At home or at work, a simple, easy-to-use filing system is the best way to keep track of all the paper you accumulate. Unfortunately, even when people have a good filing system in place, filing is often a dreaded task. In one online poll about which office chore people hated the most, filing was the winner, hands-down!

Since good paper management requires filing your papers on a regular basis, if you hate to file, you need to figure out why and what to do about it. A good place to start your diagnosis is with the LOCATION OF YOUR FILE CABINET. A file cabinet situated in an unpleasant, out-of-the-way or hard-to-reach spot in your home is unlikely to be used as often as it should be. That can lead to papers not being filed in a timely way and you not being able to find items you need when you need them as a result, to say nothing of the clutter that piles of unfiled paper can create.

Place your file cabinet in a convenient locale where you can easily take advantage of its storage capabilities and, who knows, you may actually learn to love filing!

Here’s the definition of clutter that I like: Clutter is postponed decision making. Can you relate? I thought so. Certain decisions you avoid making, for one reason or another, create clutter. De-cluttering will be difficult – if not impossible – until you face them and take the necessary action. I sometimes jokingly say to clients that I do organizing, not magic. Believe me, if I had one, I would be happy to wave a magic wand and make everyone’s clutter disappear!

Tuesday, March 9 is National Organize Your Home Office Day and National Clutter Awareness Week is March 15-19. Most of you are probably fully “aware” of your clutter and don’t really need an official National Week to notice it or an official National Day to know that your desk needs organizing. However, they provide a reminder and an opportunity to actually take the time to think about how clutter affects your life – and the lives of those around you – and DO something about it. Doing something about it means learning new habits and behaviors that help you get and stay organized. It also means getting yourself help if you need it.

You need the right plan and the right products to successfully get organized. Asking someone you feel close to to help you is a valid approach and it can be effective IF they are able, willing and have the time and the skills. If no such person exists, a Professional Organizer can provide both and do it quickly, efficiently and discreetly. A good organizer knows what works and – just as importantly – what doesn’t. For these reasons, many people prefer the specialized skills and training that a Professional Organizer has to offer. Just as you would consult a doctor, lawyer, financial planner, auto mechanic, personal trainer, etc., you can feel confident turning to a Professional Organizer for reliable, skilled and confidential help if you’re having trouble getting or staying organized. There’s no substitute for being guided by an expert in the field who will calmly help you without judgment, provide you with motivation and keep you focused and on track.