if you're not an organized person by nature? I am constantly trying to become better oragnized, have a palm pilot, the works, but I never make much progress. Are organizational skills something that you're born with or something you can learn? Because I haven't seemed to learn them... For those of you who have crossed the bridge from non-organized to organized, how did you do it?
Lunatrek
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Re: Can you become organized...
For me, it was planning my wedding. I knew how important it was to save all of my documents and contracts, so I kept a binder with separate tabs for each category. Anything I did (wedding realted) went right into the binder. I never lost a thing.
I'm not one to use a Palm or a Planner, but now that my wedding planning is over I sort of feel more organized in general. I realize how important it is to keep track of documents... my calendar is kept on my email, so I still don't have a Palm, but my brain has just been restructured a bit!
starhead
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Re: Can you become organized...
I'm already done with the whole wedding thing and I don't feel like I'm any more organized. I make it through life okay, bills get paid and such but there are lots of little things that I can't remember, like anniversarys, birthdays, not enough time in the day to do stuff, can't find anything, I could go on and on....am I hopeless?
ChristineC68
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Re: Can you become organized...
That's how I feel but I know my biggest problem is spending so much time online.
I try to keep lists to keep me on track that help but I have a long ways to go.
Lunatrek
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Re: Can you become organized...
Do you check your email every day? If so, you can set up reminders, so that anytime an important date comes along you will remember it. All it takes is one instance of sitting down and setting them all up at once, then you're good to go for the rest of the year!
MizStinker
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Re: Can you become organized...
i dont think you are hopeless. I am border on OCD sometimes I swear.
Get your self a corkboard for an area you go into everyday, I put a clander (sp?) and pin up any invites/concert tickets. I mark the calander with any birthdays ect.
I also have uh-oh gifts baby,male, female and unisex. If I forget to get a b-day gift, ect I always can use the uh-oh gift in a pinch.
xjulietx
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Re: Can you become organized...
I think if you get organized with someone or follow someone's lead who is organized, you can do it. I was really organized when I worked for an organized boss, but got messy with an unorganized boss. For me, the people surrounding me affect me
michele31
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Re: Can you become organized...
I believe that if you make the time you can get organized. You also need to learn to throw stuff out- not easy for many people, Once you start to really get organized you can keep it up. It is more about keeping up with it then a one time project.
ChristineC68
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Re: Can you become organized...
I rarely look at calendars but an email reminder might work for me:D
I love the uh-oh gift idea!! I do keep a box of cards - there's one for every occasion in there. Very helpful when you need one right now.
Xelindrya
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Re: Can you become organized...
Well to stop forgetting things I started having a billion reminders, voicemails for myself, emails, email alerts, two calanders, to do list. the works. I stuck with it. Finally I got the point that I wrote the one thing dow so much so often I never forgot anymore.
I think organization is different for each person. I am (according to others) organized. Come look at my desk and say that!! The point is I know where everything is. I put sticky notes on top of stacks that say what stuff is and put them in neat piles about once every few months. That's as clean as my desk gets.
My bedroom is a nightmare for any mother. Things pretty much thrown everywhere.
Ask me to cook you dinner and I'll waltz through complicated receipes without a blink.
If you have a certain goal (clean desk, planner) then you can work on that one part of your life or routine. Trying to 'be organized' is a very large project to tackle full force.
Take one thing at a time and get organized at it, then if you feel you need to, move to another area. Try not to take on too much at once, it only makes it worse.
Just my $.02
ChristineC68
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Re: Can you become organized...
Posted by Xelindrya
I think organization is different for each person. I am (according to others) organized. Come look at my desk and say that!! The point is I know where everything is. I put sticky notes on top of stacks that say what stuff is and put them in neat piles about once every few months. That's as clean as my desk gets.
This is me at work!! I call it organized chaos. I know where everything is despite appearances. Every month or other month I put everything away and people ask if I am quitting
Karen H
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Re: Can you become organized...
Organization takes 2 things:
Finding the system that works for you and sticking to the system.
I took a seminar for work once - something about managing multiple projects, deadlines and ???. One key they mentioned is that if you do something for 30 days, it will become a habit - so there is part of your battle. Be consistent for 30 days, and it will help you on your way to becoming organized.
Beyond that, I'd say start small. Don't try to become completely organized at once - pick one area to improve - find a system that you think will work, and strive to stick to it. Tweak it as you go along, or chuck it out and try again if the system iteself is not right for you.
It may be setting a system for paying bills, or controlling clutter. Stick to it, and slowly it will become second nature and you can become more organized. I like www.flylady.net for tips on controlling clutter and keeping the house clean. I find their 'firedrill' routine helps to keep the surface clutter under control and keeps the house neater. Some of their cleaning routines can be useful too.
Now if only I could be better about remembering to do something for the 30 days - that's the hardest for me - I start a routine and get side tracked, but slowly, I'm getting better.
ChristineC68
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Re: Can you become organized...
I get side tracked easily - I should be making dinner
But you made some great points!! I agree with starting small. I would become discouraged immediately if I couldn't get my entire life in order at one time if that's what I set as my goal.
Karen H
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Re: Can you become organized...
I also have the lifelong 'office supply' fantasy which kicks in whenever I see stackable drawers, file folders, containers, etc. Especially when they are pretty colors, shapes, etc.
I start believing that the key to organazational bliss is that I just need the magic combination of the abovementioned organazational tools, and then every element of my life will fall into place. I'm still searching for that magic combination!
I start believing that the key to organazational bliss is that I just need the magic combination of the abovementioned organazational tools, and then every element of my life will fall into place. I'm still searching for that magic combination!
I feel like this too!!!
I was my most organized in college...and I found a simple day planner was all I needed...i didn't go anywhere without it...I would write notes to myself and important info in it...I should do this again....I have the planner...but I think i should ge a PDA so it will fit in my purse
starhead
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Re: Can you become organized...
some great tips here! I guess I just need to find what works for me (who knows what that is?) and try to stick to it for 30 days, really integrate things into my lifestyle.
But it's so hard!!! Anyone else out there like me?
