Eliminating Those Piles. Eliminate clutter one pile at a time (get some oversized garbage bags so it will be easy to throw things out). You’ll have to make very brutal decisions about every piece of paper in those piles on the desk, on the floor, in the cabinets, and every other place you found to pack something.

In deciding what to keep and what to throw out, a good rule of thumb is if you haven’t referred to a document in six months or can get the information somewhere else, or don't need to keep it for legal reasons, dump it. Trust me, 80% of all that paper you insist on keeping just in case will probably never be referred to again. STOP KEEPING ALL THAT STUFF!

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Creating a Good, Logical Filing System. Once you’ve purged the excess, you’ll have to do something with what’s left. Some things will need to be filed. A filing system should be logical so there is never any doubt about where you might have filed something. Also, anyone else needing something in your files should be able to find it. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create main, broad categories (use nouns).

   • Use a unique colored tab to distinguish the main categories.

2. Subcategorize each main category (as in an outline), keeping like subjects together (alphabetize within categories).

   • Use the A-Z system only when it’s a vendor- or client-only file, or something similar.

3. Test your system to see if others can find what they need.

4. Create a simple index, and leave it in front of the file drawer (do this especially if others have to access your files, and they're large reference files).

5. Purge often! STOP KEEPING JUNK!

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Creating a Computer Filing System. If you're wasting time looking for documents on your computer, you'll need to create a filing system for your computer files that is very similar to your paper filing system. Create main folders (or directories) and subfolders using the same outline format described above. Use descriptive titles so you always know exactly what the folders contain, and create logical sequences so you don't have to guess where you may have filed something.

To create new folders in Windows® 95 or 98:

1. Right-click the Start button, then left-click Explore.

2. Find the folder you want to break down further, and left-click it.

3. While that folder name is highlighted, left-click File on the menu bar, point to New, then left-click Folder.

4. Type the name of the new folder, and press Enter. If you want to subcategorize the folder you just created (you should do this), click on the new folder name, and repeat step 3.

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Get rid of those sticky notes around your PC. Let technology keep up with those miscellaneous notes that are contributing to the clutter in your workspace.

1. Create a document called MyNotes in your word processing software. Anytime you have tidbits of information you want to hang on to, type it into this file (or scan it), and trash the paper.

2. The next time you need to refer to one of these notes,MyNotes and use the Find feature of your software (Ctrl+F in most software) to find it. You can type any portion of the note to have the Find function locate it.

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Organizing your closet will help you get out of the house on time. Having an organized closet will help speed up your morning routine.

1. Purge first, remembering that if you didn't wear it last year, you probably won't wear it this year. Separate the things you want to keep, and bag the things to give away and the things to throw away.

2. Separate everything by season. Keep out-of-season clothes in a separate closet.

3. Arrange your closet, keeping like things together—all your pants/skirts, jackets, blouses/shirts should be kept separate. Keeping like colors together is also a timesaver. If you never mix and match, hang complete outfits together. There are great closet organizing products available that will make this so easy.

4. Keep two baskets in the floor of your closet. One for the cleaners, and the other for clothes that need repairing. Don't rehang soiled clothes.

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Junk Mail. Stop junk mail now! Call the Stop Junk Mail Association: .

Filtering out junk E-mail before you get it. If you receive your E-mail via Outlook 98 or higher:

1. Click Tools/Organize.

2. Click Junk E-mail to turn feature on.

When the junk E-mail comes into your mailbox:

1. Right-click on it, and click Junk E-mail.

2. Click Add to Junk Senders List.

3. Click on drop-down box to create a rule that will automatically send anything from that address to the Deleted Items folder.

To delete someone from the Junk Senders list:

1. From within the Inbox, click Tools/Organize/Junk E-mail.

2. At the bottom of the resulting dialog box, click to see more options (see light gray text).

3. Click Edit Junk Senders.

4. Delete the desired E-mail address.

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Sharing Outlook Contacts. You can share a Contact's info with anyone you can send E-mail to using Outlook.

1. Click on Contacts view.

2. Right-click on Contact name.

3. Click Forward as vCard.

4. Continue as you would any E-mail. The Contact vCard will be at the bottom of your screen.

The Recipient of the vCard will:

1. Double-click on the file toit.

2. Click Save and Close.

3. New contact is automatically added to their Outlook database.

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