Choose one area at a time to work on

Take it in small chunks

For each item, ask:

Do I love it?
Do I use it?

"Throw Away"-things that are worn out or broken
"Give Away/Sell"-things that don't fit, don't look right, that you haven't used in the past year
"Put Away"-things that belong elsewhere
"Storage"-things you want to keep
Printable signs for decluttering with the four box method (pdf)

Follow-up-take things to the location you decided on

Organize what's left with Kathy Waddill's Nine Strategies from The Organizing Sourcebook

SMART GOAL STATEMENT: I will [do what] reduce clutter [by doing what] going through my clothes [when] every evening [for how long] 30 minutes [measured by] eliminating all clothes I don't use and love [by when] and taking one bag each Saturday to Goodwill.

SET UP A FILE SYSTEM see also ehow

1. Go to the office supply store tomorrow.

2. Find the section with filing supplies.

3. Decide what kind of system to use.

4. Buy supplies.

5. Decide where to set up files.

6. Take supplies to the area I chose.

7. Set up file cabinet.

8. Fill cabinet with file folders.

9. Decide on headings and color codings to use.

10. Make label for each file.

11. Put files in proper order.

12. Put papers in the proper folders.

13. Locate paper retention guidelines.

14. Purge un-needed papers.

15. Shred purged papers that include personal information.

16. Maintain system by filing incoming papers daily.

17. Review and purge files in February each year.

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

Use a calendar (see above)
Keep lists and notes in a system that is easily accessible
Capture tasks, see the next step and quickly enter into system
Empty email, voicemail, and eliminate unnecessary paper or items often
Use reminders to trigger needed actions
Choose tasks based on priorities
List repeating tasks
Determine peak time and use it well
Plan weekly.
Plan daily.
Plan projects.
Perform regular reviews of system and contents
Keep important information organized, backed up and easily accessible
Eliminate time wasters to increase amount of discretionary time available
Use available discretionary time for goals and quality recreation
Organize spaces for optimum use

Productivity Levels (pdf)

I will [do what] plan weekly [how] with a weekly review [when] every Sunday morning [for how long] 10 minutes [measured by] an annual chart for weekly goals [by when] by target date of a year from today.

PERFORM A REGULAR WEEKLY REVIEW

CHOOSE A CALENDAR/PLANNER

Go to an office supply store and look at the variety of options
Decide if you prefer a paper or electronic system
Select a size large enough to hold the information you need, yet portable enough to be easily usable
The format should be flexible for ease of updating information

ORGANIZE YOUR DESK

SET UP A HOUSEHOLD NOTEBOOK

ORGANIZE EMAIL

Daily:
Do
Delete
Delegate (forward)
Defer (have a system for pending items to follow-up)
Drawer (archive for reference)

PLAN MENUS

Organize recipes
Create a master list of favorite meals to make
Plan weekly and shop for needed ingredients for recipes

GOAL PLANS | DEVELOPMENT CENTER | DELICIOUS LINKS - PRODUCTIVITY - EMAIL - INFORMATION

Organizational Goals