Studio Organizing, Week 2

Posted on January 11, 2016 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing Challenge

Did you get your paper under control last week?

I’m still finding a few strays, and I still have to make some sense of a lot of it, but I got most of it gathered up into 3 piles: one not-so-urgent, one sort-of-urgent, and one to take to the accountant. I’ll keep dealing with it as I work my way through the Paper Clutter Challenge. I’m doing pretty good with it so far!

And that has led me to the next task I need to address, so here’s what we’re doing this week:

Clean off computer files

I need to go through and get rid of files I’ll never use, back up files I think are important, and reorganize the ones I’m keeping.

I’m hoping to get a new computer sometime soon, so this way I’ll have it all cleaned up and be ready to transfer everything over.

This can definitely pertain not just to personal files, but to all the quilting stuff, as well, and to your email and social media sites.

Do you have PDF pattern files you need to organize?

Do you need to clean up your blog reader?

Clean out your email inbox?

Subscribe or unsubscribe to some lists to make your email easier to handle?

Back up important things?

Clean out your photos, organize them, and back them up?

It’s also a good idea to schedule a regular time to do this from here on out. I’m planning to check my backups and clean out files and folders at least once a week from now on. Someday, a lost file or a crashed computer just might make me thankful I did!

That’s our task this week. I need fresh backups, and clean, organized folders. It’ll feel really good to have that taken care of, don’t you think?

16 responses to “Studio Organizing, Week 2”

  1. Anne P says:

    The paper is still on the agenda – I have lots and lots of files to weed through – old bank statements, pay notices, credit card bills, telephone bills, gas and electric bills etc etc! I did manage to weed out lots of bank stuff – but now I need to get rid of it – shredding takes too much time, so it will be ‘stock piled’ for a dry Spring day when I can get to burn it in the garden with the spring prunings.

    Gosh yes I do need to sort and weed out my computer files. When I download files I sometimes just dump them on the PC desktop and then never get around to actually filing them – and then I have a hard time finding them again. My machine embroidery files are a mess as is my Vintage sewing stuff – I could go on, but I won’t. Thanks for the prompt!

  2. Pam in KC says:

    THe paper was in halfway decent shape as I had just dug through it looking for something about 2 weeks ago. It maybe an stack an inch thick to file 1/2 personal 1/2 quilting. Then I cleaned the front of the refrigerator. Now there’s a pile of receipts on my desk that have to be sorted through.

    As for the computer files…I ran out of disk space around Christmas! So, I spent a few days archiving my files – mostly photos – from the past 5 or 6 years. All I have on my main drive are last year’s photos – everything else is on the other drive. As for my blog, it was updated on the first, but I do have broken links which need fixing from when I moved to my current hosting solution. They’ve been under attack since yesterday morning and the blog (and email!) is down so it will be interesting to see what I need to do when I gain access again.

  3. With my enforced stay home, I’ve been doing this since after Thanksgiving – little by little.

  4. randy says:

    this is an excellent one!!!

  5. Judy Smith says:

    Those photo files..groan. They are a constant source of grief.

  6. Bec says:

    Yesterday, I cleared a pile of papers that sent most to the recycle bin. We, DH and me, just got home from an errand, I went through the mail immediately. Recycled a big load, placed a few pieces in the to shred box, have 3 catalogs to glance through and toss in the recycle bin within an hour.

    We won’t discuss the email to do list. Not going there! LOL!

  7. Meloney says:

    I am working on the one half a container verses 3+ containers, so I’m doing well.
    The computer is always difficult for me to do, but I will work on it this week.
    Duplicate photos are probably a must delete part.

  8. Kathy F says:

    Well I am in a real mess here. Trying to get all the stuff in my sewing room done. It just isn’t happening. I have so much to do it is beginning to overwhelm me.
    I have to put it all on hold for now. My daughter is way overdo to clean up the upstairs. All Christmas stuff and a lot of other stuff has her so overwhelmed she is tempted to open the window and throw it all out.
    I feel her pain, because I have to help her out. We have to get this all done before she goes to Boston for a special hip surgery. She is finally out of the cast on her arm. PHEW!
    So this week is dedicated to cleaning and
    organizing her rooms.
    And yes paperwork is a big part of it.

  9. Annmarie says:

    My paper is pretty much in order but those computer files? Yikes – it would take me a month just to clean up my pictures. Not to mention my Kindle & phone picture files. HELP!

  10. Liz says:

    I FINALLY finished my paper hoarding on Saturday! YAY!!!! I actually started late December.

    UGH…cleaning off computer files? OOOOKAY…I can do this! One good thing is I had over 6,000+ emails saved in my inbox. BUT I cleaned out my inbox on the first day of January.

    – Pictures is going to be HUGE chore. From reading the other posts, I am not the only one. (=

  11. Emma says:

    I got some papers that had been sitting around for me to take to work to shred taken care of early this week, so I think that counts for me! I’ve also been working on sorting through the papers on/under/around my nightstand and hubby is very glad that I’m working on it. 🙂

    As for computer files…I’m going to make my work email my goal for that one. I’ve been getting “your inbox is almost full” messages for months…

  12. Lori says:

    I had every intention of taking care of paper yesterday…but Monday struck. There’s more on the blog, but just know that my day did NOT go as planned!
    Fortunately, I am fairly organized with computer files so that won’t take long this week. I can spend the rest of the time working on the paper piles. I suspect the trash can will be pretty full when I get done!

  13. Ranch Wife says:

    I’m so afraid that if I sit in front of the computer and start organizing those files, I’ll be there for the rest of the year! I’ve got 10’s of thousands of photos! I have deleted unnecessary documents and downloads, but the photos are daunting. I know. Just 15 minutes a day, but I’m not very good at that. 🙂

  14. Finished up all the papers in my studio (rest of the house? just not going there.. lol).. anyway, Got to get started on the computer… just backed up all files a month ago… will pare down some and do a new backup this week. Needs to be done for sure.

  15. Liz says:

    I am happy to say, I am done cleaning computer and paper clutter!!! YAY…I have been trying to stay focus and on-track.

    Can’t wait to start Week-3

  16. Eileen says:

    Since I had taken care of most of the paper clutter in December, I moved on to the “blow up” the sewing room and declutter. (Sorry, but computer will have to wait!!) I have emptied, cleaned and painted the closet. Steam cleaned the carpet in there and tomorrow I begin moving things from the sewing room into the closet so I can begin painting the sewing room. Today I spent spackeling nicks and holes and some cracks along the wall/ceiling joints. These appeared after the new roof was put on!
    Love the new color, and how white the trim looks with a fresh paint coat. Did some organizing in the storage area. Gathering up a lot of garbage/donations.
    Still too much stuff! But when it’s done…. Oh I’m gonna love it!

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