If you are having an organizing dilemma, there is a good chance that someone out there is having the very same problem! The following questions about getting organized have been submitted by readers of the Clutterbugs website, looking for solutions to their personal organizing problems. These answers are provided courtesy of Carmen, professional organizer and creator of Clutterbugs. Do you have an organizing question you would like to ask?
Select a Topic Below
Avoiding Bulky Daily Planners
Email Folder Clean-Up
Getting Motivated to Organize
How to Keep Picture Frames
Straight
Organizing a Purse
Organizing Stamps for Scrapbooking
NEW!
Spend Less Time
Cleaning Up After Messy Kids
Streamline Your Morning
Routine NEW!
Q: I am an executive, and I have about 8 years of back-filed emails. 80% are emails that I must keep for records and the rest are just fluff that can be deleted. I want to organize the 80% into a usable library that I can search through quickly…my problem is how to find the time! I already work 12-14 hours a day at my job, and I can’t afford to tack on another few hours for organizing. It’s such a huge task and I feel totally overwhelmed. What would you do if you were me?
Matt
Minneapolis, MN
A:(1) Create an archive folder. Put all your old items in that folder. Spend 5-15 minutes each day going through the archives, purging unwanted emails. It will take awhile, but you are not consumed with the project. By spending a little time each day – the time it takes to drink your morning coffee – you will be on your way to being better organized.
(2) Start immediately on a new filing system for all current information. As far as the system – you should choose a style that fits your personality, your access type. There are 3 dominant access types in regards to filing – chronologically, categorically, and functionally. If you say, "That case was in 2004." or "That was last March." – then you access chronologically and your folders should be named according to month/year. If you say, "That was the Martin case." or "That was the divorce case." – then you access categorically and your folders should be named by subject. If you say, "This needs immediate action." or "This can wait until next week." – then you access functionally and your folders should be named as such. Also, you may be a combo of the access types – in this case, go with the one you use most often.
(3) Once you are done purging the archive folder, you can then (a) leave them as an archive, or (b) sort through the remains and merge with your new filing system, spending 5-15 minutes each day on the "merging" until complete.
The point is to develop a system that works with your personality or mentality. Otherwise, you are likely to be asking the same organizing question in another few years…most people give up on organization if it doesn’t agree with how they function.
Q: I know I need to get organized, but I am having trouble motivating myself. What do you suggest I do to get moving?
Dana
Minot, ND
A: People tend to put off organizing because it seems so daunting – too much stuff and too little time! The key is to eat away at the mess, little by little, until it all disappears. Start small – a corner of the kitchen, a shelf in the closet, or a cabinet in the bathroom. Start short – 20 minutes.
Two techniques I like to use:
(1) Put on my favorite tunes and tell myself to work through 4-5 songs max. The music motivates me to keep plugging away and it takes my mind off the fact that I am working.
(2) During an hour-long TV show, there will be several commercial breaks. Instead of watching the commercials, I will work through them by focusing on something that needs organizing.
After a month of 20 minute sessions or weekly TV shows, you will start to see great progress and that will spur you on even more!
Q: My friends and family – especially my mom – are always saying I need to get a daily planner because I am always forgetting appointments and losing phone numbers. Thing is – I hate carrying a bunch of stuff around! I like to be lightweight, and I know that a planner will be annoying for me. BUT I also know that I need something because I never can keep up with anything. Any ideas?
Harry
Seattle, WA
A: It sounds like you need a very simplistic system! I like to call it the Single Page Planner.
How it works:
Your entire schedule will be compacted onto one sheet of paper for you to fold and place in your pocket or wallet. At the end of the day, transfer any necessary info such as rescheduled appointments, notes left incomplete or new future meetings to the sheet that you will use tomorrow. Then shred the old page. You will be able to keep up with where you need to be without the burden of carrying around a cumbersome planner.
How to make it:
On your computer or on a lined sheet of paper, make one generic spreadsheet that includes these values: day of week, date, year, 7am – 7pm hourly markers, notes, recurring meetings, and future meetings. Of note, recurring and future meetings sections should only need to be updated when a date is past and must be deleted or when a new date must be added. Print out 2-3 days at a time; if you do any more than this, the notes and future meetings segments will likely change too much and you will have to update the page again anyway.
Your Single Page Planner would look something like this…
|
TODAY |
Monday, 20 Mar 07 |
|
|
|
|
7AM |
Breakfast with Joey |
|
8AM |
Chemistry Class |
|
9AM |
Spanish Exam |
|
10 AM |
|
|
11 AM |
|
|
ETC until 7pm |
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES |
Email Jenny about dinner next Weds |
|
RECURRING MEETINGS |
Mon-Weds-Fri Chemistry Class 8AM, Spanish Class 9AM Fri by 10AM Weekly Report Due |
|
FUTURE MEETINGS |
Aunt Terry’s Birthday Party 5 Apr Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity 18 Apr Band Camp 10-15 May |
Spend Less Time Cleaning Up After Messy Kids
Q: I am a single mother of two little boys. I try to keep the house organized, but they are always making a mess with their toys. It seems like I spend all my free time picking up after them! Do you have any suggestions on how I can make my life easier?
Jenna
Minot, ND
A: Buy a basket (with handles) and strategically place it for clean-ups. For multi-story homes, position it near the stairs so that you can cover both the up and downstairs quickly. For single story homes, position it in the most high-traffic room, since this is where the most "stuff" will likely concentrate. Make a sweep of the house once or twice a day, picking up toys or other items that do not belong in one room and move them – via the basket – to their proper place in the home. The basket technique will help you gather everything in one spot and transport it with ease; it saves you from running back and forth between rooms to straighten.
If you want to include your kids in the process, then make organizing a game. Put a basket in the middle of the room, tell your kids to pick up items on the floor and set them in the basket, set a timer for 10 minutes, and race! Perhaps give the one who places the most items in the basket, therefore helping you the most, a small prize.
Q: My purse is pure chaos! I would like to be able find something, anything when I need it. Is there some way to make this happen?
Debbie
Bismarck, ND
A: A purse organizer is calling your name! You
have two basic options:
(1) The Butler Bag is a complete purse that incorporates built-in compartments to help you organize.
It is a more expensive option, but it is quality and it will last you a
very long time. To find out more about Butler Bag products, see the graphic below.
(2) Purseket and Purse Brite are organizers that quickly add
compartments to any size purse, plus it can be moved quickly from one
bag to another. They are very similar products, but Purse Brite
offers a light in case you are looking through your purse in the dark. To find out more about either Purseket or Purse Brite,
see the graphic below.
Organizing Stamps for Scrapbooking NEW!
Q: I was wondering if you have any generalized ideas for a stamping/ craft room. My stamps are currently in the plastic shoe boxes, but it makes it hard to know what I have. I don't want to invest in a lot of supplies at this time.
Susan
Minot, ND
A: Without actually seeing what you have, I can't be 100% on what advice to give to you. But there are a few options that I can think of right off the top of my head.
(1) Sort all the stamps that you have. Categorize them into piles, depending on your preferences...maybe separate by holiday season or by concepts (snowmen, animals, letters), etc.
(2) Then sort each major category (ie. holidays) into subcategories
(ie. Xmas,
Easter, Halloween).
(3) Ideally, you would place one entire category + related
subcategories into one clear shoe box. If you have a large number of
stamps in one category, then you may have to flow over into 2
different shoe boxes. (I wouldn't suggest mixing different
categories w/in one shoe box, unless you just don't have enough to
fill an entire box with one particular category...in that case, just
make sure you label the outside of the shoe box and cardboard
dividers appropriately.)
If you have the right ratio of categories
to clear shoe boxes, then you are good. If not, then you might have
to invest in a few more boxes at the dollar store or just use the
cardboard shoe boxes to save the $$.
(4) Label the outside of the shoe box according to category.
(5) Inside each box, place cardboard dividers as file markers for subcategories, just like you would a folder in a file cabinet.
-- Make sure the cardboard is sturdy (an old moving box, a old pizza box lid).
-- Cut individual cardboard pieces to fit nicely inside the clear shoe box with the lid fully-sealed.
-- Label the cardboard dividers with the proper subcategory name.
-- Situate the piece of cardboard to mark the proper subcategory...they won't stand perfectly straight, but each should be supported enough by the stamps that they will hold their own.
-- You also want to make sure that the top of the cardboard reaches a higher point than the top of the pile of stamps...you want to be able to read the subcategories, and if you have too many stamps in one section, you won't be able to do so.
If you decide you may be interested in purchasing some organizers down the road, then I will refer you to this site: Love 2 Organize My Scrapbooking Room. She has lots of fun examples and suggestions!
How to Keep Picture Frames Straight
Q: I want to hang a bunch of new frames...what's the best way to keep my pictures from being crooked?
Scott
Kaiserslautern, Germany
A: I suggest trying the Everstraight Hanging System. You don't need any leveling devices or studs, and you can adjust your pictures both horizontally and vertically after hanging them. It's an easy, inexpensive solution! Visit their website: http://www.everstraight.com for full product details and instructions. Everstraight also comes with 100% money-back guarantee.
Q: My mornings are always crazy, especially during the week before work. I would really like to have at least 5 minutes to sit down and have a cup of coffee before I hit the ground running! How can I make this happen?
Barb
Minot, ND
A: As Scarlet O'Hara so famously said in the movie Gone With the Wind, "Fiddly dee, I'll worry about that tomorrow!" And if you want to have a hectic morning, then you should definitely try to emulate her. But if you want to have a smooth morning routine, I would suggest a little planning and prep the night before...
(1) Select your clothes.
Pick out your clothes for the next day. Iron anything that needs it.
Don't forget accessories: jewelry, cuff links, hose, socks, panties,
boxers, scarf, or tie. If you have kids, the same should be done with
their outfits.
(2) Pack your bags.
Fix your lunch, get your gym bag ready, and make sure all necessary
items for the next day are tucked into your briefcase, backpack, or
purse. Again, if children are in the picture, then their bags should be
prepared as well.
(3) Check your planner.
Look over tomorrow's activites. This will refresh your memory about
must-do items or things you need to take with you.
(4) Collect your stuff.
Place your keys, cell, wallet, purse, laptop, briefcase, etc. in one
spot, preferably close by your door.
(5) Get some sleep.
Go to bed in time to sleep 8 hours (or whatever your body requires to be
rested). Otherwise, you are guaranteed to hit the snooze and sleep later
than you should!
I Wanna Keep Organizing! Take Me Back to Get Organized! Tools