Guest Author - Emily Wilska
Though there are still 24 hours in each day once Daylight Savings Time ends, the early darkness can make it seem like we've got less time to work with than we did before we turned the clocks back last week. And the increasingly hectic schedule of the holiday season means that time is at a premium, even if there's technically just as much of it as at any other point in the year.
The good news is that it's still possible to fit organization into your life even when things get busy and time starts flying. Here are 5 mini-projects you can tackle in 15 minutes or less, along with suggestions on extra steps to take for each if you happen to have a few more minutes to spare.
#1: Declutter a Junk Drawer
If there's a junk drawer in your home or office that drives you nuts, doing a quick sort-and-purge session can help restore your sanity. For the purposes of this mini-project, you don't need to totally reorganize the drawer: just focus on weeding out anything you know belongs elsewhere and anything you know you don't want or need.
Have a few extra minutes? Put some basic drawer dividers in place to keep like items together and to prevent chaos every time you open the drawer. You can use a utensil tray, modular drawer dividers, or simple reused containers like checkbook boxes or empty shallow glass jars.
#2: Do a Pen and Pencil Audit
This is a particularly good project to take on when you want something that requires neither a lot of energy nor a lot of brainpower. (It's also a great task to assign to kids.) Do a quick sweep of the spots in your home or office that tend to collect pens and pencils, then try out each implement, tossing those that no longer write and setting aside for donation those that still work but you don't want or need.
Have a few extra minutes? Distribute a few working pens and pencils, along with a pad of notepaper, in convenient spots throughout your space so you don't find yourself scrambling for something to write with (or on) the next time you need to take a phone message or jot down an idea.
#3: Go on an E-mail Deleting Binge
E-mail sometimes seem to multiply in the time it takes to blink, and it's entirely too easy to find yourself with an overflowing Inbox. Rather than trying to empty out the entire thing at once, spend 10-15 minutes deleting "low-hanging fruit" like old newsletters, spam, out-of-date messages from stores and online retailers, and anything with more than two Fwd:'s in the Subject line.
Have a few extra minutes? Take some time to unsubscribe from any newsletters, electronic store flyers, or other regularly appearing messages you never seem to read. (Remember: don't try unsubscribing from anything that seems like spam. Doing so just lets the spammers know your e-mail address is valid.)
#4: Weed out Obvious Junk Mail
With your e-mail Inbox whittled down, turn your attention to your stack of postal mail. Pull out any junk mail and shred/recycle it. Do the same with catalogs you don't want, anything you have in excess (like those Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons--believe me, you'll get more of them), and the filler material (such as inserts and advertisements) that comes with bills.
Have a few extra minutes? Stem the flow of catalogs you don't want by calling the companies that send them to you and asking them to remove your name from their mailing lists. Even quicker: visit www.catalogchoice.org, where you can remove yourself from mailing lists in a matter of minutes.
#5: Do a "10-Minute Tidy"
Finally, put 10 (or 15) minutes to good use by using that sliver of time to return to their rightful homes any errant items around your home or office. Get files back into a cabinet, supplies back into a drawer, clothes hung up or folded and put away, dishes safely stashed in cupboards. Set a timer and focus exclusively on putting things away until your 10 minutes are up. (This is another great--and, believe it or not, fun--activity to do with kids.)
Have a few extra minutes? Work on finding a home for anything that always seems to be wandering around lost, or that's never where you need it to be when you need it.
Tackle a few (or all) of these mini-projects to keep yourself organized and in control, even when the clock is working against you.
