Make a list... take some time.

The hardest part in getting organized is getting started. Organize that by first making a list of the things you need to get in order, and then setting a certain amount of time aside each day (over the course of a week, for example) to tackle whats on your list. Breaking tasks up into smaller areas makes it seem less daunting and easier to manage. (Also--why not have a little fun and crank up your favorite music while you work?)

Templates are your friends.

If theres a particular form that you use repeatedly, create a general template of it and keep it in a handy place nearby (on your desktop, perhaps). Simply save a new version of the form as needed, and type in the new information.

Say no to Pack Rat-ism.

Okay, its a made-up termbut the affliction is real! Its often hard to clean house & throw things outbut how much do you really need those magazines, clothes & random items if theyve been collecting dust in the closet for six months or more? If its been that long, you probably wont miss it if you chuck it.

Say noperiod!

We often have a hard time saying no to favors for friends, family & co-workers who mean wellbut can be extreme time-suckers! Whether its home or business life, its important to set boundaries so that you can accomplish your tasks, avoid burnout and simply take time out for you. So, let Moms call go to voice mail if she wants to chat about routine stuff in the middle of your deadline; call her back or get together with her later, when things calm down.

Do the To-Do.

Its often easier to sort things out once you put them down on paper. Create to-do lists & get things done in order of priority. (If youre running errands, a list makes it easier to map out places to visit based on their proximity to each other.) Just be sure to get rid of that list once youre donedont add to the clutter!

The Paperless Wonder

If youre like me, you attract stacks of read-through magazines like bees to honey. Dont let them pile up! (After all, how often do we actually re-read a magazine?) If there are articles that may be useful later, simply tear them out, scan them as PDF files, store on a diskand toss the rest. (This works great for other important documents, as well.)

Get support for your success

No matter how organized we may be, sometimes theres just too much going on for one person to handle alone. If youre a small business owner, youre probably juggling your business work along with the administrative/billing/marketing side of things, as well. A good solution is to get an assistant to help you with the latter, while you concentrate on running your business. Virtual assistants are a great answer to small business owners who dont have room for an in-house assistant, as they can work with you remotely from their own location via email, phone and faxsaving time and resources.

Copyright 2005 Vonetta Booker-Brown. All rights reserved.