LiveWorld Transcripts

Houston Chronicle presents

Professional organizer LaNita Filer-Jones
How to organize every aspect of your life

June 5, 2000

Professional organizer, LaNita Filer-Jones, shares advice on how to organize every aspect of your life.

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HoustonChronicle: Welcome to Houston Chronicle LIVE! The information discussed today is provided for information purposes only. If professional services or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional organizer should be sought. Welcome to Get Organized. HoustonChronicle.com is proud to present a discussion with Professional Personal Organizer LaNita Filer-Jones. Welcome, LaNita Filer-Jones.

LaNita Filer-Jones: Thank you!

Hans: I am overwhelmed by clutter. What is the first step to becoming organized?

LaNita Filer-Jones: The first step is to decide that you want to do it! Then, once you do it, map out a game plan. Enlist the help of a buddy who can hold you accountable. Get some boxes and trash bags and label the boxes based on "throw away," "give away," and "put away." Make sure that you do throw away those things you say you will--don't change your mind! The box that's 'put away'--don't put them away just yet! You may get distracted and want to start working in that room on something else, and you'll never go back to what you started. If you get a timer, that helps, because you can give yourself a two-hour time frame to work, then take a break. Either continue, or start again tomorrow. Do it a little bit at a time, as much as you can take.

Abaca: I have a friend who does her organizing this way, if she hasn't used it in a year, out it goes, what do you think about this approach?

LaNita Filer-Jones: Very good! It holds you accountable.

Hunter: I get tons of email, phone mail, and junk mail. What is the best solution to putting an end to all these things that clutter up my day?

LaNita Filer-Jones: With the email, create folders on your desktop for your mail, just like a filing cabinet. Some files you might want are "Hot," "Pending," "Call," "Events," and "Calendar Entry." You can drag and drop those you want to keep into those categories. For phone mail, it's best to keep a carbonless, spiral-bound message pad next to your phone. That way, you can jot down those messages you want to keep and delete the rest. If you ever need to go back to them, you'll have a copy on the pad. You can keep the messages for a year or six months, and once you don't need it, you can toss it. Junk mail--you can contact the Direct Marketing Association to have you name removed from the lists. Also, when you're filling out things, especially online, check off the box that says you don't want you name sold to other companies. When you place a catalog order, there is usually a box you can check for this, as well.

Miss Q: Is organization/disorganization something you are born with?

LaNita Filer-Jones: I don't think so. It's a learned skill just like rollerblading or smoking. Good habits, bad habits--we learn them, we can unlearn them, just like organizing.

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