Get Organized Month - What are You Doing to Celebrate?
Yes indeed....it's "Get Organized" month. The one month of the year that NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) has designated as the time when members help educate the public about the benefits of organization. At a dinner a couple of weeks ago with some friends, I walked in late and said "It's 'Get Organized' month, and my life is chaos." I guess I didn't realize how funny that sounded until it came out and they were laughing at me. I guess when you're in this business, people expect you to be on time. I try my best, but some days, life happens. In this instance, I ended up on a lengthy call with a gentleman that is trying to downsize his life and 30+ years of belongings for an upcoming move, in a relatively short time frame. Sometimes it's hard enough to pick up the phone and make that call and admit that you're overwhelmed and don't know where to start, so I decided we could just talk through his situation until we're done and then I would get to dinner. In the end, my life really isn't chaos, but it felt very chaotic that day since I was running behind. Can you relate to how it feels when one small thing does not go as you planned and you begin to feel stressed or overwhelmed? I can guarantee you that the more organized your are, you will be able to cut out some of that stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed.
January is the time of year when we make (and hopefully keep) our New Year's resolutions. Did you know that 'getting organized' is typically one of the top five resolutions set? It's not surprising as there are so many benefits to living and organized life and working in an organized and productive office.
One of the biggest benefits of being organized is that it will save you time and money - and this benefit does not discriminate between the home or the office. During these challenging economic times that many individuals and businesses are facing, the need to be organized and productive is more important than ever.
At the office - the more streamlined your processes are and the more systems you have in place will help reduce the amount of wasted employee hours, which translates to a savings on the bottom line. At home, the more control you have over the amount of stuff, will help you eliminate that accidental purchase of something you already own, or can make due without. In your home office, the quicker you can put your hands on paperwork and information will also help you save time and money - especially when it comes to paying the bills on time so you are not assessed late fees.
I have always said that organizing is a process, not an event. This means that once you get one area of your home or office organized or implemented a new system at work to save time, you must maintain what you've created - as maintenance is an on-going activity. It's easy to become quickly overwhelmed by all you want and hope to accomplish, so I urge you to make a list of your organizing goals for the new year before you jump in. Think about what you can realistically accomplish each month. It's best to set realistic goals that are attainable in this process to help keep you focused and on track for success. Unrealistic goals and trying to accomplish more than what you have the bandwidth to do will only result in disappointment.
Once you've made your list, prioritize it and list your goals on your calendar. Be sure to carve out time on your calendar to complete these projects. Your success rate will be greater when you plan and make the time for these activities. Resist the urge to feel overwhelmed for what you want to accomplish this year - you'll get there, but you need a plan. What are you waiting for? Grab a piece of paper, your calendar or your computer and start making your plan today.
May you enjoy an organized, productive year!
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