National Clean Your Desk Day

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By Terry Orr

We have all seen those messy and totally disarray desks and wondered just how they can possibly stand it and more importantly find things. Then there are those that are too clean and one wonders if they ever do any work? Somewhere between the two extremes we individually fine our happy place that is function and organized for our particular unique needs.

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Personally, I like having my desk neat, orderly and functional.  Depending upon what I am working – urgency of accomplishing a task – chaos will take over from time to time. Since retiring three years ago – my filing and organizations skills require sharpening from time to time.  This week’s objective is to clean off my desk, worktop, file those items that have been in the ‘to be filed’ box far too long and to establish my 2013 files and then move the 2012 files into the archive file cabinet.

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One habit that I have tried to apply on some sort of regular basis is cleaning off my desk each night before going to bed.  Before retirement – I attempted to make that a good daily habit – liked the clean, organized desk to start my work day off on the right foot.

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Getting it Together - 2013

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By Terry Orr

Last year in our “Getting it Together” article, I mention my desire/goal to move more into the digital environment and rely less on paper.  Short version – it is still ‘a work-in-progress’.  Both my wife and I are trying to enter our appointments and activities into our iPhone – but we both forget sometimes and like others, find conflicts from time to time.  The other challenge is keeping my contacts up to date on all our devices (iPhone, iPad, iMac, and Windows Laptop and desktop).

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There are seven articles planned for January on helping us get organized (probably more needed for some of us folks). This is article – “Getting it together – update 2013” is an overview with the following topic specific articles to follow:

Get Organized Month;

Clean off your Desk;

Organize your Home Day;

National Clean Up your Computer;

Clean out your Email Box; and

Home Office Safety and Security.

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I might be inclined to seek some help this year – shocker I know – but it just might be money well spent.  Instead – I spend four hours in the garage and it shows it – in a positive way no less.  I’ll still keep an open mind about seeking help – some of the other challenges may require an expert.

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Getting it Together

By Akindman,

Mobile Brains
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As I continue to modify and establish a new routine as a retired person, breaking old habits has harder to do than expected.  For example – I have been using the Covey (Franklin/Covey) or similar method for keeping my calendar, contacts, and important information for over 30 years. My notebook was often referred to as ‘my mobile brains’ and without it, well – things got difficult.

Digital Mobile Brains
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In 2011 I moved away from the daily calendar to a weekly one – while making that transition was more complicated than expected – overall it was beginning to work.  Then in April, I got an iPhone – so what better time to migrate to a smartphone!  Makes sense, right? Well….perhaps.  So for 2012, I have not purchased any paper calendars and forcing myself to use my smartphone – to be one with the digital environment.

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January has also been the month in which I set about setting goals on getting things around the home front organized and get rid of the old, and things that are no longer needed.  Clean up the files, file things that have yet to be filed, especially the tax related stuff, and “clutter control” everywhere.

While doing some research for this article, I found this interesting checklist http://www.getorganizednow.com/cl-month.html that you might find helpful.  Another handy site to visit is http://getorganized.franklinplanner.com/page/organizing_month_0112. 

We will check back with you later in the month to compare notes and see how you folks are doing and to report our status as well.  Good luck!

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