When I was a teenager, I had a sign above my desk that said, “A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind.” It was perfect for my clutter justification. But I was constantly frustrated and unable to find anything without going through every single pile on the desk.

Eventually I learned to keep my desk neater. I started using my file drawer. I bought little organizers for my desktop and drawers. And I regularly cleaned it.

Those bad habits are slowly creeping back in. I know what I need to do. The problem is taking the time to do it. I was gone for two weeks. While I was out, the mail piled up on my desk. Even though I had mostly cleared things, it didn’t take long at all for it to get out of control.

Vigilance is the key. And that’s something I’ve been sorely lacking. Between traveling to see family, and baby duties, it’s been tough to find – or take – the time to do something about it. We’re down to one nap a day and I do everything I can to get work done while the baby’s sleeping. So my desk suffers.

It’s time to tackle that messy desk. Wrangle those bills. File receipts. Finish reviewing some items for you all. Work on an office makeover. And gather those giveaways and post them for everyone.

I’m not perfect. I know what I should be doing. Sometimes things get in the way. And I suddenly realize that I need to take my own advice and get cracking. So I will.

And maybe I’ll start one of those giveaways tomorrow. How’s that sound?

What are you fighting right now in your quest for organization?

Post from: My Organized Biz

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – One of my desk drawers is rapidly becoming a junk drawer. Oh, it didn’t start out that way, but over time it has become a sort of catch-all for the things I don’t know what to do with.

The drawer contains a bunch of cords that I know I need for various electronic devices. Software for my laptop and desktop. Extra sharpies. My iPod shuffle. Extra earphones. Battery chargers. There may even be some other items lurking under the mess.

So this week, I’m going to conquer this drawer. I plan to empty it completely and start over. First, I’m going to determine if I need everything in there. If I don’t need it, it’ll either go in the donation pile or the trash.

Second, I’m going to organize all of those cords. I’m going to fold the cords, put a rubber band on them, and label them so I know what they go to. It should make the drawer neater and easier to close.

Third, I’ll arrange the rest of the items in the drawer neatly so I’ll be able to find things later. The software is already stacked nicely, so I just need to see if there’s anything that I’m no longer using. So they will probably go back in pretty much the same way.

Finally, I’ll try to keep it that way. I will take some before and after pictures to remind myself of how good it looks when it’s nice and neat. Once it’s properly organized, it’s so much easier to work to keep it that way.

What projects are you working on this week? How’s it going? Are you losing speed, or needing some motivation or encouragement? Let us cheer you on!

Post from: My Organized Biz

In reality, though, the office extends beyond the desk… to the living room, the kitchen table and, yes, the car.

I’ve been lugging around a frightful amount of crap in the trunk for at least 5 months. Last night, I lay in bed thinking those things that only come up in the wee hours. “What would I do,” I wondered to myself. “If I got a flat tire?” This led to me mentally disassembling the contents of my trunk onto the imaginary roadside in an effort to free the doughnut. When Triple A showed up, I realized I’d be mortified.

So today I tackled the trunk.

Equipment:
Trash can
Recycle bin
Vacuum cleaner

Here’s what Heather the Neon looked like before (Yes, those are burned-out lightbulbs. Don’t ask.):

After no more than 20 minutes, here’s what she looked like:

Everything that remians is used for my staging business and there’s plenty of room to get at the tire or bring home groceries.

And here’s the thing: not only did it only take a mere 20 minutes, I felt physically lighter. Like I’d lost 10 pounds. It was amazing.

What’s in your car trunk right now?

Don’t forget about the b5media Blog-a-thon on June 20!

Post from: My Organized Biz

Several readers agreed to the challenge and are blogging about it – including ArtBizCoach Alyson Stanfield and Kristen King of BizChicksRule.

It’s not to late to get going – even if they ARE predicting snow in your area. “Spring cleaning” is a state of mind – and your office will thank you for it.

Check out the thread here – and consider picking something to work on this month. I promise, you’ll be in good company!

Post from: My Organized Biz

Move your chair - If you’re seated, you might be likely to check email or get distracted. So move your chair away from your desk. Stand in front of your desk and give yourself a big picture view.

Set?

Get a timer – Whether it’s lemon-shaped or on your phone, set it for 15 minutes.

Go!

Rev your engine and start moving. Only pick up one thing at a time and then make a decision about where it should go – recycling, garbage, files, mail, etc.

• Toss (recycle) anything you haven’t looked at in over a month and/or “might need someday”. Chances are good you can find it online. So let it go.
• Put like things together. Just make a small pile until you decide where they should go. A client of mine found she had 6 separate peices of paper with leads she wanted to follow up on. Putting them together helped her figure out what to with them next.
• If something only takes a few minutes to complete (like putting a date in your calendar), do it while you’re cleaning so you don’t have to pick it up again later.

Stop when the timer goes off – and you’ll have a neater desk at the end. If you want to keep working, go for it, but I recommend giving yourself a break (and a pat on the back). You can plan another 15 minutes later on.

C’mon, you’re just perusing the internet right now. You’ve got 15 minutes, don’t you? Go ahead – stand up and push your chair back. It’s not so hard – and you’ll feel sooo much better when you’re done.

Post from: My Organized Biz

My friends, April is here and it’s time.

I’ve never done the spring cleaning thing. It’s too Martha. Too cliche. But you know what? Something’s got to motivate me – and I need your help.

So I’m issuing a challenge – to you (and myself):

• 1. Pick one thing you want to clean up this month.
• 2. Post what you’re going to do – here or on your own blog.
• 3. Then check in at the end of April and share how you did.

Choosing only one thing prevents overwhelm and increases the chances for success. Got a file drawer? A tower of old photos? Cobwebs in the corners?

You’ve got a lot going on, so think of just one thing you can fit into your month that will increase the amount of clear space in your office. What would increase your enjoyment of your office if it were moved or removed?

Think of a goal for April and post it here. If we do this together, it’ll be easier and more fun. I’m rounding up some help by tagging Anne, Alyson, Eric, Kelly, Miranda, and Vicky to consider doing this with me.

Are you in? What’s your spring cleaning goal?

NEWS: Kristen King of BizChicksRule.com has taken the challenge. Read about her goal here.

Post from: My Organized Biz

Unfortunately, all that sunshine means winter’s dust and cobwebs are more visible than ever. I’m getting that springtime itch to, yes, clean up.

My to-do list includes shampooing the carpets, washing windows, getting financial records under control (I’ve got a system but not using it lately), and removing wallpaper and painting.

This week’s Makeover Wednesday is about you. If you’ve been reading a little while, you know I usually give advice to others, but this week I want to know what advice you’re giving to yourself.

Take a minute to share:

• What’s on your springtime to-do list in your office or home (since you work there)?
• What neglected projects or secret corners are you getting yourself ready to tackle?

There’s power in numbers, so chime in with your goal so we can all get geared up for spring!

Post from: My Organized Biz