Does your to-do list overwhelm you? Is it so large or intimidating that you don’t know where to start? Stop and think about it for a minute. Maybe your to-do list isn’t what it should be. Although I strongly feel that there’s no single right way to do things, maybe you do need to think about purpose a to-do list really serves.
For instance, I still need to do my taxes. Normally I have them done by February, but I still have some sorting and data entry to do. It’s been harder to fit it in than I thought it would …read more

Lately I’ve been taking notes on the back of my tear-off calendar sheets. It’s a way for me to recycle those little bits of paper before tossing them into the shredder. They are handy for jotting down an idea that I need to follow up on later.
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 …read more

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 …read more

When you’re organizing your space, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are a lot of choices out there. Just a quick glance into The Container Store can give you more options than you ever thought were possible.
So how do you decide what to use? There are binders, magazine files, stacking trays, vertical desktop organizers, file cabinets, shoe boxes, regular boxes.
First, you need to look at your needs. What types of items do you plan to store? For how long?
What items do you have on hand? Will they work for your storage needs? Just because a magazine file is made for …read more

Want a few tips on organizing your workspace? You can watch a short video on YouTube that gives some tips on keeping your space efficient.
For instance, put the things you need most closest to you. Only keep today’s “to do” items on your desk. Get rid of the ten notebooks you have strewn around and write everything down in one place. And clear your desk every day. Watch the video, from AsktheDecorator.com:

(myorganizedbiz.com) – I like to save a variety of bookmarks and sites for future reference. It could be something that helps my business. Maybe a site that helps me improve my writing or network. Or I might save a page that I want to read later.
And when I want to access it from a variety of computers, I turn to Delicious (formerly del.icio.us). I can easily save a site to my bookmarks, tag it, and return to it later. Also, it’s linked to my Friend Feed so others can see what I’m bookmarking as well.
You can use a bookmarklet to …read more

I don’t brainstorm nearly often enough. It can be so helpful for generating ideas. And it has a wide variety of applications.
You can brainstorm the beginnings of a project, to help you figure out what resources you’ll need or what general steps to take. It gives you a solid starting point, something to help you flesh out a larger plan.
Try planning your day this way. Think about everything you need – or think you need – to accomplish that day. And then you can choose the most important items and go from there.
Sometimes, mind mapping is a great way to …read more

It’s so easy to get distracted by busy work. When I’m waiting on a particular email, I find myself jumping over to look every time a couple of new messages arrive. It’s counterproductive. So I’m working on it.
Over at Zen Habits, there’s a post about defeating that urge to do useless tasks. Leo lists 20 ways to help you fight that tendency. Take a look at the entire list for some great tips.
Here are some of my favorites:
Know what’s important
He suggests marking down your top three priorities for the day. Hmm, where have I heard that before? (Yes, I …read more