2 Keys to Being Organized
It’s easy to confuse being neat with being organized and even more so, to confuse untidy with disorganized. Generally, there is a correlation between the degree of neatness and the degree of organization. However, I know many neat freaks who are not organized and the odd slob who is in control of everything.
How can that be? There are two keys that define being organized.
- You get everything done when it is due. You can have all the slots in the world to hold your incoming mail, colour-coded file folders and software for processing, but if your bills are still unpaid 17 days after the due date, you’re not organized.
- You find everything when you need it. As I noted last week, the key to a good file or storage system is the ability to retrieve what you need. It’s also important be able to find things quickly. For example, it should take no more than 60 seconds to find a document in your office filing system. With other systems, such as archived files, you should be able to retrieve what you need in 60 seconds plus the time it takes to get to the files. If it is taking longer, you’re not organized.
It is easier to be organized if you are neat and tidy, but it is no guarantee. Test your systems against the two keys. If you are not meeting those standards, look for ways to revamp your system.
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Technorati Tags: GTD, Time Management, organization, productivity, filing
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