Peterka

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have it all together all the time, while you struggle with deadlines, misplace items, and run late for appointments? Are you interested in learning the secrets to their organizing success? If so, implement the following strategies and you too will experience the joy of more focus, time and success.

1. Assign a place to keep all of your belongings.

Isnt it interesting that we never misplace our car (except in a big parking lot). Its because weve chosen to designate a space for it the garage. Allocate a room and a specific drawer, shelf, basket, or other container for each kind of possession. Keep like things together and store each type of item closest to the place where you will be using it.

2. Design processes to manage paper flow.

We have more information delivered to us on a daily basis than ever before so it is imperative that you set up systems to touch paper once and keep each type of document where you know you will be able to find it. For example: When at home, collect your mail from the mailbox and immediately toss the junk, place all invoices in a special container (throw away any promotional material included with the invoice), file important documents right away, and place magazines into their own container (be sure to pitch the oldest issue).

3. Know how long to keep important papers.

Educate yourself using the guide at the following web address to determine what to keep and for how long. Then shred all unnecessary documents. http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/home/housekeeping/print/home_print_200409_chart.jhtml

4. Regularly, dispose of items that are broken, torn, stained, or havent been used for a period of time.

Purging items that have lost their usefulness will make it easier to find what you want when you want it plus, give you room to store new items should you purchase more. You can toss items, sell them, or donate them to your favorite charitable organization.

5. Put each item away as soon as you are through using it.

Avoid the mentalityIll set this down for now, its just temporary. All too often, temporary turns into days, days turn into months and soon youll have a mountain of stuff to sort through. You have a choicea minute now or hours later.

6. Use a calendar.

A calendar is a great tool if you use it consistently. For instance, its harder to overbook yourself when you only have 24 hours per day on your calendar. More importantly it requires that you make choicesyou cant do it all and be successful. Try this strategy:

• Make a list of all your goals. Put them in PRIORITY order, from most important to least important.
• Estimate how much time it will take to complete each goal.
• Fill in the current month of your calendar with your PRIORITY goals. (For example: work 8 - 5, Monday through Friday; family time 11 - 3, Sunday; personal development 7 8, Tuesday and Wednesday; gym 5:30 6:30, Monday through Thursday; etc.)
• If there is still space in your calendar, record more goals from your list.
• When your calendar is full, look at the goals left on your list and decide if you can delegate or dismiss them, if not, record them on successive months of your calendar. This will keep you from feeling guilty as you have assigned a time and place to tackle these other things and you dont have to worry about forgetting them.

7. Only buy new items when you have sufficient space to display them, store them, or you are prepared to let something else go.

Its false economics for you to keep buying more stuff if you cant see, easily access, or enjoy it.

8. Say, No thank you to family and friends who want to give you their excess.

If your parents or friends are downsizing or moving and offer to give you a number of household items, dont take them into your home unless you love them and will use them immediately.

9. Organize everything in your life.

Organizing isnt a one time task, its a habit. You will reap the greatest rewards if you organize everything in your grasp: your space, your time, your projects, your briefcase, your calls, your errands, your purse, your computer, your play time, etc.

10. Adjust your organizing system for new and changing circumstances.

You would make adjustments in your life if you lost your job. The same is required of your organizational system if your circumstances change. Adjust for a new baby, new projects, another hobby, loss of an assistant, or a dependent leaving the nest.

Your environment isnt just any ole space. Its your safe place, creative place, productivity place, and the place that reflects what you value most and supports your interests and lifestyle. Honor it, organize it, give it the attention it deserves and you will be amazed with the results.

Pam N. Woods is co-author of a bestselling book, Create the Business Breakthrough You Want: Secrets and Strategies from the World's Greatest Mentors; endorsed by Ken Blanchard and Dr. Stephen Covey. She is a Coach U graduate and President of Smart WorkLife Solutions, a coaching and consulting company devoted to co-creating customized solutions to fit clients business and personal organizing needs. Prior to founding her own firm she had a successful 20+ year career as an insurance executive and Vice President of Human Resources. For more free how-to articles and advice, or to contact Woods, visit http://www.worklifecoach.com. Copyright 2004 - Pam Woods

There are many types of driving schools that serve different purposes for different goals of students that hold different levels of driving mastery. For many people, their first and only experience of participating in a driving school is the driver education they receive in order to obtain their drivers permit or their first drivers license. Oftentimes these first time drivers opt to take advantage of driving school classes offered by the high school that he or she attends.

Though participating in a driving school in order to prepare oneself for department of motor vehicle licensing is not mandatory, many students feel much more thoroughly prepared when obtaining this kind of structured driver education. Additionally, parents can often receive a discount on car insurance policies for their child once he or she has passed a certified driver education course.

As with any type of school or learning environment, the main thing to consider when choosing a driving school is which type of classroom environment and teacher would make learning as enjoyable as possible. As everyone knows, the more enjoyable a lesson is the more successful the students will be. If you deal well with raw information, chances are youll most appreciate a no frills type of teacher and environment. You can read and go over traffic rules on your own and then use the class time to ask questions and compare notes with the other students.

If, however, you do better in learning environments that are highly interactive and fun, you may wish to seek out a driving school that offers creative approaches to learning traffic rules. These types of programs often employ educational games and interactive activities to help students familiarize themselves with all of the information and techniques that are involved in learning how to be a safe driver.

There are driving schools that offer either driving test preparation or practical driving skills courses, or both. Some driving students prefer to attend driving classes that focus only on the hands-on portions of learning to drive, either because they prefer to study traffic laws by their selves at home, or because they would rather use one of the online driving preparation services for this portion of driver education.

Increasingly many student drivers opt to enroll in one of the popular online driver training schools. These can be very helpful because they present traffic laws and procedural information in dynamic and interactive formats. This presentation of information has man advantages beyond just making learning more interesting. An online format allows for easy and efficient cross-referencing of driving terms that can speed student familiarity with the curriculum involved in absorbing all that there is to learn about traffic laws and driving safety.

Most of the online driving school websites also offer practice tests that are based off of specific states actual department of motor vehicle tests. This can be a huge help in preparing a student for the last, and often most intimidating, part of becoming a fully licensed driver.

With a little bit of research and stock taking of you or your childs learning needs, you are sure to find the appropriate driving school.

For more information and tips about driving schools please visit Driving School

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