When your businesses consist of home businesses, reorganization in the home affects one’s time and work load. We live in a multi-generational home with six of us using space that originally was shared by three, then two when our daughter left home. Now, due to various circumstances and health situations, her family of four live with us.Now that our granddaughter has left for college, there’s some rearranging going on as far as bedrooms and business space is concerned. So while we stop, or take moments out, to rearrange and reorganize (and set the extras out for another yard sale tomorrow), …read more

We’ve been discussing time management, organizing your day, and organization to be more productive in your business and home over the past few days.  I’ve undertaken to spend at least 20 minutes per day to do something toward clearing my clutter and organizing.  I’ve asked for your organization tips and resources.
The opportunity to host a book tour for Time Management in an Instant, 60 Ways to Make the Most of Your Day came my way just at this time.  Authors Karen Leland and Keith Bailey are touring the blogosphers this week.  I thought you, my readers, would like to know about this book, …read more

It seems such a simple practice that it’s not worth mentioning.  But I’ve discovered many people comment, “Why didn’t I think of that!”
Decide upon a color for various topics in your files, then code anything pertaining to each with a particular color…whether it’s the ink you use for writing on the file folder, the color of the label, the paper clips you use (some come in various colors), even the color of the folders themselves.
When I was researching and writing a resource book for writers, my editor set up a filing system for my research by color coding the labels on …read more

THURSDAY THIRTEEN
If you’re better organized, you’re generally more efficient and effective.  Let’s look at 13 ways to save time and be more effective.

Use an answering machine to take care of unnecessary calls and avoid interruptions
Be firm about your working hours
Make a “to do” list and stick with it, but don’t have so many items on it you become discouraged.
Take a short break every couple of hours.
Handle all postal mail as soon as it comes in.
Quickly scan e-mail and get rid of trash.
Try to complete a task instead of jumping to something else.
Keep a small notebook with you to jot down …read more

I often think of a friend’s remark when her four children were small.  Her house always seemed so organized and neat, even though the youngsters were scurrying around with their friends.  My house with one daughter and my sewing business often seemed cluttered..
When I asked Kathy how she did it, she replied, “Don’t look in my closets,” she answered with a grin.  “The stuff will fall out on you.  Also, I have toy boxes in their rooms and a long windown seat trunk in the living room.  We simply stuff the stuff in those till I have time to sort through.”
Do …read more

I’d be lost without my “to do” list, which I try to organize each evening before I go to bed. Sometimes I’m better at this than others…to fix the coming day’s schedule and work in my mind.
However, if I don’t write something down, I bounce from one task to another wthout accomplishing much at all.
There are a number of ways to create a “to do” list and I’m still working on the best for me.

3×5 index cards for each day of the week. Adjust as you accomplish or don’t the items on them.
Write the most important items at the top …read more

With some people, organizing becomes an excuse for not moving forward in their business. I’ve met several people who say, “When I get my files organized….When I get learn more about my products…When I get my web site set up….”However, they never get anything to the standards they feel their business merits, thus organizing becomes an excuse for business inactivity.  Why does this happen?

They are compulsive people who think they must have everything in order before they can be productive.
They actually think organizing, filing, indexing are productive aspects of a business.
They have a fear of the actual productive activities if it involves  tasks …read more