Avoid
Getting Lost In Space: How to Manage the Spaces In Your
Life
Whether
it’s your office, garage, car, kitchen or a closet,
there is always some element of space to manage
in our lives. This can be challenging for many
people, since studies show
that 80 percent of what we keep we never use.
So,
how do you avoid getting lost in your spaces? The
key is to be proactive. Define an area to be reorganized,
start with a clean slate and tackle one space at a time.
Managing
Your Office Space:
Are you among the 25 percent
of workers who save things in piles rather than in files?
Is it your style to “spread” out your papers
and files all over the desk when you’re working?
Are you ever stumped as
to where to store the odds-and-ends items, such as office
supplies and important folders that you need handy?
You’re
not alone. In fact, Fast Company magazine found
that 48 percent of American executives admit to having
a messy desk but claim to know where everything is. However,
12 percent say that although their desk appears
organized, they have no idea where to find anything.
So,
how do you get your desk back and create a more efficient
work area? Always remember
that the desk is a place to do work. Period.
Follow
this simple acronym – ORDER
(organize, retrieve, designate, empty and reorganize)
to create and maintain a functional workspace.
•
Set a monthly appointment
on your calendar to clean out and wash your car.
•
Keep handy wipes within reach so you can clean up messes
and keep a portable trash can available as well.
•
Every day when you exit your car, bring in an armful of
car clutter.
•
Use one of the many types of over-the-seat organizers
to keep maps, umbrellas, gloves, and other essentials
at hand.
•
Keep tapes and CDs organized
in their own holder in the glove compartment or over the
visor.
•
Consider crates, boxes, or other car organizers and keep
your trunk's contents organized by type. Organizers that
roll out and fold down are the most useful.
•
Put in a hands-free unit
if you use a cell phone in the car. Make sure nothing
can roll around while you are driving by keeping things
tidy and in containers.
Managing
Your Closets and Drawers:
Are you afraid to tackle closets or
those proverbial junk drawers that are stuffed to the
point where you can barely cram in another item? The
key is to start with one closet or drawer at a time. Use
a large garbage bag to toss items you don’t need
and create a separate sorting area for items you’ll
keep. Organize one drawer or area of the closet
at a time, so you can effectively manage the project without
getting overwhelmed. If
you dedicate 15 minutes a day to organizing and throwing
away things you don’t need, this will amount to
a full day’s work that you spread out over a month.
Not only will this afford you a free weekend
day to enjoy for yourself, but you’ll be able to
efficiently tackle an otherwise daunting project.
By
taking a proactive approach to keeping the spaces in your
life in order, you’ll be keeping
both your professional and personal life in order too.
It’s a win-win situation and will give you peace
of mind and help you be more productive.
Kristin
White
del
Rosso,
President
of
Pea
Organizing
Services,
Inc.
is
a
professional
organizing
consultant,
who
has
been
awarded
designation
as
the
first
to
be
OMI-Certified
in
the
area
of
professional
organizing
in
North
and
South
Carolina.
She
is
a
member
of
the
NAPO
Golden
Circle,
a
Certified
Member
of
the
International
Association
of
Professional
Organizers
(IAPO)
and
a
Certified
Productivity
Trainer
and
Authorized
Consultant
(PTAC™)
from
the
Hemphill
Productivity
Institute.
She
has
also
earned
a
Certificate
of
Study
in
Basic
Attention
Deficit
Disorder
(ADD)
Issues,
a
Certificate
of
Study
in
Chronic
Disorganization,
and
a
Certificate
of
Study
in
Learning
Styles
and
Modalities
from
the
National
Study
Group
of
Chronic
Disorganization
(NSGCD).