TIPS

Sometimes all you need is some guidance
– here are some quick tips to get you started:

Space/Desk:
  • Never let your stuff overwhelm the container; either reduce the “stuff” or
    expand the container
  • Recognize the purpose of the space and respect it – e.g., if your desk is
    for work, remove all but only 1-3 decorative items to another area
  • Location, location, location – keep close to you the
    things you use daily and archive or remove those that
    you use infrequently such as excess supplies, textbooks or old files

Time:
  • Multitask selectively -- you will get more done if you focus on one thing at a time (e.g., laundry and TV watching may go together, but checking email and writing that critical report for your boss doesn’t!)
  • Before you leave the office or go to bed each evening, identify one to three important items you want to make progress on the next morning – and then do that before checking email!
  • Need to control meetings that go on too long?  Schedule them for 11 am or 4 pm (people will want to finish so they can go home or go to lunch!)

Paper:
  • Make sure your in box IS your in box and not a home for “postponed decisions"; keep it only for those items you haven’t yet processed
  • DO SOMETHING with each piece of paper you handle, even if it’s only to mark the date or a key word/next step on the top right corner
  • Think before you print – less than 20% of what gets filed EVER gets looked at again!


















For more tips and other resources, click here to subscribe to my monthly
e-newsletter and get my FREE “Parts of 10 Organizing Tips”.
<a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Flash Required</a>
Flash Required
Time to get back in control of your space, papers, computer, time
Can you find what you need when you need it?
"73% (of interviewed workers) said their impressions of colleagues were influenced by the way their desks are organized. Nearly 70% believed that workers with messy desks were perceived as less career-driven than their fastidious counterparts."- Arizona Republic, 6/01
...Regain control of your space, papers, computer, time
Computer/Email:
  • Backup, Backup, Backup! – identify and use a system to save your data files to some other device (USB drive, network, CD, internet service) regularly in case of system crash or loss; don't forget to test it as well
  • Too much email?  Set up filters to send all those listserv items to a “to read” folder so they don’t distract you from more important items
  • Interruptions rob your productivity – turn off automatic email alerts to take charge of these distractions