module two: review questions 1.what is one reason we do not remove our clutter? a)we make excuses...

Module Two: Review Questions

1. What is one reason we do not remove our clutter?

a) We make excusesb) We like how it looksc) We find it convenient for our stuffd) We wait for someone else to do it

2. What is one way we can “Just Do It” with our clutter?

a) Move it all to another roomb) Put it off for a better timec) Work on one area at a timed) Make someone else clean it up


3. Why do we commonly feel as though we need to keep something?

a) We like the colorb) We need it to keep it for a friendc) We want to donate it to someoned) We might need it later

4. In general, we only need about _______ of the items we keep.

a) Allb) Halfc) One quarterd) None


5. What is an advantage of the Three Box approach?

a) It is the fastest method of cleaningb) It can be done with a friendc) It forces a quick decisiond) It increases our charity donations

6. What is a disadvantage of the Three Box approach?

a) It can be time consumingb) It forces us to get rid of our stuffc) It can be boringd) It can be overwhelming


7. If items are not in a proper place, they can make the area seem _______________.

a) Friendlyb) Clutteredc) Invitingd) Eccentric

8. What is one suggestion when discovering a proper place for things?

a) Throw older items awayb) Stack items on top of each other to make roomc) Try to store everything in one roomd) Evaluate available storage spaces


9. From what room in the house was Stacy clearing clutter?

a) The children’s bedroomb) The garagec) The family dend) Her bedroom

10. What common approach did Stacy use to decide what to do with everything?

a) Out of sight, out of mindb) The Three Boxes approachc) Doing a clean sweepd) Nothing


1. What is one reason we do not remove our clutter?

a) We make excusesb) We like how it looksc) We find it convenient for our stuffd) We wait for someone else to do it

One of the main reasons we do not act on removing our clutter is that we make excuses and delay taking actions to correct the problem.

2. What is one way we can “Just Do It” with our clutter?

a) Move it all to another roomb) Put it off for a better timec) Work on one area at a timed) Make someone else clean it up

By working on one area at a time, we are actively attacking the clutter problem without letting it overwhelm us.


3. Why do we commonly feel as though we need to keep something?

a) We like the colorb) We need it to keep it for a friendc) We want to donate it to someoned) We might need it later

The most common reason we keep something and contribute to our clutter is because we think we will need it at a later time, and thus feel less reluctant to just let it go.

4. In general, we only need about _______ of the items we keep.

a) Allb) Halfc) One quarterd) None

Generally, we need about one half of the items or papers that we keep or tell ourselves we need to keep, which causes use to accumulate more clutter.


5. What is an advantage of the Three Box approach?

a) It is the fastest method of cleaningb) It can be done with a friendc) It forces a quick decisiond) It increases our charity donations

The Three Boxes approach forces us to make a quick decision about an item, which keeps us from dwelling on our ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ and focuses and what needs to be done.

6. What is a disadvantage of the Three Box approach?

a) It can be time consumingb) It forces us to get rid of our stuffc) It can be boringd) It can be overwhelming

The Three Boxes approach can take a lot of our free time to do since we have to stop and examine each object individually, depending on the amount of clutter we have to go through.

Module Two: Review Questions7. If items are not in a proper place, they can make the area seem _______________.

a) Friendlyb) Clutteredc) Invitingd) Eccentric

When we have stuff or items that have not been put in a proper place or stored correctly, they can make the area seem cluttered and disorganized. When we put these items away properly, it improves our organization.

8. What is one suggestion when discovering a proper place for things?

a) Throw older items awayb) Stack items on top of each other to make roomc) Try to store everything in one roomd) Evaluate available storage spaces

When finding a place for everything in our office, a good suggestion is to go through and evaluate the available storage space you have, including closets, shelves, etc. Once we know what area we have available to us, we can better assess where our things can belong.


9. From what room in the house was Stacy clearing clutter?

a) The children’s bedroomb) The garagec) The family dend) Her bedroom

Stacy decided to take time and clear clutter from her family den.

10. What common approach did Stacy use to decide what to do with everything?

a) Out of sight, out of mindb) The Three Boxes approachc) Doing a clean sweepd) Nothing

Stacy used the Three Boxes Approach while she was cleaning out the den and sorted items that she wanted to keep, to donate and to throw away.

Module Three: Review Questions

1. What is an advantage of writing things down to prioritize?a) It can be done on pretty paperb) It makes us focus on one thing at a timec) It can be done in groupsd) It makes it easier to prioritize tasks

2. Writing things down serves as a what?a) Chore listb) Quick referencec) Visual aided) Reminder system


3. How many boxes are used in the Urgent/Important Matrix?

a) Eightb) Threec) Fourd) Two

4. How does the Urgent/Important Matrix help us organize our time?

a) It allows us to see what needs to be done, and how quicklyb) It takes time out of our day from doing other things to create itc) It creates a chore list for us to followd) It helps us decide what is important and what is not


5. Why is it important to divide a large list of tasks into smaller groups?

a) It allows us to micromanage our lifeb) It makes our to-do list less overwhelmingc) So we don’t miss something we need to dod) To easily assign them to someone else

6. Which of the following is one example of how tasks can be divided?

a) Things to do at workb) Things to do this weekc) Things to do laterd) Things to do for the “Accounting” project


7. What is the purpose of the 80/20 Rule?

a) It makes us organize our time by focusing on the important 20% of thingsb) It tells us the way to clean each roomc) It makes us organize our time by focusing on the important 80% of thingd) It helps us decide how we want to categorize our to-do list

8. Which if the following is something that can be divided by the 80/20 Rule?

a) The number of folders to be filed awayb) Organizing the new storage closetc) The number of emails in your inboxd) The list of daily tasks/projects


9. What was one of the first things Joseph did to prioritize his projects?

a) Divided his tasks by priorityb) Decided which ones to postpone until laterc) Made a list of everything he wanted to dod) Divided his tasks by areas of the office

10. How did Joseph decide to divide his tasks?

a) By the different projects he was working onb) By how much time it would takec) He did not divide his tasksd) By the size of job


1. What is an advantage of writing things down to prioritize?a) It can be done on pretty paperb) It makes us focus on one thing at a timec) It can be done in groupsd) It makes it easier to prioritize tasks

One advantage of writing things down is that it helps us organize and prioritize a list of things, such as tasks or projects, by allowing us to see the whole picture of what needs to be done.

2. Writing things down serves as a what?a) Chore listb) Quick referencec) Visual aided) Reminder system

Writing things down creates a visual aide for us to use while sorting through things. While we most commonly use lists, we can also create tables and graphs with the information.


3. How many boxes are used in the Urgent/Important Matrix?

a) Eightb) Threec) Fourd) Two

The matrix uses four boxes, or quadrants to help plot activities and tasks.

4. How does the Urgent/Important Matrix help us organize our time?

a) It allows us to see what needs to be done, and how quicklyb) It takes time out of our day from doing other things to create itc) It creates a chore list for us to followd) It helps us decide what is important and what is not

The Urgent/Important Matrix allows us to see a range of jobs that need to be done in a period of time and helps us determine how quickly or urgently we should accomplish them.


5. Why is it important to divide a large list of tasks into smaller groups?

a) It allows us to micromanage our lifeb) It makes our to-do list less overwhelmingc) So we don’t miss something we need to dod) To easily assign them to someone else

When we create a to-do list, the long list of projects and tasks that needs to be done can seem overwhelming to us, which can scare us away from starting on them. By dividing the big list into smaller groups, the whole thing can seem more do-able, and a lot less scary.

6. Which of the following is one example of how tasks can be divided?

a) Things to do at workb) Things to do this weekc) Things to do laterd) Things to do for the “Accounting” project

Making a list of things that needs to be done only for the “Accounting” project is one way of dividing duties into smaller, do-able groups. It targets a specific area and groups of tasks.


7. What is the purpose of the 80/20 Rule?

a) It makes us organize our time by focusing on the important 20% of thingsb) It tells us the way to clean each roomc) It makes us organize our time by focusing on the important 80% of thingd) It helps us decide how we want to categorize our to-do list

The 80/20 Rule is used while organizing and prioritizing our time. It forces us to focus on the more important 20% of things while not allowing the other 80% to run our lives.

8. Which if the following is something that can be divided by the 80/20 Rule?

a) The number of folders to be filed awayb) Organizing the new storage closetc) The number of emails in your inboxd) The list of daily tasks/projects

Your daily tasks and projects can be divided by the 80/20 Rule since you can determine a number of the tasks or jobs that are the most important to do (20%) and then the remaining things to do will follow (80%).


9. What was one of the first things Joseph did to prioritize his projects?

a) Divided his tasks by priorityb) Decided which ones to postpone until laterc) Made a list of everything he wanted to dod) Divided his tasks by areas of the office

Before Joseph did anything else, he sat down and made a list of everything he wanted to do or accomplish so he could have a visual aide.

10. How did Joseph decide to divide his tasks?

a) By the different projects he was working onb) By how much time it would takec) He did not divide his tasksd) By the size of job

Joseph decided he could best perform his jobs if he divided them by the different projects he was working on and what needed to be done in each one.

Module Four: Review Questions

1. What is the main advantage of having only one calendar to schedule your time?

a) We can get it in different colorsb) It can easily be replaced if lostc) It can go anywhere in the housed) It helps prevent double booking or missed dates

2. Using a master calendar helps by get better organized by helping us to what?

a) Improve our handwriting skillsb) Reduce paper reminders and notesc) Increases our portabilityd) Reduces our need for different color ink pens


3. Setting deadlines for ourselves gives us what?

a) A sense of accountabilityb) A problem to solvec) A sense of powerd) A headache

4. What is one useful tip when setting a deadline?

a) Use ink, not pencilb) Post sticky notes around the office to remind youc) Pad your deadline with extra timed) Write it down and forget it


5. What is a benefit of removing or limiting time wasters?

a) It helps improve concentrationb) It clears up your schedulec) It makes everyone else leave you aloned) It makes room to take a nap

6. Which of the following is considered a time waster?

a) Writing on your weekly calendarb) Checking email messagesc) Checking references for an assignmentd) Verifying client information


7. Which of the following is a circumstance we cannot control?

a) Changing what you wear to workb) Taking a different route to the storec) Checking text messages while in a meetingd) Seeing a snow blizzard blow in

8. What is one way we can cope with something we cannot control?

a) Eat a pint of ice creamb) Try to find a way to control itc) Control how we react to itd) Give up and do something else


9. What project was Kerstin working on?

a) Her reportb) Organizing her deskc) Cleaning her Email Inboxd) A presentation for school

10. What did Kerstin realize was keeping her from finishing her project?

a) She wanted to do other thingsb) She didn’t understand the assignmentc) She ran out of suppliesd) She had too many distractions


1. What is the main advantage of having only one calendar to schedule your time?

a) We can get it in different colorsb) It can easily be replaced if lostc) It can go anywhere in the housed) It helps prevent double booking or missed dates

When we use only one calendar, we are able to see and manage our various reminders at one time. This way we reduce the over double booking something or missing an important date.

2. Using a master calendar helps by get better organized by helping us to what?

a) Improve our handwriting skillsb) Reduce paper reminders and notesc) Increases our portabilityd) Reduces our need for different color ink pens

When we write all of our important reminders on a master calendar, we reduce the need for paper reminders, such as sticky notes and invitations, and become better organized.


3. Setting deadlines for ourselves gives us what?

a) A sense of accountabilityb) A problem to solvec) A sense of powerd) A headache

By setting deadlines for what we want/need to do, we are making ourselves accountable for our actions and for completing the task on time.

4. What is one useful tip when setting a deadline?

a) Use ink, not pencilb) Post sticky notes around the office to remind youc) Pad your deadline with extra timed) Write it down and forget it

When you are setting a deadline for something, give yourself some ‘wiggle room’. When you set the actual deadline, set another deadline sometime before it to aim for. This way, you are prepared for anything that might go wrong or pop up at the last minute.


5. What is a benefit of removing or limiting time wasters?

a) It helps improve concentrationb) It clears up your schedulec) It makes everyone else leave you aloned) It makes room to take a nap

When we limit things that can distract us or waste our time, we improve our concentration skills and are able to focus more on the things we want or need to do.

6. Which of the following is considered a time waster?

a) Writing on your weekly calendarb) Checking email messagesc) Checking references for an assignmentd) Verifying client information

Checking your email is considered a time waster since it distracts us from the task we were doing at the time. Limit how often you check your messages and, if not work related, wait to check them until you are through with your task.


7. Which of the following is a circumstance we cannot control?

a) Changing what you wear to workb) Taking a different route to the storec) Checking text messages while in a meetingd) Seeing a snow blizzard blow in

Weather situations, such as storms and blizzards, are considered circumstances we cannot control. We can only adapt to them and change how we handle them.

8. What is one way we can cope with something we cannot control?

a) Eat a pint of ice creamb) Try to find a way to control itc) Control how we react to itd) Give up and do something else

When we face something we cannot control, one way to cope with it is to change how you react to it. When bad weather hits or you encounter a rude person, know that you are in control of how you react to them and that they cannot affect you unless you let them.


9. What project was Kerstin working on?

a) Her reportb) Organizing her deskc) Cleaning her Email Inboxd) A presentation for school

Kerstin was trying to finish her report before the deadline.

10. What did Kerstin realize was keeping her from finishing her project?

a) She wanted to do other thingsb) She didn’t understand the assignmentc) She ran out of suppliesd) She had too many distractions

Kerstin realized that everyday distractions, such as her cell phone and being around other people, were affecting how she focused on her task. Only when she removed these distractions did she realize that she could work much better.

Module Five: Review Questions

1. What is an advantage for using a day planner?

a) They come in different colorsb) It’s portable to keep on handc) They are too big to lose somewhered) It can stay in one place at all times

2. The key to keeping an efficient day planner is to what?

a) Use black or blue inkb) Keep it in one placec) Use it only for workd) Update it regularly


3. When we finish what we start we have a sense of what?

a) Accomplishmentb) Disbeliefc) Sorrowd) Humor

4. If we do not finish something that we have started, it can leave us feeling what?

a) Happyb) Relievedc) Depressedd) Bored


5. Why is it important to focus on the important tasks first?

a) We could waste time on useless tasksb) We can lose sight of the big picturec) We can get bored with other thingsd) We can feel overwhelmed with everything

6. How can you help yourself focus on what is important?

a) Try to do everything at onceb) Set a timer every morningc) Write multiple to do listsd) Divide tasks to focus on first


7. What is the benefit of doing quick tasks right away?

a) It allows more time and concentration for other tasksb) It gives us an excuse to take a break afterwardc) It clears up more of our scheduled) It gives up more room to add more chores

8. When tasks are done right away, they can what?

a) Make us want to do other thingsb) Be added to another list laterc) Make us more tiredd) Be crossed off of your list sooner


9. How did David know that his time was not properly managed?

a) He could not find his car keysb) He had missed several appointments recentlyc) He was late to work several days in a weekd) He had lost his recent receipts

10. What was one thing David decided to do to become better organized?

a) He cleaned out his home officeb) He changed his schedule at workc) He bought a day plannerd) He took a vacation


1. What is an advantage for using a day planner?

a) They come in different colorsb) It’s portable to keep on handc) They are too big to lose somewhered) It can stay in one place at all times

One advantage of day planners is that they are portable and are easy to keep with you at all times to reference and update.

2. The key to keeping an efficient day planner is to what?

a) Use black or blue inkb) Keep it in one placec) Use it only for workd) Update it regularly

The key to keeping and efficient and useful day planner is to make sure it is updated regularly and referenced often.


3. When we finish what we start we have a sense of what?

a) Accomplishmentb) Disbeliefc) Sorrowd) Humor

When we complete something that we have started to work on, it gives us a sense of accomplishment and makes us feel great about ourselves.

4. If we do not finish something that we have started, it can leave us feeling what?

a) Happyb) Relievedc) Depressedd) Bored

When we fail to complete something that we have started, it can leave us feeling depressed or saddened. When something isn’t finished, it can make us feel as though we’ve quit and not able to pick it up again to finish it.


5. Why is it important to focus on the important tasks first?

a) We could waste time on useless tasksb) We can lose sight of the big picturec) We can get bored with other thingsd) We can feel overwhelmed with everything

When we have long to-do lists, the endless amount of projects and tasks can make us lose sight of the bigger picture and ultimate goal. But by focusing on the things that are most important first, we are concentrating on what will help us reach our goal the most.

6. How can you help yourself focus on what is important?

a) Try to do everything at onceb) Set a timer every morningc) Write multiple to do listsd) Divide tasks to focus on first

Sometimes when we have a long list of things to do, we don’t know where to start or what to focus on. So limit yourself to a few tasks on your list and focus on them first.


7. What is the benefit of doing quick tasks right away?

a) It allows more time and concentration for other tasksb) It gives us an excuse to take a break afterwardc) It clears up more of our scheduled) It gives up more room to add more chores

When reviewing a long list of things to do, doing the things that can be done quicker than others gets the task over and done with sooner. This allows for more time and concentration to go to other, more lengthy tasks.

8. When tasks are done right away, they can what?

a) Make us want to do other thingsb) Be added to another list laterc) Make us more tiredd) Be crossed off of your list sooner

When simpler, quicker tasks are done right away, they can be crossed off of your long list sooner, which can give you a sense of accomplishment.


9. How did David know that his time was not properly managed?

a) He could not find his car keysb) He had missed several appointments recentlyc) He was late to work several days in a weekd) He had lost his recent receipts

David realized he was not very organized when he noticed he had missed several appointments and meetings lately. He also noticed he had not completed a number of projects that he intended to do.

10. What was one thing David decided to do to become better organized?

a) He cleaned out his home officeb) He changed his schedule at workc) He bought a day plannerd) He took a vacation

One of the first things David did to become better organized is buy a day planner to keep track of his schedule and appointments.

Module Six: Review Questions

1. What is one advantage of keeping a physical paper storage system?

a) You can keep them in pretty colored foldersb) You have a hard copy reference at all timesc) You can put them in any room in the housed) You have everything you would ever need

2. What is an advantage of a paperless storage system?a) Anyone can have access to itb) It can be moved again and againc) It takes up less physical spaced) You can change it back if you don’t like it


3. Why is it important to keep a filing system consistent?

a) Files/folders can be misplaced or lostb) It can confuse other peoplec) You might use the same name twiced) You have to make sure you have enough color tabs

4. Keeping your storage and filing methods consistent should ________ your organization.

a) Complicateb) Changec) Lengthend) Improve


5. What is one way to keep files time sensitive?

a) Keep numerous piles and stacksb) Throw anything away that is not currentc) Label bins and folders with dates and timesd) Check everything periodically to double check the dates

6. In order to file time sensitive information, what piece of information is most important?

a) Date or time on the documentb) Who the document is addressed toc) Where the document came fromd) Where the document needs to be filed


7. What is one benefit of archiving files and folders?

a) It clears up space in the filing cabinetb) It allows you to keep files for long periods of timec) It can decrease available space on your computerd) It allows you to micromanage your files

8. When archiving files and folders, it is important to do what with them?

a) Keep them in alphabetical orderb) Make them color codedc) Keep them in a separate location than your everyday filesd) Designate who should take care of them


9. What important document did Rhonda decide to keep in paper storage?

a) Her business invoicesb) Her business lunch invitationsc) Her business expense receiptsd) Her manuals

10. Where did Rhonda decide to keep her archived paper storage items?

a) In the bottom of her filing cabinetb) In her top desk drawerc) In an outside storage unitd) In a safe at work

Module Six: Review Questions1. What is one advantage of keeping a physical paper storage system?

a) You can keep them in pretty colored foldersb) You have a hard copy reference at all timesc) You can put them in any room in the housed) You have everything you would ever need

If you keep a physical paper storage system, you have access to your important documents at all times and can provide a hard copy to someone if needed (such as for verification, personal file copies, etc.).

2. What is an advantage of a paperless storage system?a) Anyone can have access to itb) It can be moved again and againc) It takes up less physical spaced) You can change it back if you don’t like it

When you use a paperless storage system, you are able to scan or transfer documents into a digital file and keep on an electronic device, such as a computer. This system allows you to free up more physical space in your area since you would no longer require to physically keep the document.


3. Why is it important to keep a filing system consistent?

a) Files/folders can be misplaced or lostb) It can confuse other peoplec) You might use the same name twiced) You have to make sure you have enough color tabs

Whether in a paper or paperless system, if the filing method and names are not consistent, there is a good chance documents and files can be placed in the wrong location or lost altogether.

4. Keeping your storage and filing methods consistent should ________ your organization.

a) Complicateb) Changec) Lengthend) Improve

When you keep your storage systems and filing methods consistent, it improves your organization and streamlines your file access.


5. What is one way to keep files time sensitive?

a) Keep numerous piles and stacksb) Throw anything away that is not currentc) Label bins and folders with dates and timesd) Check everything periodically to double check the dates

Labeling bins and folders with dates and times allows us to keep the filing system time sensitive and makes it easier to track deadlines and due dates.

6. In order to file time sensitive information, what piece of information is most important?

a) Date or time on the documentb) Who the document is addressed toc) Where the document came fromd) Where the document needs to be filed

The date or time that is on a document is the most important piece of information when filing in a time sensitive system.

Module Six: Review Questions7. What is one benefit of archiving files and folders?

a) It clears up space in the filing cabinetb) It allows you to keep files for long periods of timec) It can decrease available space on your computerd) It allows you to micromanage your files

One benefit of archiving your files is that it allows you to keep less important documents for a long period of time in a designated spot, so that although it is put away, you can still have clear access to it.

8. When archiving files and folders, it is important to do what with them?

a) Keep them in alphabetical orderb) Make them color codedc) Keep them in a separate location than your everyday filesd) Designate who should take care of them

When setting up archives for your files and folders, it is important to keep these files in a separate location than your everyday files. Archived files do not have to be accessed every day; therefore they should be put away, out of sight, until they are needed.


9. What important document did Rhonda decide to keep in paper storage?

a) Her business invoicesb) Her business lunch invitationsc) Her business expense receiptsd) Her manuals

Rhonda decided to keep many of her important documents, such as her manuals (employee and policy and procedure), in her paper storage system rather than transferring them to a digital file.

10. Where did Rhonda decide to keep her archived paper storage items?

a) In the bottom of her filing cabinetb) In her top desk drawerc) In an outside storage unitd) In a safe at work

Rhonda designated the bottom drawer of her filing cabinet for her archive paper storage system so that she can access them any time while keeping them out of her direct way.

Module Seven: Review Questions

1. What is the benefit of keeping your items within arm’s reach?

a) Waste less time getting up to get somethingb) Makes it feel really convenientc) Allows us to stay in one place at all timesd) Ensures we don’t lose anything

2. What is a consequence of having to leave our desk to look for supplies?

a) We can get bored with our current projectb) It makes us more tiredc) We can lose focus of the assignmentd) It allows us to take extra breaks


3. Why should we only have current projects on our desks?a) It helps keep the desk cleanb) Having future projects can make us feel overwhelmedc) It makes us stay on scheduled) Having other projects can cause confusion

4. Projects you have finished should ________ instead of remaining on the desk.

a) Be filed awayb) Be thrown outc) Be framed on the walld) Be redone by someone else


5. Desk drawers should house what kind of items?

a) Items we never useb) Items we use frequently, but not every dayc) Items we use every dayd) Items we may never use, but keep just in case

6. What is a benefit of rearranging our drawers in our office?

a) Allows us to move things aroundb) Increases the amount of time looking for thingsc) Makes everything look prettyd) Reduces the amount of time wasted throughout the day


7. What is one step of organizing your work space to your workflow?

a) Emptying your trash can at the end of the dayb) Decide what you want to work on for the dayc) Determine what tools you will need for the day/time periodd) Sorting through your emails when you get to the office

8. When we organize to match our workflow, we increase what?

a) Productivityb) Accountabilityc) Fatigued) Boredom


9. What type of project was Aaron’s assigned to work on?

a) A marketing campaignb) Designing a new business flyerc) Changing the name of the companyd) A company slideshow

10. What was the first thing Aaron did to organize his work space?

a) He rearranged all of his desk and cabinet drawersb) Removed all other projects from his deskc) He turned off his computerd) He moved other items into his reach


1. What is the benefit of keeping your items within arm’s reach?

a) Waste less time getting up to get somethingb) Makes it feel really convenientc) Allows us to stay in one place at all timesd) Ensures we don’t lose anything

When we set up everything we will need for a project or assignment within our arm’s reach, we reduce the waste of time it takes to get up and go find something else we needed.

2. What is a consequence of having to leave our desk to look for supplies?

a) We can get bored with our current projectb) It makes us more tiredc) We can lose focus of the assignmentd) It allows us to take extra breaks

When we leave our desk in the middle of working on an assignment or project to go look for something, we can lose focus of the project and reduce our productivity.


3. Why should we only have current projects on our desks?

a) It helps keep the desk cleanb) Having future projects can make us feel overwhelmedc) It makes us stay on scheduled) Having other projects can cause confusion

If we leave past or future projects on our desk with our current projects, we can become confused as to which projects we are supposed to be working and which ones we have already done.

4. Projects you have finished should ________ instead of remaining on the desk.

a) Be filed awayb) Be thrown outc) Be framed on the walld) Be redone by someone else

Projects that have been finished should be filed away in the appropriate place to ensure they do not interfere with your current assignments.


5. Desk drawers should house what kind of items?

a) Items we never useb) Items we use frequently, but not every dayc) Items we use every dayd) Items we may never use, but keep just in case

Items in our desk drawers are usually within arm’s reach, so they should house items that we use often, but will not necessarily need every day.

6. What is a benefit of rearranging our drawers in our office?

a) Allows us to move things aroundb) Increases the amount of time looking for thingsc) Makes everything look prettyd) Reduces the amount of time wasted throughout the day

When we rearrange our various drawers in the office, we’re able to locate and use items and supplies faster and easier, which reduces time wasted to stop and look for things.


7. What is one step of organizing your work space to your workflow?

a) Emptying your trash can at the end of the dayb) Decide what you want to work on for the dayc) Determine what tools you will need for the day/time periodd) Sorting through your emails when you get to the office

One of the first steps to organize with your workflow is to determine what items and supplies you will need for the day or extended time period. Then you can organize what you will need to better suit your workflow.

8. When we organize to match our workflow, we increase what?

a) Productivityb) Accountabilityc) Fatigued) Boredom

When we organize ourselves and our work space to match our work flow, we increase our productivity by wasting less time searching and hunting for things we might need.


9. What type of project was Aaron’s assigned to work on?

a) A marketing campaignb) Designing a new business flyerc) Changing the name of the companyd) A company slideshow

Aaron was assigned to work on a company slideshow presentation.

10. What was the first thing Aaron did to organize his work space?

a) He rearranged all of his desk and cabinet drawersb) Removed all other projects from his deskc) He turned off his computerd) He moved other items into his reach

Before Aaron did anything else, he removed any non-current projects from his desk and work area since he knew he would not need to work on them for a while.

Module Eight: Review Questions

1. What is the purpose of the “Eat That Frog” concept?

a) Eat more exotic cuisinesb) Grin and bear it when doing our to-do listc) Complete your least favorite task firstd) Act like a frog while organizing

2. How does completing our least favorite task first benefit us?

a) It gives us an excuse to take a breakb) Makes us feel empowered by finishing a task we dreadc) It entitles us to a rewardd) Makes us feel more fatigued


3. When is the best time to remove distractions?

a) Before we begin a task or projectb) After you’ve collected your suppliesc) When you begin your task or projectd) After you’ve completed the task or project

4. Which of the following is considered a distraction?

a) Verifying your sources for your articleb) Spell checking your document when you’re finishedc) Taking a break to get a snackd) Checking your Facebook status


5. Rewards should be given only for work that has been ________________.

a) Plannedb) Startedc) Completedd) Promised for another day

6. Giving ourselves rewards is meant to make us feel more ________________.

a) Boredb) Motivatedc) Laughabled) Agitated


7. By breaking large tasks into smaller ones, it makes us feel less _____________.

a) Overwhelmedb) Happyc) Excitedd) Inspired

8. What is an advantage of breaking large tasks into smaller ones?

a) It gives us more breaksb) It makes these tasks seem bigger than they arec) It gives us more rewardsd) It makes these tasks more manageable


9. What room did April decide to clean out on her day off?

a) Her atticb) The garagec) Her bedroomd) The kitchen

10. What task did April dread doing, but completed first on her list?

a) Cleaning out the trash itemsb) Moving boxesc) Sweeping and dusting the atticd) Cleaning the windows


1. What is the purpose of the “Eat That Frog” concept?

a) Eat more exotic cuisinesb) Grin and bear it when doing our to-do listc) Complete your least favorite task firstd) Act like a frog while organizing

“Eat That Frog” is a concept that says to do your least favorite task or job first before starting anything else so that we can get the task over and done without so it doesn’t have to ruin our day.

2. How does completing our least favorite task first benefit us?

a) It gives us an excuse to take a breakb) Makes us feel empowered by finishing a task we dreadc) It entitles us to a rewardd) Makes us feel more fatigued

By finishing the task on our to-do list that we dread the most first, we feel empowered to finish the rest of our chores knowing we don’t have to return to it later.


3. When is the best time to remove distractions?

a) Before we begin a task or projectb) After you’ve collected your suppliesc) When you begin your task or projectd) After you’ve completed the task or project

Removing distractions before you begin your project or activity will reduce wasted time and increase your focus and productivity.

4. Which of the following is considered a distraction?

a) Verifying your sources for your articleb) Spell checking your document when you’re finishedc) Taking a break to get a snackd) Checking your Facebook status

Stopping to check social network sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, is considered a distraction because it makes you take your focus away from the task at hand.


5. Rewards should be given only for work that has been ________________.

a) Plannedb) Startedc) Completedd) Promised for another day

Rewards should only be given for work that has been completed, not promised, or planned. If rewards are given for work that hasn’t been done, it reinforces negative behavior habits.

6. Giving ourselves rewards is meant to make us feel more ________________.

a) Boredb) Motivatedc) Laughabled) Agitated

Rewards are meant to make ourselves feel more motivated and encourage us to keep going and keep succeeding.


7. By breaking large tasks into smaller ones, it makes us feel less _____________.

a) Overwhelmedb) Happyc) Excitedd) Inspired

When we take large tasks and break them into smaller, more do-able tasks, they seem less overwhelming.

8. What is an advantage of breaking large tasks into smaller ones?

a) It gives us more breaksb) It makes these tasks seem bigger than they arec) It gives us more rewardsd) It makes these tasks more manageable

Big tasks can seem like too much at one time, so if we divide them into smaller tasks, it makes them more manageable and less frightening.


9. What room did April decide to clean out on her day off?

a) Her atticb) The garagec) Her bedroomd) The kitchen

April decided to use her day off to clean out and reorganize her attic.

10. What task did April dread doing, but completed first on her list?

a) Cleaning out the trash itemsb) Moving boxesc) Sweeping and dusting the atticd) Cleaning the windows

April’s least favorite chore was to dust and sweep the entire attic, but she completed it first to get it over with and cross it off of her to do list.

Module Nine: Review Questions

1. What is one example of an email delivery rule?

a) Having emails from a coworker placed in a separate folderb) Emptying the email trashcanc) Setting up an automatic signatured) Manually moving folders to a different location

2. What is one benefit of setting up delivery rules in our email?

a) It makes our inbox look prettyb) It reminds us of our to-do listc) It allows us to move emails manuallyd) It automatically sorts our email by our criteria


3. If we did not establish a message hierarchy, our emails could be what?

a) Sorted betterb) Moved manuallyc) Lost or overlookedd) Color coded

4. What is one benefit of having folder and email hierarchy?

a) It moves emails for usb) It allows us to sort urgent and non-urgent emailsc) It deletes emails for usd) It helps us use better grammar in our emails


5. What is the appropriate action to take after reading an email in your inbox?

a) Leave it to read laterb) Wait for the system to automatically delete itc) File into the appropriate folderd) Nothing

6. Your email inbox should not be used for ___________a) Meeting remindersb) Correspondencec) To-do listsd) Storage


7. What is one way flags can be used on our emails?

a) Flag meeting reminder messagesb) Change the urgency of an emailc) Flag emails that have been deletedd) Change where the email is filed to

8. What is one way highlights can be used on our emails?

a) Highlight which emails have been responded tob) Highlight which emails have been movedc) Highlight emails that have been deletedd) Highlight emails from particular senders


9. What is the first thing Gina did to help organize her inbox?

a) Created folders and subfoldersb) Highlighted all the messages from her bossc) Deleted emails that were not importantd) Flagged all emails pertaining to her assignments

10. How did Gina decide to organize her assignments and project emails?

a) Had them redirected to the To-Do folderb) Label them with a red flagc) Left them in her inboxd) Highlighted them with a yellow label


1. What is one example of an email delivery rule?

a) Having emails from a coworker placed in a separate folderb) Emptying the email trashcanc) Setting up an automatic signatured) Manually moving folders to a different location

Having emails from a certain coworker placed in a separate email folder is an example of setting up a delivery rule because it makes a special rule for specific emails.

2. What is one benefit of setting up delivery rules in our email?

a) It makes our inbox look prettyb) It reminds us of our to-do listc) It allows us to move emails manuallyd) It automatically sorts our email by our criteria

One benefit of setting up email delivery rules is that it can automatically sort emails by a criteria that you set up, which can help make organizing your inbox easier.


3. If we did not establish a message hierarchy, our emails could be what?

a) Sorted betterb) Moved manuallyc) Lost or overlookedd) Color coded

Establishing an email hierarchy can help us prevent important email from being overlooked, deleted or lost since it makes these emails appear at the top of our reading list.

4. What is one benefit of having folder and email hierarchy?

a) It moves emails for usb) It allows us to sort urgent and non-urgent emailsc) It deletes emails for usd) It helps us use better grammar in our emails

One benefit of establishing folder and email hierarchy is that it will display important and urgent message separately and alert us to read them first.


5. What is the appropriate action to take after reading an email in your inbox?

a) Leave it to read laterb) Wait for the system to automatically delete itc) File into the appropriate folderd) Nothing

After you have read an email, do not let it ‘sit’ in your inbox. File it to the appropriate folder or delete it if it is no longer needed.

6. Your email inbox should not be used for ___________

a) Meeting remindersb) Correspondencec) To-do listsd) Storage

Your email inbox is not meant to be used for email storage. Emails should be filed to the appropriate folders after they are read to ensure your inbox stays clear.


7. What is one way flags can be used on our emails?

a) Flag meeting reminder messagesb) Change the urgency of an emailc) Flag emails that have been deletedd) Change where the email is filed to

Flags can be assigned to important event/reminders that you don’t want to forget about, such as meeting, deadlines, or interviews.

8. What is one way highlights can be used on our emails?

a) Highlight which emails have been responded tob) Highlight which emails have been movedc) Highlight emails that have been deletedd) Highlight emails from particular senders

Highlights can be used to add a highlight color to emails that arrive from a particular sender, such as a boss/manager or a friend.


9. What is the first thing Gina did to help organize her inbox?

a) Created folders and subfoldersb) Highlighted all the messages from her bossc) Deleted emails that were not importantd) Flagged all emails pertaining to her assignments

Before she could organize her inbox, Gina created several folder and subfolders to help sort and arrange various emails and messages.

10. How did Gina decide to organize her assignments and project emails?

a) Had them redirected to the To-Do folderb) Label them with a red flagc) Left them in her inboxd) Highlighted them with a yellow label

Gina decided to sort and organize her email regarding assignments and or projects with by labeling them with a red flag.

Module Ten: Review Questions

1. How does trying to keep everything make us more disorganized?

a) We have to keep track of it allb) It confuses us about what we actually havec) It contributes to clutterd) We have to organize it all

2. What is a common reason people try to keep everything?

a) They are collectorsb) They think they will need it laterc) They donate to othersd) They say it was a gift


3. Being consistent helps us do what?

a) Contribute to clutterb) Find our missing keysc) Feel more energizedd) Build good organization habits

4. It is easier to do what when we are not consistent?

a) Procrastinateb) Get things donec) Feel boredd) Relax


5. Following a schedule provides a sense of what?

a) Urgencyb) Humorc) Structured) Balance

6. A schedule is easier to follow if it is ___________.

a) Funb) Flexiblec) In big printd) Colorful


7. Which of the following is an example of a bad habit?

a) Sorting through the mail when it arrivesb) Throwing out extra clutterc) Not putting away hard copy when you have finished reading themd) Donating your surplus of supplies

8. Bad habits can be changed with the help of what?

a) Small, incremental changesb) Talking to someone about itc) Quitting cold turkeyd) A 12 step program


9. What did Charles admit to doing that contributes to his disorganization?

a) Throwing out all of his mailb) Not sticking to an organization routinec) Storing things in an external filing cabinetd) Over-scheduling his time

10. What was one thing that Roberta suspected Charles was doing that made his disorganized?

a) Failed to stick to a scheduleb) He hadn’t organized his email inboxc) Tried to keep everythingd) He hadn’t sorted through his mail


1. How does trying to keep everything make us more disorganized?

a) We have to keep track of it allb) It confuses us about what we actually havec) It contributes to clutterd) We have to organize it all

When we try to keep everything and throw nothing away, it only makes more clutter that you will need to go through at a later time.

2. What is a common reason people try to keep everything?

a) They are collectorsb) They think they will need it laterc) They donate to othersd) They say it was a gift

A common reason people try to keep everything and resist throwing things away is that they feel they will need it at a later time and feel as though they will have to keep it until they do.


3. Being consistent helps us do what?

a) Contribute to clutterb) Find our missing keysc) Feel more energizedd) Build good organization habits

When we are consistent with our organizational system, we continue to build good organization skills that will stick with us.

4. It is easier to do what when we are not consistent?

a) Procrastinateb) Get things donec) Feel boredd) Relax

When we are inconsistent with our organization system, it makes it much easier to lose focus on the goal and begin to procrastinate. When we procrastinate, it becomes much harder to keep up our organization habits.


5. Following a schedule provides a sense of what?

a) Urgencyb) Humorc) Structured) Balance

Following a schedule provides us with a sense of structure when it comes to getting things done. Since schedules can be customized, we can easily make them work with our priorities and needs.

6. A schedule is easier to follow if it is ___________.

a) Funb) Flexiblec) In big printd) Colorful

When a schedule is flexible and manageable, it is easier to adhere to and follow. We have to realize that some things may need to be tweaked or squeezed in at the last minute.


7. Which of the following is an example of a bad habit?

a) Sorting through the mail when it arrivesb) Throwing out extra clutterc) Not putting away hard copy when you have finished reading themd) Donating your surplus of supplies

Not putting away hard copy documents after they have been read is an example of a bad habit. This habit of leaving out the documents can contribute to the procrastination of reading them and doesn’t reinforce good organizational habits.

8. Bad habits can be changed with the help of what?

a) Small, incremental changesb) Talking to someone about itc) Quitting cold turkeyd) A 12 step program

Our bad habits can be changed when we use small, incremental changes, or ‘baby steps’. If we try to change too much, too fast, we can feel overwhelmed and give up easier.


9. What did Charles admit to doing that contributes to his disorganization?

a) Throwing out all of his mailb) Not sticking to an organization routinec) Storing things in an external filing cabinetd) Over-scheduling his time

Charles admitted that although he had started a new organization routine, but he was not sticking to it.

10. What was one thing that Roberta suspected Charles was doing that made his disorganized?

a) Failed to stick to a scheduleb) He hadn’t organized his email inboxc) Tried to keep everythingd) He hadn’t sorted through his mail

When Roberta walked into Charles’ office, she suspected that he was trying to keep everything and throw nothing away.

Module Eleven: Review Questions

1. What is the purpose of staying within your organizational system?

a) It keeps your actions and routines consistentb) It helps keep the mail in orderc) It makes us bored with our routinesd) It holds all of our personal contacts

2.What is an important thing to remember about organizational systems?

a) They can be hard to followb) They should be re-evaluated over timec) They have to be strictd) They should be done in groups


3. How does not saying “No” make us more disorganized?

a) It requires us to have more space to workb) It makes us bored with our current to-do listsc) We get to try out different thingsd) We can take on more than we can handle

4. Which of the following is an acceptable, polite decline?

a) No I’m too busy to helpb) I’ll think about itc) Thank you, but I’m working on the Dale account right nowd) I’m not interested


5. How often should good organization be practiced?

a) Every dayb) Once a weekc) On the weekendsd) On our days off

6. When is the best time to get organized?

a) Tomorrowb) When you have friends overc) On my day offd) Today


7. If we wait to plan tomorrow at a later time, we are only what?

a) Relaxingb) Procrastinatingc) Making better plansd) Making more lists

8. What is the benefit of planning tomorrow’s goals and to-do lists today?

a) It gives us something to dob) It makes a rigid schedule to followc) It makes tomorrow easier to handled) It lets us know if we forgot something


9. What plan did Joshua make to keep his office organized?

a) Made daily and weekly lists to followb) He hired someone else to come clean it for himc) Vowed not to use it anymored) Bought labels to properly mark everything

10. What was Joshua reorganizing his office for?

a) He wanted to alphabetize his canned goodsb) To prepare for a big family dinnerc) He wanted to rearrange the appliancesd) To prepare for an assignment with a new client


1. What is the purpose of staying within your organizational system?

a) It keeps your actions and routines consistentb) It helps keep the mail in orderc) It makes us bored with our routinesd) It holds all of our personal contacts

It is important to stay within your organizational system because it keeps your habits and routines consistent. If we try to change our systems or move from one to the other, our habits are inconsistent and can leave room for error.

2.What is an important thing to remember about organizational systems?

a) They can be hard to followb) They should be re-evaluated over timec) They have to be strictd) They should be done in groups

Although the main focus is to stick with and stay with your organizational system, it is also important that, over time, you re-evaluate it and ensure that it is meeting your changing needs and priorities.


3. How does not saying “No” make us more disorganized?

a) It requires us to have more space to workb) It makes us bored with our current to-do listsc) We get to try out different thingsd) We can take on more than we can handle

When we don’t say no to requests for our help, we can take on too many projects that we cannot keep up with or keep organized. We must learn it is ok to say no so that we can keep ourselves organized and not stretch ourselves too thin.

4. Which of the following is an acceptable, polite decline?

a) No I’m too busy to helpb) I’ll think about itc) Thank you, but I’m working on the Dale account right nowd) I’m not interested

This decline is polite and lets the other person know that you would love to help but that you don’t want to be taken away from your current project.


5. How often should good organization be practiced?

a) Every dayb) Once a weekc) On the weekendsd) On our days off

Good organization is part of our everyday life and should be practiced every day to continuously develop good skills and habits.

6. When is the best time to get organized?

a) Tomorrowb) When you have friends overc) On my day offd) Today

There is no day like today to get better organized and create better habits we can follow.


7. If we wait to plan tomorrow at a later time, we are only what?

a) Relaxingb) Procrastinatingc) Making better plansd) Making more lists

By putting off for tomorrow the things we can do today, we are letting ourselves continue to procrastinate, and creating a bad habit of stalling what we need to get done.

8. What is the benefit of planning tomorrow’s goals and to-do lists today?

a) It gives us something to dob) It makes a rigid schedule to followc) It makes tomorrow easier to handled) It lets us know if we forgot something

When we take the time to plan, today, tomorrow’s chores, goals and tasks, we’re making tomorrow and the days after much easier to handle and feel less overwhelmed by the things we want to get done.


9. What plan did Joshua make to keep his office organized?

a) Made daily and weekly lists to followb) He hired someone else to come clean it for himc) Vowed not to use it anymored) Bought labels to properly mark everything

Joshua made daily and weekly to-do lists to help him keep his office clean and organized.

10. What was Joshua reorganizing his office for?

a) He wanted to alphabetize his canned goodsb) To prepare for a big family dinnerc) He wanted to rearrange the appliancesd) To prepare for an assignment with a new client

Joshua wanted to clean and reorganize his office in preparation of starting an assignment with a new client account in his company.

Words from the Wise

A. A. Milne

• Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.

Marva Collins

• Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do the best.

module two: review questions 1.what is one reason we do not remove our clutter? a)we make excuses...

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