Quick! What were your New Year's resolutions? Did you resolve - again - to lose weight and save money? Let's tackle one perennial favorite that will help with everything else: Getting organized.

If it's just a matter of rearranging your stuff, it wouldn't be a big deal, right? But for some reason, getting rid of stuff is more problematic.

Maybe your parents went through the Great Depression and their thriftiness rubbed off on you. Surely those 5,000 rubber bands will come in handy someday.

Or maybe your spouse is a "saver" and you're a "tosser," and family fights ensue when the two of you try to organize together.

Nevada City resident Shawn Tuttle runs a home-based business called Project Simplify. She's done a lot of research into organizing, including pitfalls that prevent people from casting off that clutter.

"We're attached to our stuff," Tuttle said. A look around the county at all the self-storage places is a testament to stuff-attachment.

Most people who want to organize an aspect of their life - let's start with the home office - fail to take an important first step, according to Tuttle.

"Visualize what you want," Tuttle said. "Simplification is not just physical. It starts internally."



First step: Look deeper

If you've been thinking of changing some home or office space, that means the drive is there. But Tuttle says you need to look deeper because it's not always the stuff that is behind your thoughts.

"It could mean it's time for a new job." That's where deep thought and visualization help you clarify what you really want.

She said it also is necessary to check in with your comfort level. Ask yourself this question: What level of order do I need to have around me to do what I want to do?

Maybe having your desk piled with reference books makes you feel on top of your work. To others, however, books that you may not use on a daily basis don't need to sit on top of your desk. A shelf in another part of the room could be the solution.

Another impediment to organization is a practice that has gained favor during the last decade, something we even pride ourselves on doing: Multitasking. We've come to think of that as a good thing, but Tuttle isn't so sure.

"Mono-tasking is a powerful tool. Are you present when you are multi-tasking?" she asked.



Visualize a goal

So, you want to clean up your home office. Here are some tips from Tuttle:

• Visualize what you want and start with a goal.

• Examine the stuff that is out in plain sight. Does it need to be? Think of the cliche, "A place for everything and everything in its place."

• Use an in-box as a collection point. It can be a colorful basket that sits in a convenient part of the house. Don't go more than three days without going through the in-box.

• Recycle what you don't need.

• Keep and file important papers.

• Take action on items that need attention. If you can't do it in five minutes, have an "action file" for current projects. Slap a Post-it on the item stating what the next action should be.

• Structure your day. If you want to leave the office at 5 p.m., stop answering the phone and e-mails at 4:30 p.m. to allow you time to wrap up.

There are lots of other organizing tips on the Project Simplify Web site, www.projectsimplify.com, including free downloadable tools, a biweekly newsletter and more. Tuttle can be reached by phone at (530) 205-5775.

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To contact Readership Editor Dixie Redfearn, e-mail dixier@theunion.com or call 477-4238.