Do you constantly save documents and files onto your computer without ever taking the time to clear out and organize what you don’t need? Today is a national “holiday” to help create an awareness about removing unnecessary items from your computer and getting digital files organized. Seize the moment today and clear through your files. Here are some tips to help make the task more manageable:
- Think about the types of files you have and group them into a handful of main categories.
- Do you have a functioning paper filing system? Look at your paper files and create a similar digital system.
- Get email under control. Here are some email management tips from a post I wrote for NBC Chicago about getting control of email.
- Photo overload. Many people feel the need to hang on to every photo, whether digital or paper. If you keep too much, you can’t find what’s really important, not to mention images can be very large digital files. Organize your photos chronologically and remove what’s duplicate/unnecessary.
- Gain control of your desktop. Spend some time sorting and filing what’s on your desktop. Fences is a great program for PC users.
- Take 10. A daily 10 minute tidy of the files you’ve used each day will help maintain order on your computer and will actually save you time in the long run.
Take the time today to get your computer files in order and see how eliminating what’s not needed and finding good, efficient places to store things will lead to better organization overall.
If you have children–you have artwork, and one piece at a time it can snowball and become overwhelming. Kids come home from school every day with papers, drawings, paintings, etc… You need to be selective about what is kept and what is tossed. If you keep too much, you will be lost in a sea of paper and artwork where nothing will seem appealing any more.
You must also have a good system in place for keeping kid’s artwork. Dynamic Frames is a good solution for displaying children’s art. It has a well designed frame that can hold up to 50 sheets. You simply open the front part of the frame and add your artwork. With DynamicFrames.com you can organize and display the masterpieces your children bring home.
Yesterday I spoke to a smart man who purchased what his wife would REALLY appreciate for Valentines Day. It’s one thing to buy her another lovely piece of clothing, but is last year’s gift lost in a corner of the closet? Maybe the perfect gift would be to really know what’s in that closet and get a full appreciation for all of the lovely things that already exist there. Getting the space fully functional with items that are currently worn and loved and removing anything that’s no longer considered lovely or fashionable–wouldn’t THAT be a fabulous gift? The gentleman I spoke with didn’t want to just add another item to an already overflowing closet, he wanted his wife to end her frustration with the chaos in the closet and feel the calm of a nice, organized space. The process of clearing through the closet with a professional organizer is really quite simple: the organizer quickly shows the client each item and they make a decision about whether it stays or goes. Once we know everything that’s left in the closet stays, we categorize and organize the rest, sorting fastidiously, changing hangers, folding meticulously, adding hooks and contriving creative ways to maximize the space. Would your Valentine love to have the space in their closet perfectly placed? You can purchase a Gift Certificate or just schedule the appointment today.
Do you need extra hanging space in your closet? What about in a storage or guest room? This nifty gadget is your answer. The Overdoor Valet Rod by Umbra is available at The Container Store and it’s very easy to install. Just put the two ends over the door and snap the rod on the holders. When it’s not in use, you can store it in the box and keep it on a top shelf. It’s also great if your packing for a trip and you need to pull clothes out of the closet to separate them. If you have tall ceilings and high doors you may need a step stool to reach the rod, but it’s a great way to get more hanging space quickly!
Do you cringe at the amount of catalogs and printed material you receive in the mail every day? If you sign up to receive a catalog from one company, often you are put on a list and suddenly you’re getting every catalog printed! Here’s a great website to help you take charge of what catalogs to wish to receive. Catalogchoice.org will contact the companies for you and let’s you click on what catalogs you want and which ones you want to stop receiving–including duplicates. For most larger catalog companies you tell CatalogChoice your address and customer ID (listed on the catalog) and they will contact the company on your behalf. Some catalog companies require you to email them directly. Catalog Choice even gives you a temporary email address to route your email so the company doesn’t get ahold of your email address and send you spam later. Check out Cagalogchoice.org if you want to lighten the catalog load you receive.
