[PDF]500 Terrific Ideas For Organizing Everything

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The Best Techniques and Tools for

Organizing Anything and I etl n
Your life— From Your i493 6°}
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Kitchen Cabinets Ae S HA H H E










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Ihe Best Techniques and Tools for
Organizing Everything in Your
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2017 with funding from
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https:/archive.org/details/500terrificideasOOsher 0


500
TERRIFIC
IDEAS
FOR
Organizing
Everything








Copyright © 1992 by Round Stone Press, Inc,


All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechani-
cal, including photocopying, recording, or any information stor-
age and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
Round Stone Press, Inc., 11 East 47th Street, New York, NY
10017.

A Round Stone Press book.

Directors: Marsha Melnick, Paul Fargis, Susan E. Meyer
Design: Jeff Fitschen

Illustrations: Ray Skibinski


All brand names used herein are registered trademarks of the
corporations that own them.


First Galahad Books edition published in 1997,
Galahad Books

A division of BBS Publishing Corporation
386 Park Avenue South

New York, NY 10016


Galahad Books is a registered trademark of
BBS Publishing Corporation.


Published by arrangement with Round Stone Press, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-79815
ISBN: 0-88365-994-8


Pronted in the United States of America,


rt


Contents


Introduction
Organizing Basics
Activities


Addresses, Phone Numbers,
Business Cards & Messages


Appointment Books, Calendars,
& Personal Data Organizers


Bathroom
Bedroom

Car

Clothing
Collections
Communications
Computer
Entertainment
Family

Filing

Garden

Health

Home Decorating & Repair


23
30
33
33
38
47
50
54
59
61
62
67
68
69


Household Chores
Journals

Kitchen & Food
Laundry

Lists

` Mail

Memory
Miscellaneous

Money

Moving

Office & Business

` Parenting

Reading, Resumes & Reports
Shopping

Special Occasions
Storage

Time

Tools & Workroom
Tools of the Organizer
Travel


Index


74
75
76
77
84
86
jö
93
95
97


105


Introduction


At home and away, at work, at school, and at play, being organized
touches every aspect of your life. It means being prepared for meetings
or shopping trips; being neat and orderly in the way you present
yourself and in the way you arrange your belongings; remembering
appointments and ideas; being on time and allowing enough time for
all you have to do. Being organized involves keeping track of a wide
variety of things; it means keeping track of people, updating address
lists, and remembering birthdays and other occasions; and it means
keeping track of your thoughts so you can make clear arguments orally
and in writing. In short, it means developing the tools for living a
happy, productive life.


This book provides both general organizing principles and specific
applications. To avoid confusion, I chose not to include a lot of cross-
references, instead assigning ideas to their most logical or useful
category. For example, specific kitchen storage ideas can be found
under the “Kitchen” heading, whereas general storage techniques,
which you can apply to your kitchen if you wish, can be found under
“Storage.”


An important part of being organized is finding just the right product
to suit your needs. I’ve included product information wherever I
thought it would be helpful. If you can’t find a product mentioned in
this book, dial information at 1-800-555-1212 and ask the operator for
the toll-free number of the manufacturer. Or, if the company isn’t
listed, try the operator in the state where the company is located.
You ll find that many manufacturers do not sell their products directly
to consumers, but they'll be more than happy to point you in the
direction of the dealer nearest you.


One last word of advice: Being organized is an ideal, a goal to move
toward, not a state to achieve. To expect perfection in anything is to
invite defeat. Use the ideas here to eliminate some of the clutter that
slows you down and to streamline your routine procedures. Use them
creatively and they will help you design your own organizing systems


to bring order directly to the parts of your life that need it most.
Acknowledgements:


I could never have accumulated 500 terrific ideas without the kind and
generous support of organized friends and colleagues. I am grateful,
too, to Melissa Schwarz and Constance Jones, who expertly edited my
manuscript into a book. Warm thanks to the following wonderful
people who contributed or inspired ‘ideas: Dianne Johansson-Adams;
Christian and Lea Andrade; Don Aslett; Heidi Atlas; Alice Miller Breg-
‘man; Rosalind Bykofsky (my Mom); Kathy Clark; Larry Dark; Trisha
Drain; Mia Ellison; Paul Fargis; Mary Flynn; Linda Gruber; Dian
Hamilton; Tobi Haynes; Barbara Hemphill; jann Jasper; Lois Kahan;
Joyce Kaplan; Doris Latino; Ellen Massey; Marsha Melnick; Susan
Meyer; Carol Mills; Elaine Martin Petrowski; Phillip Rafield; Adele
Ribelow; Janet Rosen; Liz Sanchez; Jeannie Sass; Peggy Schmidt;
Norman Schreiber; Derek Solomon; Michael and Aida Solomon;
Susan Spieler; and Helen Stambler.


But I owe the most to Diane Roback and Ken Anderson. Five hundred,
no five thousand, thanks to each of them, and five thousand kisses to
my patient, supportive, organized husband, Steve Solomon.


A special thanks goes to the following companies for assisting me in
my research: Rubbermaid, Casio, Rolodex, Symantec, Dome, Lion
Office Products, and Anthes Universal.


I am also indebted to the following stores, companies, and
corporations for their help: Abracadata, Barson Hardware, BC Office
Products, Better Living Products, Binney & Smith, Borland, Budget
Buddy, Clairson International, Class Act, ClassCase, Conimar, CSD,
Currier & Seedboro, Day Runner, Day-Timer, DeBoer & Co, Dek,
Delco Office Systems, Design Ideas, DRG Stationery, Duo-Tang, Elfa,
Esselte Pendaflex, Filofax, First Marketing Ltd., Glacier Software,
Helix USA, Heller, HiPro, Hitchcock Publications, Hold Everything
Store, Kentex, Laundry Bags Unlimited, Lee/Rowan, Lifestyle
Software Group, Microcomputer Accessories, OIA, Safco, Smith Metal
Arts, Spectrum Diversified Design, The Stanley Works, Sterling,


Velcro, Vertiflex, and Wirth International.


Note: None of the product manufacturers mentioned in this book paid
to be included, nor was any company promised mention or
endorsement. My product recommendations do not constitute
endorsement.


ORGANIZING BASICS
1 think vertical


When organizing items for storage, packing, or filing, avoid putting
them in piles. Things get buried in piles. Use hanging folders in your
file drawers; vertical hot files on your desk and for sorting mail; and
shelves and grids for storing things on walls or on the backs of closet
doors.


“workstations


Set up a central station for every routine task, be it mailing, preparing
breakfast, paying bills, writing letters, or doing laundry. Design the
station to suit the task. Keep all necessary tools within easy reach. Aim
to create workstations that are easy to use, well equipped, attractive,


and orderly.


be creative


Walk around your home. Are some items just taking up space or going
to waste? Think of new uses for them. Use a straw basket as a planter,
for example, or to display guest soap in your bathroom. Use a spare
photo album for recipes or a stamp collection. Use a notebook as a
travel diary. Use your imagination.


4good riddance


Get in the habit of dating everything, or simply circle the dates on all


your purchases. Then set aside a regular time to get rid of anything out
of date that isn’t collectible. This organizing principle applies not only
to prescriptions and perishable food items, but to travel books,
calendars, old restaurant and shopping guides, books containing lots
of dated material, newspapers, and magazines.


5


get set


Keep sets together: clothing sets, teapot sets, games, sheets. Anything
that requires another part to operate at its best should be stored with
all its parts together (or very near each other).


f


Sometimes you just can’t do it all by yourself. Enlist a friend to help
you with a project you've been avoiding. Perhaps you have a service
you can offer in return. Or hire someone to do some of the work—a
student or a professional, depending on the task and your budget.


‘get help


/ they know best


If you can’t figure out how to organize something, look for a model. In
other words, to organize your books, adopt the system used by a
library or bookstore; for ideas on how to organize your compact disks,
visit a major music store. Tour an art supply store, a knitting store,
and a stationery store for good ideas that can apply to other materials
as well, and consider purchasing their specialized organizational
equipment.


8do the one~step


If you think you're too busy to spend time organizing, you actually
have more incentive to be organized than someone who has all the


time and energy in the world to make messes and “fix them later.”
Hang up your coat in the closet immediately when you come inside,
rather than (1) throwing the coat on a chair; (2) throwing the coat on
the floor so you can sit on the chair; (3) taking the coat to the cleaners
because it has become dirty and rumpled from being tossed around on
the floor, and then (4) hanging it up in the closet. The rule is: Take a
little time to do it now, or take a lot of time to do it later.


/your choice


It’s easier to learn and retain good habits than to correct bad habits.
Therefore, in everything you do, make a conscious effort to learn how
to do it right before plunging in. As much as is practical, think through
all processes and routines in advance. Read directions, talk to experts,
and don’t proceed until you feel ready.


10


map it out


Plan before you start. Whether you're working, shopping, or traveling,
almost everything takes longer if you don’t envision the big picture
ahead of time. Planning also prevents foul-ups. You wouldn’t set off on
a long trip without a map. In life, as in driving, you need to have
directions but to be flexible when you run into traffic and tie-ups.


K. Imy idea


In life, unlike in driving, you can often make the rules. Avoid following
other people’s complicated plans unless you thoroughly understand,
and preferably agree with, the logic. Whenever possible, devise your


own plan.
12


mental checklist


Before you go out, take a moment to visualize your trip and anticipate
what you'll need—whether it is your deposit slip for the bank, your
check-cashing card for the supermarket, your gym card and locker key
for the gym, your map for a trip, or your money, credit cards, or
checkbook for shopping.


l«3a special charity


If youre reluctant to throw things out, especially things you feel
sentimental about or things that might


have some value to someone else, look for especially appropriate
charities. For example, in Conquering the


Paper Pile-Up, author Stephanie Culp recommends donating old
Christmas cards to a certain home for abused and abandoned
children: St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Box 985, Boulder City, Nevada
89005. The children cut up your old cards, make new ones, and then
sell them to finance their facility.


it’s right over here


In general, things should be stored as close as possible to where you're
most likely to use them. Keep your desk well-stocked with everyday
supplies such as pens, paper, and stamps; keep your bathroom
cleaning products in the bathroom; keep tablecloths in or near the
kitchen or dining room; keep the television remote on or near the
television.


this is the day


At home and at work, name one day a month “Organizing Day.” Put it
in your calendar and consider it an important appointment.
Metaphorically and physically, clear some space for yourself. Note
where you waste time, and make an effort to be more efficient. Take
the time to put organizers in your drawers, throw out old files, donate


books to the library, or add shelves to a closet.


Many organizing products help you save time, and streamline
activities in your home and office, but avoid using so many organizers
that you need to organize them! Sometimes simpler is better.





watch out


day by day


Being organized is an ongoing process. Make a vow to yourself to
spend fifteen minutes every day completing one high-priority task, and
keep at it until it’s finished. If you do miss one day, make it up the
next, but don’t let important projects go. By putting in a little


1


time every day you stay connected to the project and will probably find
yourself motivated to finish it faster than you expected.


that’s all she wrote


You should never have to search for a pen. Keep at least one in a
designated place in every room of the house and in every pocketbook
and notebook. If possible, keep a pad with the pen. For the kitchen,
look for a magnetic pen that will stick to the refrigerator. If you’re
lucky, you can find one that’s also a combination can opener and bottie
opener.





18


alternate brain


Lists are basic to organization. Just like adding more RAM to your
computer, think of making lists as a way of expanding your own
memory capacity. As soon as you have a clever idea or think of
something that needs to be done, either do it at once or write it down.
Writing it down increases the chances that you will follow through and
frees your mind to think of new things.


reorganize


Always reassess your routine, especially if it feels like a hindrance or
productivity begins to lag. Flexibility is essential to good time
management. In fact, it’s safe to say that in organizing, as in life,


change is the only constant.


Do whatever works for you. There’s no rule saying that sheets must go
in linen closets or that shirts can’t be folded with shorts. If it makes
sense for you, put kitchen towels and soaps in the kitchen cabinet. Use
your address book for project ideas, your refrigerator for keeping nail
polish, your ice bucket as a vase, and your ice cube trays as drawer


organizers.








1 no laws


more than once


You may have heard the guilt-producing fallacy that you should handle


any piece of paper only once. Most professional organizers today agree
that this advice is nonsense. You may need to check a letter, bill, or
advertisement more than once, but try to keep your paper handling to
a minimum. Just make sure you are productive each time you handle a
paper, even if you merely indicate where the paper is to be filed and
throw it into a box marked “To be filed.”


2
2
4


ACTIVITIES


not to be missed


Keep a folder of announcements of coming events that you may be
interested in attending (sales, fairs, ballets, benefits, lectures, concerts,
etc.). In addition, mark the events on your calendar in pencil or use a
colored ink to differentiate them from actual appointments. Include an
abbreviated notation on the calendar, such as “see folder,” to remind
yourself to check the announcement for details. Keep your
announcement folder with other active folders. Purge the file
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