When people ask Gayle what's the one thing she would like to change about herself, she always says she wishes she was more organized. Gayle talks to organization and time management expert Julie Morgenstern about how to combat your mess and save your sanity!
Julie offers tips on how to keep clutter to a minimum:
Have some type of system. "You want to create a system that really is organic to you and the way you operate," Julie says. "Decide at once and then move on so you don't get stuck in rebuilding your system over and over again, looking for the perfect system."
Whether it's mail, e-mail or tasks on your to-do list, manage things as soon as they come in. "Deleting is a key word—deleting the minute things come in and instantly editing out anything that is not part of your focus," Julie says. "It could be catalogs when they come in, it could be tasks that come across your desk, or even ideas that pop into your mind that they're not your focus right now. Just edit them immediately so you don't have them cluttering your life, your mind, your schedule."
Processing mail takes a certain amount of time. "Know how long it's going to take, and make it part of your schedule," Julie says. For example, designate 45 minutes every Saturday morning to sort your mail. "Schedule time to process the paper and make it as painless as possible."
When sitting down to organize mail, address everything right away. Get rid of all the junk mail and catalogs. Look specifically for the bills, personal notes, invitations and other things of value. Have your checkbook and stamps in hand to pay all your bills, and your calendar nearby to check your schedule. Also, have a shredder close by.
