Aug 27

Organizing – One of Life’s Goals – Part 3

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Inspiration, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

Have you been following the previous blog posts in this Organizing Ones Life Series? If not, please take a moment to preview them as they do lead up to this one and the certainly get the ball rolling.

But lets talk for a moment about motivation. Why do you want to get organized? Are the walls closing in on you? Is it getting harder and harder to find things or keep your living / working spaces free of clutter? That’s definitely motivation – there’ s no question.

But lets also look at the benefits. The benefits you get from having an organized life pay off in more ways than just clean, tidy spaces.

Organizing – The Benefits Revealed

Have you ever stopped to wonder why you should organize things, whether in your home, office or life in general? Spend a little time organizing and you will quickly find out.

You will feel more relaxed. When you are having a moment of panic trying to find that document, you will surely wish that things were more organized as it is not much fun to have your stress level go through the roof.
It will give you more time for yourself. By having things organized you will save precious moments that can be instead devoted to efficiently working on your project or to yourself or your family.
You will be a better role model. Whether at home or work, having an organized environment will have the effect of showing that someone who is in charge of their environment has an easier time dealing with things.
You will create a nicer environment. It is much more pleasant to live in calm than in chaos.
It will be good for your health. Apart from just feeling better in general about your environment, an organized environment tends to be cleaner as you do not have so many hidden dust collectors.
You professional life will benefit. An organized office, in general, will give a much better impression to clients and the confidence to know that they are dealing with someone who has everything in order.
You may save money. Rather than having to go out and buy something that you are not sure whether or not you have, if you have things organized, you will know exactly what you have and what you need.
You will achieve more. Without obstacles impeding you due to disorganization, you will have a clearer outlook of what you want and more time to get there.

Motivated yet? Have any other motivators? Share your thoughts below. We love to hear from others who are truly living the reality of getting organized. If you can help inspire others with what motivates you – the world may very well be a better place.

Please share your insights below.

Aug 26

Love0

How to Stay Productive on a Friday Workday

By Sherry Borsheim Business Organizing, Home Office Organization No Comments

Stay Productive

You’ve put in the time, gotten over the hump and have finally reached the end of the week. But as the clock is slowing ticking the seconds away on a Friday, it can be extremely difficult to motivate yourself. However, don’t let the last remaining hours of the Friday go to waste. Instead, you may to do as much as you can in the home stretch, as it can put you in a better position for the dreaded Monday morning. The following are tips on how to stay productive as the clock is winding down on the week:

1. Plan for Small Tasks

While you may want to do as much as you can, you should be realistic about your own expectations. Working beyond your capacity can leave you burnt out, and in a worse state of mind to face the weekend. Instead, make a to-do list of tasks that are small and can be easily achieved by the end of the day. By taking a major project and breaking it up into bite-size chunks, it can have a positive effect on the progress and your overall productivity.

2. Remove Distractions

It can be difficult to stop yourself from gazing out the window, watching your colleagues leave for the weekend. However, this can quickly lead to procrastination, reducing your chances of productivity on a Friday. In general, you want to remove as many distractions from your space as possible, in order to get work done. Whether this involves moving away from the windows or cleaning up your workspace, take the steps you need in order to create an environment more conducive towards work.

3. Stay Away from Social Media

Social media can be a major hindrance to your productivity, as your friends and colleagues tweet and send out updates of fun plans and schedules. However, don’t get distracted by their upcoming plans for the weekend! Instead, try to limit your usage of social media, as it can quickly suck up your time and energy. Make sure you close out of any social media tools or profiles, as it can seriously hinder your workflow. Soon enough, you’ll be able to join in and enjoy your weekend as well.

4. Take Breaks

If you’re feeling unproductive, you may need to take some time away from your desk. One tip is to take breaks throughout the day in order to break up the monotony of a Friday. Great ways to relieve your restlessness include taking a brisk walk or to strike up a quick conversation with a colleague. In addition, many companies realize the need to take breaks, and often host mixers and happy hours on the Friday workweek. If your workplace offers this type of activity, it’s highly advised that you take part, in order to network with coworkers as well as gain a much needed respite.

5.Plan Ahead

If you simply cannot get any work done, then the least you can do is to plan for the days ahead. For example, organize your tasks for a project and determine a schedule that will help you achieve them effectively and efficiently. Not only will this cut down on precious time spent scheduling and planning, it will also relieve a great deal of stress on your upcoming work week.

How do you stay productive on Fridays?

Abby Evans is an avid blogger who writes on everything from finding jobs in Toronto and navigating the job search Canada. She has written on a variety of blogs and websites, and loves to learn all she can on the job hunt.

Aug 23

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Organizing – One Of Life’s Goals – Part 2

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Inspiration, Organizing Paper Files No Comments

Last entry we addressed how to start organizing your life. It was a very simple start to what could be for some a very overwhelming process. Today (now that you are a little more prepared) we are going through 5 specific steps to take things to the next level.

Organizing – Outlining the Steps

With some simple steps in place, you can take the pain out of organizing.

Clear the clutter: Before you start organizing, formulate a plan as to what you are not going to need anymore and are willing to throw away. Old bills? Paperwork? Magazines that are two years old? Clothing that has been kept in your closet unworn? Tools that are rusty or damaged?
Stick to the plan: It is easy as you are going through what you want to keep and what you can throw away to say “Oh, I might need that.” Or “I know I have not used that in three years, but I might.” If you have not needed it over the past few years, chances are you are not going to need it any time soon. Exceptions, of course, being items such as legal documents, medical records, ID and items of real sentimental value, for example.
Develop your system: For paperwork are you going to set up a filing system or refine the one you have? For closets are you going to organize in sections – say, pants on one side, sweaters hanging or on shelves and/or sorted by colour? Whatever you decide, make sure that it will be easy to follow and maintain and the system is functional so that it works for you. Nothing worse than going to all the trouble to organize and then realize afterwards that you are not at all happy with the system you have devised.
Make the most out of the space you have with organizers: Have a particular nook that seems like wasted space? What about putting shelves or building a bookcase? Whether in a home or an office, using containers or baskets to corral items can be both functional and decorative. These items can also fit nicely into spaces that previously sat empty. Drawers are also a place where there can be much wasted space. Use a drawer organizer to put everything into compartments. Not only does it look better than a bunch of items just thrown in, but it makes it a lot easier to find whatever you need.
Once you have the plan and the tools you will need, take a deep breath and get started!

Don’t forget to throw things out! You cannot possibly keep everything. The general rule is – if you have not used it in 3 months or more – it’s TIME TO GO!

Have fun organizing.