Reference Lists--They're Great!

Do you have a mental list of things you want to do, start, finish or just keep track of?  Sometimes these things don't always fit the criteria for being included in your everyday To Do List, so they kind of float around hoping you'll remember them at the time that you actually need them.  Yeah, right. 

Suggestion:  create a Reference List folder on your computer.  Possible categories to include there are:  Favorite Restaurants or Restaurants to Try (for those times you want to go out but can't think of anywhere to go!), Websites to Check Out, Books to Read, Gift Ideas for Others, Gift Ideas for Me (when others ask what you want for your birthday, now you can check your list!), Birthdays, Personal Goals and Dreams, Places to Travel...this list of lists can go on and on.  Clear your mind by doing this, and have fun!

  

3 Quick Tips to Get Through a Pile of Papers!

Ever feel like you'll never get through that pile of paper on your desk?  It's one of the most dreaded tasks in your office, probably.  And if you don't deal with it, it just gets bigger and bigger.  Well, time to tackle your worst office fear!  Here are 3 tips that will make plowing through your paper piles easier:

1. Starting from the top of the pile, pick up each item and if it's trash, shred or recycle it.  If you need to keep it, decide where it goes and put it there.  Does it need to be filed?  File it now.  Is it something for a coworker to handle?  Delegate it now.   If it's an old magazine or newspaper, be honest with yourself about the likelihood of actually reading it.  If you know you're not going to, let it go.
2. As you're sorting through the papers, categories may emerge.  That's good!  If there are several papers pertaining to the same topic, keep them together until you get through and deal with them all at once. 
3. After you've filed, tossed, and delegated as much as possible, with what's left you can create a permanent home for each remaining category of items depending on what they are and how often you'll need to access the information.  It's ok to create a temporary file for tasks that will have a definite ending, as opposed to ongoing projects that will need a permanent file.

These are quick tips to help you clear off your desk a bit and to help you move through your paper piles.  It's possible that one of these days you'll want to seriously evaluate your workflow system and filing system to see if there are ways to become more efficient and productive.  Most people can benefit from improving their office organization, even if it's just a little bit.  After all, if you're not well organized, then the likelihood of the dreaded paper pile returning is pretty good. 

Five Uncommonly Known Causes of Disorganization

Many people who struggle with chronic disorganization feel bad about themselves because they think they should be able to get organized easily.  Some believe, or think that others will believe, that they aren't smart, or that they're just lazy and that's why they're struggling to get organized.  Not so at all!  Here are 5 reasons why you or someone you know may struggle with disorganization...so be understanding of yourself and others.  You may not know what others in your life are dealing with.

1. Life crises: health emergency, death of a loved one, job loss, trauma
2. Transitions: frequent moves, birth or adoption of a child, divorce
3. Beliefs/Attitudes: "I am a procrastinator--always have been, always will be", fear of being judged harshly by others
4. Mental Health Issues: depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive, hoarding disorder
5. Ineffective Beliefs About Possessions: valuing objects unrealistically, associating possessions with one's identity

Source: National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, Facts by Phyllis Flood Knerr

5 of My Favorite Organizing and Productivity Websites

I visit a lot of websites in an ongoing effort to find useful, relevant, and interesting material to use in my newsletter, social media efforts, and communication with my clients.  While I'm always interested in finding new sources, I find that when I'm in a hurry or just don't feel like spending a lot of time looking for new material, there are a handful of sites that I know I can count on for what I need.  Here are 5 of them--check them out when you get a chance!

http://www.43folders.com/
http://www.dumblittleman.com/
http://www.sortingwithstyle.com/
www.evancarmichael.com/productivity
www.organize.com/office.html