As I’m working, I tend to think of something else that I need to do. If I don’t do it right then, it’s easy to forget. But by doing that task right then I lose the momentum on the current task.

Enter the notes. I jot down the idea I had or the to-do item for later. It keeps me from veering off in another direction, suddenly realizing I’m ten minutes into a completely different task. Because then I’ve lost track of what I was originally doing. So the notes actually help keep me focused. That’s a good thing!

Unfortunately, I’m starting to get a stack of little papers in front of my monitor. And with a child who is almost tall enough to reach them and who has a penchant for ripping and shredding paper, I risk losing track of those ideas.

I need to bring back my notebook. I have plenty of blank notebooks, so it’s time to return to a better system. I can capture all of my ideas, notes and lists all in one place, refer back to it when needed, and even take it with me. As long as I don’t lose the notebook (or let the child get ahold of it) I’ll have my ideas with me. And it beats searching my desk for that ‘one’ piece of paper I just know I have there somewhere. Or leaving said piece of paper in the office when I really needed it on the road.

I’ll still keep the tear-off calendar. I like having the day’s date right in front of me. And the pieces of paper are great for quick calculations on something that I won’t need to save for later. But if it’s anything I think I’ll need later, it’s best to capture it somewhere else.

Do you need to grab an idea before it disappears? Do you find yourself getting distracted by those ideas, losing momentum on what you should be doing? What’s working for you?

[Image: Newscom]

Post from: My Organized Biz

So many of us suffer from the clutter affliction. We have too much paper, too many gadgets, and basically just too much stuff crammed into our offices. What are we to do?

Some people live with the clutter, never quite able to find what they need. Others upgrade their space, thinking that just a little more room will help. And many of us buy more containers to better organize all that stuff.

It’s all too much! That’s precisely the point of Walsh’s book. We have too much stuff. We don’t need all of it. We’re too attached to things.

While the book is geared toward homeowners, there are good points for business owners as well.

Take a look at your office. Define the purpose of the space. Everything that does not fit that space needs to go. It does not belong there. Create zones in the office to help increase your efficiency. Try to keep your horizontal spaces as clear as possible. And notice how a clean desk does wonders for making your office feel calmer and more efficient.

File regularly and get rid of paper clutter. We keep way more paper than we’ll ever need. Be ruthless. If you haven’t looked at something in a year, you probably don’t need it. (Tax returns and other important documents excluded.)

All in all, I found Walsh’s book easy to read and packed with a lot of great information. I was immediately inspired to start purging things I know I don’t need, but had been putting off getting rid of. It’s still a work in progress, but it was just the push I needed.

I still tend to keep too many books and notebooks. But I’m learning what paper to throw away and will hopefully be able to start scanning more receipts for taxes and getting rid of even more paper.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Did it help you?

Image: Amazon.com

(For a link to this book, please see the Author Links page.)

Post from: My Organized Biz

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – I have great, profound, and amazing thoughts. Usually at night. Or in the car. Or somewhere, sometime when I can’t really capture them. It never fails that I have a terrific idea, or someone calls, or I meet someone who doesn’t have a card, and I have no paper and pen. (Well, it used to.)

It’s frustrating. But a few years back I bought a small Moleskine notebook. And now, when I need to capture information, ideas, or just scrape off swirling thoughts, I have a place to do so.

Sometimes, I’m in the middle of a project and other ideas keep vying for my attention. Grab the notebook, jot things down, and then I can get back to what I was doing. Other times, I’ll be on the bus, thinking about post ideas or what I have to do next. Maybe I suddenly remember an email I forgot to send. Yipes! I write that in the notebook, too.

The point is, I have one place where I capture ideas. One place where I write things, rather than a thousand pieces of paper or sticky notes that can get lost. I don’t have to go searching.

And believe me, I used to search.

I’d tear apart my entire desk, looking for something. Trying to remember just where I put that envelope with a phone number on the back. Or worse, I’d run across an envelope with a number and first name. No context. No clue to tell me what it was for.

I find that in my notebook, I can flesh out an idea, briefly. I can jot more than a name and phone number, but also the reason I’m keeping that number and name. Later, I can add things to my to-do list, put numbers in the address book, or further plan out project ideas.

Don’t let those ideas get away from you. You don’t need a Moleskine, but I have to admit I do like it because it has an elastic band to keep it closed, and a bookmark to help me find my place again. You can use a small notepad and a rubber band if you’d like. Just grab those ideas so you can use them later.

I have a cheaper do-it-yourself alternative tomorrow. In the mean time, tell me what device you use to capture ideas.

Post from: My Organized Biz

Ann took me up on my offer to do a Makeover Wednesday about her workspace. Yay! Here is a picture of Ann’s office.

This lovely space is located at the end of her bedroom, which Ann says she can see while she’s in bed.

Here’s what else she said:

I want to find a balance between tidy, neat and organized (don’t want to look at piles from my bed!) but not too sterile. I won’t have a proper desk with drawers in there; I have one large table and another small (and rickety) “back table”.

I was using this space for my craft business, but now it will be just for writing and household office work. So a lot less cluttered – I hope!

Last week, I wrote an article about the drawbacks of putting your office in your bedroom, so I won’t belabor the point here. However, I think this dual-purpose arrangement can work with some minor creative adjustments.

My suggestions for Ann’s office

Idea 1: Build capacity. Currently, most of the office tools are on the desk and visible. You might want to make use of some of the space under the desk (provided it doesn’t impede your foot and leg comfort) by bringing in some storage.

I love these rolling carts with drawers for storage. Not only are they small enough for under the desk, the drawers are opaque so they let in light and don’t look too chunky.

This kind of cart would be great to store the things you use regularly but would rather not have out on the desk. This would also diminish the amount of visual distractions you can see from the bed.

Idea 2: Create support. Ann mentioned her rickety second table. If you’re using an unstable piece of furniture, it’s creating instability in your workspace – and even in your work. How does it feel to have something there that’s not reliable? Get yourself a decent table as a secondary workspace, tout de suite.

Idea 3: Define your sleeping retreat. From the looks of it, the white dresser and TV do a fairly good job of defining the boundaries of your bedroom. I’d recommend taking it a step further. Consider hanging a 1.5″ dowel between the eaves and hanging a sheer curtain from it. You could also do a microfiber one if you like the room really dark at night. You could also do a folding screen, but I find they’re a little too angular for a bedroom. They can also be a bit clunky in small spaces.

Creating this separation would do a couple of things that address your dilemma:

• Fabric creates softness and lets light through (you might want to hang the collage on the wall so even more light gets in).
• It allows you to keep your office the way you like to without worrying about its condition 24/7 (that just sounds tiring).
• It would block the view of your office from bed, creating a cozy oasis for you and your beloved.

Do you have other ideas for Ann?

If you’d like to ask a question and be featured on Makeover Wednesday, check out this page for more information.

Post from: My Organized Biz

]]> http://www.myorganizedbiz.com/makeover-wednesday-anns-ensuite-office/feed/ 1 http://www.myorganizedbiz.com/how-to-grow-a-great-idea/ http://www.myorganizedbiz.com/how-to-grow-a-great-idea/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:40:11 +0000 Jennifer Hofmann http://www.myorganizedbiz.com/how-to-grow-a-great-idea/ Post from: My Organized Biz
]]> Have you got a great business idea you want to bring to life? Hint: your first step might not look like “work.”

Glen at LifeDev has a brilliant post about “growing ideas”. Check it out.

Jennifer

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