Storage jars image: sxc.hu

For a lot of things see thru bins are great, I love how even if they aren’t really

labeled, you can pretty much tell at a glance what’s in them…for things like my

origami collection, having a see thru bin inspires me to make more.

but there’s also exceptions, stuff that looks so cluttery, that even containerized you

don’t want to see it…the toolkit and cleaning supplies and whatnot, that I prefer to

keep in opaque containers.

I agree with Jessica.  There are times when see-through containers, because of what’s stored in them, would detract from the appeal of your work area or shop.  So consider the overall attractiveness, as well as convenience, when organizing.

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They can be utilized in a work area to make the most use of wall space.  (Sometimes, rather than building shelves on a wall, we use shelving units.)

Fabric artists like to use shelves for their fabrics, often color coding them or organizing by type of material.  They also can place jars and other containers on shelves.

If you feel your shelves are too messy or can’t be arranged attractively, you might want to get units with doors on them, as my daughter did when she had to use part of the living room for her sewing area.

Do you utilize wall space in your office and/or work areas with shelves?  What do you find works best in organizing them?

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Then when we need it again, we don’t know where to look.  Or it gets moved to another place because it was left in the way of the next task. 

I’ve done this time and again.  I’ve finished a task but don’t take the time to return the items I’ve used.  I get called away then don’t get back to cleaning up.  Someone else might come along and put them away (in what they think is a logical place) and I don’t know where. 

So….make it a habit to return, return, return anything you’ve used.  Also, have a specific place for finished products.

Do you have a good “return” system?

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Too many times I’ve put items away, thinking I’d remember where they were because I didn’t want to take the time to label.  Or take the time to sort and organize items instead of stuffing them all together in one place.

Even a minimum amount of sorting and labeling would help me.

So label, label, label!  It wouldn’t matter whether you use a professional label maker or stick masking tape or sticky labels to the items, drawers, containers. 

Do you have a handy labeling system that works well for you?

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Then they will sit in my tote bag, on my desk, or my stationery box waiting to be addressed.  I have some addresses in a file folders, others in an old address book, more in a schedule book I carry in my purse, others on business cards, and still more in my husband’s computer.

Why can’t I take the time and get them all together? 

I don’t want them all stored on the computer or an electronic address book.  My husband did that once in a handy dandy electronic gadget for this purpose.  Then when the address gadget went “kaput,” we lost all the addresses.

So I must start little by little (possibly part of my 20 minutes per day of organization) and pull them together, along with phone numbers.

How do you organize your addresses for postal mailing.

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Sometimes I don’t feel organized as I go from task to task.  But I try to make every moment count, even those when I relax and read.  Basically I enjoy all my jobs, so that helps me keep working at them.

To fit all into my schedule:

• I make “to do” lists for the various areas of my life
• I carry notebook and pen with me to jot down ideas and tasks
• I multi task as much as possible
• I take short “power” naps to keep my energy up.
• I take vitamins, which help me from getting too tired.
• I find small moments of enjoyment with my family, rather than waiting until I can schedule a whole day.
• I’m continually interested in new ideas.
• I’m trying to get better organized so that I don’t waste time looking for stuff.

Mainly, I try to make every moment count!

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This organizer rotated on a sort of “lazy Susan” base.  The teacher had each of the four sides organized for each of her four reading groups.  Everything was so well grouped that I had no trouble finding the materials for each reading session.

I can think of many ways to use this rotating organizer…for home business people, for crafters, teachers, families and more.  How would incorporate one of these into your desk, office or work room organization?

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I’m struggling with piles and piles of letters and other documents going back 8 months that need weeded, shredded, filed,….. ! I spend more energy agonising about getting it done – because I know it will demand a fairly full day of my life – that I likely would just doing it.

The reader mentioned she liked the suggestions mentioned here at My Organized Biz.  Hopefully by following some of them…what about 20 Minutes a Day of Organization…will help her make a dent and then get her mass of paperwork fully organized.

Tackle a little at a time (“one bite at a time”) and you’ll eventually get it done.  Some days you’ll have more than 20 minutes.  If you sit there and agonize, the mass of paper will continue to grow. 

Do you have any suggestions for this reader?

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As I browsed through an office supply catalog, I saw these in various sizes. (Hers held about a dozen folders.)  Also some were combined with horizontal boxes.  Then there were upright plastic and metal sorters of similar style that held folders.

I’ve used the horizontal files, but find my “stuff” often gets lost in them.  I’ll have to look into these upright vertical sorters to hold the folders and research I’m currently working on.

Have you tried upright files for organizing your work?  Such a simple solution.

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So if you have a friend who likes to organize with sticky notes, perhaps you’ve discovered just the thing to give when you need a gift.  I’m forever on the lookout for unusual sticky notes, as well as note paper.  Then I have them on hand for my organizing, for attaching as an eye-catcher with my correspondence, and just for fun to brighten my day.

Some that have caught my eye:

• Those in the shape of fruit and flowers
• Those with cute and inspirational sayings
• Colorful ones
• Those with my name or initial
• My granddaughter was going to toss out some with her initial, so I salvaged them.  Now how will I use them since the letter K doesn’t appear anywhere in my name?  Perhaps somewhere in my organization there is a need!
• Could I have some printed up with my name and the title of one of my books?

What interesting sticky notes have you collected and how do you use them in your organizing?

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