Winnie-the-Pooh author A.A. Milne once said, "One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries." While this may be true, another by-product of disorganization is time spent searching for lost items, catching-up on missed appointments, and worrying about things left undone. There is no doubt that an efficient, clutter-free lifestyle enables one to be more productive.
Take our ten-question quiz to discover if you're a messy Molly or über-organized. Then get great tips for keeping it together.
How long does it take you to find a document or piece of information?
A. 5 minutes or less-I know exactly where I left it!
B. About 15 minutes-it's either here or there.
C. A day or more-I can't even remember the last time I saw it!
How often do you discover that you've double-booked your daily schedule?
A. Frequently-but my friends and acquaintances are used to it.
B. Occasionally-I feel terrible, but sometimes, it just happens.
C. Never-all my appointments are carefully recorded.
How often are you late for meetings and appointments?
A. Frequently-I'm the queen of tardy!
B. Sometimes. Breakfast, misplaced keys, picking an outfit-these are things that slow me down.
C. Never-I respect people's time and I expect the same from other people in return.
How much of your desk is covered with paper?
A. 10 per cent or less-a couple neatly stacked piles. Most items are filed
B. 50 per cent-I have a lot of stuff, but I swear I know where everything is!
C. Where is the desk?
Which statement accurately describes your perception of hosting a party?
A. I love to host parties-I handle my guests, the food and music with finesse.
B. I don't mind hosting parties-it's a lot of work, but it's worth it.
C. I'm not fond of hosting-I find it stressful and doesn't allow me to spend time with my guests.
When do you do your house cleaning and laundry?
A. At the same day every week. I free-up my weekends for other things.
B. Every week, whenever I find time.
C. When I run out of socks and the dust balls start rolling.
When do you pay your bills?
A. As soon as they arrive, of course!
B. Before the deadline.
C. Most often, before the deadline.
D. When I find them, I will let you know!
How many day-planners and/or calendars do you write appointments in?
A. It's all there, in one source.
B. I have 2-3 places to store scheduling info, and I consolidate whenever I can.
C. I have notes, books, and reminders in several places.
How frequently do you return to the house to retrieve forgotten items?
A. I always have what I need for the day.
B. On occasion, I have to run back to grab something.
C. It seems I always leave something behind! It's only a real problem if it's my keys.
How often do you clear out your e-mail and/or computer files?
A. Once a week or more-why waste the hard drive space?
B. Every six months, or more. Finito and adios!
C. Clear out e-mail?
If you answered mostly A's, you are:
Über-Organized:
