make a list of what you would like to organize and break it down into manageable tasks.
• Make sure you have all the resources to accomplish the task. Such as, staff, equipment, money, etc… Get rid of things that don’t work well and be prepared to try new ideas.
• Create a plan. Now that you have a list and all the tools you need, create a plan of action. Make a plan and stick to it.
• Get rid of unneeded items. Try this simple formula to help get rid of any unnecessary items. F.A.T. – which means to File It, Act On It, or Trash It.
• Make a place for everything. My suggestion is to have a place for everything, and put everything in its place. Done consistently will bring order and efficiency. A side benefit is that you will eliminate clutter.
• Do a little each day.  Break down your list into time frames. For example, make a list of daily chores that you can do each day. This will keep the task from overwhelming you.

 Neatness is about form, but being organized is about function. Function will increase confidence and your peace of mind. Organization is not a destination or a one time event, it is about getting organized and maintaining order which will increase your productivity and give you control of your affairs. A sound method of keeping order can mean the difference between personal and professional success or failure.