Home Office Organization–21st Century Style

Archive for September, 2007

I’ve said before that home office organization includes your computer. Here’s a screen shot of the only desk I keep clean, my computer desktop! I’m striving for my physical desktop to be so organized.

I am making progress on my regular desk, but there are still about 5 major piles to sort. I love the idea of a mostly paperless office because it’s easier to file everything the moment you look at it. You don’t have to get up, or find an empty file folder and a pen. You just click your way to easy organization.

I keep my computer desktop cleaned, and I only place an icon on my desktop when I know I’ll be using it regularly. Otherwise, it goes into Program Files. I also keep the number of start-up programs to a minimum, and I don’t put extra icons in the system tray. They slow the computer down. If I need something running, I can start it up with very little effort, so why slow my computer to a crawl? There isn’t a good reason.

Here’s my challenge to you. Post a screen shot of your computer desktop exactly as it is right now. Do you store everything there? Or do you keep the majority of the stuff you don’t use most of the time filed away? Do you clean your desktop when the warning comes up to move unused icons to a folder on your desktop?

Okay! Take a screen shot of your computer desktop and leave a comment to this post with a link to it so we can all compare desktops!

To take a screen shot:

1. minimize your browser window and all other program windows so we can see your desktop with the background and icons. No fair cleaning up before you do this.
2. click anywhere on the background once
3. press the [PrtSc] button to the right of the F12 function key.
4. open a graphics program like MS Paint and paste [Ctrl+V]. Don’t click on the empty paint document, just open the program with a blank paint document and paste.
5. save your image so you know where it is
6. upload it to where you want people to view it

This challenge is brought to you by Home Office Organization 21st Century Style

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“Organization is not an option, it is a fundamental survival skill and distinct competitive advantage.” Pam N. Woods from Motivational Inspirational Corner.

I quote the following directly from this post by Emily Weigel on The Stacks and Stack Clutter Control Freak Blog:

[Here are some areas of life where being organized actually can give you a competitive advantage:

• At Work: Nothing pleases the boss more than an efficient job done, thanks to organization. And this goes beyond desk organizers, to time management, effective planning, and utilization of all available tools.

• In School: School is a highly competitive atmosphere, where students are competing for top grades, scholarships, and recognition for high achievements. They’re looking for every competitive advantage possible, and organization will get you farther than you think in academics.

• At Home: You may wonder, why would I need the competitive advantage at home? My belief is that everything starts at home – the life you live outside, and how you live it, is a direct consequence of it. So, if you’re on top of the organizing game at home – you’re better prepared for the chaos outside.

• In Your Social Life: Being timely, reliable, available, and sensible are all qualities of an organized person – and a good friend! Having these traits could help you make new friends, and become closer to the ones you have.

If you haven’t gotten organized because you didn’t see any incentive to do it, think of this quote. Think about all the areas of your life, and how far you’ll advance by having the “competitive advantage”.]

I’m a subscriber to the Clutter Control Freak blog. I find it highly motivational, full of great ideas, and a good read. If you want to subscribe to a blog about getting and being organized that has short posts with lots of tips that are really quick and easy to use, I recommend this blog.

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