The Tickler File...

Some of us are familiar with the "tickler file", while others have never heard of such a thing.  It's a wonderfully effective tool for increasing productivity--if you use it.  Why the name "tickler file"?  First of all, let me say that I detest this name, probably due to the fact that I hate being tickled.  Never sneak up behind me and tickle me to be funny--more than likely you'll end up with a bruised shin, possibly worse.  Nothing personal, I just don't like to be tickled.
According to Wikipedia, "a tickler file is a collection of date-labeled file folders organized in a way that allows time-sensitive documents to be filed according to the future date on which each document needs action. Documents within the folders of a tickler file can be to-do lists, pending bills, unpaid invoices, travel tickets, hotel reservations, meeting information, birthday reminders, coupons, claim tickets, call-back notes, follow-up reminders, maintenance reminders, or any other papers that require future action. Each day, the folder having the current date is retrieved from the tickler file so that any documents within it may be acted on. Essentially, a tickler file provides a way to send a reminder to oneself in the future—"tickling" one's memory.
Tickler files are often used in newsrooms by editing, journalists, and reporters, as well as by many other groups, including sales representatives and professional offices in medicine, law, non-profit, government, and accounting.
A tickler file system also has other applications such as museum guides, specialized fact books, time management software, or any organized arrangement of information to which a person may want quick access."

Need to remember something? Put it in your Tickler File! So many valuable uses for such an unfortunately named creation!  More info...
 http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Tickler_file

One Reason Why You May Procrastinate

Everybody delays or puts off doing something they dislike at some time or another.  Yes, we procrastinate.  I'm guilty of putting off cleaning up the kitchen.  Every time I turn around, it seems, there are more dishes in the sink, there's stuff on the counter, the dishwasher needs to be unloaded...again??  Luckily, I can make my kids tackle some of this (one of the benefits of having children, I think), so it's not really that bad.  But still I sometimes procrastinate and the mess grows.

One reason people procrastinate is that the task is too big and can seem overwhelming.  People don't know where to start.  "Oh, I think I'll just work on this over here and I'll get to that later", you think to yourself.  But later the task is still overwhelming and is possibly bigger because it's been delayed and has grown.  Solution:  really examine why you've been putting something off.  Is it large and intimidating?  If so, break it down into smaller steps.  Work on doing one step a day or one step a week, depending on what it is.  Don't get discouraged if the small step barely makes a dent, the important thing to keep in mind is that you've begun making progress.  And you're no longer procrastinating!

 

Snow Helps With Organizing!

 Last Saturday's snow was so unexpected.  It's way too early for snow here, and often when even just flurries are predicted, it turns out that nothing happens anyway.  Much to the delight of my children, the couple of inches we got were enough for them to haul out the sleds and snow boards from our unfinished storage room in the basement.  This is the same room that houses the boxes of Christmas decorations, other seasonal decorations, the old bunk beds, some miscellaneous tools, etc.  While not in total disarray, it's gotten a bit cluttered. 

My plan for the day was to decorate the outside of the house for Christmas, and then set the tree up and take care of decorating the inside.  The snow, however beautiful it looked coming down, discouraged me from spending time outside wrestling with lights, garland and all that stuff.  I don't like cold weather.  

So with the extra time I gained from not having to go outside, I used my time wisely and got the unfinished storage room organized.  It feels great to have sorted through boxes, rearranged tools and other items, and I even swept the floor!  So thank you snow, for helping me organize a space that hadn't been high on my priority list, but needed some attention.  I may not like cold weather, but that snow sure was beautiful... 

Another Office Organizing Myth...

I'm going to make you throw away all of your stuff.  NOT!  As a professional office organizer, my goal is to help you function at a higher level of efficiency in your office space, no matter what you have in there.  I absolutely will not make you throw away anything.  After all, people value different things--what may be important to me may mean nothing to you, and vice versa.  I understand that.  It's more important to focus on organizing what you have than it is to focus on how much you have.  

Being organized doesn't necessarily mean you have to get rid of things, although sometimes that's a part of becoming better organized.  Being organized is when you know what you have and can access items easily and quickly.  That's all!

Impediment to Efficiency

As hard as I try to be well organized, efficient with how I spend my time, and as productive as possible each day, sometimes events occur that impede my success in these areas.  It makes me crazy!  I crave order, after all. 

There's almost nothing worse (except for serious injury or death to a family member or close friend, of course) than having a dead car battery.  It's so sudden.  Unexpected.  Unwelcome.  There I was, prepared for an afternoon of meetings that I'd been looking forward to.  I had freshened my lipstick, made sure I had a bottle of water with me, grabbed my bag, and jumped in my car.  I turned the key, and...nothing.  What??  I turned the key again...still nothing.  Oh no--my car won't start!  But I have important plans, dammit!  This can't be happening! 

Planning is a good thing.  Whether you resist it or not, it's necessary for most of us to plan much of our days in order to get things done.  But it's also important to be flexible and adaptable when unexpected impediments to our efficiency occur.  (I'm writing this at the car dealership waiting on a new battery--thank goodness for wireless!  And thanks, Tim, for the jump.)

Frustrated By Your Disorganized Office? You Don't Have To Be...

Common Office Organizing Myth...

I'm going to judge you, yell at you, make you feel bad and guilty about your disorganized office.  No--that's a MYTH!  People are sometimes intimidated when I visit their office because they think I'm going to judge them about how disorganized they are.  Not true!  Nobody's perfect, and frankly, we all have areas in which we struggle with varying levels of disorganization.


 I enjoy what I do because I like helping people organize their space so that they are able to function at a higher level of efficiency.  I am understanding and non-judgmental, and it's my genuine desire to help others navigate easily through their days just by improving their organizing skills. 

Don't be intimidated by consulting an office organizer--we are human, too!  There's no shame in asking for help when it will result in saving time, stress, and money.