Five Simple Tips to Get Organized Today!

Take time to declutter this summer...

Writing can certainly consume the better part of your day... Especially when you consider all the other responsibilities most of us take on each day.

Sometimes you can overlook the benefits of cleaning up your work area. If you're like me, you may put off rather mundane tasks like - reading and actually responding to email messages, sorting through snail mail, paying bills, going through files etc...

Although these tasks are definitely time-consuming and usually uninspiring, you may be surprised how much better you'll feel if you clean house!

Yes - you have to be determined to do it and you absolutely must set your mind into that "mode." But it is possible to "declutter" your workspace and start anew!

Start anywhere you choose and then set aside a few hours to totally complete one clean-up task.

For example:

1. Go through every single one of your email messages

   Read it, respond to it, delete it. That's it! Sounds simple enough right? Just tell yourself you can do it and don't look back. The end result will be worth it - honest!

2. Review your files

   Open files you have laying on your desk that you haven't touched in weeks or months. Determine their value and decide whether to keep them or pitch them. You may find information you actually need! And you can get rid of unimportant, outdated files. You'll also feel so much better having less paperwork cluttering your workspace.

3. Gather all of your notes

   Make a pile of all those little post-it notes, scraps of paper, and other papers taking up space on your desk. Read each one and either add the information to a permanent file or throw it in the trash! Not only will you be more organized, you might actually know where to find what you're looking for in the future...

4. Read your snail mail

   Compile all those envelopes, unopened letters and extra mailings sitting on your desk. Open the ones that are important. Find a home for them. Pay your bills... Make it a point to pitch the mail you'll never read or the letters you no longer need. You may be amazed at what you find in this pile!

5. Clean up your desk

   
   Get rid of every little thing you do NOT need that is occupying precious space on your desktop. Rearrange the essential desktop items - like:

   • Your computer
     
   • Your phone
     
   • Your printer and/or fax machine
     
   • Necessary office supplies (pens, paper, stickynotes, calendar etc...)

Regardless of how much time these boring tasks require, you can rest assured that the resulting feeling of freedom and lack of "clutter" will be a welcome change.

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