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| Organizing solutions for your work, home and life! |
| Copyright © 2006-2007 Organized Visions. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy |
| Sorting Things Out |
Pick up any magazine these days and it’s likely full of our general dissatisfaction with our lives. We’re not
happy with our jobs, our love lives or our financial situations. It occurs to me that things could be better if we
were to apply the basic principles of organization to our lives: Sorting, Purging, Reducing, and Giving things a
Place.
So let’s get things sorted out!
In Our Finances
When was the last time you sorted through your finances? Laid out a financial plan or savings goals? Well,
there’s no time like the present. The key to accomplishing any goal is to first put it in writing to make it real.
When a goal is laid out on paper, it gives us a chance to peel back all the layers and see if it suits us, makes
sense or is attainable. So get out a piece of paper and start writing.
Your goal could be saving for a home, vacation, college or retirement. It could even be a new wardrobe or
furniture. Whatever they are, once your goals are down on paper, you have something to work towards.
Next, sort them out. Which one is important? Rank them in order of importance and put a date next to them for
when you’d like to get them accomplished. For each goal, write down what you think you’ll have to do to reach it.
(Seek professional advice if necessary.)
Now get ready to purge! Look at the things that you spend your money on? What habits or expenses are
draining your financial goals? Is it the second cup of coffee a day? What about the take out meals every day? Or
spending every weekend night out? Relaxation and recreation is important, but you must balance them with
your goals.
Give your expenses a place in your financial budget and goals. Cut back on your unnecessary expenses and
reallocate your resources to your savings plans.
Check in on your progress and make adjustments as necessary. Maintain your system for reaching your
financial goals.
With Our Calendars
It might sound cold, but there are certain people in our lives that should be placed on your Do Not Call List from
time to time. Maybe not completely purged, but certainly reduced. I’m not talking about your in-laws or siblings,
but the acquaintance or so called friend that always lands you in trouble and winds up being a drain on your
resources. They full up your calendar, with commitments that do nothing to help you achieve your overall goals.
So if you feel that you never have time to get the thing done that are important to you, it’s time to sort, reduce
and reassess your social calendar.
Sort it out by looking at the activities that you’re currently committed to. Have you joined one too many book
clubs? Are you overly involved in social events that don’t really meet your needs?
Reduce and purge them out by learning to say “No” and by deferring your involvement. If you hate doing
something and have to work up the courage to do it, bow out. Politely decline. If you really don’t want to attend
the building social, offer to drop off a cake but let them know you can’t stay. Take out your calendar and fill in the
things that you want to do for the next few weeks. Call up the friend or loved one that you never get to see and
make plans. That way, when others call to say “Can you make it to so-and-so’s party?” You won’t be lying to
say, “I’m sorry I have a prior commitment.”
Now that you’ve whittled down your unwanted engagements, you’ll have time for the things you really want to do.
At Work
How many times have you said “I hate my job” or “I hate having to do {fill in the blank} assignment”? There are
going to be times when we have to do things that we dread. But putting them off and procrastinating only
prolongs the agony. Don’t give up or worse quit your job until you do a little sorting and purging.
Start with a list of the things that you like and dislike about your current job. For the things you like, look for ways
that you can increase your exposure and involvement with them. For the things that you don’t like, is there a
legitimate way for you to delegate them to someone else or otherwise reduce how much of them you have to
do?
Is there a way that you can lobby for a change in job function? Can you suggest a more pleasing way to get
those dreaded tasks completed?
If you can’t get away from them, then schedule them first. Set a time to accomplish them and get them out of
the way. Most times we dread a project so much because it’s always looming ahead of us. Put it behind you by
scheduling it first. Once it’s done, then you’ll have a more enjoyable task to look forward to.
Sorting Things Out
Getting organized and sorting things out doesn’t have to be painful. The rewards are waiting…so go ahead and
get started sorting things out.
Contact us at nchamblin@organizedvisions.com if you’d like to schedule
an organizational or time management workshop.
happy with our jobs, our love lives or our financial situations. It occurs to me that things could be better if we
were to apply the basic principles of organization to our lives: Sorting, Purging, Reducing, and Giving things a
Place.
So let’s get things sorted out!
In Our Finances
When was the last time you sorted through your finances? Laid out a financial plan or savings goals? Well,
there’s no time like the present. The key to accomplishing any goal is to first put it in writing to make it real.
When a goal is laid out on paper, it gives us a chance to peel back all the layers and see if it suits us, makes
sense or is attainable. So get out a piece of paper and start writing.
Your goal could be saving for a home, vacation, college or retirement. It could even be a new wardrobe or
furniture. Whatever they are, once your goals are down on paper, you have something to work towards.
Next, sort them out. Which one is important? Rank them in order of importance and put a date next to them for
when you’d like to get them accomplished. For each goal, write down what you think you’ll have to do to reach it.
(Seek professional advice if necessary.)
Now get ready to purge! Look at the things that you spend your money on? What habits or expenses are
draining your financial goals? Is it the second cup of coffee a day? What about the take out meals every day? Or
spending every weekend night out? Relaxation and recreation is important, but you must balance them with
your goals.
Give your expenses a place in your financial budget and goals. Cut back on your unnecessary expenses and
reallocate your resources to your savings plans.
Check in on your progress and make adjustments as necessary. Maintain your system for reaching your
financial goals.
With Our Calendars
It might sound cold, but there are certain people in our lives that should be placed on your Do Not Call List from
time to time. Maybe not completely purged, but certainly reduced. I’m not talking about your in-laws or siblings,
but the acquaintance or so called friend that always lands you in trouble and winds up being a drain on your
resources. They full up your calendar, with commitments that do nothing to help you achieve your overall goals.
So if you feel that you never have time to get the thing done that are important to you, it’s time to sort, reduce
and reassess your social calendar.
Sort it out by looking at the activities that you’re currently committed to. Have you joined one too many book
clubs? Are you overly involved in social events that don’t really meet your needs?
Reduce and purge them out by learning to say “No” and by deferring your involvement. If you hate doing
something and have to work up the courage to do it, bow out. Politely decline. If you really don’t want to attend
the building social, offer to drop off a cake but let them know you can’t stay. Take out your calendar and fill in the
things that you want to do for the next few weeks. Call up the friend or loved one that you never get to see and
make plans. That way, when others call to say “Can you make it to so-and-so’s party?” You won’t be lying to
say, “I’m sorry I have a prior commitment.”
Now that you’ve whittled down your unwanted engagements, you’ll have time for the things you really want to do.
At Work
How many times have you said “I hate my job” or “I hate having to do {fill in the blank} assignment”? There are
going to be times when we have to do things that we dread. But putting them off and procrastinating only
prolongs the agony. Don’t give up or worse quit your job until you do a little sorting and purging.
Start with a list of the things that you like and dislike about your current job. For the things you like, look for ways
that you can increase your exposure and involvement with them. For the things that you don’t like, is there a
legitimate way for you to delegate them to someone else or otherwise reduce how much of them you have to
do?
Is there a way that you can lobby for a change in job function? Can you suggest a more pleasing way to get
those dreaded tasks completed?
If you can’t get away from them, then schedule them first. Set a time to accomplish them and get them out of
the way. Most times we dread a project so much because it’s always looming ahead of us. Put it behind you by
scheduling it first. Once it’s done, then you’ll have a more enjoyable task to look forward to.
Sorting Things Out
Getting organized and sorting things out doesn’t have to be painful. The rewards are waiting…so go ahead and
get started sorting things out.
Contact us at nchamblin@organizedvisions.com if you’d like to schedule
an organizational or time management workshop.
