I’m paranoid about forgetting anything. I once forgot something very dear to my heart and immediately put in a system to make sure it never happened again.

Do you want to know what happened?

I do some volunteer work at the church so I’d made an appointment to see someone on a public holiday and train another person at the same time. So I’m at home, pottering around the house and I get a phone call. “Ps Marcia, are you on your way?”

I immediately realised what happened, apologised while pulling on jacket and gloves, and raced out of the house. I might even have broken a few speed limits getting to the church.

However, I hated the embarrassment. I arrived to find the two of them having some coffee and chit-chat, and we all had a lovely time the rest of the evening.

I then vowed to never let that happen to me ever again.

So here’s what I now do and how you can also remember ALL your appointments:

1. Write everything down in your daily planner.

Everything! Even if I set up the meeting in Outlook, I still make a note of it on paper. (I’m a paper gal and make no apologies for it). You never know when you’ll have a power outage and you can’t access your electronic diary. Or when there’s a public holiday and you don’t look at your email

2. Make it a habit

If a meeting is recurring, I follow the exact same steps until it’s ingrained in me that it’s a habit. Like joining a new class at gym. Or scheduling a new coaching client. Or putting a new system into place, like a weekly back-up instead of monthly.

3. Set multiple reminders

If I need to leave at a specific time to get somewhere, I set reminders in Outlook and sync to my phone. Because sometimes you do get carried away, especially when you’re working hard and you’re “in the zone”. The phone’s my back-up if I’m not working in Outlook.

4. Work your system

A system will only work if you work the system.

That means checking your paper planner every day. Or reading and actioning your reminders on Outlook instead of just clicking “snooze” or even “dismiss” by accident.

I check my daily planner as part of my evening routine so that I can mentally prepare for the day ahead and of course, choose appropriate clothes

Your action challenge

Decide on your back-up system – whether phone, Outlook or paper – and try it out for the next week.

Marcia Francois is a time management coach and speaker who helps busy women break out of overwhelm, make the most of their time and take purposeful and focussed action. Visit http://takechargesolutions.org for your free Organising Success Pack.

P.S. This article was first published in 2007

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.

Tami in Oklahoma says

My whole life is unorganized. I start decluttering/organizing one area, get distracted, and go to another area. Only creates messes!!

Tami, I totally get you!

You start organising your pantry, get to the baking goods, realise you’re having guests for tea, so start making muffins and before you know it, half the pantry is on the floor and the kitchen is a mess of flour and chocolate chips!

My suggestions are:

1. Make a project list with SMALL steps

When I feel overwhelmed, I use my master to-do list to note down everything that needs doing. Some people also like to mind map it.

I start big and then narrow down. So I might use one list for the kitchen, one for the bedroom and still another for the home office.

It’s very satisfying to tick off little projects as you get them done.

In the kitchen, you might have a list like this:

• kitchen table
• kitchen counters
• pantry – shelf 1
• pantry – shelf 2
• pantry – shelf 3

2. Use a kitchen timer

Use it not only in the kitchen but wherever you’re working on a project

3. Set the timer for shorter periods than you think

If you set it for an hour, you’ll probably get distracted sometime during those 60 minutes. I like to set mine for periods of 15 minutes as it forces me to concentrate. Also, I can do a drawer, a shelf, a pile of paper very easily in 15 minutes.

4. Reward yourself regularly

Have a cup of tea when you’ve completed an hour’s organising or if you finish a whole room, buy a book you’ve wanted for a while.

How do you overcome Big, Shiny Object syndrome?

Here’s more on how you can break out of overwhelm.

This is the ONE question I get asked by clients more than any other question.

Marcia, I want to get organised but it’s all so overwhelming.

Where on earth do I start?

There are different ways to approach this question but before we even start with the practical aspects, you need to do this:

First of all, relax and take a deep breath

Then get your mind in the right space.

Realise that this is a process and that you will not have a totally organised home in one hour, despite what you saw on Oprah last week.

Remember the home makeover shows have TONS of organizers and stylists behind the scenes making the space look beautiful. You only have you (or if you’re really blessed, a friend or family member to help you).

Now that we’ve got that part settled, let’s talk practical.

1. Start with the area of your home or life that bothers you the most.

If you can’t bear to choose clothes every morning because your wardrobe is too cluttered, then that’s probably a good place to start. The benefit of choosing this area is that when you feel overwhelmed by the rest of the house you can go to this one space, look at it and feel inspired.

2. Decide what you want to have happen in that space.

Do you only want clothes in your wardrobe, or do you want shoes and handbags in there too? If you’re not sure what you want (as with anything else in life), it’s easier to let your standards and boundaries slip and in this case, before you know it, you may have a disorganised space once again.

3. Declutter

You can’t organise clutter. Get rid of everything that shouldn’t be there. You may need to move some things to other rooms and some things may need to move right out of your house!

4. Organise what’s left according to your personality and style

Not everybody is a minimalist. Some of us need to surround ourselves with our treasures. It’s all okay.

Your system works as long as you can find what you’re looking for relatively quickly (within a minute).

5. Maintain.

Last but not least, do a quick, 5-minute maintenance session in each major space every week so that your space remains organised.

Now that you’ve read my tips, where do you think YOU should start?

Leave your answer in the comments to hold yourself accountable and get you motivated.

P.S. This product will help you get your whole house organised in just 12 weeks