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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.

Debbie's Home Page