 One great way to increase productivity is to better manage your time.
To begin, get an accurate gauge of the real time it takes to accomplish a variety of routine responsibilities.
Then, become more productive by avoiding interruptions.
Remember if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Make it personal. You’re in your office for nearly a third of your day. Add personal touches to make it a fun space. Include a few great and meaningful photos. Add artwork to the walls — whether expensive originals or a child’s framed finger paintings. And add a little greenery in the form of a potted plant or fresh flowers. Remember that your office is a reflection of you, so keep it tasteful and simple, and, of course, organized!
Have fun with desk accessories. Think outside the office supply catalog. Even if you have to pay for them yourself, a few beautiful, useful office supplies may make your day more enjoyable. From a high-quality pen to colorful binders and file folders, functionality can be fun. A rubber band ball, funky, patterned clipboard, or vintage wire desk tray will make office drudgery a thing of the past. Some online resources for unique organization supplies include www.seejanework.com and www.russellandhazel.com. Also try www.containerstore.com for a wide variety of products. Please all your senses. Introduce sound by playing some soft music. Delight your nose by spritzing cotton balls with an energizing essential oil like orange or peppermint and placing them in your drawers. Indulge your taste buds by filling a candy bowl with your favorite treats. Your days are sure to be more pleasant when your office looks, smells, and sounds nice. © 2017 Articles on Demand™ Remember if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com 
Remember if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Contact: 617.640.2366, www.energizeandorganize.com Does the process of decluttering and organizing your home and/or office seem overwhelming to you? To help you get started, create category labels to attach to your designated boxes/bags. Category labels might include ...
Sorting through and making decisions about your belongings will go more smoothly and much more quickly when you have gathered and category labeled your needed containers.
Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  October is Computer Learning Month! Computers make our lives oh-so-much easier. But they can be a gateway to identity theft if they fall into the wrong hands.
Install a computer security system and update it often. Don't open email attachments from unknown senders and disconnect from the Internet when not in use. Make your passwords hard-to-guess combinations of letters and numbers. -Posts on Demand Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Do you know that 80% of what you file never gets looked at again? Just think of the tremendous amount of paperwork you have in your home and/or office that has been tucked away and not looked at for years! Organize the necessary 20% and consider eliminating the rest.
Also, do you know that your active files should be stored on your desk/table workspace and easily within arm's reach. To reduce clutter and visual distractions, your inactive files (archive files) should be kept in labelled storage boxes or filing cabinets separately from your primary work area. Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Move everything more than two weeks old from your email inbox to a file marked "Holding". Keep it for two months. Then, delete everything you haven't needed in that time. From here on out, take time to set up files where you can immediately move new emails. As emails arrive, read and delete, file appropriately, or put in a "to do this week" file.
© 2016 Post on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Would you like to bring harmony to your life and surroundings? Here is a take action, get organized tip for you!
The 2016 Tax Season 2016 is over for most of us! Make it a goal to make next year's tax time a breeze by getting organized NOW! Use standard file folders or large 9 x 12 envelopes to create categories. Throughout the year, add receipts and documents to the appropriate file folders. When tax time rolls around, pull out all the folders and use them as you prepare your tax documents. Or, take the whole shebang to your accountant's office. © 2016 Posts on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  The average office worker spends 2000 hours per year at her desk. This space can either be a stressful, headache-inducing mess or a pleasant, easy-to-maintain oasis. Use these tips to create a blissfully organized office.
Manage papers daily. Keep papers under control by dealing with paperwork on a regular basis. Whether first thing in the morning, at the end of the day, or somewhere in between, set aside 30 minutes each day so you don’t end up with overwhelming piles. For every piece of paper that you encounter, make an immediate decision to either toss it, file it, or act on it. Toss a lot. Eighty percent of what we file is never looked at again. Keep only the papers you truly need. File regularly. Make time each day to file your “keepers.” Although not your favorite task, filing as you go will probably take only a few minutes and will make your office life much less stressful and more productive. Create action files. If you can’t act on smaller tasks right away, keep them in a “quick-task to-do” file, and work on them regularly so they don’t pile up. For larger, long-term projects, put each into a separate file folder. Chunk each project into bite-size pieces. Draft a timeline with deadlines, and attach it to the inside front cover of the file. Keep key things close. Gather items that you use most frequently, and store them within easy reach of your usual seated position. Items that you use less frequently can be placed outside this area, but should still be easily accessible. For things you rarely use, consider getting rid of them, storing them outside your office, or stashing them farther away from your desk, saving your “prime real estate” for the most-used supplies. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed a lovely visit with dear friends and Bride-to-Be Elizabeth and Rosanne, Mother-of-the Bride-to-Be. They had been busy in the morning decluttering and organizing a closet in preparation for bridal party overnight guests and festivities.
We got to talking about the joy of creating beautiful living spaces in our homes and gardens and that somehow led to talking about paper management! Did you know that a four-drawer file cabinet, when full, holds about 18,000 pages? Did you know that a Banker's box holds about 3,000 decisions? Did you know that we only read 20% of what we file? In other words, once we file our paperwork, we never read 80% of what we file ever again! Did you know that the three major paper filing categories are Active, Reference and Archive? Visit the following Energize and Organize blog entries for specific instruction and tips in support of your paper management work! 4/2/16 Paper Productivity 101 3/25/16 Archive Your Files with Ease 3/18/16 Make Time for Paper 3/10/16 Step by Step Paper Management 1/21/16 Shred Sensitive Papers 1/16/16 Quick Tips for Managing Your Paperwork Remember, if you need assistance and support with your home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Try using the “filters” or “rules” function to set up automatic email filing.
This will sort your emails based on your specified guidelines, placing them in separate folders. You might send all the informative monthly e-newsletters you receive into one folder, or all emails for select clients or colleagues into another. And make use of your “junk” or “spam” filter! Short cut by creating automatic signatures. There’s no need to type your name, title, and phone number at the bottom of each email. Set it up once and let your computer automatically attach your signature to all outgoing emails. Save time by writing succinctly. Both you and your email recipients will benefit if you get to the point quickly! (But always take time to use proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling.) If it would be easier to reply to an email in person or over the phone, do it. From here on out, promise to keep your inbox clean. It is not a holding bin! © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  According to The Radicati Group, business email users spend an average of 19% of their workday using email. That can be up to two hours every day, so learn to use it effectively!
Stop scanning emails and leaving them to deal with “later.” Instead, schedule time just twice each day to check and manage emails. Checking once at noon and again in the mid-afternoon work well, because at these times you’ll likely have received replies to your previously sent messages. Also, shut off the auto-check function so you’re not tempted to open emails as they arrive. Read each message thoroughly, then act, file, delete, or pass along. Act on it if it's a quick response (less than two minutes). Create and use files in your email program for your individual projects, committees, or people with whom you interact. Immediately delete emails that were simply informative but do not require any action from you and forward (delegate) emails that you don’t need to handle, and then delete. Use your email’s auto-responder to get people quick answers. Let them know when you’re returning messages for the day and whom they can contact if they need immediate assistance while you’re away. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com Today during Mahjongg, Bette share this newspaper clipping about the upcoming Neighborhood Falmouth Secure Document Shredding Event to be held this Saturday, from 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M., in the Lawrence School parking lot. Thanks, Bette! Stop by and support the Neighborhood Falmouth organization and its wonderful work to help Falmouth Seniors stay safely in their homes! There is no time like the present to tackle your paper management shredding and get involved in the community, too!  Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com 
Even with all the technology in our offices — computers, PDAs, email, internet — there is more paper being used these days than ever before. In fact, every year, the average U.S. office employee generates nearly 10,000 sheets of paper. We're on paper overload!
Remember, if you need assistance and support with your paper management and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  What shape is your filing system in?
Are your filing drawers stuffed so full that it’s nearly impossible to get another piece of paper into — or out of — them? Once or twice a year, you should take time to review your files and purge as much as possible, leaving room for next year’s papers. 1. Determine what to keep. As you sort through papers, ask yourself, “When will I really need this again?” “Can it be easily recreated or retrieved elsewhere?” Don’t hang onto things unless you have a really good reason! Be ruthless — remember, 80% of the things you file will never get referred to again! 2. Keep records retention guidelines in mind. Your accountant, attorney, or professional organizer can tell you which documents you should keep for legal purposes. 3. Keep only day-to-day paperwork at your fingertips. For rarely-used files that must be kept, archive them in an out-of-the-way area, such as a closet, basement, or off-site storage facility. 4. Some things can be immediately tossed. Instruction manuals for products you no longer own, old research materials, previous drafts of letters, out-of-date magazines and articles, and receipts for items past their return date can be discarded. 5. Stash important documents in a safety deposit box. It is imperative that you stock your safety deposit box or home safe with the following papers: adoption and citizenship papers; passports; birth, death, and marriage certificates; deeds; divorce decrees; insurance policy papers; lease agreements and loan documents; mortgage papers; personal property appraisals (jewelry, collectibles); Social Security cards; stock and bond certificates; vehicle titles; copies of wills; and powers of attorney papers. And don’t forget to LOCK your home safe. It is NOT fireproof unless the lock is engaged. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your paper management and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  Photo: Houzz The average desk worker has 36 hours of work on his or her desk and spends three hours per week sorting piles trying to find the project to work on next. Sound familiar? If you’re struggling through mountains of desk clutter, realize that by becoming more organized, you’ll not only help your business run better, but you’ll reap multiple personal rewards as well.
You’ll increase productivity once you have an organized and efficient schedule to keep you on track. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done in shorter amounts of time. And by focusing on your priorities and goals, you’ll be able to finally move ahead toward reaching them. But the benefits don’t stop there. Once you’re organized, you’ll have a positive self-image and ditch the shame. Your organized office will allow you to present a professional image to coworkers, clients, and superiors. A clutter-free environment is also easier to manage. Your stress level will decrease dramatically. When you can find what you need, are on top of your to-dos, and arrive on time, you’ll feel calmer and have more peace of mind. No more feeling overwhelmed by life — you’ll be the one in control. You’ll also discover more time for yourself. When you’re organized, your days go as planned, and you get a lot done. That leaves more time to indulge in a little “me time.” Now doesn’t that sound nice? © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  Plan for tomorrow at the end of today. Take 15 minutes at the end of every day to create tomorrow’s to-do list.
This habit of planning will give you the gift of focus, allowing you to get a jump-start the next morning. In a sense, you’re creating a map for the following day. By writing down everything that needs to be accomplished tomorrow, you can prioritize so urgent needs get done. When you walk in the door the next morning, you won’t have to waste time shuffling papers and trying to figure out what to do first. The process of writing (or typing) down your thoughts will help you relax at home as well — you’ll think about work a lot less knowing it’s all down on paper. It’s also a great exercise that allows you to reflect on the great work you accomplished today, so you can leave work feeling proud. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  Clear the clutter out of your brain. The average desk worker spends three hours per week sorting piles trying to find the project to work on next.
Take the first step to getting your work under control — clear the clutter out of your brain by taking pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and allow to-do’s and brilliant ideas to become more concrete. You’ll relieve your brain of remembering tedious details, allowing new, creative thinking to develop. Free yourself from having to remember mundane but necessary tasks.
Another benefit to making a list of all your responsibilities is that you may find some jobs that you could delegate to others. Are there any you hate doing, or do you know someone else who could do it quicker or better? Sometimes we say “yes” because we want to appear productive and energetic. But it’s important to know how much work you can realistically handle. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  Your desk is piled high with to-do’s. It’s easy to stall out when you don’t know where or how to begin. Follow these guidelines to increase productivity and tackle your projects big and small!
Do the hardest thing first. When you arrive at the office, you may be tempted to first check your messages, rifle through the day’s mail,or plow through some easy administrative tasks. Instead, try doing the hardest, most challenging (or least enjoyable) thing earlier in the day. You’ll be attacking it when your energy level is high and your mind is clear. By carving out a chunk of time each morning to tackle heavy-duty projects, you’ll also avoid the procrastination often associated with large jobs. Then, save your easier tasks for later in the day, when your energy level is lower. Another way to look at this is to set your mind to “proactive” in the morning so you’ll have time for the “reactive” moments that are sure to pop up throughout the day. For example, if you begin your day attending to your “must-do” tasks, you’ll feel more comfortable stepping away from your desk when afternoon emergencies materialize. You’ll know that your most pressing projects have been handled. Remember, it may not always be easy to start with the hard stuff, but you’ll get the momentum going when you start it out right, and you’ll feel accomplished all day long. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  You’d think that with the advent of computers and e-mail, we’d be using a lot less paper. But, in reality, paper use is rising exponentially each year.
What’s a person to do? Learning how to effectively handle your papers is key. Paper management isn’t difficult. (Really!) The hard part is finding and dedicating time to just do it. Whether your paper piles are at the office (invoices, client information, memos, research) or at home (bills, receipts, magazines, family documents), setting regular and consistent times to sort through papers is key. Once you set up an efficient, effective filing system (ask your professional organizer for assistance!), ten to 30 minutes of daily paper management is all you’ll need. Depending upon your personality, decide when to schedule it. • First thing in the morning It’s a nice start to the day and helps you prioritize today’s tasks. • At the end of the day This gives you closure at the end of the day and lets you jump right into action the next day. • Immediately as papers enter your home or office This is good for those who just want to get it done ASAP. If you set aside this little bit of time each day, you’ll never wind up with huge paper mountains to tackle. However, you’ll still need to schedule a “mega-manage” once or twice a year. "Mega - manage" is the time to peruse your current filing system, tossing old documents and entire files you’ll never need. For example, at home, you might want to toss outdated appliance and software manuals, old receipts, and catalogs and magazines more than one year old. At work, you’ll want to consider tossing multiple versions of reports (just save the final copy), old research materials, unimportant memos, and projects that never materialized. This purge will provide breathing room in your filing cabinet and make it easier to retrieve and insert new papers. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your paper management work, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com   Gather Supplies
First, gather file folders, hanging file folders, a felt-tip pen and large garbage (or recycling) bags or boxes. Every household or office also needs an appropriate type of file cabinet or box; the size will depend on the amount of papers you must keep. Make a commitment to work on this project for at least one uninterrupted hour. Enlist a friend or professional organizer if you need help or encouragement. Determine Where to Start Start on desktops, countertops or urgently-needed surfaces. Your most recently-received papers will be here. Resist the urge to start with the papers on the floor or stuffed in paper bags or boxes. Identify Determine the types of papers you receive on a regular basis as you start sorting. Create a neat pile of the papers on the surface you're working on. Pick up the top one. Ask yourself, “What is this? Do I need to keep it? Do I need to take action on this? Or do I just need to file it in case I need to retrieve it later?” Toss as much as you can. Sort As you encounter papers that need to elicit an “action,” put them in a folder labeled “TO DO” (i.e., class to sign up for, RSVP to send, etc.) As you encounter bills to pay, separate them out by putting them in a folder labeled “BILLS TO PAY.” (Tip: Try a bright red folder.) As you encounter papers that simply need to be read and then disposed of (magazine articles you clipped, newsletters, etc.), put them in a folder labeled “TO READ.” (Tip: Take this folder with you when you’ll be waiting in lines (e.g. doctor’s office, dentist, bank, mechanic, etc.) As you encounter papers that need to be discussed with your significant other or co-worker, put them in a folder labeled “DISCUSS WITH XXXXXX". Everything else should be either thrown out or filed neatly according to subject. Sort into simple categories that make sense to you. For example, some home categories might include: medical, pets, taxes, hobbies, outdoor activities, utility bills, car, home improvement, credit cards, insurance, 401K, education, projects. Continue and Toss Work on getting all surfaces clear of papers using the above techniques. Then, conquer the remaining piles (if any) from the floor or elsewhere. You should find these piles contain more papers for your "toss" category. Remember, only 20% of the things we file will ever be retrieved again. When in doubt, throw it out! Maintain From here on out, manage paper daily. Sort mail immediately. Toss out junk mail. Put remainder into “TO READ,” “TO DO,” or “BILLS TO PAY” folders. (Keep these folders in an easily-accessible spot, i.e., the kitchen.) Make time every week to file everything else in your filing cabinet or box. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 http://www.energizeandorganize.com  I logged onto the Internet this morning and was greeted with the message from Google that it's Safer Internet Day! Google asks site visitors, "What can I do to stay safer online?" and answers "Take these simple steps to enhance your security."
Recommendations from Google include Security Checkups, Strong Passwords, Recovery Phone Numbers, 2-Step Verifications, and Privacy and Security Setting checkups. Get your computer security organized by visiting privacy.google.com to learn more about these important online security enhancements! Thanks to Google, navigating the World Wide Web is a bit safer these days! Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  This tip will help you stop procrastinating and get clutter reduced in your home. Inspire and motivate yourself with the “Quick Start” project. It should take no longer than 30 minutes. Next, try the “Keep Going” tip to really put clutter and chaos in its place!
Quick Start: Set your watch ten minutes ahead. You’ll have a built-in buffer for running late. Keep Going: Any task that can be completed in five minutes or less should be completed right away. Schedule a chunk of time each day to handle paperwork. Don’t schedule appointments too close together. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366, www.energizeandorganize.com  Twenty percent of Americans identify themselves as victims of identity theft. (Source: Privacy and American Business.) Don’t let yourself join those alarming statistics!
With the help of your social security number, a thief can steal your identity and wreak havoc with your credit status and life. Best case, the thief will go on a spending spree with your credit cards. Worst case, he’ll get new cards, open new accounts, take out loans, and/or commit a crime in your name. You’ll spend up to 600 hours and $1400 in out-of-pocket expenses to clear your name and repair your credit. Here’s what you can do today to keep yourself — and your good name — safe. • Never carry your social security card in your wallet. It’s just too dangerous to have that information where it can fall into the wrong hands. Also, don’t carry your birth certificate or passport unless absolutely necessary. • Be very cautious when giving out your social security number. Most places that ask for it do not require you to provide it. Ask first, “What happens if I don’t want to provide that?” • Make sure your mail is delivered to a locked box. Or try to collect your mail as soon as it’s delivered to your mailbox. Place outgoing checks or sensitive documents directly in a postal service collection box. And opt out of receiving unsolicited credit card offers. • Carry only the bare minimum of credit cards in your wallet. Opt for credit cards with your photo on them. And don’t carry your checkbook. • Don’t use common identifiers for passwords. For example, don’t use your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, or your pet’s name. Make it difficult for thieves to impersonate you by adding passwords to your financial accounts. Change passwords frequently. • Opt out of having your financial information shared by banks and brokerage and insurance companies. Federal law requires these companies to give you the right to opt out of having your information shared. • Toss computers with care. Make sure to completely wipe out all information on the hard drive before you discard. © 2016 Articles on Demand™ Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366, www.energizeandorganize.com  Are you overwhelmed by email correspondences? Are you dreaming of "inbox zero" (empty inbox)? Take heart and action ... you can get your email in order! Here are some email organization tips and suggestions for you to implement at home and/or in your office. Remember, it takes 21 days for a new habit to "stick"! 1. Establish a specific, predetermined block of time(s) during the day to check and respond to email. Keep to your schedule. You do not need to check and check and check your emails constantly throughout the day! 2. When you do read your emails, take action immediately by deleting messages that do not require a response and deleting messages that are promotional ads or spam. Unsubscribe to unwanted ads, etc. Respond within 24-48 hours to emails that require your attention and action. This will help to cut down on the number of emails that are filling up your Inbox in a week. 3. Organize your Inbox by marking messages with categories, folders, labels and subcategories. Some folder titles might include Action, Archive, Reference, etc. Did you know that you can create a "rule" to automatically sort your incoming email (articles, blogs, newsletters, etc.) into specified folders ?
4. If you are comfortable with the idea, simply delete every email and start with a clean slate. That is not a likely solution for most email users, but it's an interesting option! Good luck! Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366, www.energizeandorganize.com |
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