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Sunday, February 13, 2011

On Process and Progress: The Write Space

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a time management seminar sponsored by the Decatur Business Association. The hardest part was admitting I need help in that area, but with my own practice and a budding writing career, who wouldn't?

One of the things professional organizer Jonda Beattie of Time Space Organization spoke about was the importance of having an uncluttered space. She mentioned that every task results in a natural entropy, which then needs to be straightened out. Yes, Mom, I realize that you've been telling me to clean my toys up for 30+ years, but for some reason, it just didn't make sense until now. Consequently, I have been on an organizing spree in both my home and professional offices.

As you can see from the pictures below, this organization has been much overdue.

Desk before and after:

























Floor and shelves before and after:


























Yes, Jonda (and Mom) were right: it is easier to work in an uncluttered space. I still have some tasks, which are now on a list, such as find places to either donate or recycle books I don't want anymore (suggestions for resources are appreciated), but I feel like I'll be much more likely to come in the office and do what I need to do. The next task? Scheduling writing time.

Oh, and others are enjoying the newly cleared space:



Now if only I could teach her to take out the recycling...
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4 comments:

  1. Tony NolandFebruary 13, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    I seriously need to clean off my desk. Always been a problem for me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MariFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:20 AM

    Well done! And you can see from the pictures how long it took to put things on its due places. Uh

    I agree, I can't work as well when it's all cluttered and confusing. Nice that you took this initiative! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cecilia DominicFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Update: my mother has now asked me with a "please please please" to send this post to my father. I guess I know where I get my tendency to have an "open filing system," as she calls it, from! :)

    @Tony -- yes! I've always had a messy desk. This is a novel thing for me.

    @Mari -- LOL Actually, the tidying was done over two weekends, a few hours each time. I just happened to finish the second one at night.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jonda BeattieFebruary 17, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    Thanks for the kind words. Keeping my own desk uncluttered is an ongoing task. Once a year, in January, I seriously reorganize and rearragne my office. After that it is just maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

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