It's not uncommon to send out dozens of emails each week requesting responses or information. Maybe you are emailing a client to find out if they are ready for service, you need a staff member to email you a document or you want to know where the next staff meeting will be held. Wouldn't it be great if every time you emailed someone they responded back within the hour with the information you needed? We all know it doesn't work that way. Keeping track of these responses can be difficult. With this trick, however, it can be a bit easier to make sure nothing falls through the cracks of responsibility.

Instead of keeping a big list, say in your dayplanner, of the items you need to follow-up on, once a week review your "Sent Items". The most important piece of this trick is to do it weekly, or it will turn into the "Sent Items" job that you'll never want to do!

It works like this, quickly skim each item in your sent file, and then take one of 3 actions:

(1) Delete it if you have received the response and info that you need.

(2) Send the email out again requesting the info, if it has been at least a few days;

(3) Keep it in your sent list and re-check next week.

As long as you keep cleaning up the Sent folder, deleting what has been resolved, you can quickly see what needs a follow-up.

1. Recognize your WHYS

Getting organized isn't new. It's not just about having more time or money. Essentially, it's about your purpose and intentions. It's about gaining an understanding of yourself, your environment and your life. Why do you want to get organized or clear clutter? What would you have room for if you cleared thoughts out of your mind that are no longer serving you?

2. Clear One Physical Space Every Day

Physical organizing, or movement, helps energize the thinking part of organizing. Begin each day by clearing one physical space (even if you just move the stuff). Then, step back and take it in. Enjoy the feeling of mental clarity, while not worrying about what to do with the stuff. If you can clear one small physical space then you can clear space anywhere, including your mind.

3. Free Your Mind

Think of your mind like a hard disk-it can only hold so much. We often keep thoughts that make us feel less then spectacular. Work through the piles of your mind, just as you do your desk. Getting your thoughts, feelings, memories and plans in order makes clearing the physical spaces much easier. Guaranteed!

4. Hone Your Decision Making Skills

Organizing is mostly about having clarity which enables you to make decisions swiftly. Our self-talk can inhibit this. The process of organizing becomes light and fast when you free your mind because your decision-making is crisp and clear. Become aware of what things are easiest for you to decide on, and then expand your base by easing into more challenging decisions.

5. Spend 15 Minutes Planning

Planning is the cornerstone to reaching goals. For every 5 minutes you spend planning, you save an hour of floundering. For each day, week, and months spend 15 minutes planning the day, week and month. Using a timer for this exercise will help you stay on track.