Organization in the New Year

For me, organization in the new year will revolve around 4 main areas:

• Papers
• Web Bookmarks
• RSS Feeds
• Life

Papers

I wrote about my battle with paper a few weeks ago, and have since managed to keep a pretty consistently clear desk.  Papers always go into the inbox, though whether they make it out of the inbox is a different story.  There are still a few tasks to wrap up that will get that down to inbox zero, and a couple pieces of hardware (like file sorters) that will help in the effort.  The goal is a system/routine that keeps paper moving and off of my desk.

Web Bookmarks

I knew there was a reason I started using Google Chrome.  Its sync feature is AWESOME.  I've slowly collected bookmarks over the last couple years, in various categories, and the entire pile was turning into a mess, spread across several computers.  With bookmark syncing, all 1000+ bookmarks now live in the cloud, and updates are pushed up and down to all my computers.  Changes on my laptop appear on my desktop, and vice versa.  Love it.  Following a few tips, I created several bookmark bar folders for frequently-used bookmarks, and left all my reference material in folders in the "Other Bookmarks" section.  There are still a few items left to be categorized, and also read and then deleted.  I'll get into my system and its inspiration in another post.

RSS Feeds

Always the bane of my existence.  Hip hip hooray, my feed count is now 969.  How the hell does this keep happening?  I cut feeds mercilessly!  966 down to 783, up to 932, down to 880, and now up to 969.  I'm slowly expanding the folder system I mentioned in my last feed organization post, but I also keep getting new feeds almost every day.  My goal for the year is to have my feeds entirely organized, and a system for moving and categorizing them, and also criteria for when to add and remove feeds.  Do I really need a 15th blog feed about lean software development that only updates every 3 months?  Probably not...

Life

I have this odd sense that getting a handle on those 3 things above will make a world of difference.  The most important aspect, I think, is the information handling routine.  How does information come in?  Where does it go?  How does it get categorized and assimilated?  Is it important?  How does it stay in or leave the system?  If I can handle all the inputs in my life, I'll be better able to deal with the regular ol' day-to-day, and the "things-I've-always-meant-to-do-but-never-make-the-time-to."  Selling off old books.  Creating an efficient binder/folder/integrated system for managing and staying on top of my work and current projects.  Actually getting to work on some current projects.  By turning inputs into a standard, flowing routine, I'll be able to get into a higher plane of thinking and creativity.  And THAT, my friends, is where the money's at.

How are you getting organized in the new year?

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