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Debbie will write exclusive articles for
a media publication, including print & web
organize@debbiecook.com
These organizing
tips may be reproduced as long as Debbie is given credit. Please
include her name, e-mail address and her website.
Consider the Costs of Clutter; What To Do About It
- Clutter Guarantees Loss – Once clutter takes over,
loosing things becomes standard operating procedure
- Your image is guaranteed to take a beating with clutter
around – Clutter bugs, messies, and pack rats all look like incompetent boobs
to the outside world. You won’t appear remotely in charge of your space to
your boss or your mother-in-law
- Use only one calendar – separate business from personal
with different colored pens
- Keep like items together, and group like tasks together
- Use a file index to eliminate duplicate files
- Don’t set yourself up to be the ONLY one that can handle
your responsibilities. We all need help from time to time - without it the
work and clutter just waits for you
- Don’t be paranoid that if you put that paper away -
you’ll never find it again. With a good filing system, a file index, and a
date book you are safe.
- Ask for help when you need it!
- Hire a professional for specialized needs
- Retire a system or a piece of equipment that is more
trouble than it’s worth
- Do not keep it - if you would not miss it if it
disappeared
- Keep an inventory of office equipment and supplies, for
maintenance purposes, for insurance replacement, as well as for the IRS
- Schedule a “file clean out day” for the office. Make it
an enjoyable happening for all involved. Be sure to dispose of sensitive
information by shredding or by some other secure way
- Review your system regularly - decide what is already
working and only fix what is not working
- Sort, Purge, create “zones” for activities, assign a
home for items and files, containerize, and stay focused
- Back-up your computer data regularly. Stop re-inventing
the wheel
- Organize e-mail with folders, both printed and on your
computer, sort by date or alphabet
- Multi-task, breakdown large projects into small pieces,
and prioritize
- Spend the few extra minutes it takes to do it right the
first time
- Be proactive instead of reactive
These organizing tips may be reproduced as long as Debbie is given credit. Please
include her name, e-mail address and her website.
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