Welcome to www.OnlineOrganizing.com -- A World Of Organizing Solutions Your Order Your Shopping Cart About Us Contact Us Site Map
Do You Need Help Getting Organized?Shop For Organizing And Business Development ProductsProfessional Organizing ServicesFind A Seminar, Workshop, Or Keynote SpeakerRead Our Two Free Monthly NewslettersFree Organizing Tips And AdviceResources For Professional OrganizersLearn How To Become A Professional OrganizerUseful Organizing Website LinksUseful Organizing Website Links


Search for:

Category:

You Are Here: Home - Blogs


Fear Your Computer No More! by Suzanne Babb


Computers are wonderful, aren't they? They not only hold all of your documents but you can also instantly communicate with people from across the world, surf the web, and order pizza online! What more could you ask for in life, how about an "easy button" much like in the Staples ad? One that will help with life's little mysteries such as: Where in the heck is that e-mail from Bob? Oh shoot, I can't remember where I saved the proposal for my client! Why in the world is my Outlook so stinking slow?! Now clear your head of the stress computers can cause when you are looking for something important and think about your kitchen. Where are your coffee mugs in the kitchen? Are they next to the coffee pot? Of course they are! That is only logical; it makes the most sense, right? (If they aren't, go ahead and move them real quick. I won't tell!) The same sort of logic that goes into the placement of your coffee mugs should also be used for the placement of items on your computer. Setting your computer up logically and organizing items you use can save you time, frustration, and heart ache - as long as you know how to utilize it correctly for your needs. So instead of threatening to throw the computer out the window and onto the pavement 5 stories below, let's figure out some quick and easy solutions to help you maintain your dignity and your sanity!

Latest Posts:


Measuring Time Using Excel

One of my clients is a very Inspirational organizer. When she is on her game she is absolutely on FIRE, but when life starts weighing her down, on dear Lord.  The funk from hell sets in and it takes an act of God to get her out of it.   Her work overwhelms her, she feels like nothing gets accomplished, and she is completely unmotivated to work.  Obviously this is NOT a good thing, so we came up with a special solution to help her with this debacle.   We created an Excel spreadsheet and labeled the columns: CLIENT - TO DO - DATE DUE and then applied a filter to that row so she can easily sort by due date or client.  Due to the fact that she was completely overwhelmed, we decided to set up weekly calls where she would tell me what needed to be accomplished, what client it was associated with, and when it was due.  Each morning she would open the spreadsheet, click on that days date and she would only see what action items needed done that day.  As she finished them, she put an "X" in the cell and moved on.    This process relieved her mind, she was motivated to work and she also realized that she really didn't have "a lot" to do.  If she needed to concentrate on a specific client, she would use the same concept as sorting by date and click the filter arrow, select the client name, and just do the tasks that she needed for that account.   Now this was the perfect solution for Susan to help her eliminate the feeling of losing control, but it also helped her to see what she had accomplished for a client.  If a client questioned the time being spent on their account, all she had to do was click the filter for the client and the filter for completed tasks and she had an instant report.   It made HER feel great and her clients were amazed with her accountability system.   Could we have used a different system for her To Do's?  Sure, we could have used Outlook Tasks, but for Susan she was Mac based and she was intimidated by the program.  However, she was completely comfortable and confident with Excel and for an Inspirational organizer, that is over half the battle.   Could we have used the Sorting feature in Excel instead of Filters?  Yep, but visually SEEING everything that she had to do would have given the poor woman an anxiety attack that she completely didn't need.  Remember, inspirational not overwhelming.   So determine your organizing style and if you are more inspirational try the spreadsheet method for measuring your time. ...

Read more...

posted on: 12/21/2008 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


More Than Just a Signature

Using email signatures as Signatures is great, but what more can you do with this time saving feature?  Before we get to the answer to that question, let's think about what the signature actually does.  With 3 clicks of the mouse it automatically inserts text that you typed into the body of the email.    Now let's think about some of those redundant emails you get in any given day or week requesting some sort of canned response from you.   What services do you offer? Can you tell me what it is that...

Read more...

posted on: 12/14/2008 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Email Pet Peeves

We all have pet peeves that drive us absolutely bonkers!  From cracking knuckles, to incessant sniffing; pet peeves of our friends to the annoying habits of co-workers; the driving habits of the crazy people around us to how we receive emails.    I can't really blog about knuckle cracking, because I am one of "those" people, the modern vocabulary doesn't have enough swear words to accommodate my tirade on early morning drivers, but I can throw out my two cents about email pet peeves!  Of course, I can't take full credit on all of the annoying habits of other people, because this is actually a list comprised of thoughts from those through out my blogging buddies.   Of course, if you find that you...

Read more...

posted on: 6/8/2008 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Post Its for Outlook

If you have been using Outlook for any length of time, I am sure you have seen the little section for using  the cute little Post It Notes.  However, if you are like most people you probably haven't been able to come up with a great idea for actually USING the little babies!  You want to play with them and put pertinent information on them and color code the little electronic stickies, but your brain comes to a stand still.  HOW can you use them effectively?!   Well, I have come up with a couple of great ideas that I am enjoying like there is no tomorrow!   I use PayPal for a lot of my eBooks and services and most of the time I have post the PayPal link in my newsletters, blogs, multiple websites, etc....

Read more...

posted on: 2/3/2008 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


When You Can't Find a Solution

I spent 6 hours trying to figure out what in the world was wrong with my email yesterday.  I recently moved and I had to change service providers and talk about a NIGHTMARE!  I was online at Qwest trying to troubleshoot my email woes, I did the little Instant Chat with a customer service guy (that was useless), I called in and waited on hold for 49 minutes while the man was beyond "not doing a dang gone thing", I swore, I threatened and cajoled my Outlook and I was beyond annoyed!   So, as a last resort I went out to Google and I typed in, "Why can't I receive emails in Outlook from Qwest?"  Three short clicks later I had my answer from a cheesy online forum.  Can you believe I wasn't the only person on...

Read more...

posted on: 1/27/2008 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Podcasts to Help with Spelling?

My children are HORRENDOUS spellers.  I am talking about not even spell check can determine what some of the words they are trying to type are.  Oh ya, it's THAT bad and we are not talking about 3 and 4 year olds.  I am talking about a 14-year old and 9-year old.   I have pretty much abandoned all hope for my daughter, but my 9-year old I have found  a glimmer of hope in technology!  Not another computer game that will randomly go through words that may or may not be on his spelling test, I am talking about a technology so simple and 100% customizable that I can't believe I didn't think of it!  Instead, I need to give this next tip credit to the 9-year old little boy in question,...

Read more...

posted on: 1/13/2008 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Using Multiple Emails

There was a time when I had 12 email addresses.  Yep, 12 of the little suckers.  The reason behind the email madness was simple, each email address has a different purpose.  From having a separate personal email address, to business address and even having one for all of those annoying "sign up here" email form fields.  Having multiple email addresses can save you a ton of email spam, a lot of time, and can help keep your emails organized.  IF you use it correctly.   Personal Emails   This is pretty self explanatory.   Your personal email address should be used for friends and family only and it should be the one email address that follows you...

Read more...

posted on: 12/23/2007 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Email Count or File Size - What is Important?

I think I am getting ready to go into an epileptic fit over a post and the comments on Marcia's blog this evening about Tackling Computer Clutter. Ok, let's just throw it out there that I really do need to get a life or at least something in my life a little more interesting than knowing about folder sizes in your Outlook.   Marcia's post was great about cleaning out your email folders, but when I started to read the comments I was down right freaked out by one of the commenters having 14,000+ emails in her inbox! Holy F^%&$ing Saltine Crackers, Batman! It's not just the COUNT of the emails it is the thought of the file size...

Read more...

posted on: 12/16/2007 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Printing Labels for the Holidays

"Suzanne, how do I make labels from my Outlook address book?"  I have answered that question 21 times since December 1.  Everyone is getting ready to mail out Christmas cards and who really has time to hand address all of the cards you may have for your family, friends and business associates?  Sure, it's a nice touch but it would be a heck of a lot easier to peel off a cute holiday label than hand writing those suckers!  Today, I am going to tell you how you can very easily import your Outlook addresses into Word to make labels!   A lot of people think that they need to start in Outlook to create the labels, this is not true.  You actually need to be in Word.  (These...

Read more...

posted on: 12/9/2007 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


Organizing Your Pictures - What Makes Sense?

Don't you just love digital cameras and the ability to download, email and save pictures to your computer?  No mess, no awkward envelopes full of pictures, and no trying to figure out what to do with the negatives; it is amazing!  Although, now you have a hard drive that is bulging at the seams with picture upon picture upon picture.  You can't find the photos you took of your son's first birthday and when you do, you also see pictures from your husbands hockey game mixed with random nose shots your daughter took of herself.  You may not have the physical clutter of photos any more, but you do have a virtual nightmare on your computer.   Let's see if we can't figure something out before the...

Read more...

posted on: 11/25/2007 8:30:00 AM  by Suzanne Babb
category: Business


View Earlier Posts...

 

   Subscribe To This Blog

About Suzanne:

As an organizational consultant, public speaker, and former radio talk show host, Suzanne helps individuals and businesses find their own Organizational Perfection! With a Coke in hand, she thrives on making the most of her time and tries to encourage those around her to do the same. Whether it is writing a "How To" book, traveling to Scotland to get her yearly dose of sexy Scotsmen, or speaking to a group of overwhelmed business owners, Suzanne offers the solutions you need to regain control of your life.

Suzanne's Website:

www.letstalkorganizing.com


Suzanne's Other Blogs:


My Favorite Organizing Goodies

  • Levenger
    My goal in life is to have an entire office that is primarily Levenger!
  • See Jane Work
    How can you NOT love See Jane Work? With loads of personality, fun products, and down right gorgeous supplies it is hard to pass up!

My Favorite Blogs

  • Organising Queen
  • Not Just a Mom!
  • My Personal Office Supply Favorites
  • Escape From Cubicle Nation
  • Neat and Simple Living
  • 4 True Freedom
    Providing inspiration and motivation to those who are ready for it.

Suzanne's Other Blogs and Podcast

  • Let's Talk Organizing Blog
  • Let's Talk Organizing Podcast
  • Admin Answers

Office Solutions

  • Virtual Office
  • Service Office
  • Office Space


Add this page to your Bookmarks!

E-mail this page to a friend!







www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
Content on this site is © Bradford, LLC, All rights reserved.

If you notice any problems with this site, please contact our webmaster.
And if you don't see what you need you are welcome to "ask the organizer" any question!

To see what people are saying about www.OnlineOrganizing.com, check out our visitor comments.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Calendar Of Organizing Holidays And Events Blog Central Sign Up For Our Free Online Newsletters Join The Conversation At Our Organizing Discussion Board Advertise Your Company On Our Website Be An Affiliate Of www.OnlineOrganizing.com