Taking Advantage

Must be in my filing system. Nope.

The desk? Nope.

Where could it be?

Frantically, I began searching for my Social Security Card. I could picture it, inside the front laminate of a three-ring binder. But where was the binder? Somewhere in my office, of course, but where? My sister had commandeered the room as hers while she moves from one state to another and looks for a job.

But I could not blame her mess. As an “organized person,” I should know where to find my binder.

It just goes to show that even those of us who are somewhat organized have moments of panic. My swift searching was not getting the job done, because I was rifling through things as a quick rate, like a bee nipping on flowers without stopping to smell.

I took a deep breath -- always the first step in a good, thorough search. And it happened. An organizing calm fell over me, and I decided that while I was looking, I should organize my filing. I recently left my old job, and I had a ridiculous amount of paper cluttering my cabinet, which could be recycled and/or shredded.

So I took advantage of the motivational moment, and took care of my mess – all within 20 minutes.

My Social Security Card was not there. But as I stood up from my piled papers, separated in groups on the floor, I looked around the room. And suddenly, I knew where to find my binder.

Right where I left it. In the other filing drawer.

Planning and scheduling time to organize is important, but as I learned, the sudden wave of inspiration can help you charge through the piles. Next time you’re looking for something, use that moment to get one stack of papers filed or recycled.