Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Find an organizing system that WORKS for YOU.

There is no one single way to organize anything.  Of course there are proven systems that work for many people but none of them work for everyone.  Organizing systems need to be specific to the person and situation.  A system is working when it is easy enough for you to do without having to think about it too much or force yourself to use it and it is producing the results that you want.

When choosing a system, here are a few things to think about.

What kinds of systems already work for you?  If you prefer paper to electronic, you most likely will not enjoy using an electronic calendar or vice verse.  Don't choose a system if you know it has not worked elsewhere for you.

Where will you be using the system?  Will you always be in one space or does your system need to be portable?  I am often out of the office all day.  I also hate carrying a tons of things with me but I always have my smartphone with me. So I know that anything that I can do on my smartphone will work well for me.  For others, using a phone for tasks other than calls is irritating.  They also may spend most of their time at a desk where a calendar or planner can easily fit on the desk.

Is the system easy to use?  Most systems fail simply because they don't work with our natural tendencies.  If we have to think too hard about using a system it will not work.  The placement of a trash can is a great example of this.  Many times trash builds up and fails to make it to the trash can if it is not more convenient to put it in the can rather than somewhere else.  If wrappers collect in your car, put a bag or can in the area they collect so that it is just as easy to throw stuff away as it is to throw them on the floor.


Finally, if the system that you choose doesn't work, don't blame yourself.  Look at why it didn't work and either rework the system or choose a different one that works for you.  Remember you are tayloring the system to you not you to the system.

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