Make the decision.

One of the most important parts of being organized is figuring out what to do with all that paper.

The sheer volume can be overwhelming therefore you must have a system in place that manages the way you handle paper and you must be diligent in sticking to that system.

Decisions today aren’t hampered by a lack of data, but rather it is an OVERABUNDANCE of data – some good, but most of it useless papers that flood each area of your life.

You must be mindful of the material you allow yourself to read. Unless an item fits into what is important and moves you closer to your goal, it is probably better left unread.

When a piece of paper arrives on the scene, you have four options:

1. Act on it – immediately
2. File it away to be acted on later
3. Delegate it to someone else
4. Toss It

Touch paper as few times as possible and handle each as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

While sometimes impossible to do, have a one-touch goal as your ultimate objective and enter the process with a get-in-get-out mindset.

Often the boldest and best method for handling paper is to increase the number of items you pitch into the trash can!

Work your system to accomplish the tasks on your list.

Your time management system might be good or bad, conscious or unconscious, but don’t be deceived; you do have a system for being organized or disorganized.

Your office or home might be in shambles. In that case, whether you admit it or not, your system consists of living in a mess.

Let’s be honest my furry friend. You must have an organizational system that helps you to manage time and achieve your goals.

In order to develop a new, more effective organizational system, you must first:

• Identify the system that’s right for you.
• Simplify the system so that it isn’t a burden.
• Monkey with the system so that it is truly your own.

ALL performance and organizational systems need to meet certain basic requirements in order to be effective.

Your organizational system must:

1. Be in Writing – If you’re relying on your memory, you’re toast. No matter how bright you are, memories fail, time escapes you, and things will slip through your mind and the proverbial cracks of productivity.

If you only write down half the things you need to do, your system is only 50% effective. If 75% of the things you need to do make it to your list than your system operates at 75% efficiency.

Whatever system you choose, it must force you to write everything down if it is to be 100% effective.

2. Be Convenient – Since you are always on the go your system must be portable and convenient to access at all times. If you write your plan down but don’t keep it with you, what worth is it?

Your organizational system is no good to you if you are in one location and it in another.

3. Be Easy to Read and Understand – No one needs to understand your system but you. Keep it personal and make it work for you. Abbreviate where you can and do all you can to save time.

You don’t need to spell correctly in your system or use correct grammar; the objective is to work your system to accomplish the tasks on your list.