Some time ago, a reader of my blog asked me how to enjoy getting organized and not to be discouraged by the enormity of the task. I have racked my brain to answer the best I can.

The pleasure is in the result

To be honest, sometimes getting organized is no pushover. I would even say it often deeply bores me. For me the pleasure of organization comes mainly from the result. I don’t especially take pleasure in getting organized but I am happy when I find my glasses at the first attempt, remember my friends’ birthdays or pay my bills on time and this way avoid late payment fees. That’s what motivates me. When I feel my resolve weakening, I think of all the positive effects of organization.

Getting organized can even bring in money

Get organized progressively

In order to avoid working to exhaustion, and to fight procrastination, get organized little by little. Start with one task, for example tidying the surface of your desk. Then try dedicating 5 minutes per day to tidying your desk. It’s easier to motivate yourself to do something that takes only 5 minutes. After one or two weeks in a row, when you’re at ease with this habit, you can launch into a new task, for example sorting out the shoes that clutter up the hall etc. Once a task has become a habit, you do it automatically and it becomes as easy as brushing your teeth before going to sleep.

Choose tasks that have an impact

I haven’t taken the example of tidying the top of your desk at random. Thare are some tasks that let us see a difference right away. Having a neat desk enables to focus more easily. In the same way, when I remove everything that lies around on the kitchen table, I feel I can see more clearly, it puts me in a good mood and it motivates me to keep tidying. A few leads if you want to have a positive effect rapidly: clearing work surfaces, sorting mail, writing a shopping list, preparing the evening before what you must take the following day…

Get organized in a playful way

I stop at nothing to add fun to my organization: decorated boxes, multicoloured folders, a planner with inspiring quotes… I regularly tidy the virtual desktop of my computer, just to see the desktop picture of my holidays.
Treating yourself to small rewards is another way to get motivated. For example, I give myself 5 minutes to answer my e-mails and then in exchange I spend 5 minutes reading my favorite blogs.

After having fun making my own folders, putting my papers in order inside has seemed less tedious to me

If you have other ideas to enjoy getting organized, your comments are welcome.

I devote an article to my sandals-travel slippers because I find they are so practical. Actually, these are sandals but I mainly use them as slippers so I have renamed them sandals-slippers.

When I travel, I try to lighten my luggage because it’s always too heavy for my liking.
Therefore I have had the idea to take with me my rubber sandals
because they are light and
multi-purpose: I use them as slippers inside but also as sandals to walk on the beach or at the swimming pool. I can wash them with soap and water and they dry quickly.
The only downside is that they are not ideal in a home that is not enough heated in winter. Otherwise I always bring them in my baggage.

The sandals I have drawn are crocs that have gone the distance till now. And you, do you bring your slippers on holiday?

I have tested EssentialPIM at a friend’s suggestion. It is an organization program that you can download free from the Internet. PIM stands for “Personal Information Manager”. This software manages your schedule, your notes, your to do list, your address book and your e-mails in one place.

weekly schedule and to do list (click on the pictures to enlarge them)

My testing

EssentialPIM is composed of several pages: the recapitulative page of the current day, the schedule, the to do list, the notes, the contacts’ list and the e-mail client. I have started with writing my appointments and dates to remember in the schedule. After, I have copied my writings in the Notes category and I have organized them by subject: menu ideas, films to see and books to read, blog, information about my different activities…
Then I have entered the birthdays and contact details of the people I know in Contacts. Each birthday is added automatically to the schedule and it is possible to set a reminder a few days before.
Copying everything takes time and is tedious but I will save time on the long range. For each contact, you can record his address, e-mail, phone numbers, personal information but also some annotations and pictures.

EssentialPIM can manage your e-mails too but I don’t use this function because I already have an email client.
Finally, you can create a to do list. Each task is assigned a date, a priority and a color code (for example important tasks are highlighted in red). Once a task is finished, you cross it out, like you would cross out a task on a paper to do list. But I admit that it is less exhilarating than vindictively striking out a chore that had stayed for months on my list of ongoing projects.

address book

My opinion of EssentialPIM

I like:

* EssentialPIM can be used intuitively. No need for a user guide.

* the schedule that I find clear and that shows the current day, week or month or the 3 coming days. You can print each view.

* the detailed address book

* the notes that you can organize by theme


* the to do list that is on the same page as the schedule

I don’t like:

* The task reminder makes only a noise. As I often mute the volume on my computer, I don’t hear the reminders.

Well I have found only one downside. Might as well say that I am satisfied with this software and that I will keep on using it. I think that this planning tool is very convenient if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer. In case you are interested, I have described the method for downloading the free version of EssentialPIM.

Notes

How to download EssentialPIM

To download the software, I visit the download page of the website:

http://www.essentialpim.com/index.php?r=download
There is a portable version that allows you to save your EssentialPIM on a USB flash drive. I have chosen the free desktop version, EssentialPIM Free. I click on the EssentialPIM Free 3.22 link in order to download it.

The number 3 means that this is the third edition of EssentialPIM.

The installation program is downloaded on my computer.

I close all open windows before double-clicking on EssentialPIM3.exe

I just follow the directions. At the end, the program is added to the Start Menu and an “EssentialPIM” icon appears on the desktop.

The only things left for me to do are run EssentialPIM, choose the language (in the Tools menu) and start organizing my personal planner.

Some people are naturally organized. For those who do not have this gift, there are websites about organization. These websites give tips that will help you learn to get organized. Here are some sites that have helped me to struggle with my mess.

Flylady offers hints for getting rid of your clutter, and putting your home and life in order:
http://www.flylady.net/

The Flylady newsletter features daily organizing tips. It suggests ways to order some organization tools, but you can follow the advice without buying anything.
http://www.flylady.net/join.asp

A guide that explains how to tidy each room of your home and your office:
http://www.123sortit.com/ 

An interactive site with many articles about how to get organized in every field:
http://organizedhome.com/

The blog of Maria-Garcia, a professional organizer:
http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/

A website emphasizing savings and voluntary simplicity: 
http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm

All of these sites have given me many ideas and I like to read them. However, there is something wrong: If I did my job instead of spending hours reading organization sites, I would not be so overworked!

This is a text by Maria Garcia, a professional organizer about the 7 Habits of Very Organized People:

Have you ever wondered how some people could be so very organized, when you’re struggling on a daily basis just to get your home looking halfway presentable and to get at least a few items checked off of your To Do list?

Most organized people follow a few simple rules. Here are the 7 habits of very organized people.

1. They have a place for everything. Every item they have has a consistent, assigned home. The home for books is on the book shelf. The home for toys is in the toy room on the toy shelves. The home for blank greeting cards is in the greeting card organizer in the office.

2. They put things back. Whenever an item has been removed from its assigned home, it is used for whatever reason and then immediately returned to its home when no longer in use. There are no temporary holding places. It’s just put back where it belongs, right away.

3. They write things down. Organized people make lists and notes, and keep these in one consistent place such as a planner, notebook or calendar. They don’t try to remember things in their heads. They let the pen and paper (or the computer) work for them. They reference their lists and notes on a daily basis. Many use the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer as a tool:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html

4. They don’t allow papers to pile up. Papers to file are filed each day, not left to grow into mountains. Mail is opened over the recycle container so papers not needed don’t even have a chance to multiply. Kids permission slips are signed right away and sent back to school with the kids. Bills are tucked into a bill paying system until bill paying day, and paid bill statements are filed away that day. Magazines are read within a week or two and then recycled or donated.

5. They don’t procrastinate. When something has to be done, organized people schedule time to do it and then they keep that scheduled appointment. They know that the more they delay, the more likely deadlines will be missed or opportunities will pass.

6. They set goals and assign deadlines. They know if they want to get things done, they need to know exactly what they want the end result to be and by what date. They review these goals often and set aside time each day to work on achieving them. They review what they’ve accomplished and never forget to reap the rewards.

7. They only keep what they use and/or they enjoy. They can’t stand anything taking up space that doesn’t have a useful or pleasurable purpose in their lives. They’re big believers in simplicity. They breathe easier knowing they’ve lightened their loads and can move easily without having to climb over boxes and piles of clutter.

by Maria Gracia – Get Organized Now!™
Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now!™ Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now!™ Web site
http://www.getorganizednow.com

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Please direct a courtesy copy to getorgnow@charter.net or snail mail it to:
Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!™
611 Arlington Way
Watertown WI 53094