NFIB

Get Organized--and Stay That Way!
09/ 11/ 2002

by Vicki Gerson

How much time do you waste tracking down that scrap of paper on which you scribbled a new contact's phone number? Or shuffling through the piles of paper on your desk to find that memo you've been meaning to read? And how often do you say to yourself, "If I'd only remember where I put things this wouldn't happen!"?

Here are some ways to start getting organized.... and stay that way.

Eliminate clutter.

Start with your desk. If clutter has been accumulating for a while, chances are it's not only on your desk, but on the floor surrounding your desk as well. Don't let papers and files just keep heaping up.

Take the time--even if you have to make a day of it--to clear up the clutter. Throw out what you really don't need and file what you need to keep. Clearly label your files and organize your storage cabinets.

Don't overdo it.

Once you start clearing clutter, it's tempting to start pitching everything you haven't needed for a while. But be careful. Never get rid of tax returns or the papers to substantiate them, personnel records, original software manuals or other crucial information.

Clean "house" every quarter.

Go through your desk drawers. Put the paper clips and pens in their place. Get rid of the outdated post-it notes attached to your calendar. File the scattered business cards where they belong.

Look at your computer files quarterly and delete what you don't need. However, you may want to keep some of the information on discs--just to be on the safe side. After a year re-evaluate the information, and see if you need to keep the discs.

Use your computer.

If you're brainstorming, put your thoughts in a computer file. Name it "brainstorming" so you can always find your ideas again. This works much better than having scraps of paper scattered everywhere.

Stay organized.

If you make it a habit to stay organized, you work more efficiently and spend less time hunting down misplaced information. Spend a little time every day staying organized, and save yourself a lot of frustration in the long run.

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