Here are some basic areas that we all struggle with in our homes and offices.  In each area I’ve made a few quick suggestions that seem to help a lot of folks.

 

The Golden Rule:

I can find everything I need within one minute.

 

Mail Overload

  • We all need to put a trashcan next to our mailbox.  Then we can throw out all the junk mail before we get in the house.  This alone will save us tons of paper problems. 
  • When we get things asking us to join or give money in some way, we simply tear off our address label, write a message on it to please take me off your list, put it in the prepaid envelope, and send it off. 
  • We need to cancel magazines we don’t really read.

Filing Systems

  • We need to file things based on category, not alphabetically.
  • One of each thing is enough. 
  • Use hanging folders and a high quality filing cabinet: you’ll be glad you did.

Offices and Office Suites

  • An office is somewhere that you would want a client to meet you in.
  • Your office needs to be separated from the other offices in the suite.
  • Less is more.  The fewer things you have, the better.  Keep just what you need.

Desks

  • Oh, boy, the biggie!  Your desk should have on it only things you use a lot as well as only a few mementos.  Less is more!
  • Have good functioning tape dispenser, an excellent stapler, a container for pens and pencils, a letter-opener, a container for paper clips, post-its, and the like, and a good pair of scissors. 
  • The more open space, the better you can do your work

That Garage

  • Have a section for everything: sports, camping, crafts, lawn, etc.  Each thing has a place.
  • Store things so you can get to them without any trouble.
  • Get rid of everything broken, obsolete, unused, and unusable.  Throw out the boxes that things came in: you won’t use them again.

Home Offices

  • Your home office should be confined to your home office, not other areas of the house as well.
  • Organization of papers and business cards is key.
  • Simplicity is best.  The less stuff you have, the better you can work.

Classrooms

  • Students need to have orderly systems to get things and put things away.
  • Students need to know where to turn in homework, get back graded work, and find out missing assignments due to absences.  They can do all this on their own, and it will save you a lot of time and energy.
  • Do a major de-clutter once a year.  You’ll be surprised what you don’t need!