Think Crafts Blog - Craft Ideas and Projects - CreateForLess

There are times when even the thought of organization seems baffling and overwhelming to even the most structured soul. It is almost as if the act of organizing is too staggering, yet, being organized is an effective way to get more work done in a given day. A recent consumer magazine stated that by simply having ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’ a person can save three days in a year. Imagine, an extra 72 hours in your schedule, by not spending those precious minutes hunting for the scissors, tracking down a shipping order, or running around aimlessly for the scrap of paper on which you wrote a supplier’s phone number.

Step One

For most professional crafters, the best way to handle any overwhelming job (yes, organization can seem like work) is to break the job of organization down into smaller tasks. The first step is to become a list maker. Memory is an interesting (and mysterious) concept for most creative individuals. It is wisest not to rely on one’s memory to get organized. Most creative people have great memories when it comes to things they enjoy, but the memory gets very selective when the “boring” things start to surface and need to be tackled. Grab a notebook or journal and make it the permanent location for all your lists. As you become more organized this notebook will start take form with categories and subcategorizes. But if you are a beginner, just starting your journey into becoming organized, take it slow and be content with finding a place for your list notebook. Commit that place to memory!

Your first list should be a list of questions that will help you get organized.

• What you need more time to do?
• What you feel needs organizing within your business?
• What items/tasks would help you accomplish, schedule, coordinate rather than confuse your business?
• What activities give you the most frustration?

The real key to organization is to know what it is you want to organize. Breaking down what you want to accomplish will allow you to focus on the goals you want to achieve. Putting your thoughts into writing is simply a way to organize the thoughts. Seeing it in black and white makes it all just a little less overwhelming, unless of course, your list gets lengthy! If the list is giving you heart palpitations, it is time to break the list up into small lists. This is actually a good thing. Dividing a list up means you have just taken a giant step towards organizing the chaos.

Step Two

Like all new adventures or any attempt at change, the road to organization has ups and downs, bumps and curves, and even a few icy patches that raise the hair on your neck! The second step to organization is to work with your natural thought patterns and processes rather than fight old habits. Creative people seldom recognize that their creativity is really a process. Creativity is grossly underrated by most. Creativity doesn’t just happen. Ideas don’t have any value unless someone notices and approves of the idea. The first person to “notice” the idea must be the idea creator. You! Pay close attention to how you come up with and utilize your creative thoughts, ideas, and designs. Find your own patterns, processes, steps, and organization. Don’t get organized by the book. Get organized by yourself.

An example that comes to mind for me is the fact that I rarely think alphabetical, but for me the organization of files is an easier process when placed into categories. I have over a hundred files of suppliers. I knew when I set up this file system for suppliers I would never remember the company names of all of them, however I could remember the categories of supplies that each provided. My supplier files are broken down into several categories: Current Suppliers, Hard Crafts and Soft Crafts. From these three categories I subcategorized the Hard and Soft Craft suppliers. Within Hard Craft are all the suppliers of Jewelry/Findings, Wood, Rubber Stamps, Brushes, and so on. Within Soft Craft are the suppliers of Fabric, Batting, and other soft craft supplies. The system works for me. I know where to find my suppliers without even blinking.

Step Three

Steps 1 and 2 will help you flow into step 3, which is as clear-cut and simple as any task you need to accomplish. Step 3: DO IT! No excuses, no delays, no putting it off until tomorrow. Just do it! Procrastination is the waste of time. Take a hard, long look at the tasks and jobs you put off. Is there a pattern? Is there a reason? Prioritize your work. Figure out what is most important. Figure out what timetable you must work within. Another key element of organization is scheduling your work. We tend to put off or procrastinate tasks or jobs that we dislike, cause discomfort, or we find boring. Yet, the worry that the job is not being completed causes more anxiety than the original task that needed to be accomplished.

When the steps to organization are applied to the Professional Crafter, the goal is to give the Professional Crafter a more effective and efficient work place. Don’t let the process of organization bewilder you. Look at making your work place more organized as an adventure. A creative trip to creating more time in your schedule and a more enjoyable work environment. One step at a time. One step closer to the perfect organizational being. As a matter of fact, as I flip thought my list notebook sitting here on my desk, I think I have a list for being perfect some where in it. Now, if I could only find it!

Five Ways To Be Organized in the Office:

1. Touch mail once. Read mail the same time each day. Choose one of the following options: 1. Act. 2. Record and File. 3. Pitch it!
2. Keep one calendar/schedule. Write everything down on the calendar as if happens. Start the day with a quick look at the current day and the next three days.
3. Use an answering machine. Return calls at a set time each day. Use voice mail and leave messages for clients/suppliers/customers.
4. Don’t allow your desk to become crowded or stacked. It is human nature to avoid confusion. Try to clear your desk each time you leave it. Every six months, remove all items, papers, catalogs, magazine, newsletters, etc. that you have not found useful.
5. If possible, computerize your office. This tool is amazing! Computer programs on the market today take half the work out of organizing billing, invoices, correspondence, and many everyday office tasks.

Five Ways To Be Organized In Your Studio/Manufacturing:

1. Schedule six months out and post all deadlines, due dates, and deliveries.
2. Clear work areas at the end of each day to the best of your ability. Return all tools and supplies to the same place each day. This is a great time to clean, oil, or maintain tools.
3. Break down a product/design into as many steps as possible. Work each step to the maximum, and then move on to the next step.
4. Keep a current list of supplies or materials that are low or need to be ordered within the next month so you don’t run out without notice.
5. Take breaks. Every 30 to 60 minutes, stand up and stretch or take a short walk. Refreshing your body and mind lead to clearer thought and more effective use of time. Use an answering machine when in production, interruptions break the rhythm of production.