“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind,  of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” – Albert Einstein

Funny, eh?

I have a love/hate relationship with clutter. And I’m always pursuing ways to better organize my life.

On one hand, my artistic nature can’t help but accumulate piles of stuff around my office.  Books… papers… magazines. I’m a complete information addict.

But I love the Zen look of a desk that just has a laptop, a cup of coffee and a sleek little notebook nearby.

It looks so peaceful.

I never can achieve that simplified state of office awareness, but I try to at least balance it out.

Since I’m going through the wonderful book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, I thought some organizational tools might be timely.

I can attest to the power of decluttering. When you discard items that no longer serve your needs, you open yourself up to new opportunities. I may not understand the metaphysics of decluttering, but I certainly appreciate its rewards.

Every time I have decluttered my home and/or office, fresh ideas have flowed through. New relationships have appeared which has enriched my life. Opportunities which previously were never considered suddenly materialize.

It really is magical.

Ready to get your office a little more organized? Here we go:

#1 Use Binders to Organize Resource Material and More 

Those humble, unsung heroes in the office supply store are actually great little organizational work-horses when done right.  Many might think a binder is useful for students and of no good after the age of 21. But you can do a lot with them.

Buy or create page dividers. You can create alphabetical dividers, month dividers, or day dividers (31 tabs).  Keep single sheets of printed paper organized by using a 3-hole punch so you can easily insert them in the binder.

I even keep my newsletter subscriptions in binders. They’re thin enough to fit. I have monthly tabs and can quickly find the issue I’m looking for by just flipping to that section.

You might use a binder for your customer research, client communication (saving printed emails so they’re within reach, even when the computer is off), and your own marketing ideas. The possibilities are endless.

#2 Use Email Folders to Organize Purchases and More 

This might be a “duh” for some, but creating an email folder with the name “Invoices, Receipts, Log-in Info” can be a huge help when it comes time to figuring out what you bought online and how to access the information.

As soon as you receive an invoice or receipt through email, just move it into the folder. At the end of the quarter or year, it will be a lot easier to find proof of your purchases.

#3 Use Notebooks to Organize Ideas and More 

Love, love, love my notebooks.

Although I use my iPhone’s Memo app a lot, I always carry some type of notebook with me, wherever I am.  We also have small pads of paper throughout our home, so if I’m caught without a notebook while fiddling around in the kitchen, I can still jot down a good idea that just came to me.

In my purse, I carry a small Moleskine Classic Notebook. It’s only 3.5” x 5.5”. It’s the perfect size for even a small purse or the inside of a jacket.

I’ve used that little notebook also when I’ve been at our local fitness center, walking the treadmill. Many times I’ll be listening to a podcast and suddenly will get an idea.   Of course I need to capture it. So taking that small notebook from the treadmill’s tray and jotting a few words down works well.

I also bought a Cross Jot Zone Journal last year, which looks pretty snazzy with an elastic band angled on the side to keep the notebook closed when not in use. Plus it has a small Cross pen on the side. I use this when talking to prospects on the phone and recording project expectations, company info, phone numbers, website addresses, etc.

It helps to have everything in one place. Then I can refer to my notes when pulling together a proposal or creative brief. Having centralized “silos” where I keep my information helps me stay on track.

I still might go a little crazy trying to find a specific piece of paper but most of the time; I can easily find what I need.

I also have file folders to quickly slip in presentation handouts or articles torn out of magazines. My file folders are fairly numerous. I go through them periodically to see if I can throw anything away.

Always trying to achieve that zen state, you know…

You also now know why it was important for me to add an “Idea Generator” page to “The BIG Marketing Idea Book.”

Writing down something by hand has power.

I’ll have to talk about that another day but for now, you can check this out, which will explain a little more why that’s important.

Hope the organizational tips helped. Feel free to let me know what works for you. If you give me permission to do so, I’d love to share your recommendations.

Your Organizational Queen Wannabe…
—–

CPAs and Accounting Firms: Do you want more clients? Better clients? Click here to subscribe to my list and learn how!