Time for a Clean Out

Time has flown. It's been six months since you came back from your relaxing holiday over Xmas and New Year.

Remember when you charged into the office that first day, all primed to make the new year the best ever. You made a New Year's Resolution that you would definitely get organised to start the coming year with a bang! So what did you do? You cleaned out all the clutter that had accumulated throughout 2002 and in some instances, since 1992!

And once you had completed this mammoth task, you felt fantastic. The office never looked so good. No more buckling bookcases, overflowing filing cabinets, wall to wall and desk to door piles of paper.

In fact, your colleagues couldn't believe what they saw. The CEO walked in and thought he was in the wrong office!

Six months later?

Let's have a look at your office now ? six months later.

What does it look like? Is it still in pristine condition or does it look like a teenager's bedroom again?

A quick test?

Is your desktop hidden under a mountain of paper?

Do your fingers bleed each time you access your filing cabinet?

Do you risk an avalanche when you open the cupboard doors?

The Solution for the Clutterers

If you answered yes to any of those questions, here's what you need to do.

Clean out the Clutter?

Put the voicemail or answering machine on, inform your colleagues you will be working on a high priority project for the morning/afternoon/day/week or month, grab a jumbo bin or three, close the door (if you have one) and get to work.

Yes. It's that simple. Start with the floor, then the cupboards, bookcases, filing cabinets, desk and anywhere else.

Not sure what to toss or keep?

Follow The Office Organiser's Golden Rules of Cleaning out the Clutter?

Ask yourself:

Do I really need or want this?

Will my life change in any way if I got rid of it?

Would someone else benefit from having it?

If I am going to keep it, where's the most logical place to find it again?

What's in it for you?

Why do you put yourself through this process? Well it's quite simple. You will find things more easily,you'll feel better, you'll look like you've got your work under control (even if you haven't), you'll have heaps more space, you'll be able to focus, you'll save time and your boss will be very happy as you'll save your company a fortune on stationery because you hoarded enough to supply the whole organisation.

Controlling the clutter forever

There's only one way to do that - regularly clean up. A little clean each day will keep you focussed and sane! All you need to do is ?do it!

Have a great week!

About The Author

Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist, Leading Life Coach and a dynamic presenter. She runs her own business The Office Organiser specialising in working with Small Business Owners and Managers helping them to dramatically improve their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess and have more time for living life! http://www.office-organiser.com.au

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Can You Really Improve Your Organisation Skills

I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar... Read More

Ten Signs That Your Life Is Cluttered

How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More

Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle

Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More

Common Clutter Culprits- How to Bust Through Clutter

Paper1. You may already be in the habit of filing... Read More

Effective Closet Cleaning Tips - Let Go of More Than Skeletons

I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More

Change the Way You Think and Change Your Life

Dennis is working as a factory worker during the day... Read More

Heres A Great Way To Organize Your Work From Home Office Virtually

How to do keep track of all you have to... Read More

Saying Goodbye to Stacks of Paper and Distractions

A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and... Read More

Spring into Spring

Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More

Just How Organized Are You? Take This Quiz For Individuals

The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More

A Simple Effective Tool To Get And Stay Organized

Often we are in overwhelm because we are holding too... Read More

The Balance of Balance

Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At... Read More

Kids Clutter: Organizing at Every Age

Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More

Basic Organizing Principles

So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More

Organizing Your Day

One of the hardest things for most individuals working from... Read More

50 Ideas to Organize Your Home

"Organize" is a familiar word heard on many of today's... Read More

Life Lessons - Get What You Want; A Lesson from a Green Sea Turtle!

Sometimes major life lessons come from the most unlikely of... Read More

What Momma Never Told Me About Housekeeping

A lot of us grew up with Mom taking care... Read More

10 Organizing Tips for Road Warrior Parents

Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your... Read More

Spring Cleaning: Mission Garage Organization

Spring is here and the garage door is open. This... Read More

Clear Your Clutter and Free Your Life

Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More

Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More

5 Easy Steps to Making Housework More Manageable

Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More

Be More Productive - Books to Help You Be More and Do More!

How many of us have enough time to do everything... Read More

Organization Tips - How to Organise Your Computer Files

Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More

Secrets to Eliminating Emotional Clutter

Are you plagued by clutter in your personal or professional... Read More

Organization Tips - How to Set Up Your Database

What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More

Clutter is Postponed Decisions?

Do you ever sit down at your desk buried in... Read More

Get Organised Before Its Too Late

Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More

Organisation - Getting Back To Basics

If you look at any major organisation, there is this... Read More

The Clutter Factor: From Packrativity to Productivity

? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home... Read More

Spring Cleaning

Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with... Read More

Too Many Unfinished Projects? 7 Time Management Strategies to Move Stalled Projects to Finish Line

Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More