“  … organizing is not a destination; it is the gateway to your higher goal…” – Julie Morgenstern

Getting organized can easily become about products or the way things look, but what it’s really about is how it supports you and your lifestyle.  Getting organized is a journey of slowing down long enough to see what you truly want, who you really are and creating an environment that supports whatever that is for you.  It’s not about a system of rigidity and “my-way-or-the-highway” thinking.  How you arrange, organize and stylize your space should reflect your values and who you are.  It should be a place or system that helps you become a better whatever-you-are.  So relax, take it all in, and whatever system is working for you – well, work that system.

—–

photo credit: Francisco Javier Martín

This post was originally published in May 2007

A while ago, I read a post on a blog (now offline) Work at Home Balance entitled: “Simplifying Your Life: When Less is More”. This part was my favorite:

“Make time for simplicity. Even if we can’t completely simplify our lives, we can definitely make time to connect with ourselves in quiet, simple ways. Things like meditation, prayer, quiet reading time, or even sitting in a park for a few minutes can refresh us and make us feel more relaxed. The important thing to remember is: chaos outside encourages chaos within; and peacefulness within will promote peacefulness in our surroundings. Spending time honoring our connection with our inner selves is a far more powerful solution than anything we do externally.

In the end, living a simpler life is really a choice we make moment to moment. Simplicity is a state of mind. It’s about learning how to let “stuff” enhance our lives, without relying on it for our happiness. Rather than seeking fulfillment from the latest greatest gadgets, we simply need to turn within and notice that it’s already there, waiting for us.”

Simplicity in a different light.

Before reading this,  I had never thought about simplicity as a state of mind. It’s true that outside things affect what is going on inside of us, and vice versa. Think about it – where is the most relaxing place you have ever been? What did it look like? Personally, I feel that the beach (preferably a quiet one), Japanese hot spring resort and a convent are the most relaxing places I have ever been. None of these places normally have a lot of things laying around (driftwood doesn’t count). For the most part, they are monochromatic (very soothing) and quiet. Taking time to be in the moment in these places also increases their beauty and calm.

Imagine how much more we could appreciate our environment and people we love around us if we just took time out of our everyday life to “make time for simplicity”?

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photo credit: jenny downing

This post was originally posted in June 2006.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Des Walsh this afternoon on BlogTalkRadio.  I love BTR – that’s where The O Myth started!

Today we chatted about home office organization and some deeper topics around which need consideration if you’re going to really get organized for good.  So, here, take a listen.

Is organizing in your head?  That’ depends on what you think “organizing” is about.  What a lot of people don’t realize about organizing is its relationship to what’s in your head and the systems you use to keep your space in order.  ”Stuff shifting” is only part of the deal.

Magazine articles, online websites, tips from the news – all these can help you do it yourself.  What helps you stay that way?  It’s that lovely thing between your ears…. your mind.  All the “stuff shifting”, labeling and containers are fantastic, but they are part of the solution.  Long term change comes from addressing what’s going on in your head and changing your actions.  So, what does it take to get organized?  It’s really a simple process:

1. A plan. Where will things go, how will you use your space?  This is before you lift a single piece of paper or clean out one cabinet.
2. Sort it out.  This is the organizing piece – the “stuff shifting”.  Once you have a plan in mind, it’s time to sort out the important things.
3. Keeping it that way. Maintenance is the key to staying organized long term.  That happens in your head, your calendar and in daily life.  It’s like taking a shower – it’s a great idea, but you’ve got to do it everyday (we hope!).

Only one third of those things up there is what most people think of when it comes to organizing: sorting it out.  It’s part of the process, but not all of it by itself.  You can do the sorting it out yourself – I’d be willing to bet you’ve done it at least once!

Many times we have to address the physical space first, followed by changing our minds and habits.  A friend, confidante, mentor or Professional Organizer can help the process along – from the plan through to strategies to keep things in order.

Do you have some sorting out to do between your ears?

Ready to get organized? Want an alternative to the traditional in-person organizing or live outside the area?  Learn how we can work together to get you and keep you organized.  Learn more about my Virtual Organizing service here.

Ready to get organized in the New Year? Take baby steps, use what you have and start with the thing that’s bothering you most. Here’s how to do that from my latest segment on KOIN Keep It Local:

New Year Resolution #3:
Better Money Management

This series is all about the top New Year Resolutions. One of those is “Get Organized”.  Have you ever made this resolution? How did it go? Did you do a “crash & burn” weekend on Jan. 2nd and everything was back to the way it was by Jan. 10th?  Try using organization as a tool for whatever change you desire.  You may surprise yourself!

Procrastinating won’t improve matters.

My husband is a great teacher.  When we were first married, he taught me how to think about managing money in a new way.  I used to hide my eyes, bury my head and pretend things weren’t happening.  It didn’t work.  Knowledge and keeping your eyes open is power, baby.  The first way to improve your money management is to keep your eyes open, and use the right tools.

Sometimes good intentions aren’t good enough.

I love technology and useful gadgets.  So, on the advice of a friend, I started using a well known financial register software, and I was frustrated.  I couldn’t get it to do what I wanted, and messed it up so badly that I finally broke down and called in an accountant to help me sort it out.  Let’s just say she was a little confounded as well.  At that point, she strongly recommended I start using Quickbooks.

Get help and do it right.

A few months later, I called her back to help me understand how to customize Quickbooks for my business.  She set some things up for me and left me with a “maintenance” tasks.  I now look FORWARD to doing my bookkeeping.  Crazy, right?

If your resolution is to stick to a budget, get out of debt or keep better track of your finances, go for it!  Here’s how to get started:

1. Open your eyes to the reality of your situation

2. Get help if you need it

3. Get and use the right tools

4.  Set up a simple system to make it easy on yourself

How are you going to better manage your money this year?

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Want to win the ButtonedUP Tax.filer? Leave a comment below, sharing your resolution and how you could use organization to help you achieve it. Enter by 1/10/2010! (Read the ButtonedUP giveaway & special reader discount details here.)

New Year Resolution #1:
Get Organized

This series is all about the top New Year Resolutions. One of those is “Get Organized”. Have you ever made this resolution? How did it go? Did you do a “crash & burn” weekend on Jan. 2nd and everything was back to the way it was by Jan. 10th? Try using organization as a tool for whatever change you desire. You may surprise yourself!

Organization helps you identify and honor the “big rocks”.

Organizing is a tool, for living and for working.  Getting things done requires us to identify the important things and giving them a space in our regular schedule.  To illustrate, here’s a “Big Rocks” video from Franklin Covey:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Organize your calendar.

Let’s take using a calendar as the first step to getting organized.  Put in the “big rocks” first, assigning a specific time, or just marking the day you will do your task.  Paper or electronic, it matters not: choose one and try it out for 30 days.  Make sure you know where it is.  If it’s paper, be sure it’s a size you can carry with you at all times.  An electronic calendar integrated into smart phones or an online solution like Google Apps is easy to carry around and access anytime (with the added benefit of automatic backup). Always put it in the same place, and review it at the start and end of the day.  This will help you keep on track.

Tips to get organized this year:

1. Use organization as a tool

2. Remember the “big rocks” first, and “fill in” later

3. Use a calendar to make sure the important things get done

How will you use your calendar to help you get organized, making room for the “big rocks”?

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Want to win the ButtonedUP File.starter? Leave a comment below, telling us your resolution and how you could use organization to help you achieve it.    Enter by 1/10/2010! (Read the ButtonedUP giveaway & special reader discount details here.)

Resolutions: we’ve all made them and broken them.  Is there a tool we can use to make them stick?  Perhaps.

Last year I did a series on small steps for organizing your office.  This year, I’m bringing the series back, with a little different flavor….

What’s your resolution?

We’ve all made resolutions, and we’ve all fallen off the wagon at one point or another.   One of the most popular New Year Resolutions is “Get Organized”.  Did you know organization can help you accomplish your resolution throughout this coming year, no matter what it is?  Ok, so we’ll leave off the “Quit Smoking” & “Quit Drinking” ones, but the others are fair game.

Organization is a powerful tool for change.

This is my case for making organizing a priority this year, and how if you pair it with another resolution, it can certainly happen for you.  The key here is action, so I offer up some quick tips to get you moving in the right direction this year.

(Check back here often, links will be added as the posts go live over the new 8 days.)

Be sure to share YOUR resolution or theme for the new year too!

8 Days of Resolutions

1.  Get Organized

2.  Get Fit

3.  Managing Money

4.  Reduce Stress

5.  Enjoy Life More

6.  More Quality Time with Loved Ones

7.  Make the World a Better Place

8.  Learn Something New

I’ve been exploring some articles through my Google Reader, and thought I would share them with you:

Unclutterer shows a “light switch rack” – a great idea if you are a visual type!

SimpleMom is talking about finding more time in the day.

Des Walsh at ThinkingHomeBusiness.com gives his thoughts on the etiquette of cancelling an appointment.

Whakate has some note taking tips.

Stepcase Lifehack has some great tips on managing email so it doesn’t manage you.

Tip #28: Set up an “Action Paper” file

Ever wonder what to do with the credit card statement that needs to be entered in your accounting software, the newsletter yet to be read, the conference registration needing to be mailed out or your travel itinerary?  Put them in an “Action Paper” file.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Get a set of six 3-tab cut folders
2. Label each folder with the following: Action, Data Entry, Waiting For, Read & Review, Travel and Meetings
3. Go through your inbox and file it in the appropriate folder
4. Put each task associated with that paper on your task list OR set a time to process each file

(Want more tips? Pick up my ebooklet, “101 Tips for Your Home Office” HERE.)

Are you perfect?  I’m not.  Perfectionism holds too many back from organizing their spaces.  They wait until they can do it perfectly, and that day never comes.  Let’s get real about this perfectionism thing…

Un-Perfect Confessions of an Organizer.

We’ve all got a little chaos in our lives, including yours truly.   Yep, and I have chosen to be a Professional Organizer. Why? Because I feel that having piles of less-than-useful things suck energy from my brain and spiritual well-being. So, several years ago, I decided to do something about it. I had stuff laying around, and it wasn’t pretty.  Things I didn’t need, things people gave me that never were used, things I was hanging onto for other people and things that just took up space.  It was a drain.  So, I decided to do something about it, one small step at a time.

Change takes time.

It took a good three years – yes, YEARS to get overall improvement. It took a daily decision and determination to change small habits.  Some of it was mind-numbing, and some of it was downright liberating.  I was not born with an “organizing gene” (although I must confess that I have always been a “re-arranger”).   It’s a skill, and can be developed over time.

Organized = Finding most anything in about 5 minutes.

So, what’s the point of organization? To find things, to know where your stuff is, to know that when you need something you can find it.  “Organized” = finding most anything you need in 5 minutes or less.  It also has the fantastic benefit of increased peace of mind: not arguing with your significant other about where the keys are, sleeping peacefully in your bed without piles of clothes or paying the electric bill before it’s due. Being organized doesn’t mean you have to have color-coded cabinets or files, have everything (including the dog) labeled and forgo your work to keep everything spotless. What it DOES mean is some semblance of order that makes sense for you and your life.  And that means a daily decision to keep things in working order.

Small changes over time = big change.

Small changes and actions everyday lead to big time change. Do what works for you. If that means color-coding, by all means, go for it! But a simple file will work if you use it correctly with good habits and the right mindset. Don’t try to live up to perfection, because that only leads to disappointment and paralyzing procrastination.

So, put your excuses aside and have some hope.  Your home office doesn’t have to be magazine-ready, just workable for you.

What small step can you make today to get over your perfectionism?

How do you pick just ten products?

Picking just ten products is a daunting task, since each person has somewhat different needs. So I thought I’d share the top ten in my own office; that’s a bit more manageable! I’ll skip over the critical-but-uninteresting file cabinets and bookshelves, and cover some of the other things that keep my home office organized.

Computer Stuff

1. My MacBook. Not everyone will want to have a digital calendar, address book, to-do list, etc. But these computer tools work beautifully for me. And given how much I rely on my computer, good back-ups are essential; right now I’m using external hard drives and SuperDuper.

2. My scanner. I really like my Fujitsu ScanSnap; others swear by NeatDesk. Having the scanner allows me to keep a lot less paper—and to have my records with me when I’m away from home.

3. Wireless anything. Dealing with cords is a hassle; going wireless cuts down on cable clutter. For now, I have a wireless keyboard and mouse. I don’t need a new printer—but when I do, that will be wireless, too.

Other Practical Tools

4. My shredder. I have a Fellowes PS-79Ci cross-cut shredder. It takes many sheets of paper at once. It takes staples. It never jams. It has a shut-off mechanism if hands, paws, or tails come too close to the opening. It’s reasonably quiet. It was well worth the upgrade from my prior shredder, which wasted way too much of my time. It’s usually available for much less than the suggested price on the Fellowes web site.

5. File folders. I use straight-line filing, and my preferred folders have a straight-cut tab, running the full length of the folder; the tab is two-ply for sturdiness. The straight-cut tabs give me lots of room for labels—no figuring out how to abbreviate something! I personally dislike manila folders, so mine are colored. Mostly I use random colors, but all my client folders are lavender. This makes them very easy to spot, and it’s a color that’s pleasing to me.

My hanging file folders are nothing special, except I do try to buy ones made with recycled content. But I do use the larger-size tabs—1/3 cut rather than 1/5 cut—to provide more space for a meaningful label. Many times I use a hanging file with no internal file folder.

6. Labeler. I used to scoff at the idea of needing a labeler—and then I started using one with a client, and I was hooked. Now I own two: one for home, and one for client work, which stays in my car. My labeler of choice is a Brother PT-1950, which is an older model.

Places to Get Creative

But what about all those fun, creative organizing options I write about so often? There are plenty of places for those: staplers, tape holders, bulletin boards, wastebaskets, etc. Some of mine are as follows.

7. A favorite coffee mug, to hold pencils and pens. The supply of clever and beautiful mugs is overwhelming; you could buy one specifically to hold your pens—or you could just raid you kitchen cabinets, since most people have more mugs than they’ll ever use for coffee. The one I use special meaning to me.

8. Inbox. There’s no need to buy an in box at a big-box office supplies store. My in box is a big basket I got from Cost Plus World Market.

Not Strictly Organizing, but Closely Related

9. A desk that isn’t placed back-to-the-door. Near the start of my career, I hired a feng shui consultant who helped me arrange my office space. The first thing she did was position my desk so that my back is to a wall, and I face the door. A window looking out at my garden is on my right. The impact was incredible.

10. An ergonomic set-up. If you spend any significant amount of time on your computer, please invest in an ergonomic workspace. You really don’t want to get a repetitive stress injury. I have an external monitor, keyboard and mouse for my laptop, which makes it easier to be ergonomically correct—but you can be fine on a laptop without going quite that far. A good chair helps a lot, too; mine is the good old Aeron chair, size medium.

About the Author:

Jeri Dansky is a professional organizer and blogger.  Her blog, “Jeri’s Organizing & Decluttering News” is well-known throughout the organizing industry and beyond. To learn more about her you can visit her website, or sign up for her newsletter.  You can also follow her on Twitter.

Have you ever tried completing a project and then halfway through you realize that you don’t have everything you need, or have you become confused about what to do next? This can happen to the best of us, and for entrepreneurs, who tend to “wear many hats,” you might not be sure if you have all the right tools or even know what tools you need.  Because being a business owner can feel like huge undertaking (sort of like climbing a steep mountain), having the right set of strategies in your arsenal can come in handy. If your toolbox is empty, throw a few of these tools in…

I love a good lookin’ label.  Here’s a project I did over the weekend, with rub-on letters and these fabulous bronze hanging label holders.  I used some ribbon that was similar in color to the baskets so it would blend in.

Love it!

Do you have lots of passwords, account numbers and other information you need to keep track of?  Want to keep them on something more secure than a sheet of paper in your desk drawer?  Then you’re going to love SplashID!

Product: Splash ID

Description:

A description from the manufacturer:

“SplashID safely and securely stores all of your personal identification information including user names, passwords, credit cards, calling cards, bank accounts, PINs, and more. Information is stored in a secure, encrypted format and is quickly accessible on your desktop, and you can synchronize with a Palm, Treo, Pocket PC, or Smartphone (Windows Mobile, Symbian UIQ, or Series 60).”

Here’s some features of SplashID:

• Unlimited number of customizable record types and categories
• Customize the list view with color and icons
• Feel good about the security: Password protection uses 256-bit Blowfish encryption, keeping your data safe & secure
• Synchronize: Use the desktop application to sync with a PDA or Smart phone
• “Masking”:  Hide for sensitive data (like passwords) from peekers (great when you’re using the mobile version!)
• Locks up automatically: locks after specified timeout
• Automatic Password Generator – can’t think of a clever password?  Generate one with a few clicks
• Separate your business and personal records with categories
• Backup & Restore automatically or manually (great when you change devices or upgrade your PDA or smart phone)

My Experience:  I’ve  been using this product for quite a while now.  I’ve recommended it whenever I have the chance.   If you’re like me, you have a fair amount of numbers, usernames and passwords to keep track of.  It can be overwhelming!  Many people use the same password for all their accounts – Yikes!  There’s an easier way to keep track of it all that doesn’t make it easy for someone to break into your information.

I’ve been using the desktop application, and have also used the Blackberry version, and more recently the iPhone app.  I love it!  It’s easy to find the information with a few clicks, and I don’t break out in a cold sweat when I need a password in a hurry.

My Favorite Things:  It’s simple to use and get up and running.  I’ve taken information from one mobile device to a new one.

My Least Favorite Thing: It’s small, but once in a while I had to reset it with the Blackberry.  I haven’t had this problem with the iPhone app.

Overall Rating: Recommended!

Where To Find It:

For the iPhone App:  SplashID iTunes App (this will launch iTunes)

For other mobile phones:  Splash ID Mobile

If you’re ready to try it out, click below for a FREE 30-day trial:

I love to label things to make them easier to find, and sometimes I like to make mine a little more original.    I did this simple little project in about 10 minutes.  Here’s what you need and how you do it:

What you need:
Tags
Rub-on letters
Ribbon or string

1.  Spell out your label with rub-on letters.
2.  Apply them to the label.
3.  Remove the metal ring.
4.  Thread your ribbon onto the label.
5.  Tie it on.

Done!

How you can use them your office:

• clipboards
• inbox or action paper desktop file
• grab & go totes
• notebooks & binders

I happen to love antiquing and vintage inspired office solutions.  I also love to find original, budget friendly storage projects.  So, I thought I would share three great resources I found on the Better Homes & Gardens website.   So inspiring!

Vintage Home Office Ideas

This great series, Recipe for Vintage Home Office has some truly original vintage ideas.  I especially love the tea cup storage, pin board idea and the repurposed drawer pulls.  The thing I love most about using vintage items is their slight mystery – they all have a story, whether or not we know exactly what that story is.  And really, isn’t a little mystery intriguing to work in?

Budget Friendly Home Office Storage

I fell in LOVE with this picture!  It’s bright, happy and brilliantly laid out!  I love the lunch pail and the three tiered basket re-purposed as office storage.  Kitchen & bathroom storage items are great tools to get organized in a home office.  They look and function like a dream, and are very affordable.  If your home office organizing budget is tight, check out this Home Office Storage on a Dime series.  Love it!

A Little Bit Country

I grew up in a small town away from the big city.  Well, now that I live in a big city, I miss that relaxed style.  Over the last few years, I’ve fell in love with antiques and the casual cottage, country style.

When I saw the above picture, it made me sigh heavily.  Why?  Because I saw a yardstick exactly like this at a local antique show, and fell in love with it.  However, I couldn’t think of something to use it for, so I left it there.  You can BET next time I go, I’ll be on the hunt for one of these!

If you like casual country or cottage style like I do, you’re going to love this Country-Inspired Home Office Idea series!

What inspires you?

Organizing on a budget?  No problem.

So, here’s the thing:  organization doesn’t have to break the bank.  As you go along organizing your home office, there are plenty of great things you can use that won’t empty out your wallet.

First, you need a plan for your home office, before you ever set foot in any sort of store. (If you’re stuck and frustrated with where to start, I can help with that.) Once your plan is in place, you’ve got lots of options!  Here’s a few tips:

1. Use whatcha got. Consider things you already have in your home, such as shoe boxes, gift boxes, etc.
2. What can you get for a buck? Head over to the dollar store and see what you can find.  You might be surprised.
3. Supercenter & big box stores. Been there lately to get toilet paper?  Check out their organizing, storage or kitchen sections for some really affordable organizing products.
4. Hit the sales.  So many stores are having great sales, especially during the beginning of the school year.  Don’t forget to check the clearance racks and get your treasure hunting on.
5. Garage sales & flea markets rock! You’d be surprised what you might find – and I’m not talking about that funk in the bottom of a used food storage container.  ;)

How do YOU organize on a budget?

photo credit: mangpages

Have you seen my home office organization series on StartupNation.com?  Here’s a rundown of the articles:

Home Office Organization: A Good Investment

Get Your Home Office Paperwork Under Control

Organize Your Stacks of Business Cards: 5 Simple Tips

Balance, Shmalance: It’s Really About Choices

If you’re a community member, be sure to chime in on the conversation!

Organizing and creating functional spaces is a personal passion, which I turned into a career.  I was not born a naturally organized (read: uncluttered) person, and had to learn and discover why it is beneficial to have order in one’s life and workspace.  However, to be real, my young son, family and the nagging need to have a life makes a magazine cover ready space impossible.   Come on, we are all real people with busy lives!  It’s important to start somewhere.

That being said, enough was enough… maybe you can relate

Around the time my son was born, I realized I could no longer tolerate the piles of unused items, paper and clutter.  Something had to be done!  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing – I just took action and got started.  Like any permanent change it took work – LOTS of it in my case.

It took time to learn systems and retrain my brain until I felt more confident about my space.  I just started one day, and figured things out along the way.  I began with one room, I worked my way around my home.  Things really changed when I came to my home office.  It was a pivotal time for me, and it might just be for you too.

Organization helps you get it all done, in an orderly fashion.

Working from home has it’s perks, but it’s no picnic.  If you want to have any free time to spend with family and doing things you love, you’ve got to streamline your office and work day.  This is where organization comes in.  It helps you find most anything when and where you need it.   Otherwise you’ll be running circles, without getting much done.  Not.fun.

It doesn’t matter where you start, just that you start.

Your efforts don’t have to be perfect, but you have to start somewhere.  Make a plan to the best of your abilities, and get started.   Don’t feel that everything has to be perfect before you tackle your home office.  That will virtually guarantee you stay where you are.   Just get started at the beginning – whatever that means for you.

Where can you start?  What’s your beginning?

Need some help? Be sure to subscribe to my enewsletter!