Strategies for the Unstructured, Creative Individual

5 Tips

Five Organizing Strategies for the Unstructured, Creative Individual
By Evelyn Gray

Evelyn Gray is a productivity expert, AD/HD consultant and hoarding specialist. She helps HR managers solve this delicate and sensitive issue in the workplace. Her mantra is: If you can’t find it in 30 seconds, it’s in the wrong place.

Evelyn is also the author of Simple Organizing Strategies for the Unstructured, Creative Individual, along with co-author and fellow NAFE member June Davidson. Evelyn works with stressed-out professionals whose disorganization has affected the quality of their lives and their personal and business relationships. Her techniques can improve workplace performance up to 40% through behavior modification with her method called “Stop, Drop, and Roll.”

1. Where Does Chronic Disorganization Start?
Can a person be challenged by disorganization at work and not at home? The answer is yes. Once they get buried in an avalanche of paperwork, people stop making decisions and the clutter begins to pile higher and higher. Some people waste as much as two hours a day looking for things—whew!

2. What is AD/HD? (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder)
AD/HD is a “neurological and developmental disorder, most often inherited, characterized by recurrent difficulties attending to tasks, and following them through to completion.” Through behavior modification, changing how someone with AD/HD thinks will lead to a more happy, successful, and fulfilling life. Then they can maximize their workplace strengths like creativity and inventiveness.

3. Managing Activities: Getting It All Done
Write down an important task on a piece of paper and post it in a visible place. Determine how long the task will take, and break it down into bite-size pieces to do each day. Organize at the time of day when your energy level is the highest. Retrieve and respond to e-mail/voice mails just twice a day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon, at the same time every day.

4. Run an Interruptions Log
No matter how well we plan our day, we get interruptions and distractions. Keep track with an Interruptions Log. Write down who or what interrupted you, the length of time you were interrupted, and a brief comment about what the interruption was. My general rule is to plan up to 50% of my day and leave the other 50% for interruptions and distractions.

5. The Psychology of Clutter
Why do we hang onto items of apparently no value? There are three reasons. (a) Grieving. When someone who is no longer in our life gives us something, we may cling onto things that remind us of them. (b) Being Thrifty. People often refuse to let go of something believing that the item will be useful someday, and don’t want to be wasteful in getting rid of it. (c) Denial. Holding onto our stuff can be a way of trying to hold onto what is over and can’t be reclaimed in our life.

Remember, if you can’t find it in 30 seconds, it’s in the wrong place!

Organizing your Crafts in your Home

With winter weather finally settling in, why not carve out some time to finish up a scrapbook, sewing project, or paint the old end table you picked up at that tag sale last year. Whatever your hobby, craft or passion, you will be able to enjoy your crafting and be more productive with a few tips on how to get your craft space and supplies in order.

1. First make sure you have adequate lighting and enough space to work. Position your work table in the center of the room so that you can tackle your project from all sides.

2. Keep like items together. For example: glues and adhesives together, embellishments, stamping supplies, etc...everything should be in its own bin or basket and labeled.

3. Keep all items handy. Open the bins of the items you will be using and if you can, bring them closer to your workspace. Make sure to label everything.

4. Keep a trash can nearby to easily dispose of paper scraps and garbage. Better yet, tape a paper bag to the side of your table and simply brush the scraps in.

5. If you can, hang a cork board or a few cork squares in your space for reminders, craft directions or photos of projects.

6. Baby food jars are great for storing small items, tacks, brads, or paint samples. For a decorative flair, find an empty spice rack and display the jars in the rack on the wall.

7. Be creative and resourceful. You can even use an empty pizza box to store oversized projects in a safe place. Decorate the pizza box with colorful duct tape to add pizazz.

8. Use accordion folders for storing paper supplies such as: stickers, die cuts, scrapbook papers, etc...

So get busy, and start organizing your craft supplies today for a creative and productive tomorrow.

FTNS Internet Radio

Tune in Wednesday, January 18th at 1 pm to Internet radio FTNS. I will be a guest on the "Green Gate" discussing how to clear the clutter and get achieve your goals for 2012!

On the Go, Mini Filing System

Card Cubby

Did you know there are over $8 billion in unspent gift cards held by individuals? Take a look at this great mini filing system.

An alphabetized mini-card file that fits right into your purse, briefcase or car console. Use the cubby to alphabetically file your gift cards, frequent buyer cards, business cards, discount cards, etc.

Great for birthdays, graduations, baby and wedding showers, and teachers. Holds approximately 80 cards.

As part of my organizing tools inventory, give me a call or reply with your order.

Don't Put Off til Tomorrow what You Have to DO TODAY!

I recently sent out a New Year's flyer offering one free hour of organization in order for people to "Start the New Year Off Right - ORGANIZED". I noted that one of the reasons we are unsuccessful with our New Year's resolutuions and goals is because we are leaving behind unfinished projects and clutter from 2011. I firmly believe what I stated, and encourage all of you to "clean your 2011 plate" sooner than later. The clutter and disorganization from last year is not going ito organize itself! SO.....

I decided to take my own advice since I too have two very large projects that I had not made the time to get to. I was too busy focusing on YOUR clutter and building my business. Yesterday I spent 7 hours in MY basement, which I am embarrassed to admit, was a disaster! NOT ANYMORE! Wow, what a transformation. I finally purchased, installed, and used the same shelves, hooks, bins, and racks I use with my clients.

I can now begin today with a much clearer head and focus myself on my New Year's goals and resolutuions. Give me a call and find out how Personal Touch Organizing can help you.

I welcome you to comment and share project(s) that you feel may hold you back from reaching your 2012 goals.

Just One Resolution

This year, I’m not putting together a list of New Year’s resolutions.

I’m just going to devote myself to one single goal: instead of holding so tightly to the way I think things should happen or worrying what might happen, I’ll instead spend my time more deeply experiencing how they DO happen.

This year, I want to relax a bit and just feel the moments of my life more fully. Of course, I’ll still work feverishly toward my goals and hope for my desired outcomes, but I resolve to spend less time fretting about I should be doing and more time just doing.

This will be very difficult for me because if I am not doing than I feel like I am wasting time.

Wish me luck, and consider joining me on this journey in 2012.