Organizing My Office - Too Distracted to Be Organized?
Last month I was really excited about working with a professional organizer and using David Allen’s book Getting Things Done to organize my new home business.
A month later, I can report some progress and a lot of frustration.
My Progress: I bought a labelmaker (it’s fun!) and I have been labeling files and folders. I have folders on my desk now - one for each day of the week. So if I have something to do (like sending out 1099s last week to my VA and my web-person) I put it in the appropriate day-of-the-week folder so that I have a mental agreement with myself to get it done on that date. The advantage of this process is that I don’t have to think about it and worry about it. I know I will open the “Tuesday” file and find the things I need to do that day. Sounds great, right?
Every time I come across something that needs to be kept, I make a folder for it or I put it in the appropriate folder. Some stuff that I use all the time, I have in my desk folder drawer. Other folders that I don’t need often are in my credenza. And I have several boxes labeled “Someday” (from David Allen’s suggestion). I know I will look at them when I have the chance, but I also know there’s nothing in them that I need immediately. This is all very helpful.
My Frustration: I’m still pretty disorganized. When I’m working at my desk, writing, looking at email, etc., I jump from one thing to another. I start a blog post, then think of something I want to check on the Internet, or I remember an email I need to write, and it takes me an hour to get back and finish the post. (This post, for example, I have started and stopped and come back to several times.) Had to find a picture; had to check a reference; got intrigued by something on the net.
And I forget things that are important. Like I forgot an important interview - just didn’t look at my calendar. I forgot something I was supposed to do for another client and I missed a deadline. Not good.
I decided maybe I have adult ADD (attention deficit disorder). So I took an online quiz to see. Not too bad, but I still think I might be too distracted to get organized. Or is that just how a creative mind functions?
I am taking this afternoon off writing to see if I can get more organization done. I need to get my home business organized…and soon! If you have any tips/tricks/helpful suggestions for staying focused and not forgetting things, I’d love to hear about them.
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