| Over the years, I've written down just about every | | | | and how I need to make it) and my projects with |
| organizing tip I've ever found. I even studied to | | | | their dollar figures besides them. This way, I see at a |
| become a professional organizer in my spare time. | | | | glance how many projects I've booked and how |
| And it's paid out 10 times over, though I mainly use it | | | | many more I need to. |
| for my own personal needs. 'Where's the keys | | | | On my left hand side, I print and tack out all the |
| honey', I know the answer to that. 'Mum, I can't find | | | | client briefs and project guidelines I need to follow. |
| my sticker'. I know the answer to that too. You ask | | | | This makes for easy reading. |
| me for something, anything at home and chances | | | | I also have a little folder with white cards in them. I |
| are, I'll know where it is. And that carries over to my | | | | use these to mark down project ideas and potential |
| desk too. If I don't find the time to file my invoices | | | | clients. You can have a number of these for different |
| or put away cheque stubs, I will still know where | | | | purposes. Or files with coloured tags to differentiate |
| they are and when they've been moved. | | | | them also work well. |
| You don't have to be so overly conscious of | | | | I tried having two schedule organizers; one for the |
| everything in your home and desk, but as a | | | | family and one for work. But that didn't work well for |
| freelancer, it's important to have your time and | | | | me. So now I have one large one on my desk, which |
| space organized. It's simple logic; the less time you | | | | is divided into two halves each day. And I can see all |
| spend trying to find a calculator or client invoice, the | | | | my work deadlines and personal appointments at a |
| more time you have to write. And your organization | | | | glance. |
| has to cross physical boundaries to permeate your | | | | And finally, it's also important to break up my day |
| mental faculty as well. Jumbled thoughts are great | | | | into portions, each of which has something specific |
| when you have time and access to a computer or | | | | for me to do. I write best in the mornings, so that's |
| pen and paper to write them down; they are not so | | | | my 'writing time'. I also spend a part of my day |
| great when you are trying to meet deadlines and | | | | hunting for jobs, updating blogs, writing my courses |
| unable to concentrate. | | | | and coaching. And then there's marketing my work |
| Organizing yourself is much easier than you think. The | | | | too. It all adds up to the limited time on hand. And so |
| key as always is to start small so as not to become | | | | dividing it makes it more efficient a way to handle |
| overwhelmed by the chaos around you. I have on | | | | each individual tasks. |
| either side of my desk, a whiteboard and a pin-tack | | | | Reflect on your organizing habits. Do they align well |
| board. On the former, I write down my Statement | | | | with your work methods? Can you do anything to |
| Of Intent (how much I want to make for the month | | | | enhance your efficiency? |