By Holly Uverity CPO®, Office Organizers
What do you believe about organizing? What do you know about organizing?
What’s your definition of an organized person? I’ve found that many business people believe in what I call “organizing myths” – beliefs they have which may or may not be true but are keeping them from becoming better organized.
Here are a few of the most common myths along with the realities:
- Myth: The tools are too sophisticated or the systems are too complicated.
- Reality: Simple is often the best.
While some paper and electronic systems can be pretty sophisticated and overwhelming, the truth is that the tools you choose don’t have to be complicated. Some people operate effectively using a planner and a pen. Getting organized is like learning any other new skill, so start easy. Buy only the simplest tools you think you will need and will actually USE. You may find that the simplest tools are the best.
- Myth: Organization looks boring.
- Reality: Not anymore.
There has been an explosion of organizing tools in the marketplace over the last five years and there is no reason that your office has to look like a boring cube if you don’t want it to. Organizational products now come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. In addition, there are now products designed specifically for men and women. If you don’t like the tools you’re seeing, expand your view to look beyond office supply stores and look in the bathroom and kitchen departments of stores. Just because something is designed for a kitchen doesn’t mean it can’t be used in an office. If you like how your tools look, you’ll be more inclined to use them.
- Myth: I can only touch something once.
- Reality: The number of times you touch something has nothing to do with organization.
This myth can be debilitating because if you believe you can only touch something once, you won’t touch anything unless you absolutely know what you are going to do with it. You can touch things more than once but you have to move them through your system. You can’t simply shove papers around on your desk. When you touch/move them, it has to be mindful and with a specific reason that you are moving something to a specific place. Eliminate mindless shuffling.
- Myth: I’m a mess that no organizing system can fix.
- Reality: There is a system for everyone.
Organization exists on a spectrum. Some people are highly organized and live on one end of the spectrum while others are less organized and live on the other end of the spectrum. Most people live in the middle. While you may consider yourself disorganized, that doesn’t mean that you can’t become better organized. Organization is very personal and looks different for everyone, so a success for you might be something as simple as keeping the top of your desk clear. The goal is for you to become more organized than you already are. You don’t have to be as organized as someone else.
Organizing is a skill and while some of us are better at it than others, it can be taught to everyone who wants to learn. Anyone who wants to change can do so. There are tools and techniques for everyone.
Clutter is the physical manifestation of indecision. Learn to make decisions on a daily basis about what your office looks like and how you spend your time.
An organized person can find what they need when they need it. That’s it. There’s no magic formula to determine who is organized and who is not. It’s just a matter of being able to have what you need when you need it.
Getting and staying organized doesn’t have to be boring, hard, or complicated. It’s only that way if you think it is.
______________________________________________________________________________
Office Organizers, founded in 1993 by Holly Uverity, is The Entrepreneur’s Organizer. They work with business people to create solutions for their organizational challenges. You can contact them by phone at 281-655-5022 or visit them on the web at www.OfficeOrganizers.com. “Like” them on Facebook at www.fb.com/OfficeOrganizers.
