Join Linette at the Chicago Green Festival at McCormick Place on May 15, 3 - 4 p.m. She'll share tips on how to Take Back Your Desk!

If your workday is spent looking for important documents that have been swallowed by your desk, join Linette George, founder of Get Organized by George, Inc., as she gives tips for the overwhelmed eco-preneur. Learn how to get more done, in less time, and with less stress.

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Happy Get Organized Month!

The beginning of a new year is a great time to evaluate relationships with friends, family, partners--and time. Most of us feel we never have enough time. In reality, everyone gets the same amount each day. How you manage your 24 hours is up to you. But, I'm going to challenge you not to think of it in terms of "time management," rather behavior management. In other words, learn to manage your life within the time you're given.

The cold hard truth is most of us don't spend our time wisely. "Work smarter, not harder" may sound trite, although it's actually good advice. According to the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule), 80 percent of what we do all day is wasted time. 80 percent! And wasted time doesn't move us toward our goals. If you buy into this theory (and I hope you do), think how much more time you'd have if you cut out just 25, or even 50, percent of your wasted time, not to mention 80 percent!

Now, don't get me wrong. I know just as well as you that "life happens" and things don't always go according to plan. So, here are some suggestions to minimize that wasted 80 percent.

Set a schedule every day in accordance with your priorities and stick to it as closely as possible. Try never to hard-schedule more than half your day. You want to leave room for the unforeseen--a.k.a. "life."

Don't mistake being busy for being productive. Ask yourself, "What can I do today that will cause me to leave the office feeling like I had a successful day?" Be specific (i.e., make eight cold calls, etc.).  

Delegate whenever possible. Ask yourself, "What things must I do, and what can be delegated?" Trust that others can do things to assist you. Do what you do best, and delegate the rest. Even solopreneurs can delegate tasks to virtual assistants, bookkeepers, web designers, etc.

Delegating includes saying "No." It's one of the best time savers. No one has time to say "yes" to all requests, and you're not respecting your time if you do. Practice right now--just say NO!

If you're overcommitted, ask yourself what you can give up. There's always something you can live without.

Track how you spend your time. It's tedious, but it can be a real eye-opener. For one week, write down how you spent your time each day. At the end of the week, evaluate your time diary. Chances are, if you're honest with yourself, you'll see plenty of areas where you didn't use your time as prudently as you could have, probably about 80 percent of the time. Identify your time wasters and commit to eliminate them. Think about this: If an employee earning $50,000 a year wastes one hour each day, it costs the company $6,500 per year in lost productivity. To calculate for you or your employees, go to our "Cost of Disorganization Calculator." 

When you're feeling overwhelmed, stop. Focus on your breathing, relax, and center yourself. As a result, you'll feel better and be more productive.

Be realistic about how long something takes to accomplish. If you're not good at estimating time, double or even triple the time you think a task will take. That way you'll err on the safe side.

Do your own thing. If you're more comfortable with paper-and-pencil scheduling, use a paper calendar system. If you love e-calendars and they work well for you, then geek-out to your heart's content. Don't do what you think you "should" do or what "everyone else is doing." You'll save both time and frustration by going with your own flow.

Allow yourself reflective time to consider what you can do to be more efficient and productive. What can you improve upon that you're currently doing? And if you need help, give us a call. We're here for you.

On average, a piece of paper is moved eight times before it is recycled or filed. Now, I'm not a proponent of the "touch it once" school of thought because to me it's completely unrealistic in most instances. However, touching the same piece of paper eight times is a bit excessive and a sign of indecision.

As you look at the paper strewn around your office, ask yourself, "Why is it there?" Chances are your response will be "I just don't know what to do with it." The result of indecision is paper clutter. Keeping paper under control is about making decisions. Because many people struggle with decision making, we'll share some steps to streamline the process.

Look at a document and ask yourself the following questions:

·   Can I discard (recycle) it?

·   Can I delegate it?

·   Do I need to act on it?

·   Do I need to save it for future reference?

The first line of defense is always to eliminate it (recycle or delegate). If that isn't an option, you have only two choices: take action or file for reference.

There are two types of action you can take: immediate or scheduled. If you can complete the task in two minutes or less, do it immediately. If it'll take longer, either schedule the activity on your calendar or file it in a daily action file such as a 1-31 tickler filing system.

Items that don't require action, but you want or need to keep (an article you've read or a legal document), should be filed in a reference filing system. 

Here are a couple things to note:

·    If you're still struggling to decide, ask yourself: 

-Do I really need it? (i.e., for legal purposes)

-Can I get it somewhere else? (Internet, another department)

-What's the worst thing that could happen if I get rid of it?

·   80 percent of what you file for reference will never be looked at again, so be selective in what you decide to keep.  

·   Having a user-friendly file cabinet is important (i.e., easy to open/close, files clearly labeled, and convenient to access). If your file cabinet and filing systems are easy to use, you'll be more likely to actually use them!

If you're overwhelmed with office clutter, give us a call. We'll help you create systems that work for you.

One of the key elements of a well-organized office is space optimization. To achieve this, look at your space (desk, walls, file cabinets, storage units, even the floor) from a fresh perspective.

Just as with real estate, "location, location, location" is key in office organization. The things you use most often get the best real estate--close to you and where you use them. Picture a dartboard--the bull's-eye represents your desk and the items you use most often. The next ring represents less frequently used items; the next ring, even less often used items, etc.

Combine this idea with one of the most basic principles of organizing--having a "home" for everything. That way you'll always know where to find things and where to put them away. Choose a place that makes sense to you, not necessarily where someone else would put them.

Remember in kindergarten when you learned to keep like things together? The same applies to your office. Here are some guidelines to consider when sitting at your desk or "command center":

• Place all frequently used supplies in, on, or close to your desk. For example, if you use your stapler daily, place it within easy reach while seated at your desk.  

• Keep items used once or twice a week at arm's length. For example, if you refer to a manual to look up a code or procedure, keep it where you can easily access it by simply reaching for it or spinning your chair around to get it.  

• Store items used only once or twice a month inside your office or cubicle, but outside your "reachable zone."  

• Put supplies used less frequently (refills of paper clips, pens, paper, etc.) in an office supply cabinet down the hall.

Think vertically! Use your wall space to help keep your desk clear. It doesn't matter if you have office walls or cubicle walls; there are plenty of products on the market to help you stay organized.

• Bulletin or magnetic boards are great for hanging frequently referenced items (phone extensions, zip codes, calendar, etc.). 

• Walls are an excellent place to post department or company goals, mission statements, or sales charts. 

• File holders that attach to the wall or hang over a cubicle are a great way to keep frequently used files or current projects within close reach.  

Think of your desk as a "processing center." What comes in must be dealt with and sent on its way. Many people mistakenly think of their inbox as a holding tank when actually it's to be used for receiving items, not storing them. Try to empty your inbox at least once a day.

Take a step back from your desk and look around your space to see if you are applying these principles of organization. If not, make adjustments where you can; and then enjoy the extra 'breathing room" you've just created.

Let us know about the improvements you make in your space by commenting on our blog. We'd love to see before and after pictures too, so please send them to us!