Help! I need some organization

Hello, I have been busy working and been away for awhile. When walking into my home office the mail and papers had over whelmed me terribly. I found this article by AVERY Lables to help me organize my little office. As I know many of us could us some help and am passing this article on to you.

This article is sponsored by Avery Labels DIY Organization. Avery offers productive solutions for all of your mailing, shipping, filing and organization projects at home and at the office. Go now to enter the "What's Your Label?" sweepstakes for a chance to win your dream organizational makeover!

People are complicated creatures. Who knows how we end up with certain character traits? Sure, I know I have my mother's nose. I've been told I have my father's temperament (which I'm not sure is a good thing...) and when it comes to my taste in food? Well, Grandma taught me to love the spice.

But what about my organizational skills? Where does the blame fall? Are my organizational deficiencies a result of how I was raised? My mother would surely object! Perhaps it has to do with my DNA. Maybe I'm missing a special organizer-gene. What would that mean for my hopes of becoming an organization super-star? If the ability to organize is something you're either born with or without, I might be wasting a lot of energy.

Learning to Organize

The truth of the matter is this: While it may sometimes feel like organization is a skill we're not fundamentally wired for, it has little to do with DNA. It's a skill, like any other. One that must be learned, practiced and continuously honed. No matter how we were raised or how we've been living, we always have the ability to become more organized.

How? Well, that's the hard part. Here are a few simple steps even the most chronically disorganized person can take to get started in the right direction.

1. Make It a Priority

Most people who are not organized have never consciously made the decision to BE organized. They simply haven't seen it as a priority and that's fine - for some. However, if your lack of organization is bothering you or hindering your performance at work or at home, it's time to make a change. Becoming an organized person isn't something that happens without mental and physical effort. You may need to shift your priorities in order to have the available resources needed to fully engage in the task. Think about it, and - if you're really ready to become organized - make the decision.

2. Build Habits

Once you've decided that you're willing to commit yourself to this project, the work is just beginning. In fact, the work is never over. I know that's hard to hear but it's the truth. Getting organized and staying organized requires building habits into your daily routine. Create a structure that will help keep you on track. Remember, it's easier to keep up with a program by doing little bits on a daily basis than to slack off and play catch up later.

3. Dedicate Time

More than likely, you won't wake up one morning and "be organized". It doesn't just happen overnight. It takes persistence and time. Sometimes, it takes a very LONG time. Don't give up! Give yourself a year if that's what it takes. Maybe even two! Eventually, one day you will wake up and realize that you're much more organized than you've ever been.

4. Purchase the RIGHT Products

You can't build a skill without the right tools. Note - this doesn't mean you need every tool out there! Focus on products that help you solve a problem, and avoid those that just take up space. Choose quality items that will last. Remember that a little up-front investment will pay dividends in the future.

And we're not talking a huge investment here. In fact, one of the most effective organizational tools is also the most inexpensive: The simple - but powerful - Avery Label. Now, you may think of an Avery Label as a tool for mailing and shipping, but it's also much more. With a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, you can find Avery Labels to help organize almost any part of your home or office. Here are just a few ideas to help get you started:

• Use Avery Removable Label Pads to tag and color-code important paperwork in overflowing file folders or to call attention to specific passages on documents.
• Use Avery Easy Peel White Shipping Labels to clearly mark the contents of storage boxes or stick a personal message on a nicely wrapped gift.
• Use Avery Easy Peel Clear Address Labels to unobtrusively label anything from photos to office equipment.

5. Learn from the Experts

The best way to learn a new skill is to work with a coach. Trained professionals have access to all kinds of resources and information that the rest of us don't. Plus, a professional can give you feedback - let you know what you're doing well, and where you need to make improvements. You don't necessarily have to engage with a professional organizer one-on-one. You can learn from resources online, books, workshops and even TV shows.

Your first stop for expert advice should be the Avery Labels DIY Organization website. Jodie Watson, Founder and President of Supreme Organization and Organizing Expert from TLC's "Real Simple. Real Life." is working with Avery Dennison to provide everything you need to take control at home and at the office. You'll find articles, tips from experts, and helpful products and tools to assess your organizational skills, including access to personalized feedback from Jodie herself.

And, as an added bonus, when you take the DIY Organization personality quiz, you'll be automatically entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a $5000 organizational makeover at your office or home from Jodie Watson. The sweepstakes also features weekly prize drawings for shopping sprees with $500 AMEX gift cards and Avery prize packs featuring select products and gift cards.

Perhaps the "organizer-gene" does exist. Maybe some folks are just born to be excellent musicians as well. That doesn't mean the rest of us can't learn how to play piano. It might not be second nature - at first. But eventually, with the right help and a little discipline, we can definitely make progress!

Find out if organization is a part of your personality!! Visit the Avery Labels DIY Organization website today to take your free DIY organization personality quiz and be entered to win a $5000 organizational makeover at your home or office from organization expert Jodie Watson.