Saturday, February 28, 2015

Organization Extra: Ten Organizing Tips That Will Change Your Life

nextavenue.org
As you've probably already guessed, I like resources that are non-judgmental; I don't believe that organizational struggles are a character flaw, nor do I believe that people with neat spaces are somehow superior to those whose spaces are cluttered.

When it comes to resources, I like those that offer multiple options and simple, inexpensive solutions that can have an immediate impact.

If you're in the mood to make some progress or just find some new tips, click on the links in this article for more ideas beyond the title's 10 Organizing Tips That Will Change Your Life.

Which one is your favorite?

Friday, February 27, 2015

Organization Extra: Coworkers and Messy Desks

businessweek.com
Last summer, I wrote two posts for my WITF community blog on cluttered desks and creative minds. In researching the posts, I came across several articles like this one in which business people complained about co-workers' messy desks and, in some cases, took matters into their own hands.

I understand that cluttered desks can be an eyesore. What I don't understand is why people would think it's okay to "tidy up" another person's workspace without their permission. Or why another person's workspace is anyone else's business in the first place.

Don't get me wrong.  Day-old food or anything else that smells, encourages plant growth or attracts unwelcome visitors does impact the rest of the office. But paper clutter? Unfiled folders? If the person who works in the space does his or her job, does it really matter if the desk is messy?

What do you think? Is it fair to judge a person by the state of his or her desk?

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Organizing by STYLE

target.com
When it comes to organizing, tricks, tools and even promising tools abound, but if you don't know how to organize in a way that works for you, it's easy to waste both time and money.

Contrary to popular belief (and the glut of organization books on the market), organizing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. "Obvious" tools such as binders and file cabinets really don't work for everyone, and can even be a hindrance instead of a help. Unfortunately, if you're one of the people they don't work for, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that you are the problem.

But I disagree with that conclusion. I believe that everyone has the capacity to get organized and that the trick to success lies in finding a method and tools that match the way you think -- marrying your personal style and your organizational style to create a process that underlies the way you organize everything.

I've spent a lot of time in the last eight years reading, writing, teaching and speaking about organization, and recently, I began blogging about it as well. Last month, I began featuring posts about organization every Wednesday on my blog, The Porch Swing Chronicles, and on Saturdays, I've shared
 articles, books or websites having to do with organization.

After about two months of this, I decided these posts deserved a home of their own -- it just seemed more organized that way. Here, you'll find reprints of my Wednesday and Saturday Porch Swing Chronicle posts and perhaps some other posts relevant to the topic as well. Some of the posts will be practical, some will be chatty and some will be quick reads, but all of them will contribute to the organization conversation.

Those who know me well find it mildly amusing (or may even be rolling on the floor laughing) by now at the thought of my posting helpful information about organization. After all, even I have joked that my credibility as someone who knows anything about organization would be completely shot if anybody walked into my house unannounced.

But, it's for just that reason that I am a credible source. Naturally organized, but incredibly busy (and 
businessweek.com
therefore ostensibly messy), I know what it is to struggle with organization, even when you think you've found the answers. To put things in a safe place, only to never see them again. To be ridiculously over-organized in some areas, and woefully under-organized in others. To make a to do list only to leave it on the table, or have it get buried under (a pile of) "visual reminders."

So let's do this. Let's get organized together, even if our baby steps go both forward and backward.

Better yet, let's get organized with STYLE.