The Five Habits of Highly Organized People
My friend Barb says she was born organized. For most of us, though, being organized—or at least staying organized—takes effort. I like to think of myself as organized, and some of my recordkeeping might lead you to think I am. But given that I can rarely find my desk under all the clutter, I’ve got a long way to go. Whenever I see someone whose desk or workspace is clutter-free, I view that person as ultra-organized.
Not surprisingly, one of the key tips for staying organized is to keep flat surfaces clear. This applies to countertops, dining room tables, and other surfaces at home, but it’s especially important at work. As soon as you place one item on a clear surface, it invites others, and the next thing you know, you’ve got piles of stuff everywhere.
Setting up simple systems can help keep everything in its place. Start with the obvious things, such as a calendar to track key due dates, an inbox (the physical kind) for paperwork that needs attention, and email filters to direct email to appropriate folders. Whether you use physical or electronic filing systems, it’s important to create categories that are clear, simple, and logical. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in less than thirty seconds, your filing system could probably use some rework.
It’s also a good idea to have one to-do list and to keep it in a central place. Of course, not everyone swears by to-do lists, and if you’re one such, ignore this tip. Needless to say, there are apps for most every aspect of being organized. If you’re app-oriented, the key is to find one or two that work well for you and that you’ll actually use so that the apps don’t become just another distraction.
Even if you can’t stay organized throughout the day, it can be a time-saver to spend a few minutes every day regaining some sense of order. Some people like to clear their desks and workspaces first thing each morning. For me, ending the day by restoring some minor modicum of order works better and helps me get off to a more efficient start each morning.
Of course, decluttering is also a key to staying organized. That means occasionally examining how you go about your work and identifying trouble spots. Whether it’s once a week or (more likely) once a year, review everything that you would classify as clutter. Throw out what you can. But make sure that everything you keep has a home—that is, a specific place where you keep it, with the things you use most often kept closest. (Or use Dogbert’s personal storage unit solution!)
