So, you know how I’ve been writing a blog every day for NaBloPoMo? In addition to the things I’ve learned about myself and the process, I’ve discovered a not so nice side effect. On day 25, I noticed that my desktop (PC) was cluttered with 100+ icons, most of them photos that I’ve taken. How did that happen???
I’m in the habit of categorizing my icons and documents into particular folders on my desktop on a regular basis, but I didn’t do that for a few days (not sure why…) Another drawback – the picture of the pretty flower from my garden that lives as the background on my desktop was difficult to see.
I decided it was time to get it back! I read an article in a magazine recently about the crazy things that some people do to win back the loves of their lives. Well, I didn’t do anything crazy to win back my desktop, but the article inspired me to get it done.
STEP 1 – SORT & PURGE. Ok, so does this sound familiar or what? My clients will all tell you that this is what we do together on projects, whether we’re working on organizing their shoes, photographs, or paperwork. Any clients out there wanna vouch for me? There was no difference here except I worked solo on my project. Here’s what I did:
(1) Deleted unused or duplicate icons
(2) Collected like icons together
STEP 2 – CATEGORIZE AND FOLDERIZE. With the hard part over, I put the remaining icons into existing categories when possible (see below for the main ones). I normally keep only the folders that I use frequently on my desktop. I really meant it when I said I had a system. I just fell off track for a bit.
• D. Allison Lee LLC
• Organize to Revitalize! Blog
• Client Reports
• Clients
• Budgets
• Photos
• 2008 Taxes
There are a couple of “To Do” documents on my desktop that are “stand alone,” i.e., not in a folder. I keep them there so I don’t forget to work on them. For instance, I have to write a recommendation letter for someone. The .pdf has to live on my desktop or I’ll forget about it. Yep, you got it, I’m a visual learner.
The next thing I did was to set up my folders in a way that appeals to me and lets me find the files I’m looking for quickly. Here’s how I do it:
This groups everything first by the different file types (e.g., .doc, .xls, .pdf, .jpg, etc.) and then in alphabetical order. I usually remember a document by it’s type first. Names can sometimes escape me so I look for the type and then scan for a specific word (or two) to help me find my file.
I make just one slight change when for my “Clients” folder.
This time, the documents are grouped by name first and then in alpha order. I always remember clients’ names, so this works better than organizing by file types. Then, I switch back to my typical view for each individual client folder so that I can see various file types that are specific to each client. Btw, I almost always choose thumbnails for viewing my icons, just a personal preference.
Open Folder –> View|Thumbnails
So, I’ve closed the books on two projects. My desktop is now clutter free. Much nicer, isn’t it? …and NaBloPoMo is over. It’s a great way to end day 30.
Update: My desktop looks a bit different these days. More on that later. ~Deb, 8.17.10
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Image via WikipediaRecently, a friend of mine sent this message to me on Facebook:
“[I need to know] how to get a handle on kid’s projects and artwork. I feel like my house is overrun with the sweet little things [he] takes home from school. I rotate them off the fridge, but always feel bad throwing them out….yes, admittedly, I have ALL of his projects from his first year of preschool saved in a container in the basement – crazy huh? My initial organization method/weeding process just didn’t work, so I kept them all! Just in case you were looking for a new topic for your blog, have at it, my friend!!!”
So, what’s a mom to do with all her children’s masterpieces? Here are a few suggestions. Try them out and let me know which one you like best.
1. Create a Gallery. Select a specific area (or areas) of your home to display the art work. When possible, let your child in on the action and have them help you choose the location as well as the frames that they will be displayed in. Once you’ve mounted the frames, pick the ones to be displayed or let your child choose. Ask them to pick up to three or four they love or like the best and rotate in new ones when it’s time for a change. You might also want to take them to an art gallery as a follow up activity.
2. Make a Book. If you watched Oprah’s Clean Up Your Messy House show recently, you may have heard Peter Walsh talk about www.snapfish.com. You can send in your photos to Snapfish and they’ll put together a nice book for you. To make your book, you’ll need to:
- Scan your children’s art work first to create a .jpg or .gif (i.e., photo)
- Upload photo after creating a Snapfish account
Again, your child can choose their favorite works of art to be used. Nice gift idea, huh?
3. Create Something Special. Did you know that you can put almost anything on a mug, tote, or even a blanket? Why not your child’s favorite art work? How about creating some special stationary, calendars, or even greeting cards? For more information, visit Snapfish or Snaptotes. If you’re up for an even bigger project, check out the article below on how to make a coffee table to show off the great stuff your kids bring home.
If you have an interesting way of managing your children’s masterpieces, please share!
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Image via WikipediaDon’t you just love it when you get a phone call just as you’re in the middle of dinner? …or when you’re working on an uber-important project? We used to get those calls on our landlines but now those sneaky telemarketers are tracking us down on our cell phones. Even worse, they also clutter our phone’s inbox with text messages. If you pay for each message you get, that can get pretty costly.
So, I say fight back! Here’s what you need to do…
- Register Your Phone. Get your phone on the “do not call” list by registering your cell phone number at www.donotcall.gov.
- File a Complaint With The FCC. Visit www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html to tell them that your mad as heck and you’re not gonna take it any more! You might also want to tell your cell phone carrier that you’re none too pleased about that spam that you’re getting and find out what they can do to help. Tell them you want those unwanted charges removed from your bill, especially if you do not have a text messaging plan.
- Be Careful. Remember when you downloaded that cool mobile game to your cell phone? …or when you just had to have the latest ring tone from Neil Diamond (ok, well maybe not that ring tone, but you know what I’m getting at)? Whenever you download anything, even software that helps you to be more productive, you take a chance of increasing spam and this can possibly lead to ID theft. So, be careful and only download from a site that you trust.
Got Cell Phone Clutter?
Have you ever had a plan to do something and then other things come up and kinda throw a wrench in your original plan? That’s what happened to me this morning.
Here was my plan:
1. Get up early to take my mum to work
2. Go back to her house (I’m visiting) and blog
3. Help out around the house to get ready for the big dinner my mum has planned
Not a bad plan, eh? It turns out that my mum had quite a few things she needed me to do and they had to be taken care of right after I dropped her off at work. I planned for those things to be #3 (4, 5,& 6) on my to do list. Since I didn’t account for them, my first plan had to be adjusted.
Well, I did what any good daughter would. I did what my mum needed me to do when she needed it done. So, #3 on my list moved up to #2 because my mum’s pretty important to me. My blog is important, too, but it wasn’t urgent for me to do it this morning. It could wait, at least until 11:59 pm tonight. Of course, it helped that I’m on vacation and don’t have “real” work tugging at me.
Does this happen to you sometimes, too? You have an important project and then another important thing or someone (like your boss) comes up and rearranges your agenda?
How do you manage your time when you’re faced with competing priorities?
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Image via WikipediaWant to know how I store my diamonds when I’m traveling? Well, IF I had diamonds like that, I would tell you what I do. Instead I’ll show you how I toted my less expensive jewelry with me for my trip earlier this week.
Here are the baubles I had:
- 3 Necklaces
- 5 Bracelets
- 6 Pairs of Earrings
- 1 Ring
See, I told you there are no diamonds. I’m a pretty simple girl with just a few trinkets.
Here’s my 4-compartment jewelry tote. It even has a little tag with my name on it. Cute, huh?
My bracelets are in the compartment on the left, my ring in the center section, and my earrings in the section on the right. My necklaces are in the pouch under the mirror.
Before heading to the airport, I put the jewelry case in my carry-on bag in a spot that I can find it easily. Because it’s so portable and brightly colored, it’s not difficult to find. So, if you’re traveling lightly and need a cute carrying case, check out the selection from Zales, TravelSmith, and Target.
I’m sure your diamonds will be very comfy in any case you choose, unless they’re, you know, really big.
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Ok, folks, this post is purely just for fun. No organizing tips here. No info on how to be more productive or efficient. This is my just for fun, check out my new do, I haven’t cut my hair this short since 1992, and I can’t believe I really cut my hair today!! post. Sooooo, here goes….
Before…
There goes my hair….
After….That’s me lovin’ my new do!
Thumbs up or thumbs down? Leave a comment to tell me what you think!
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It’s a sad truth. Many business owners have Networkingitis. It affects your your desk and desk drawers. Sometimes it impacts your bookcases, too. These areas become extremely inflamed and are marked by the tell tale sign of business cards oozing from just about every crevice and corner. Fortunately, this disorder is curable and in fact, there are several treatment options for every learning style and preference.
Ok, so this post is a bit tongue in cheek, but it’s not unusual to have your office overrun with business cards that you’ve received from people you’ve met at networking events or conferences. In fact, I will have to deal with this when I go to the NAPO Annual Conference next year.
So, what are you supposed to do with them once you have them? Here are a few tips to help you figure this out.
1. Jog Your Memory. One of the first things I do when I get a business card is to write on the back (or front) of the card where I met the person and one specific thing that will help me remember who they are. Why do I do this? I don’t know about you, but my memory isn’t what it used to be. After some time passes, I have no clue who the person is or why I wanted to keep in touch. By the way, you may want to send a follow up note to the people you received business cards from letting them know that you enjoyed talking with them. Do this a few days after meeting them and be sure to jog their memory with something specific you talked about.
2. Put Them Away. This is usually the hard part. You get home with a bag of cards and you’re tired and you put them in your office and then you walk away. Sound familiar? Try to put your cards away as soon as possible. Put them in a business card book, your Rolodex, or scan them directly to your computer using CardScan or Neat Receipts. You can also go low-tech and put them in business card sheets and store them in a binder. Group cards by event/date, industry, or in alphabetical order.
3. Shoebox Them. You could also let someone else scan them for you. Send your business cards (or receipts) to Shoeboxed.com and they will categorize and store them in an online account for you. They also have other features so check ‘em out.
4. Recycle Them. When was the last time you called or e-mailed anyone who’s given you a business card? 6 months ago? A year ago? Think about it, if you called, you would have likely saved the number in your phone or other contact management system – which means you no longer need the card. If you haven’t called, it’s time for you to say goodbye to those cards and put them in your recycling bin. This will free up some room for a number that you really do need.
I’m getting on a plane today and looking forward to a week away from home, even though I usually work while I’m on vacation. Wait, don’t chastise me. At least, wait ’till you finish reading the rest of this post. =)
I’m in the midst of pre-flight procedures and working on my top priority. Nope, not packing – cleaning! I’m really not obsessed with cleaning, but for years I’ve been in the habit of getting my house ready before a trip. I dust, I sweep, I mop, I vacuum, I clear the dishwasher, and I change the sheets and towels.
This is my pre-vacation ritual. Why? Because it’s so great to come home to an awesomely clean home! It’s like coming home to a hotel but without room service and the little piece of chocolate on the bed. I know it might seem strange, but I can’t help it. It’s such a GREAT feeling.
Do you do this, too? What are your pre-vacation routines? How do you organize yourself before a trip?
It happens all across the United States to unsuspecting families. They sneak up on you and catch you off guard. Before you know it, the plastic containers in your cabinets attack! The ensuing aftermath can be painful to deal with as you can see from some of the photos below. Note: This may be disturbing to some. Viewer discretion is advised.
There is hope so don’t give up. You can get help.
First, remain calm as you approach the plasticware. Take a deep breath and reach in to remove them all from the attack location. It can be scary, but you can do it. Gently lay them on a large surface so that you can see how many containers you have.
Begin sorting and matching lids to the corresponding container. Be sure to check their other hiding places like the dishwasher, fridge, freezer, and other cabinets. Sometimes, they lurk in bedrooms and offices, too. Remove those that do not have a matching lid/bottom, those that are damaged, and those you no longer use.
Note: Caution must be exercised as ALL the containers will appeal to your sensitive nature and attempt to stay with you. This is not an unusual phenomenon but you must do your best to resist urge to keep them all, especially the broken ones without lids.
Seek “professional” help when necessary. “Professionals” can help you control your plasticware and help you find them when you need them. You’ll start to notice how much more efficient you’ll be in your kitchen. Remember to follow these tips to defend yourself if the plasticware ever attacks again.
This “professional,” known as the 5-Compartment Mesh Cabinet Organizer, has enough space for a variety of container shapes and lids. You will find it at the Container Store.
This public service announcement was brought to you by D. Allison Lee Professional Organizers, the producers of the Organize to Revitalize! blog.
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