Holiday Organization

The holidays are amongst us...whether you want them to be or not! Getting organized will help reduce your stress this holiday season. Take some time to sit down and make a list of tasks that need to be completed in the next 2 months. Schedule them out in an attainable amount of time and enjoy the season! And if you are looking for a great gift idea, give the gift of organization. Inquire with area on gift certificates, organizing gifts, etc. for loved ones this holiday season!

Tips For Electronic Organization

Clutter doesn't only come in the form of tangibles.  Your computer can get get cluttered too.  Do you have a hard time finding email, pictures or programs?  Tackling your computer clutter will increase your efficiency.  

E-Mail:

Set up folders and after reading the email, decide if it needs to be saved and place it in the appropriate folder.  I place emails that need follow up in a separate folder (if I am not immediately replying), to not clutter my inbox.  It is easier to organize as you read and will save you time in the future.  It also helps you keep track of things you need to reply to.  

Pictures:

Many of us have hundreds, if not thousands of photos on our computer.  The easiest way to find the photos that you need, is to organize them.  Make sure you name each picture and place them in their proper folder.  For instance, you take a trip to Cabo San Lucas.  Name the folder Cabo 2009 and each picture can be named Cabo1, Cabo2, etc.  Organizing your photos as you upload them onto your computer is the best way to keep your photos organized.  I also recommend sizing them for emails, printing, etc. as you upload them to your computer.

Music:  

Using a program such as iTunes will help you keep your music organized by artist, genre, album, etc.  

3rd Party Applications:

If you are like me, I enjoy a clean desktop.  I also enjoy 3rd party applications.  I use a folder named "Downloads" where I place all of my 3rd party applications to easily find.  

Don't let the computer clutter slow you down.  Take an afternoon and organize your computer.  Not only will you increase your productivity and save time, you will probably find many things you can delete and your computer will run faster.  

Organization is Overwhelming!

The overwhelming feeling of disorganization can be easier than the overwhelming feeling of getting organized.  Don't let the stress of the work deter you from the benefits.  Some tips to ease the discomfort:

1.  Take on one room at a time.

2.  Take on one task at a time.  (i.e.  dresser drawers)

3.  Set aside hours and not days.

4.  Make a list prior to tackling your task.  

5.  Always have an end goal in mind.  

Following these simple steps will help reduce the stress of organization.  Once you complete one project, the satisfaction of your results will motivate you to reach your goals.  If you are unsure of where to start or how to start, a professional organizer is a great resource.  Contact area today for a free consultation!

Top 5 Signs You Have Too Much Stuff

1.  You buy things and never take them out of the bag.

2.  You buy duplicates not realizing you already had it at home.

3.  You can’t find a place to put it.

4.  You don’t know where to find what you need.

5.  You rent a storage unit.

If you find any of these things true, you may want to start looking into getting organized.  area specializes in eliminating your “too much stuff” list.  If you are uncertain how to get organized, contact a professional organizer to help you eliminate the unnecessary and reap the rewards of organization.

Organizing Quotes

Here are a few area's favorite organizing quotes:

1.  For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned. (Unknown)

2.  Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.  (A.A. Milne)

3.  Designers can create normalcy out of chaos; they can clearly communicate ideas through the organizing and manipulating of words and pictures.  (Jeffrey Veen)

 4.“Don't agonize, organize.  (Florynce R. Kennedy)

5.  Once you have a clear picture of your priorities- that is values, goals, and high leverage activities- organize around them.  (Stephen Covey)

6.   The trouble with organizing a thing is that pretty soon folks get to paying more attention to the organization than to what they're organized for.  (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

7.  There can be no one best way of organizing a business.  (Joanne Woodward)

8.  Organize your life around your dreams - and watch them come true.  (Unknown)

iPhone and Organization

If there is one thing I have purchased that brings me joy every day, it would be my iPhone.  I love iPhone so much that iPhone is named "Warner".  Wherever I go, Warner goes.  Warner has proven to be much more than a social fad, music player and phone.  With Apples, app store and the plethora of applications, organization is made simple.  Here are a few applications (including the Apple apps that come with the phone) that help make my life simpler.

1.  Contacts-A duplicate application, that can be found in the phone application, syncs seamlessly with your address book.  Contacts allows you to enter ANY information about your friends, colleagues, clients or new acquaintances.  Whether you add the information from your phone or your computer, iTunes will transfer the information to the other. 

 

2.  iCal-I use iCal as my sole home calendar.  I have all of my reminders set up on the computer, which syncs to iPhone and notifies me even if I am away from the computer, when I have a pending appointment, bill, etc.  I personally believe keeping an electronic calendar is not only imperative to staying on top of things, but it's also smart.  Whether you add the information from your phone or your computer, the iTunes will transfer the information to the other.  

3.  Springnote-This web based tool offers an iPhone application, that allows you to view documents, calendars, notes, and many other things.  I specifically use Springnote to securely hold passwords, logins, bank account numbers, and random notes to myself.  It is essentially an online journal that can be used as a group or on your own.  If you own a small business, Springnote can be a tool to share documents with your employees.  Whether you add the information from your phone or your computer, the iTunes will transfer the information to the other.  

The list could go on and on.  Throughout my 2 years of iPhone ownership, I have downloaded many applications and webapps and I have found that iPhone has made the greatest impact to my organizing success.  There are many PDA phones out there, but I have not found one that compares to iPhone ingenuity, design and productivity.  

I think it's time for a little one on one with Warner.

Getting Organized AND Staying Organized

There is no excuse for disorganization.  NONE!  Do not use your children, your work, or your busy social calendar as an excuse for not being organized.  The fact of the matter is that you are disorganized b/c you do not know how to be organized...or you are just plain lazy! 

In order to get organized you will need to devote some time to cleaning, purging, and rearranging.  Take on one tasks at a time.  For example, tackle your kitchen, then your bedroom, then your closet, etc.  until each room of your house is organized.  It's great to set up a plan before starting this project.  Focus on what your intended outcome will be and always remember why you are wanting to get organized.  

Getting organized is only half the battle.  Staying organized is the crucial process to your organizational plan.  The more you pick up after yourself, put the dishes away, etc. the easier it is to maintain an organized space.  If I use a dish, I put the dish in the dishwasher as soon as I am done.  I do not place it in the sink, to then have to spend an extra few minutes to load the dishwasher after the sink is full.  I use the hamper to hold dirty laundry.  It saves me from having to spend those extra few minutes of picking up dirty laundry and putting it in the hamper when it comes time to do laundry.  

The key to staying organized is to keep your eye on the prize and know that by taking 10 seconds now to put something away saves you the 3 minutes later of collecting everything to put away at once.  It also keeps your space looking clean, neat and organized.  

area's professional organizing service offers "Stay Organized" to all of our clients, making it that much easier to continue an organized lifestyle.