http://unclutterer.com/discuss/forum/work The community for people interested in home and office organizing. en-US Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:41:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://unclutterer.com/discuss/search.php http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/too-much-of-a-free-thing#post-36783 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:27:44 +0000 hmr 36783@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I hope the forum members can help with a positive outcome for our office dilemma.</p> <p>I work in an administrative office at a large urban (NYC) college. As such, we have a conference room we use for various meetings, and is reserved by other departments for their meetings.</p> <p>Refreshments are a large part of the meetings.</p> <p>Since the refreshments are usually delivered, they come with the various utensils needed to consume the food (forks &amp; knives, napkins, small condiment packs). Also, the items are often packaged on heavy duty trays. This is all very convenient for the various staff members who are handling the meetings, but it is starting to overwhelm the space.</p> <p>I have one office member who is something of a pack rat (The Saver). He saves all of the above mentioned items with plans to use them again. Some of the items (napkins, forks) are great to have around for lunch and coffee breaks. But other stuff (condiments, over sized trays) collect dust and hang around for years. For example - I have a medium sized box in one of out storage closets, FILLED with the disposable tongs given out when salads are ordered.</p> <p>I know that it is easy to say, "Don't have the items put in with the delivery," but given how many different departments use the paces, it is not practical to assume 100% compliance. There will always be napkins (and other items) coming into the room.</p> <p>So what I am left with is a massive overload of "disposable" food serving items that I have no use for, and no space for. I would be happy to throw everything away (I know, I know! Not great for the environment, but you can't believe how much we have!) , however the Saver can't just get rid of the accumulated items by tossing them. He would see this as wasteful.</p> <p>I think the best thing would be to donate the items, but I need some VERY specific ideas. Just saying "Goodwill" is not enough. This is an office set up, so the time and effort put in would be above and beyond for someone (probably me) and I want to feel confident that the items are going to be used. If I'm going to spend a Saturday at the office every few months, I want it to be worth it.</p> <p>Can the forum members offer some advice? Once we have a plan in place, I can monitor the piles and every few months suggest we offer another donation, but where?</p> <p>Thanks in advance. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/the-quest-for-uncluttered-work-snacks#post-33422 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:08:00 +0000 guest 33422@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>For those of you who work in an office environment, which snack foods do you like to keep around? I like to always have small tins of flavoured tuna on hand, as well as some miso soup packets, but I'm not really sure what else I could keep in my desk that keeps well, is cheap, uncluttered (i.e. doesn't take up a whole lot of space, like a cereal box would) and isn't too time-consuming to prepare. What do you guys have for snacks at work? </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/uncluttering-my-laptop-bag#post-31800 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:45:18 +0000 darkmixtli 31800@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Hi<br /> I have been following this site from a long time, and has been very useful on my home uncluttering </p> <p>Now I face a problem with my laptop bag and how to handle clutter </p> <p>I dont know how it happens, but I always start with a new Laptop Bag empty, just the laptop, power cord, a wireless mouse, 2 pens and my journal. </p> <p>Before a week pass my laptop bag is fully loaded with plenty of things I dont remember putting in there , and heaving over 5Kg </p> <p>I have a bad vice of putting thing , just in case I need them, and end up with more things than needed, eventually scratching the laptop , or having trouble passing security in the office. (security is almost as hard as boarding an airplane in US with an Afghanistan passport ).<br /> could you please give me some recommendations for having always an uncluttered laptop bag </p> <p>I used to use backpack bag, now I switched to messenger bags, I am really thinking in carry my laptop with my bare hands , maybe that way I will stop cluttering. </p> <p>Best Regards </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/home-workspace-ideas#post-28001 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:09:11 +0000 IMC 28001@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Alright, I am at it again. I have been struggling for a while now to figure out how to set up a home workspace in a very small space. I decided to use a corner of my "dining room" in my 700 sq ft apartment for that purpose, but have been unsuccessful at figuring out how to organize everything. Right now I have a desk, a small set of drawers next to it, and a couple of various boxes (white KASSETT boxes from Ikea and clear plastic boxes) for my filing system. I have a large scanner/printer, and a laptop that I cram onto the desk. I cannot install shelves on the wall, nor do I have a spare closet to make into an office. I am now out of ideas on how to set up an efficient home workspace for a very small space after perusing a ton of websites (including the Unclutterer featured workspace feature!). Does anyone have any good ideas about how to set up an efficient and organized workspace? </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/decluttering-your-mailbox#post-841 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:44:36 +0000 MsDasha 841@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>About two years ago, I went through all the steps to remove myself from every junk mail list ever. I only receive magazines I like, bills, and personal mail. I even opt out of catalogs that I love, like JCrew, William-Sonoma, Pottery Barn.... *sigh*</p> <p>And yet, somehow, the March of Dimes got my name somewhere. Probably from my change of address form, since it happened right after we moved. They sent me one of those mailings with a dime in it. I was a sucker, and I sent them $10 and their dime back. Lo and behold, I get charity solicitations at least weekly, including from the March of Dimes themselves! I have no problem with giving to charity, but I do have a problem with all the unsolicited mail cluttering up my recycling bin....</p> <p>I know that getting off the mailing lists of charities is hard - has anyone done so successfully? HOW?</p> <p>And while we are at it, does anyone know how to get magazines to stop sending you renewal notices, other than signing up for autorenew?</p> <p>(Also, I'm really uncomfortable with the forum names here... I never seem to know where to post!) </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/this-shit-just-got-real#post-23466 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:24:00 +0000 FatStupidAmerican 23466@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I got laid off. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/cubicle-organizing#post-17349 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:25:16 +0000 IMC 17349@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>My organization recently moved me from an office to a cubicle. This will force me even more to be diligent about the incoming and outgoing paper (as well as anything else that goes on my desk and in my drawers). I am generally looking for ideas and office products that will help me manage this (i.e. hanging inboxes, multipurpose desk accessories, etc.). Thanks! </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/newbie-needs-help#post-18043 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:55:14 +0000 Lemarsman 18043@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I am a disorganized person. My biggest problem is my woodworking shop. I have tools and things everywhere. I used to have a fellow who helped me get it de-cluttered and organized. He moved. </p> <p>It is pretty bad. I don't like to use the shop because of the clutter and disorganization. My first thought is to clean up the workbench and then radiate outwards from there. It will take time. I don't know what else to do.</p> <p>Are there basic principles of organization to follow? Is there a good place to start? I am not sure if I want to toss valuable woodworking tools, but I could try to sell some. In the meantime, any ideas on how to move around and get my shop workable?</p> <p>Am I in the right forum?</p> <p>Thank you.</p> <p>LM </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/remembering-where-you-stored-important-papers#post-16245 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:43:20 +0000 MBK 16245@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Hi there, I'm new to the forum and I was wondering--when it comes to storing important documents, I'm pretty good about labeling everything correctly and keeping it all organized. My one problem is that sometimes I'll have a hard time remembering where in my apartment I've put say, tax receipts--in my main filing cabinet? In the folders in my closet?</p> <p>Do you guys have any tips on remembering where you store things from year to year? </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/office-move-blank-canvas-any-tips-for-filingorganisation#post-16133 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 06:25:50 +0000 Rostance 16133@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Hello everyone!</p> <p>I'm a self-employed video designer and next week I'm moving into a new office. I can't help but get excited about the potential for this to be a great blank-canvas to re-work my office organisation from the ground up. I am looking for ideas/inspiration for re-working a small, one-person business filing system so that I can keep finances, project management and physical paperwork under control. </p> <p>Does anyone have any links or examples of how they organise their office or home office filing? How you categorize things and ideas for keeping paperwork/post/finance in tip-top system?</p> <p>Obviously that may be a lot to ask, but I always enjoy looking the really organised files in the before/after pictures on here and getting an insight into how organised the files are inside would be great. </p> <p>Thanks!</p> <p>Neil </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/teacher-clutter#post-704 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:39:51 +0000 aep73 704@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Does anyone else find that they suddenly develop a hoarder mentality when it comes to work if you are a teacher or work in the schools? I'm pretty good about not keeping what I don't need or love around in my private life and at home, but when it comes to school, I am afraid to throw anything out. </p> <p>I believe it has something to do with uncertain budgets and believing that I might need whatever the item is sometime down the line. I'm in special education, to compound the issue, so there's no curriculum or go to that you can use year after year --it all depends on what student walks through the door during a particular year and no two are alike.</p> <p>Does anybody have any ideas about what is necessary versus what is hoarding? </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/unclutter-your-life-with-a-whiteyboard-its-a#post-13148 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:46:51 +0000 jasonw 13148@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Its a dry erase board tha just sticks onto your wall like a giant sticker. I finally stopped filling my Mac screen with digital sticky notes and just write them down on this thing. 4x6 Feet for $30 and you can cut it however you want. Pretty sweet. </p> <p>WhiteyBoard.com </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/managing-todos-projects-and-so-on#post-13245 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:38:28 +0000 Hollyuk 13245@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I'm looking for some ideas again here. My past method of managing my work life has broken down a bit and I wonder of you would mind sharing what you do or offer me some suggestions.</p> <p>The background is that I run two businesses, one of which contains a number of projects which are really 'jobs' for customers (as well as tasks to grow the business), the second is a discrete business which also needs daily tasks done, and other tasks to grow the business. In my first business I typically have two large and a few small customers - the larger customers have a number of projects on the go at any time.</p> <p>My problem is twofold - firstly dividing my time between these businesses / projects and secondly how to manange the tasks. For example do I have multiple todo lists for each business/project, or one large one?</p> <p>I do have a problem with 'out of sight out of mind' so having lots of lists can sometimes make me forget what is waiting for my attention.</p> <p>I've also muddied the waters by trying different types of notebooks / filofaxes etc. I'm also undecided whether to allocate specific time to each thing (i.e. mornings for business a and afternoons for business b and so on).</p> <p>To be honest I feel a bit like a rabbit in the headlights with all this going on - I also recently suffered a family bereavement which has left me feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything and I have to get on with things pretty soon otherwise I will lose a lot of business.</p> <p>I was wondering if anyone else has a similar set of circumstances and how they manage their time/projects. Sorry if I am rambling and hope you can offer some suggestions. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/de-cluttering-my-email-inbox#post-13205 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:07:22 +0000 Hollyuk 13205@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Can any of you good folk offer some suggestions on de-cluttering my inbox and also how to keep it like that on a day-to-day basis. I really do get rather overwhelmed at times, clear it down (down to 50 emails is good for me!) but it creeps back up to around 500 in no time at all! This happens even though I am deleting spam and moving emails that relate to specific projects to their own folders! </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/need-suggestions-for-managing-project-work#post-12638 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:38:33 +0000 savink 12638@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Hello everyone,</p> <p>I am new to a position at my job where I am managing several projects at once. (Currently I am managing 8). I had systems in place in my old position for managing my day-to-day tasks, but these same systems are not working for keeping track of what needs to be done for my new position. As with any project, some tasks are on-going, some need to be completed in the near future, and some need to be finished farther out. I have tried using a separate notebook for each project, project-specific to-do sheets, a dry erase board...I can't even color-code my flags in my inbox because I have more projects than colors! I feel like things are falling through the cracks...does anyone have suggestions as to how to better organize my tasks? Thanks in advance! </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/couple-of-how-do-you-questions#post-12343 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:29:01 +0000 ianfdlrs 12343@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>1. How do you distill important notes that you have taken? I work for a couple of different projects, and each project has multiple projects that I will undertake. I go to meetings, visits, go through email, and more. So I am trying to find a way to take these interactions and communications, grab what I need from them, and pitch the rest. I know that people's processes are all different, but I am trying to keep from having a hard copy of each thing. How do you handle these types of situations?</p> <p>2. When you have so many different avenues to work across, how do you give each its needed time without overload? I read something someone wrote about note trying to multitask, but rather give each thing its needed focus. There is just so much stuff from each one, I am trying to find a way to know that I don't need to keep revisiting it, and move on to working on a real task, and not constantly reviewing.</p> <p>3. When it comes to collaborating with other people, all of which have multiple and varied responsibilities, how do you find a good way/time to communicate with them? I tend to be long-winded and like to talk through things to get to the big picture, so I know that everyone is on the same page. I also don't like sporatic phone calls. I guess I prefer a designated meeting time where everyone can get in and get out. What do you all suggest? </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/where-do-you-store-your-extra-business-cards#post-8974 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:46:24 +0000 skipberry 8974@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I recently ordered and received 500 business cards. I'm taking 100 or so to a conference to hand out but the other 400 need to be kept somewhere. Where do people store theres? At the moment they're just sitting on my desk which bothers me. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/starting-the-process-at-work#post-872 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:17:26 +0000 stagepin 872@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>So, I'm going to be trying to clean off my desk here at work. It's not a small undertaking; I'm not naturally an organized person. So, I've been roaming thru the past unclutterer posts after having found this a few weeks ago. I've just started reading the book. I figure I'm more inclined to keep posting to a thread to keep myself motivated than I am to save it all up. </p> <p>Here's at look at my current working conditions: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31064848@N08/sets/72157622928244193/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/31064848@N08/sets/72157622928244193/</a></p> <p>I work in my family's HVAC company here in Northern Va. I'm the service manager and most everything in the office passes by me. So, I end up continually putting out fires and end up half-way thru most of my work. I'm kinda tired of my surroundings and am trying to get myself organized. Added to that, I'm going to be gone for a month getting specialized training and I need to have it organized such that the work doesn't stop while I'm gone. </p> <p>My aim's to spend at least an hour a day getting things in shape, and I figure I'll keep snapping some pictures here and there and updating as I can. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/old-uniforms#post-8363 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:10:59 +0000 HuckleBuff 8363@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I've recently been put in charge of keeping inventory on the shirts we issue our student employees. Over the years, designs have changed and the person before me felt it necessary to change the color of the shirt every year. We've now gone to a new non-wrinkle fabric (great for our student employees who like to just stuff their work shirt in their backpacks), but are now left with at least 50 old (but still in good shape) polos with our company name/logo. Any ideas as to how to responsibly dispose of these? We won't ever be using them again, but I desperately need the closet space they're occupying. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/organizing-office-supplies#post-7924 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:20:28 +0000 sondosia 7924@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I've just spent some time uncluttering my office supplies and throwing away/recycling everything I don't need. However, I'm still having trouble organizing it. There are things I don't use often--like double-sided tape and colored paper--and things I use all the time, like pens and scissors. Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping office supplies as organized and clutter-free as possible? </p>