Get organized

Last week I went through my clothes and packed up a lot of items I either couldn’t fit in anymore or knew I was never going to wear.
Just doing that exercise opened up a lot of space. I still have some purging to do in the clothing area before I can really start organize my clothes but I’m happy to have taken at least 1 step.

A few months ago I started working on capturing things that I wanted/needed to do. I downloaded a couple free PIM apps to try – Essential PIM and Total Organizer – I know Gcal is the “in” tool for that type of thing, but I just can’t bring myself to be 2.0 just yet :). Anyway I pretty well established the habit of scheduling appointments, and keep to-do items in one of those tools – I need to decide which one I want to stick with and ditch the other – I like TO b/c it allows you to make different folders (think GTD (contexts or projects)) with its own calendar, to-do list, contacts, notes…Essential PIM is a little more user friendly (for example 8 am, 8 pm, not 8:00 am and 15:00 (I hate military time – which TO uses), but doesn’t have the folder structure for to-do lists, but does for notes…

The good news…I’m still pressing ahead on this goal.

Because I had so many areas I wanted to organize (time,
finances, space, computer files, etc..) I finally decided to mind – map the whole thing – the areas I wanted to organize and my goals in those areas. Then I created a 2nd mind map with a list actions I could take towards those goals that way each day I can take an action towards this goal without having to think of something to do.

Another accomplishment I’ve had towards this goal – is my grand central notebook – kind of a take off of FlyLady’s control journal. I created a binder that will hold my budget and SPA (monthly spending allocation plans), paper bills that need to be paid, bills that had been paid, bank statements, receipt letters from donations – as the mail comes in I can put the in the binder for easy finding when it comes to bill paying time, file away the paid bills quickly, etc…

FYI: If you’re looking for cheap mind-map tool you have a couple of options – I use MindApp – it’s great tool and it’s cheap only $49. Free options are FreeMind and Personal Brain (Personal Brain is really cool, but you can not print a map in the free version).

Living Organized proven steps for a clutter free and beautiful home

Ok, so I stood in B & N and tried to decide what book I should buy on organizing. One of my goals for the quarter is to learn what it takes to be more organized. So I held in my hand the Messies Manual and this book. At the last second I decided to go with this one and I’m glad I did. This book is great. Yes, it has tips on how to begin to get clutter free and organized, but also helps identify your tendencies so that you can work around them – I always criticized everyone around me for “messy” and after reading this book I realized that I too am a “messie”. Throughout this book she described my tendencies. You have to admit that you have a problem before you can fix it :) Now I can cut through the excuses and finally get a handle on cleaning, de-cluttering, and organizing my space. I think this book and Sandra Felton are point on and I’ve already picked up The Messies Manual off of half.com – which if I understand correctly is supposed to be more application.

I want to organize my time by setting set schedules for most of my routine things and taking the time to prepare so that I can be on time for work, church, and other appointments.

http://www.onlineorganizing.com/Home.asp