Before we start with Chloe’s post, I’d like to hear from you if you’ve also started following along with Chloe and Sam in terms of making any changes, thinking differently, being more intentional about your life, etc.

Leave a message in the comments otherwise email me on marcia AT organisingqueen.com (there are lots of shy people who only email me instead of commenting).

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Scary, uh?

I’ll let you know in the comments how that goes so far (since I’ve started this on Sunday), and I’ll post about it next week as well. Hold me accountable!

From Marcia

Um, yes, Chloe, I’ll definitely hold you accountable

And now, have a look at a fabulous email I received.

Marcia, I just wanted you to know that I am making big strides. In just one week, I organized my office, bought files, a label maker and even created zones.

I am inspired to work in my office again.

While it was never a mess, I found myself spending way too much time trying to find where I put this or that. Now having everything in its prospective zone is deliciously satisfying.

Ricci Jackson, C.I.D.
Certified interior decorator
http://yourdesignpartner.com

Don’t you love how she used the words “deliciously satisfying”. Hmmm, YES!

Your office can also be deliciously satisfying – organise your home office today.

It’s hard to be productive when your space is not only a mess, but also disorganised.

60% of people are visual (I am too!) so clutter and “stuff” strewn all over the place will just drive you up the wall!

Before we start, let’s get ready:

(a)       put on some upbeat music (not slow love songs – fast music!)

(b)       make sure you have a BIG wastepaper basket

(c)        get another plastic basket for items that belong in another room

So what do you need to do?

1. Back up your files

Do NOT open your email programme before you start or you’ll get sidetracked!

DO put a recurring reminder in Outlook to do this on a monthly basis, or more frequently than that.

Remember last year when I lost EVERYTHING on my flash drive? It only translated to about 2 hours’ work because I’d backed up my computer a few weeks before that.

Now, while your computer is backing up…

2. Clean off your desk

You can do this in 30 seconds (that’s why you have the upbeat music) – yes, really. Play a game with yourself and say, “by the end of this song, my desk is going to be clean”. Works for me

Put all items belonging in another room in the plastic basket. Don’t go to the actual room to put them away – you don’t want to get sidetracked!

Throw any cooldrink cans, sweet papers, etc. in the wastepaper basket. Put all the little notes inside your desk notebook (you do have ONE desk notebook, don’t you?) and set to one side.

If you don’t use the item on a DAILY basis, it shouldn’t be on your desk. By the same token, if you use something every day, make a place for it within arm’s reach.

E.g. My headset for Skype calls is on a hook on the wall above my desk – near enough that I can just reach for it, but not taking up valuable real estate on the desk.

See? 30 seconds and you’re done!

I *do* know this is the Quick & Easy way – if you want ALL the detail, check out 7 easy steps to organise your office at http://takechargesolutions.org/?page_id=17

3. Sort out the paper

Take out the desk notebook with all the little notes. I use a spiral-bound notebook with a lovely, bright yellow and lime-green cover because it makes me happy to write my notes in a beautiful notebook

Write down all those bits and pieces – your internet provider’s helpline, website addresses, people to look up on Facebook, etc.

Throw away all the junk mail and paper you don’t need (and take it to your recycling bag later).

Put all the filing in ONE pile – you can do this in front of the TV later!

Now doesn’t that feel better? A lovely, neat and organised office!

Marcia Francois is a time management and organising coach who empowers small business owners and other busy professionals who want to make the most of their time. You’ll get simple, practical organising and time management secrets to help you work less and enjoy life more! Visit http://takechargesolutions.org for your free Organising Success Pack.

Creative people need different ways to organise themselves because traditional methods won’t work too well for them.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to organising; in fact, I believe that since each person is unique, each person’s organising system should also be different.

Let’s look at four areas to organise yourself for success:

1. Attitude

There’s a myth going around that creative people can’t work in a structured environment. On the contrary, having a bit of structure in your life actually enables you to be even more creative and to do better work.

A few weeks ago, a client emailed to tell me how she’s been energized and has been creating beautiful things again.

What was the difference in her life?

We’d worked on organising her office space and within the order, she could be creative once again.
Stop telling yourself that you can’t be organised; rather tell yourself that you organise yourself in non-traditional ways

2. Schedule

Traditionally, we’ve all been told to work according to the clock. I’m telling you to work with your energy cycles; don’t try to battle them.

If you know that you go through a bit of a slump around lunch time, maybe that’s when you want to run errands or exercise to give yourself an energy boost.

If you design websites and you know that you’re most creative at midnight, then design your websites at midnight.

Who says you have to start working at 8am?!

3. To-do list

Scrap the to-do list.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The to-do list may set you up for failure especially when you feel you’re not getting things done.

Rather use an Eat the Frog list. This list helps you be more flexible so you only need to get the most important things done. My clients are always a bit shocked when I tell them, “the less you have on your list, the better it is”. Just make sure the important things are on your list.

4. Workspace

When you can find your equipment and supplies easily, your valuable energy is used for actual creativity and not wasted looking for things.

It’s so important to have your workspace set up according to your organising style.

Are you a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner? Are you a paper or electronic person? Maybe the reason you can’t seem to get your papers organised is because you’re actually an electronic person.

I’ve had clients with very messy offices whose computers are perfectly organised, and vice versa. It’s so important to play to your strengths.

If you register for the Virtual Organising Seminar, you’ll definitely discover your unique organising style.

My challenge to you

Check your attitude and tell yourself you can get more productive once you organise according to your style.

Want to use this article in your ezine or on your blog? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb.

Marcia Francois is a time management and business organising coach who helps small business owners break out of overwhelm, make the most of their time and get important projects done. Visit http://organiseyourbusiness.com for your free 7-part audio series, 7 tips for time-strapped business owners.

There’s nothing nicer than having an empty Inbox and a computer that is quick, organised and efficient. All it takes is a bit of work now and you’ll reap the benefits for months to come!

How often do we think about organising and decluttering our cell phones?

Almost never…

I like to use time spent in queues to go through my phone and delete what I no longer need. 

On your cell phone

1. Contacts
Delete all temporary numbers and those belonging to people you don’t know.

If I get a call from a potential client, I save the number immediately so the next time they phone I can say, “Hi Adam” and wow them with my organising skills so I end up with quite a few numbers. If I don’t take the time to go through these contacts regularly, my phone can get cluttered very quickly.

2. Inbox
Delete all old text messages unless you really need to keep the message.

If you’ve been keeping texts as reminders to do something, save them to your calender and let the phone send you a reminder to action them.

* If you have a Blackberry (crackberry ) or PDA, please follow the same steps above to get it all organised.

On your computer

3. Programmes
Go to Control Panel and click on Add or Remove Programs to remove all those trials you downloaded that you no longer need.

4. Photos
Burn your photos to disc (for back up) and delete the files from your hard drive.

Remember to label! I label each disc with a number and then I put that same number on a round piece of paper in the CD sleeve with a list of the events, like Christmas 2009, Babies party 2010, Ireland 2008, etc.

5. Files and folders
Delete any files you no longer use. If you need to keep any documents for reference, burn to disc and free up the space on your hard drive.

Resolve to apply the one in–one out principle. For every file you download, delete one. Drastic? Maybe, but it works. I go one step further and even delete the file once I’ve read the e-book.

6. Inbox
Delete and then archive your emails.

Delete old folders. Go through your Sent Items and please make me happy by deleting the items from your Deleted Items!

Conquer your email will also help you get your email under control.

7. Contacts
Delete any old contacts, especially if you can’t even remember who they are or why you have their details Otherwise, take the time to reconnect!

Please use this list as a checklist and get cracking. I’m joining you this week to declutter my files and folders.

Are you up for the challenge?

Have an (electronically) organised week!

I’ve blogged about all these before so today I’m just linking up

• Ila from South Dakota asked for suggestions on keeping a clean desk.
• Nicole from France wanted to know how she could deal better with her mail.

and last but not least

• Jessica from Missouri just moved into a smaller place and wants some help on how to make the most of small spaces.

My desk at work gets a quick tidy at the end of every day and a nice detailed throwing-out-of-papers once a week.

How often do you tidy your desk?

P.S. That’s not my desk. I go around with my camera taking pics of unsuspecting colleagues

You won’t believe all the excuses I get from people about their untidy desks!

“It’s because I’m creative”

“I know where everything is”

Sound familiar?

This may very well be true. However, for most people, an untidy desk makes you feel overwhelmed and out of control. And, in the workplace, it’s often perceived that you don’t know what you’re doing if your desk is a mess.

How can you be productive when you’re overwhelmed?

The good news is that it’s a lot easier than you think.

You can have a tidy desk in just 5 steps:

1. Set up your desk properly

If you answer the phone with your left hand, then keep the phone to the left of your computer. Now this might seem obvious but you’ll be surprised at the number of people I encounter who have to scramble and reach behind their computer to get to the phone. It’s like that game Twister!

2. Touch each piece of paper once only

This step forces you to make decisions – throw away, action, forward or file. Those are the only choices you have

Don’t start thinking about it and put that piece of paper back in another pile!

3. Have one notebook for all your notes

When you take messages or need to quickly jot down a note, write it in your ONE notebook. You shouldn’t have 10 post-it notes and lots of other pieces of paper on your desk. Better still, write the date on the top of every page so you can reference old information quickly. And start each day on a new page – literally!

4. Clear junk regularly

Every time you get up to go to the loo or for a coffee break, clear your desk of empty mugs, glasses, snacks, etc. The same goes for all those dry markers and pens that don’t work. Throw them out!

5. Have only the papers you’re actually working with on your desk

I have a rather strong fondness for plastic envelopes. I use these nifty tools to keep my many projects sorted. When I want to work on something, I just grab one of these and open up the contents on my desk. I even bought one on holiday in the UK.
See? Easy!

You can also have a neat and tidy desk in just 5 steps.

Now what I suggest you do is a quick, 30-second tidy every evening when you finish your work so you’re ready and raring to go the following day.

Today I want to talk about an area of the office that may just be one of my favourite things to organise – your computer!

Because we can’t SEE computer clutter as obviously as we can see physical clutter, we often don’t realise it’s there but believe me, it’s still affecting you.

How does it affect you?

When you open your Inbox and feel drained at the sight of all your emails, when your computer runs slow because there are so many photos on there and when you click into your Google Reader and can’t BELIEVE how much some people post because you went through your blogs for 3 hours yesterday and now there are 127 unread items yet again!

Sound familiar?

Let’s look at 4 places where you can declutter electronically:

Free downloads

We (especially women) like fr.ee things, don’t we? Buy one, get one free sales come to mind… As a result, we download anything and everything we can find that’s for fr.ee.

If it’s fr.ee, it’s got to be good, right?

No, actually, it’s not all good. Not only are you cluttering up your computer but you can’t possibly use all the things that are out there because we live in an information-overload society.

I wish I could say that I”m immune to the addiction to FREE stuff but I’m not!

At one point I had about 6 different grocery shopping lists on my computer (all fr.ee downloads) and 10 different versions of a to-do list. None of them quite worked for me so I made my own.

Email

Mmmm, email. My clients need help with email more than any other thing in their office, and paper’s a close second. That’s because email’s so fast and because we don’t use it correctly.

Did you know that for every email you send out, you get at least two emails back?

Get familiar with the delete key (my favourite key on the keyboard) and start deleting. Delete immediately once you’ve replied to an email and don’t file unless you absolutely have to.

Disable all the notifications from social networking sites like Facebook. I only get friend requests, messages and notes on my wall in my inbox. The rest I’ll see when I get a chance to log on.

Here again, decide on your comfort level for emails and make sure you work your system until you can breathe again.

Personally, I set a daily goal of deleting at least 50 items so once I’m done with my inbox, I go through my Sent Items and delete, delete, delete

It’s this weird game I play – anybody have some other weird email games?

As a matter of interest, how many emails are in your inbox right now?

Look out next week for part 2 of decluttering your computer



This is my colleague’s notebook that I’ve been threatening to blog about for months.

I love the way she organises her notes – hopefully this will work for some of you too.

• She uses yellow post-it flags to highlight pages where there are still outstanding actions. This means she doesn’t have to page through the whole notebook to find her place.
• She also writes the client/ product name on those flags to help keep her place.
• When she has a list of personal to-dos, she folds the page in half to help categorise those tasks separately. Can you see the page on the left is folded over?

I like to start a new page for each client meeting and for each day’s work.

Of course I always use a spiral-bound notebook!

I write down my action items either in the meeting, or at my desk as I take calls or think of things to do. When I’ve done them, I highlight them in pink so I can still read them but they don’t “bother” me anymore.

I don’t use my work notebook for personal things unless they have to be done on that particular day, e.g. paying the doctor before I go to my appointments

How do you organise your notebook?

Today we’re decluttering email.

I’m going to give you just one tip today – make decisions. Don’t just read your email and close it again without making a decision as to what to do.

Here are some previous posts that deal with email:

• An empty inbox is like…
• Anne’s post on dealing with her e-clutter
• 5 ways I deal with email

This week, your challenge is to

1. find out your email comfort number
2. declutter your inbox until you’re there
3. build in daily maintenance time to keep to that number

Share in the comments how many you decluttered!

If your email is out of control, Conquer your email will get your email organised and under control. Someone went from about 3000 mails to less than 100 in just days.

This is a comprehensive handout plus an hour-long audio. I teach you every single secret and tip that I use to help me manage my email in only 15 minutes a day.

If you’ve been reading since January, you’ll know the whole story behind Anne’s office organising makeover.

I want to publicly say that (I’ve already told her so privately) I honestly think God set this thing up because I could not have asked for a better guest blogger.

Anne has been so open and honest with her struggles and triumphs, but more than that, she’s been really open-minded in letting me challenge some of the old ways she had of doing things through my 7 easy steps to organise your office system.

So, here’s a final round-up of all Anne’s posts.

I’m also putting them over there —->>> on the sidebar if ever you want to reference a particular post again.

1. Before pics & problem areas
2. Sorting out the zones
3. Decluttering
4. Paper clutter
5. Electronic clutter
6. Overcoming organising obstacles
7. Setting up systems