Organizational Tips

Organized medical information

2008-08-28T21:19:00.004-06:00

At last someone has solved an important medical problem - how to have your medical information with you when you are traveling, on vacation, out of the country, or just visiting friends or relatives for the weekend. The solution is MedeFile - information for life.

Now you can carry your entire medical history with you, wherever you go, safely and securely. The MedeDrive is a specially designed Flash Drive that holds your Emergency Medical Information and your entire medical record. When plugged into the USB port of a PC, this Username and password protected device provides vital lifesaving information to emergency medical personnel.

The MedeVault is the secure online storage location for all your actual medical records collected by MedeFile on your behalf. Whatever is in the file in your doctors office is also in the MedeVault. Your records can be indexed by date, physician/hospital, or record type making it simple to find any previous test result or doctors visit. To protect your privacy, your records can only be accessed by you or those you designate.

MedeFile's security architecture ensures that its services are provided with the highest degree of privacy and integrity using well established, proven security methodologies. The architecture provides multiple lines of defense with each line employing a distinct mechanism.

Don't get caught away from home with a medical emergency and no medical information available for the medical staff who will take care of you. Sign on today to carry your medical information with you wherever you go!!!

Organized online marketing techniques

2008-08-02T19:51:00.003-06:00

If you are a beginner to online marketing and would like to build an online business, I have some good news for you. Or if you have already started an online business, but would like to learn some techniques that would help your business grow, I also have great news for you.

The people at 30 Day Challenge have organized a series of videos which will be presented over a period of 30 days to teach you from beginning to end how to develop an online business. And some really great news, there is no charge and no cost to use these principles. Set up your business for FREE!

They have some fantastic tools that you can use as a participant in the 30 Day Challenge, such as the Market Samurai, a keyword research tool that is just being released and promises great results. It is available for all challenge participants to use FREE. And that is just by day 2.

You can still get in on this great training program. Just sign up FREE at 30 Day Challenge, watch the videos at your convenience, and learn and grow your business. It's that simple!

Join me in the 30 Day Challenge.

Organized weed timming

2008-07-02T10:40:00.005-06:00

Black & Decker has organized my weed trimming with the Black & Decker CST1000 12V Cordless 9" Automatic Feed Trimmer/Edger.

I used to have get out my 100' extension cord - spend a few minutes untangling it even though I had carefully wound it up to hang on the wall the last time I used it - plug it into my weed eater - do part of the yard - pound it on the ground trying to get more string out - unwind the electrical cord from around the trees - do some more of the yard - pull it through the garage so I could do the front of the yard - unplug it - wind up the cord to hang it back on the wall.

Now I just take my cordless trimmer off the wall - trim the weeds - hang it back on the wall. It is so simple. I can even take it to our garden plot across town and trim weeds there.

There are many nice features in addition to the cordless convenience. There is no pounding it on the ground to advance the string. It has an AFS (Automatic Feed Spool) which senses when more string is needed and advances it automatically.

There is also a flip down guide for precise trimming. And this trimmer also serves as an edger with Groom N' Edge technology. A simple push of a button and the entire head swivels 180 degrees to turn the trimmer into a very usable edger for along the sidewalks, driveway, and street.

It comes with a handy charger wall mount for storage. When it is fully charged, it goes into a trickle mode so it is always charged and ready to go when I'm ready. And the charge lasts long enough to do my entire lawn and edge the driveway and along the street with power to spare.

My only complaint is the picture on the box. The picture on the front looks like a surf board. Every time I used it, I wished I was at the beach instead of heading out to mow my lawn. When I finally threw the box away, all problems were solved.

I now trim and edge each time I mow. It is a joy, instead of a hassle to be avoided. I highly recommend getting a Black & Decker CST1000 for yourself. The price is very reasonable. It lists for $72.00. Toolbarn.com offers it at a special price - just $49.99 while supplies last.

3 tips for organizing your garage

2008-06-05T21:29:00.005-06:00

Getting your garage organized like this one pictured from Wall Control can seem like a huge project. While it may take a little time, the benefits are well worth it. According to AllExperts, a well-organized and made-over garage can increase the value of a home by $2,000 to $10,000.

That being said, according to Hints for Homeowners , a recent Gladiator GarageWorks consumer survey found that nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of consumers characterize their garage as a "don't wan to go in there" space. While many said their garage is "clean cut and simple," the survey revealed that 32 percent of consumers today can't get their car into the garage.“Many garages are chaotic piles of seasonal tools, gadgets and equipment that are often left on the floor or force-fit into mismatched organizational solutions. In fact, company research shows that the top drivers for purchasing organizational products for the garage are wanting a more organized look and getting things off the floor. We feel creating the right plan and products to meet many lifestyles makes all the difference in addressing this need,” said garage organization expert Lou Ann Schafer.

So here are three tips shared by Gladiator GarageWorks.

One Size Does Not Fit All: Bins are not an organizational solution for everyone. Instead, identify your lifestyle needs and then embark on an organizational plan. Are you a golfer, gardener, bike rider? Specifically tailored storage solutions will help you manage these interests.
Identify Zones: The garage can serve many purposes. Lay the space out like you would a room inside your house. Is there room for the car? What storage solutions can be hung on the wall to free up floor space? A sample garage blueprint tool can be found on the Gladiator brand Web site.
The Garage Is For Everyone: Once considered the guy’s domain, the garage is increasingly becoming a shared family space. Take all parties’ interests and needs into consideration when organizing and get them involved. This can include the integration of specific solutions, such as ball caddies, bike hooks and mobile, modular cabinets.

Using these tips can turn that "don't want to go in there" space into a well-organized impressive place you won't mind showing off to the neighbors, that is, unless you are afraid they will just be coming over to borrow your tools!

Organize with Deep Storage

2008-05-17T09:39:00.003-06:00

This image from Clutter Control Freak Blog shows a good way to hide away some things that you won't be using for a while. This can be referred to as "deep storage," meaning you put the stuff away where you can't see it - in the garage, under the bed, an attic, or in a rented storage space.

There are times deep storage is good, and times it is not. Jennifer gives some ideas on deep storage in her blog post "The Case Against Deep Storage." She believes that some items that belong in deep storage are holiday decorations (as long as there aren't boxes and boxes of the stuff), seasonal bedding, small boxes of sentimental stuff, and items you are saving for you children, such as significant baby outfits, cards, a few choice toys, etc.

She also has some good items that do not belong in deep storage. For example, the bread machine or blender. She says, "Come on now; if you don't use the bread machine when it's on the counter, are you really going to pull it out of deep storage?"

Another no-no for deep storage is knick knack collections. Some people keep several collections and swap them out a few times a year. That sounds like a lot of wasted time. Show off one or two favorites collections in your home, or one per room, and get rid of the rest.

Other candidates for bad deep storage - photos (you're heirs will never know who is in those 50 year-old photos!), things to repair (you'll never mend the clothes or fix the broken frame), extra bathroom items like Q-tips, shampoo, etc. Buying in bulk can be good at times, but it can sure clutter up the place.

Another possible good use of deep storage would be children's art supplies, or adult craft supplies. When you find a good deal on them, buy them and keep them in deep storage.

The point is, use deep storage wisely. It can be a good thing, but it can also be a major source of deep clutter. If you'll never use it, why keep it?

Organize for your future

2008-05-09T10:53:00.003-06:00

On April 3, 2008, Vicorp Restaurants Inc., the owner of the Village Inn and Bakers Square family-style restaurant chains, filed for bankruptcy protection in Wilmington, Delaware,. They cited rising food and labor costs and lower consumer spending, filing for Chapter 11 reorganization, according to the Denver Post.

The unfortunate outcome was that 56 Village Inn restaurants were closed throughout the country, and 1,750 full-and part-time employees were fired. The employees at our local Village Inn are now fearing for their jobs, which adds a lot of stress to their lives.

There are some important life-lessons to be learned here.

Don't leave all your eggs in one basket. Village Inn did not seem to be the kind of restaurant that would have financial trouble. If they can, then a lot of other businesses could end up in the same situation. I'm not trying to add stress to your life. I'm simply saying, if there are things you could be doing to be ready in the event your employer ran into difficult times, you should be doing those things now. That should include having some savings to get by for a while. Don't wait until you get to work one day and hear, "By the way, we're closing. You're fired." That has happened at several businesses in our community in the last year or so.
Think ahead. One local employee is wondering if she should go back to school. She said it would be hard, especially with four children. Besides, she would have to get her GED first. My question is, what is she waiting for? Why hasn't she worked on getting her GED a long time ago if she thinks that is something she might need in the future? There is no reason to wait until you don't have a job before starting to work toward your future.
Don't count on your employer to be nice. Those days are long gone. Be the best employee you can be, but don't think your employer will be nice if push comes to shove. When finances are involved, business don't care. You could be out without any notice. That's what they mean by an "At will employer." They can fire you "at will."
Follow your dreams. It would be really sad to work for 35 - 40 years doing something you don't really like, then retire and say, "I wish I had done something else with my life." If there is time, chase your dream. Do what you can to work toward doing what you want to do.

I'm not trying to scare anyone. I just think this situation with Village Inn shows that it is wise to not count on things staying the same. Plan ahead, be ready for anything, and follow your dreams. Hopefully you will not have to fall back on this advice, but it could save a lot of headaches down the road if you are ready.

Five Tips for Following

2008-04-30T09:29:00.004-06:00

I am not a "natural" leader. I am much better at the behind-the-scenes stuff. I am great at getting things organized once someone else has come up with the idea and has brought me on board. But I'm not the "idea person." I need a leader for that.

Many times we just sit back and criticize our leaders/bosses because we don't think they are doing the job right. We wouldn't necessarily want to be in their position, but still we talk behind their backs. Or perhaps we are envious of their position, and secretly think we should have their job.

Well, there are better things to do with our strengths while we follow or work our way up to the leadership position. For those of you who find yourselves in any of the above situations, here are some helpful tips for "following-the-leader," excerpts from The Enlightened Manager Blog.

Balance out the leader's strengths. If you work for a highly directive leader, one way to balance their strengths would be to ask good questions and strive to create a balance of advocacy and inquiry in the group. Or if your leader is a big picture thinker, you might contribute some of the detail-oriented bits that the team needs, to create a well rounded approach to issues.
Observe and learn. Learning from your own mistakes and triumphs is powerful. Learning from the mistakes and triumphs of others can be even better. Rather than sitting and making judgments of the leader, use your follower time to make observations about the whole team.
Boost your Leader Up. Leading teams can be tough, so when you see your leader making a good point or trying to lead a necessary but difficult conversation, offer your support both verbally and with your body language.
Practice your Challenging Skills. Challenging the group might include sentences that start "I'd like us to look at this from another angle..." or "I think there is something we are overlooking...." or even "I'm worried that we're making a mistake."
Relax a little. For those of you in leadership roles, it can be draining at times. When you are in situations when you are a regular-ole-participant, kick your feet up a bit (at least mentally) and enjoy a brief respite from the demands of leadership. Strive to be the employee that you would like to have on your team.

I hope these tips are helpful for you. Perhaps they can make your following a little less stressful. We can all use that. And hopefully you can have a little better opinion of your leader/boss because leaders need a lot of good followers to get their jobs done. Be a good follower. That way, if you someday do become the leader, you will have built a good reputation and will have some loyal followers of your own!

Organize by reusing old things

2008-04-08T08:23:00.004-06:00

Sometimes when we are ready to get organized, get rid of clutter, or clean things up, we think we need to buy something new to get the job done - a new storage container, for example. However, as Deniece Schofield points out, "One way people can cut down on clutter and organize themselves better is to find new uses for things they already have sitting around the home."

That makes sense. If we're trying to get rid of clutter, then using some of that clutter to help us out will already help the cause. She says, "I always recommend that before you shop for anything to get organized, you should look around to see if there’s anything else you can use. When you’re really pressed for space, you have to think creatively."

In other words, find new uses for things you already have. That saves time and money. So when you are looking around at things that seem to be clutter, think about how else they might be used. Be creative. It could even be fun thinking of new ways to use old things! Just make sure you don't fall into the trap of thinking now you have to save everything in case you might be able to find some new use for it some day. That is the definition of clutter for most of us!

Organizing your Office

2008-04-04T08:35:00.004-06:00

Your office can be the place where you spend the majority of your time away from home. If your office is cluttered and disorganized, it can therefore easily be a major source of the frustration and stress you take home from the office (and dare I say it, take it out on the family!) Therefore any time spent getting your office organized is time well spent to reduce some stress, not to mention improved efficiency. I don't think anyone could be efficient in an office that looks like the one in the picture. If that is how your office looks, you really need to read the rest of this post.

Craig J. Vom Lehn shares some good tips in his "How to become successful!" blog in an article entitled Ten Ways to Get Rid of Office Clutter. Here is his list, then I will highlight one I think is especially important.

Assess your space. Is there a place to store non-priority files, extra office supplies, etc?
Take immediate action. Decide daily which item you no longer need and get rid of it.
On Friday, go through your desk ten minutes before work ends and throw away things that you know are just idle clutter.
Organize and systemize. Organize paperwork, reports, etc. into files that are filed by a system of priorities.
Remove personal clutter.
De-clutter your computer. (See my previous post Organize your computer's desktop)
Clear floor space. This will create a perception of more space (and people won't trip over things!)
Don't become a dumping ground. (I'll highlight this one in a bit later.)
Learn from others. Visit other de-cluttered offices to pick up tips for yourself. Notice how they use desk and floor space efficiently.
Keep it clean! Keep office furniture dusted, trash bins empty, throw food stuffs some place outside of your office (do you really like those lingering nasty smells?)

By utilizing these organizational tips, you will boost your job productivity. And that is a good thing!

Now to # 8. Don't become a dumping ground. Here is Craig's explanation. "When you're working on a project with others, let one of them become that place where all project-related documents are kept. If a co-worker wants to leave a stack of papers for you to review, offer instead to visit your co-worker's office to review them there. This also presents an opportunity to take a break away from your office."

The break away from your own office is good. It gives you a chance to stretch, to get your mind off of your current tasks for a bit, to let your mind flow freely while you walk to the other office (that's when solutions to problems often present themselves), gives your legs a little exercise, and gives you a change of scenery.

Keeping the "stack of papers" in your co-worker's office also keeps that clutter out of your office. Plus you don't have that stack of papers staring you in the face reminding you that you have to look at them sometime (stress building from the ground up). That way you can schedule yourself a time when you want to look them over and do them at your own pace, rather than because those papers were staring you down until you finally gave in. Don't underestimate the power of a stack of papers!

You can check out the full article for a little more explanation to all these points. Also, see my previous post Organize by dealing with it once!

So there you have it - a way to help keep your office decluttered, your stress level a little lower, and your efficiency a little higher. Wow. Aren't you glad you read this?

Organize your Motivating

2008-03-20T07:52:00.002-06:00

An article on motivational tips says research shows that "motivated employees work harder, smarter and more productively; apply more of themselves to a particular job, persevere stronger through tough odds, exhibit more passion towards their job and are more adamant about meeting goals and pursuing targets."

Since that is the case, getting organized about motivating employees is a good thing on which to spend a little time. The most important thing, I would say, is "plan to motivate." Some people are natural motivators. The rest of us have to work at it, think about it, keep it in mind, be aware it is something we need to do, plan to do it, and then figure out how to do it.

It will pay huge benefits if we can motivate people to do what they are supposed to do. Think about those employees who are just there to get the paycheck. If they can be motivated to do what they are getting paid for, everyone will benefit!

Here are the key inspiration pointers from a team at Bayt.com.

Start early: Motivating an employee starts as early as the interview period. (I guess that means we shouldn't hire someone thinking "someday I am going to have to motivate this person." Start the motivating right away!)
Communicate openly: Keep "open-doors" of communication going, being sure everyone knows the goals, strategies, and directions of the company. (That means you have to know where you are going. If you don't, then you better begin with motivating yourself!)
Diversify the work: vary the workload, give some peripheral tasks or projects to keep the work more interesting and challenging.
Delegate responsibility: give encouragement by giving more responsibility to others. Show them you trust them. (If you don't, I guess you'll have to do it yourself!)
Challenge: set the bar high, give people leeway to take calculated risks.
Listen and learn: ask for feedback from employees on their expectations and plans. (Don't forget to respond and act on good suggestions.)
Train: provide development programs that nurture your staff and build their skills.
Give feedback: regular constructive feedback is very important. Have face-to-face meetings, not to criticize, but to guide, assist, mentor, and coach.
Recognize and reward: be creative about devising ways to recognize and reward creative thinking, superlative performance, innovation, and loyalty to the company.
Be fair: being unfair can really hurt your motivational efforts. Make sure employees are competing on a level playing field with equal opportunities for progress and advancement.

There you have it. Now you are motivated to motivate, encouraged to encourage, and inspired to inspire! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and motivate!

Organizing your Spring Cleaning

2008-03-17T10:02:00.003-06:00

I hear a lot of people talking about Spring cleaning. I'm not sure why there is no Fall cleaning, or Winter cleaning, or Summer cleaning. Spring seems to get a bad wrap when it comes to cleaning.

Lisa Lelas gives some good tips for organizing Spring cleaning. Some of those tips can work well for other projects as well.

Her first tip is to get a jump-start on the cleaning. That way, when the weather gets nice, you can be outside if you want, rather than think you need to be inside cleaning.

Next she suggests beginning with an organizational plan, like a one room a week system to work on over the next six weeks or so. I like that tip. That breaks the project down into smaller parts. If you start out thinking about the entire job, it can seem quite overwhelming. By breaking it down into smaller parts, you can celebrate the success of each small step. You can get done with room one, and then celebrate the success instead of thinking, "I only have one done. How will I ever get finished?" I'm all for celebrating any chance you get. My wife and I like to use "celebrating" as an excuse to go out to eat. We can think of a lot of things to celebrate if we really try!

Lisa goes on to share tips on washing windows, getting a jump-start on the inside while the weather is still cooler, and then moving to the outside when the weather warms up. She also shares her "best recipe" for sparkling clean windows, using vinegar, ammonia, starch and warm water.

She goes on with a another good tip about using different colored wash clothes/sponges for different jobs to prevent cross contamination. And did you ever consider using Alka Seltzer tablets for easy toilet bowl cleaing? I wish I had known that when I worked in the restaurant industry. Those toilet bowls could get pretty nasty, and we were only allowed to use corporately-approved chemicals. I think Alka Seltzer tablets might have worked well.

If you are ready to tackle Spring cleaning, you might want to read her full post to get all her tips. It is worth the read.

Organize your garden

2008-03-11T17:36:00.005-06:00

Grow your gardening skills at RDstore.com! Get 10% off our gardening book collection. Enter BLOOM at checkout through 4-30-08.

The Reader's Digest Store has some great helps for organizing your garden and gardening skills this Spring. Here are some of the titles available.

The Weekend Gardner: 50 problem-solving and beauty enhancing projects tailored for time-pressed gardeners. Retail Price: $19.95, now just $12.95. You save 35%!

Scotts Lawns: This comprehensive guide offers all Scott's sccrets to success in easy-to-follow steps. Retail price: $19.95, now just $11.99. You save 40%!

Ideas for your Garden: Over 300 photographs and illustrations, plus detailed descriptions, show how to transform a plot into a beautiful garden. Retail price: $19.95, now just $18.49. You save 7%!

The Gardener's Book Box: Plan, plant, cultivate and decorate the perfect garden with inspirational guidance on everything from preparing the soil to painting garden furniture. Retail price: $30.00, now just $16.98. You save 43%!

Flower Gardening: This practical guide has detailed plans containing new flower species and trends in flower gardening. A practical guide to creating colorful gardens in every yard. Retail price: $32.95, now just $21.49. You save 35%.

Dream Backyards: Enjoy any one of over 30 projects that are practical, attractive, and will enhance your outdoor areas. Retail price: $26.95, now just $17.75. You save 34%!

Step-by-Step Yard & Garden Basics: A stunning, gardening guide with more than 80 step-by-step projects and 200 timesaving tips for the garden novice or seasoned pro. Retail price: $24.95, now just $15.98. You save 36%!

Year-Round Containers, Baskets and Boxes: This book shows, step-by-step, how to grow over 60 favorite planting schemes, incorporating tried and tested plants into a wide variety of pots, tubs, hanging baskets and window boxes. Retail price: $24.95, now just $14.49. You save 42%!

Country Garden Planner: Discover 19 unique creations by gardeners in pastoral, city, and small-town settings across the country. Retail price: 34.95, now just $18.48. You save 61%!

Beginner's Guide to Gardening: Become an expert gardener with this comprehensive reference. Retail price: $32.95, now just $25.36. You save 20%!

1001 Hints & Tips for Your Garden: This best-selling book is an indispensable A-Z guide to easier and more effective gardening. Retail price: $19.95, now just $13.49. You save 32%!

1,519 All-Natural All-Amazing Gardening Secrets: Find lots of secrets form the experts in this handy new guide. Your price: $26.96.

Vegetable Gardening: From planting to picking - the complete guide to creating a bountiful garden. Retail price: $32.95, now just $21.75. You save 34%!

These plus many more. Check them out!

Organize your computer's desktop

2008-03-09T21:59:00.005-06:00

Does your desktop need organizing? I'm talking about your computer's desktop, the screen that first comes up when you start up your computer, or log on. If your desktop looks like the one of the right, it needs to be organized. I think this one is much too cluttered. It would be hard to find anything on this desktop.

Think of your computer's desktop as a desk plus a filing cabinet. The items you want to get at very quickly, or that you use regularly, you will want to leave on your computer desktop. The other items you want to put in your computer's file cabinet. So before you begin to declutter your desktop, take a little time to make a quick list of what you want to get at quickly (shows on your desktop), and what you want to file away (won't show on your desktop).

Now armed with your list, you can create some folders. Right click on a blank space on your computer's desktop. From the context menu, create and name your new folders.

When creating and naming your desktop folders, keep these tips in mind:

Plan out your folders before you start. You don't want too many, or too few. Think about what general topics you have that you could put in a folder.
Give them specific names. Instead of just naming a folder "Documents", decide what kind of documents you are going to put in that folder. Then give it that name, like "Investments".
Create subfolders if you need to. In a folder called "Photos" you may have a folder called "Vacations" If you have a lot of vacation photos, you may want to create more subfolders and name them accordingly, like "Vacation 08," or "Florida Vacation."
Name your folders so they make sense for what you are putting in them so you can easily find what you are looking for when you need it. You don't want to waste valuable time searching for something that should be easy to find.

If you find you still have a lot of files or shortcuts that don't fit into a specific category, but you use them frequently, do what I do. Create a folder called "Frequently used" and place your shortcuts in that folder. That way they are very handy, but are not cluttering up your computer's desktop.

Now that you have your folders created, simply drag and drop items into them. If your desktop was really cluttered before, this step should clear it off quite a bit. It probably won't like quite like this one. It doesn't have any desktop folders yet. But you should at least be able to see the background when you are done, as compared to the first picture above where any background would be lost in the clutter.

Now that your desktop is organized, be sure to keep it that way. When you have new documents, shortcuts, or items that appear on your desktop, put them where they should be right away. If they don't need to be on your desktop, put them in the folders hidden from your desktop. Then you'll always be able to find what you need, and your desktop won't get cluttered up again.

Organizational tip - two goals

2008-03-04T15:36:00.004-06:00

There are really only two goals that need to be kept in mind when we are trying to get organized. It is really quite basic. If we stick with the fundamentals, the ABCs, we will discover that being organized is not all that difficult. In fact, since there are only two goals, all we need is A and B. We don't even need the C. Do you see how simple it is?

Two Goals: (the end results we want from our organizational efforts)

To get things done when we want them done, by the time they are due.
To be able to find things when we need them.

If we are accomplishing those two goals, then we must be basically organized. Otherwise, it wouldn't be happening. In that case, congratulate yourself, celebrate a bit, and keep up the good work!

On the other hand, if we are consistently late on projects, either to meet our own personal time table or to meet a due-date set by someone else, then we need to work on that area.

Fundamentals for staying on course:
Break the project down into smaller bits and pieces. Set a time table for those smaller steps. That will be our measuring stick to see if we are on target. If we are getting behind, we know we have to step it up or we won't get done on time. If we fall still farther behind, we need to analyze the project a bit. What is wrong? Is the time table unrealistic? Or are we wasting time because we are not organized? By eliminating wasted time we should be able to catch up, providing the time table is realistic.

Or is the problem that we can't find things when we need them? That can account for a lot of our wasted time - looking for things. That can get very frustrating, especially if that is keeping us from getting a project done on time.

Fundamentals for finding things:
Get in the habit of finding a place for everything, and then always putting things back in that same place. Do it no matter what. Take that extra few seconds to put it where it should be.

That can begin with something as simple as the things we take out of our pockets at night. I have a little two-layered tray on my nightstand. When I empty my pockets, I put everything in a certain spot on that tray - my cell phone, my wallet, my chap stick and eye drops, and my comb. Those things are not really that important to keep in a certain order, but by forming that habit, I can carry it over into other areas and do it there as well. If I get lazy in one area, it is easy to get lazy in other areas also. Then I am beginning to lose the battle.

By sticking to the fundamentals, we will get things done on time and we will be able to find things when we need them. We will have accomplished our two main goals!

Organize like cutting hair

2008-02-16T19:06:00.003-06:00

Organizing is a lot like cutting hair. I got my last haircut 17 weeks ago. I had it buzzed off for last summer. Then when it got cold this winter, I decided to let it grow out again. During those 17 weeks, I trimmed it up off of my ears several times, and my wife shaved my neck in back so it didn't look like I hadn't had a hair cut in forever. But it was getting a little shaggy looking, so today I broke down and got it cut again.

So, last summer I started out having my hair "organized" so to speak. It took some maintenance during those weeks, some ongoing "organization" to keep it up. But in the meantime I didn't worry about it too much. A little trim here and there and I was set for a while again.

When you get organized, a lot of the organization will take care of itself. You don't have to redo it every day. Just a little touch-up here and there will keep you all caught up.

However, there are some hairs that need more than the occasional trim. I don't have a beard or mustache, so I shave every day. I'm not one of those who look good with 3-day stubble. I tried growing a mustache many years ago. After several weeks, it was just starting to look okay. Then I got a cold with a runny nose, and that took care of that. I haven't had a mustache since.

To keep up with my facial hair "organization," I shave every day. Likewise, some of our organizing tasks take daily upkeep. They don't necessarily take a lot of time, like shaving just takes a few minutes. But it sure keeps things looking better.

So you need to look over your organizational tasks and decide which can get by with a little touch up now and then, and which need daily attention. Your email inbox may be able to go a week or two, or it may need daily attention. You have to decide how you can best keep up. The kitchen probably needs daily touch up or it becomes a burden you don't even want to look at. In that case you will feel better about yourself and your kitchen if you do the several times daily touch up. You will feel better about your office when you come to work tomorrow if you take just a couple of minutes to straighten up before you leave work today. Your garden will look better if you do the daily organizational task of weeding during the hot summer days. You will be able to find your tools easier next time if you take a moment to reorganize them when you are finished with a task.

I could wait to shave every few days, but then it becomes a much bigger chore. And I look better (well, at least not as bad). It is worth the effort. Your daily, weekly, or monthly organizational efforts will be worthwhile as well. Just keep at it!

Organize by thinking ahead

2008-02-04T10:39:00.000-06:00

At our church, all the songs, readings, and responses are projected on a large screen in the front of the Sanctuary. It makes it much easier for worshipers to follow along without having to juggle the bulletin and children, or turn the pages of the bulletin to try to keep on the right page.

When I help out with the projecting, I have to remember to go into the Fellowship Hall and turn on a second sound system and projector. The worship service is then projected on a screen in the Fellowship Hall. If a child becomes restless, a parent can take the child into the Fellowship Hall and still be part of the worship experience. We don't ever know if someone will use that option on a particular day, but we plan ahead and turn it on just in case. That is what the Boy Scout Motto teaches us: Be Prepared!

Being organized many times simply involves thinking ahead, or being prepared! I recently heard of a senior citizen complaining about the cost of the city bus service. It costs her $4.00 each time she uses it. Here's her problem. One day she realizes she needs some bread, so she pays $4 to go to the grocery store to get some. The next day she notices she is getting low on milk. So she pays another $4 to go to the same grocery store. She does that several times a week. If she would just think ahead a little, she could save a lot of trips and a lot of money on bus fare.

Thinking ahead can simply involve keeping some notes. When she notices she is getting low on milk, she could add that to a grocery list. When the luncheon meat supply is starting to get down there, add it to the list, etc. Then she can make one trip to the grocery store and get all the items she may need in the next week or two and save enough on her bus fare to pay for a lot of those groceries.

Think ahead! Think about your daily activities. Are there areas you could "think ahead" a little more and save time or energy or money? Maybe the lady above liked going to the grocery store every day. It may give her a chance to get out, which she may need. Who knows? But if it is just a lack of thinking ahead, she could fix that.

Get organized. Think ahead. Be prepared!

Some Tax organizational helps

2008-01-27T19:44:00.001-06:00

I'm sure you are all organized for tax time. Your receipts from the past year are all categorized and ready to go. You have your itemized deductions figured, and proof for charitable contributions are all in the file. All you need are your W-2s and statements from your bank and investment firms. You are patting yourself on the back for being so ahead of the game!

Whether or not you are that organized, while you are waiting for your forms to come in, here are a few helps to assist you with your tax organization and preparation.

If you like to do your own taxes, you can fill out and file your taxes online at E-File Taxes. This is easy to use, and guaranteed 100% accurate. Free E-filing is included. No credit card needed.

If you need copies of any tax forms, State or Federal, you can get those at FormSend.

If you need to file an extension, you can avoid tax penalties by electronically filing your tax extension. You can extend your Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ due date until Oct. 15th, 2008 at File Tax Extension Online.

If for some reason you need copies of past tax returns or W-2s , you can get them as far back as 2003 at Past Tax Returns.

If you would like to prepare and E-file Federal taxes for FREE, you can do that at TaxACT.

Or if you have all your figuring and preparation done, and you realize you didn't make as much as you need, you might want to check out Donald TrumpTrump Tactics and learn from Mr. Donald Trump himself. Then next year you can really have some tax preparation to do. Wouldn't that be nice!!!

A Life Tip

2008-01-12T18:53:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago I ran across a statement that seems like it could apply to many problems we have in life. It said something to the effect that to solve a complex financial problem -- stop spending money for a while.

Well, that seems simple enough. Of course, you still have to pay the essential bills, but you can cut down on the unnecessary expenses for a while, those luxuries that aren't necessary to survive.

I'm thinking this could apply to other areas of life as well:

If you don't have enough time, stop doing some things for a while.
If you're drinking too much alcohol, stop drinking so much for a while.
If you're smoking too much, stop smoking so much for a while.
If you're watching too much TV, stop watching so much TV for a while.
If you're not spending enough time at home with the family, then stop doing so much away from them for a while.
If you are disorganized, then start getting organized for a while.
(insert your own here on the blank line; ____________________________________________ )

I think the "for a while" is the key here. If you can do it for a while, you will find that it works, and you can do it for a longer while. Pretty soon it will have become a new and improved habit! And your life will be better for it.

A word of caution: please don't use this to develop new "bad" habits. Don't say you are not drinking enough, or smoking enough, or that you are not watching enough TV or that you are spending too much time with your family, or that you are way too organized. You could turn into a disorganized drunk smoking fiend couch potato who doesn't know your own family. I wouldn't want that on my conscience to start off a new year! (The last paragraph was a joke, of course. I know you wouldn't do that!)

Organize for 2008

2007-12-28T13:43:00.000-06:00

If you made a New Year's resolution to get better organized for 2008, you may already be dreading the flipping of the calendar. Unfortunately most New Year's resolutions cause unnecessary stress when we fail during the first few days of the new year. To help avoid that, I have a suggestion.

Instead of making a resolution to be better organized during the next year, why not look back on the past year and think about some areas where you were better organized, or at least improved a little. Then give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done. That will take you into the new year with a positive motivation to stay organized (and you will no doubt subconsciously improve). That is far better than beating yourself up when you don't keep a New Year's resolution to "get organized if it is the last thing I do".

Here is one of my improvements over the year before. I usually put up our outdoor Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. Nine times out of ten that is also the first really cold blast of weather we get here in Eastern Nebraska. So I end up freezing in the cold wind, struggling with thick gloves to attach lights and garland to a frozen house, pounding stakes into frozen ground while wishing I had done this when the weather was warmer.

This year I fixed that. I watched the weather report, and sure enough, our warm weather was coming to an end the week of Thanksgiving. So that Monday, while the temperature was 71 degrees, I was out basking in the sun in a short-sleeved t-shirt putting up our outdoor decorations. The next day the high was 47, 31 the day after that, and in the low 40s with blustery winds the weekend I normally would have been getting ready for Christmas.

By being a little more organized, which simply involved thinking ahead and watching the weather report, I had a much more pleasant experience putting out our decorations. We didn't turn them on until after Thanksgiving, but it sure was nice when all I needed to do was step out into the cold, turn on the timer, and head back into the warm house. So I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that improvement in my organization last year, and will no doubt be watching the weather report again next year as Thanksgiving approaches.

I hope your holidays have been good, and have a safe and happy New Year!

Personalized Organizing

2007-11-28T10:45:00.000-06:00

Do you get tired of all the "tips" out there? They are all over the place. Many people are willing to give us advice, whether we want it or not. If you are tired of it all, then take what you've learned and make it our own. Personalize it. Adapt, adopt, and perhaps become a foster parent to all the information you have gleaned over the course of your lifetime and make it your own.

A retired teacher recently told me about his personalized method. He still uses it even now that he is retired.

Each Saturday, he would go to his school office and organize for the upcoming week. He would make five piles on his desk, one for each day. He had everything he needed for each day when he got there. He didn't have the last minute scrambling around looking for things he needed.

He still does that. He has piles on his desk at home for each upcoming project or event. As a result he seems very calm, very ready for what is coming up on his agenda. His method impresses me.

Would that method work for me? I don't think so. For starters, my wife would never let me have piles laying around, whether in my office or elsewhere. However, the concept of getting ready ahead of time is something we can all use. But we must personalize it, find our own way to prepare ahead of time. Being ready for something is the important lessons here, not the exact procedure.

Do you see my point? If you don't, let me know. I'll tell you exactly how to do it. Of course, then it won't be personalized for you anymore, and you will have missed the point of this entire post. In that case, you might as well give up and just be content to be a disciple of disorganization!

Tool Organizers

2007-11-27T14:56:00.000-06:00

Is this the way your projects go? You take a few tools outside to work on an outdoor project. A little ways into the project you discover that you need another tool or two. Later on you need another couple of tools. When you finish the project, it takes a bunch of trips back and forth to get all the tools back where they belong, and you begin to wonder how all those tools got out there. It seems like it takes more trips to get them back in than to take them out in the first place.

Or you are asked to help out your mother-in-law or friend, so you make several trips out to your vehicle with the tools you will need. Then when you get back, it takes several trips to get them back in again.

Enter the "tool organizer." Toolbarn.com has several varieties that would solve this problem. You can put in all the tools you need and make just one trip!

The picture to the right is my favorite, the Irwin Industrial Tools 4402013 18" Tool Center. It includes webbing to hold 24" level, adjustable shoulder strip and padded handle, and unique split sided design for easy access to both hand tools and power tools. The list price is $100.94. Your price is just $63.00 and it ships for only a penny. How cool is that?

If you prefer a bag type, there is the Makita 821012-A 16" 24 pocket tool bag shown to the left. It is a 16" heavy duty tool bag which easily fits hypoid saw, top handle saw or planer, it is water resistant, and has a padded handle and shoulder strap. This one lists for $37.80, but is now just $23.95, again with penny shipping.

Or perhaps you prefer a bucket type organizer, such as the Milwaukee 49-17-0170 Bucket Tool Organizer. It includes a dedicated speed square sleeve, internal drill holster to securely hold up to an 18V Milwaukee hammer-drill, driver/drill, or impact wrench, and 55 total pockets of assorted shapes and sizes positioned inside and out. This one lists for $31.95, now just $19.85, with penny shipping of course.

There you have several types of tool organizers as possibilities. You can do a search at Toolbarn.com and browse through their 84 possibilities if one of these doesn't suit your fancy. The next step is up to you. If you don't buy one of these (or hint for one for Christmas), then I don't ever want to hear you whining and complaining about all the trips it took you to get your tools back so you could hang them up where they look nice and are easy to find.

Organizing your garage

2007-11-19T20:41:00.000-06:00

I like to keep on the lookout for ideas to keep myself organized, and for information to pass on. Today my son, Brian, pointed me to a great article on organizing your garage.

This article takes you from beginning to end, from organizing the rest of the house first, through labeling, to the garage sale, to keeping organized on a yearly basis. This is an excellent article. I highly recommend it. It needs no further comment. Go and read it there.

Labeling and filtering Gmail

2007-11-05T13:22:00.000-06:00

Skelli posted "10 tips for managing email effectively" at Daily Blog Tips on 11/5/07. Before I expand on one of those tips, here are the 10 good tips that were listed:

Handle you domain email with Gmail
Create useful labels and folders to keep you organized
Process emails in batches
Read it, answer it
Keep it short
Keep it sweet
Re-read once
Build an address-book for networking
Use bridging emails
Create a dedicated signature

Now I would like to expand on tip # 2. I find it much easier to create filters and let the filters help sort out what is important and what isn't. Call me lazy, but I don't really like sorting through hundreds of emails in my Inbox and labeling them individually. I use Gmail, so the following instructions apply specifically to Gmail. However other types of email accounts could be handled in a similar manner. The "Create a Filter" option is about in the middle of the Gmail page just to the right of the "Search the Web" button.

As an example, I have several filters for my affiliate merchants. I have my Gmail set up so that those affiliates which are automatically posted through RSS feeds are tagged with "Affils - auto" and then automatically archived. When I see I have new emails in my "Affils - auto" folder, I know I don't have to look at them right away because they are already taken care of through the RSS feeds.

I have another filter which archives and sends emails to the "Affils - active" label. These are the ones I need to check soon to see if there are some time-sensitive specials I need to post. Others filter out those affiliates that have been declined, or whose programs are ending soon. With that filtering system I know immediately which affiliate emails I have to check soon, and which can wait until I have more time, and which I can ignore completely.

Since there is no limit to the number of filters and labels that can be set up, your imagination is the only limit as to how to use them to sort out important versus not-so-important emails. Plus, if you have an old client or former friend (or ex) that you no longer want to ever respond to, you can set the filter to automatically delete the email. Then you won't even know it came in. How handy is that!

While I'm on the subject of handy features, there might be a category where you know you don't have to check each individual email, but you still want to keep them for possible future reference. such as my "Affils - auto" label. In that case you can simply click on the label, click on "Select all" and then "Mark all as read." Then the label shows you have no new emails, but you will be able to tell if new ones come in later. Another "how handy is that!" Now we're getting things done in a hurry!

When you get an email from a new account or client, you can simply set up a new filter and set it to the label which best applies. As long as you automatically archive all those for which you set up filters, your inbox will usually be empty except for new ones which don't have a filter yet. And your emails will be sorted into categories so you know immediately which need to be looked at, and how many there are in that category.

If you have certain clients from whom you receive a large number of emails that should be looked at immediately, you can set up a filter and label for that one client. Or group several together into a label you know you should check soon. Remember, your imagination is the limit.

For my original post on helping keep you inbox empty, see "Organize your email and/or gmail."

Procrastination - a disorganizer

2007-10-24T08:29:00.000-06:00

Procrastination - putting things off - is one of the big barriers to getting or staying organized. I see something laying where it shouldn't be and I think to myself, "I'll have to put that away later." I procrastinate instead of putting it away immediately.

In his blog, john place online.com, John outlines 11 causes and cures for procrastination. The causes he lists are:

Complicated-task anxiety
Fear of imperfection
Indecision
Priority confusion
Boredom from minutiae
Lack of focus
Poor organizational skills
Laziness
Lack of energy
Early morning lag
Post-lunch fatigue

John lists cures of each of these. You can see those cures at the link above. The ones I want to address here are # 3, Indecision, and # 8, Laziness.

I retired the end of May this year. I now have a lot more time to get my yard work done, to fill the cracks in the driveway, to get the broken limb out of the tree, etc. However, I find myself procrastinating on those things. I think it is a combination of indecision and laziness. Now that I have time to do fun things, I want to do fun things all the time and not be bothered with "work" things (laziness). While I'm being lazy, I realize that I'm getting slower at deciding what I am going to do (indecision). I still like the sense of accomplishment when I finish a task, but I just don't want to start it.

Here are some of my possible solutions if you are in the same boat.

I've found that making a task list helps. I hate it when the list keeps growing and nothing gets crossed off. The list kind of embarrasses me into doing something.
Tell someone else about what you want to accomplish. This can make you more accountable. My wife is good at reminding me about things I need to do. This can be a negative motivator at times, but after a while it works. :)
Give yourself a day. If you just don't feel like doing something today, and you will have time tomorrow, promise yourself you will do it tomorrow. Then be sure to keep that promise to yourself. (Tell your wife you are going to do it tomorrow. She'll remind you!)
Make note of "better times" to do things. If I put off filling the cracks in the driveway too long, it will be too cold and I won't get it done before winter. Then the cracks will be worse by spring. And I don't like working outside in the cold, so it is better to do it now while the weather is nice. I could use that as an opportunity to enjoy a nice fall day. (I should have done it on one of those nice summer days we had, but I procrastinated. I'm telling myself that was good, because it gave me a topic for this blog post.)
Think about what will work best for you. We all have our motivators. If there are things you really need to do, use your motivators to apply pressure on yourself. The important thing is to get done what we need to get done. Use whatever works!

Good luck accomplishing your tasks. On the other hand, if you want to become a professional procrastinator, don't put off procrastinating. Do it right now!

Organized Bargains

2007-10-12T21:24:00.001-06:00

Have you ever wished someone would go to the work of searching the Web for bargains, and then organize them all in one place? Well, wish no more. HonestBargain.com is doing just that.

HonestBargain.com is a community driven site locating great bargains across the web. Bargains are updated daily so they are always fresh. People may vote for bargains they know to be good, or leave a comment about those that are good or not so good. That's the value of community! Merchants or individuals who know of good bargains may submit those bargains on the site. That provides the greatest possibility of bargain coverage.

Bargains are organized by category, or you may search through the site for a particular item. Some of the bargains "offers" are time limited, so you will want to check back often to get in on the bargain before the offer runs out.

I wish I had known of such a site when I was buying my last computer. It would have saved me a lot of searching around. The work is already done here.