Friday, February 20, 2009

Time to get organized

I found these organizing pictures from Decorology. If you happen to be a type of person who loves organizing things..at least one of these pictures might be able to inspire you. To be honest, I'm a net freak and I can't stand seeing something that is not on its place. So when I saw these pictures I thought it was like an organizing piece of art=) Really like it.

WikiHow tells you how to get organized.

If disorganization is congesting your life and you're feeling scattered and frustrated as a result, then it's time to get organized. But before you can be organized, you need to make a monumental effort to rearrange your belongings, your priorities, and most importantly, your habits.

Steps

  1. Organize your space. Whether it's your home, kitchen, office, computer, closet, desk, or locker, you need to see what's in there, throw away what you don't often use (or put it efficiently in storage) and give everything else a convenient and clearly designated space.
  2. Put it back. Right now. Once you establish where everything belongs, you need to get in the habit of putting it back there as soon as you're finished using it. Don't put it on the kitchen table or on the couch and move onto something else, thinking to yourself that you'll put it away later. That's a big no-no.
  3. Use a calendar. Get a calendar and put it in a place where you see it every day, preferably in the morning. For most people, that's on the refrigerator, on their desk, or even on their desktop. Wherever you put it, make it part of your routine to refer to it every day. For example, you can put it on the inside of the bathroom cabinet where you get your toothpaste. Every morning, while you're brushing your teeth with one hand, touch today's date on the calendar with the other, and look to see what's marked for today and for the upcoming week.
  4. Use a planner. A planner is especially useful if you have a lot of appointments and your days are so varied that you have trouble keeping track of your schedule. For example, if you travel a lot or attend classes at various times of day, it's much easier to carry a planner with you to consult frequently--you can't do that with a calendar. You can also usually fit more information in a planner.
  5. Combine similar activities. Make all your phone calls at one time. Do all your errands at the same time. Pay all your bills at the same time. Do all shopping in one trip.
  6. Write it down! A short pencil is better than a long memory! Anything and everything you need to remember should be written down. Even if your memory is great, nobody's perfect and it doesn't hurt to put it on paper, just in case. Record phone numbers, appointments, birthdays, shopping lists, and things to do.
  7. Make a to do list for your day. Mark one or two of those items as things you absolutely must get done that day, and pursue those tasks relentlessly until you get them done. Make a to do list for the week (Grocery shopping, fix air conditioner, etc). Draw from this list to make your daily to-do list. Make a to do list for the month (Birthday gift, get car serviced, dentist appointment). Make a to do list for your life. Drastic, yes, but why not use this time to rethink your life and where it's going? Getting organized is all about priorities, and it never hurts to get your ducks in a row.
  8. Taking the time to organize receipts for things going back, whether to the store or to the library, can really help. It creates order and structure, and will also help avoid not being able to return things to stores and fines.
  9. Delegate responsibilities. Make sure the person you appoint to do the task has all the tools necessary to do the task. It's hard to be organized if you insist on doing everything yourself.
  10. Multi-task. Organize a drawer while talking on the phone. Fold towels while watching television. Listen to books on tape while driving, etc.
  11. Follow through. There's no point in making a to-do list if you don't discipline yourself to complete the tasks you've assigned yourself.
  12. Ziplock bags are your friends. Store away items in plastic zip lock bags. This way, the items will be compact, clean, and dust-free. Place the bags in closets, desk drawers, cabinets, and other places. Zip lock bags are convenient, useful, and cheap, so use them!

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