Want to get organized? Here are five ways to do it!
1. Throw away Unneeded Items
A lot of us, especially entrepreneurs, have “I may need that one day syndrome.” That’s basically feeling like you don’t want to throw away anything because you feel like you will need it one day, regardless of how old the items is.
When organizing our offices we automatically think about using file cabinets to organize the documents we have. Although file cabinets are a great way to store documents, it still defeats the purpose if you have documentation that is no longer valid or needed. If you have “I may need that one day syndrome” set a document retention date, which means you will archive or get rid of documents after a certain time frame. Which leads me to the next way of getting organized…
2. Invest in a Cloud-based Service
It’s time to get rid of the clutter. If you are someone who doesn’t want to get rid of things, a cloud-based system is certainly for you. All you need to do is scan your documents to your computer and store them to a cloud-based system. You will be able to access your documents from anywhere at any time, even on your smart phone.
There are several free cloud-based services such as Google Docs, Dropbox, Box, and many more. Cloud-based services can save you the time of sifting through old files and will allow you to keep the documents that you don’t want to throw away without creating clutter. Cloud services have an organized folder structure which better helps you navigate through hundreds of documents.
3. Create a Project Plan
Creating a project plan is one of the best things I decided to do. A project plan is a great way to organize and manage large projects.
Imagine how much more organized you would be if you have a plan in place with a timeline that tells you when to do what, in order to stay on track to meet goals and deadlines. There are several different project plan templates online, search around and find which one is best for you.
4. Utilize Online Calendar and Scheduling Systems
Online scheduling systems have the ability to link to online calendars. I have found that this is a great way for me to stay organized when managing clients. It is difficult to stay organized when you have no idea what is on your schedule on a week-by-week basis due to managing multiple calendars. We have become accustomed to desk calendars, which still work, however, a desk calendar cannot go with you everywhere.
There are many online scheduling systems that sync to Google Calendar, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. If someone wants to meet with you, you simply send them a link to your scheduler, and the scheduler will only allow them to book times with you when you are available. This alleviates you from the back and forth communication trying to figure out who is available and when.
5. Delegate Tasks
Delegate, delegate, delegate. If you are trying to do every task yourself, this is the quickest ways to become disorganized. If you have a team of interns or staff, be sure to delegate specific tasks to each so you know what is being done and by whom. This way you won’t spend a ton of time figuring out where things are, where they need to be, what documents belong where, etc. There will be a point of contact for several tasks that need to be completed daily.
How do you get organized? Leave your tips in the comments below.
Brittany Yates
Brittany Yates, MBA is an astute businesswoman; she is a business blogger, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and author of The Fundamental Journey of Entrepreneurship Through Prayer. At the age of 17, she started investing in the lives of teenagers coordinating an after school program which sparked her love for the community and entrepreneurship. Brittany began to incorporate entrepreneurship programs for students within the after school program, which later branched out into a nonprofit organization, Endless Dreams Foundation, now assisting youth with work employability skills and college preparation. Brittany is determined to make a difference in each person’s life that comes in her life. In addition to her nonprofit organization, Brittany opened Abundant Provisions Consulting, formally known as Brittany Love Consulting, which offers business coaching to assist aspiring and established entrepreneurs reach their full potential in business. She is passionate about encouraging and teaching entrepreneurs how to develop sustainable businesses that will last them a lifetime.
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I agree with you when it comes to cloud-based. Not only does it remove clutter, it ensures that your processes are refined and clear. A great list Brittany!
Thanks, Kate. I’m glad you found this post to be great! I love a good cloud based system, your work is organized and literally at the palm of your hand at anytime.