Getting Organized: Are “Organizing Myths” Stopping
You?
By Holly Uverity CPO®, Office Organizers
What
do you believe about organizing? What do you know about
organizing?
What’s
your definition of an organized person? I’ve found that many business
people believe in what I call “organizing myths” – beliefs they have which may
or may not be true but are keeping them from becoming better organized.
Here
are a few of the most common myths along with the realities:
- Myth: The tools are
too sophisticated or the systems are too complicated.
- Reality: Simple is
often the best.
While
some paper and electronic systems can be pretty sophisticated and overwhelming,
the truth is that the tools you choose don’t have to be complicated. Some
people operate effectively using a planner and a pen. Getting organized is like
learning any other new skill, so start easy. Buy only the simplest tools you
think you will need and will actually USE. You may find that the simplest tools
are the best.
- Myth: Organization
looks boring.
- Reality: Not anymore.
There
has been an explosion of organizing tools in the marketplace over the last five
years and there is no reason that your office has to look like a boring cube if
you don’t want it to. Organizational products now come in all shapes, sizes,
and colors. In addition, there are now products designed specifically for men
and women. If you don’t like the tools you’re seeing, expand your view to look
beyond office supply stores and look in the bathroom and kitchen departments of
stores. Just because something is designed for a kitchen doesn’t mean it can’t
be used in an office. If you like how your tools look, you’ll be more inclined
to use them.
- Myth: I can only touch
something once.
- Reality: The number of
times you touch something has nothing to do with organization.
This
myth can be debilitating because if you believe you can only touch something
once, you won’t touch anything unless you absolutely know what you are going to
do with it. You can touch things more than once but you have to move them
through your system. You can’t simply shove papers around on your desk. When
you touch/move them, it has to be mindful and with a specific reason that you
are moving something to a specific place. Eliminate mindless shuffling.
- Myth: I’m a mess that
no organizing system can fix.
- Reality: There is a
system for everyone.
Organization
exists on a spectrum. Some people are highly organized and live on one end of
the spectrum while others are less organized and live on the other end of the
spectrum. Most people live in the middle. While you may consider yourself
disorganized, that doesn’t mean that you can’t become better organized.
Organization is very personal and looks different for everyone, so a success
for you might be something as simple as keeping the top of your desk clear. The
goal is for you to become more organized than you already are. You don’t have
to be as organized as someone else.
Organizing
is a skill and while some of us are better at it than others, it can be
taught to everyone who wants to learn. Anyone who wants to change can do so.
There are tools and techniques for everyone.
Clutter
is the physical manifestation of indecision. Learn to make decisions on a
daily basis about what your office looks like and how you spend your time.
An
organized person can find what they need when they need it. That’s
it. There’s no magic formula to determine who is organized and who is
not. It’s just a matter of being able to have what you need when you need it.
Getting
and staying organized doesn’t have to be boring, hard, or complicated. It’s
only that way if you think it is.
______________________________________________________________________________
Office Organizers, founded in 1993 by Holly Uverity,
is The Entrepreneur’s Organizer. They work with business people to create
solutions for their organizational challenges. You can contact them by
phone at 281-655-5022 or visit them on the web at www.OfficeOrganizers.com. “Like”
them on Facebook at www.fb.com/OfficeOrganizers.
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