Get Organized Debbie Williams is an organizing strategist and founder of OrganizedTimes.com. She is the author of  "Common Sense Organizing" from Champion Press. Staying Organized Question: My problem isn't getting organized it's staying organized. I will organize my desk or home, keep it that way for a couple weeks and then it all starts to get messy again. I just can't seem to keep on track. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Kim Answer:Dear Kim, Staying organized is the biggest solution to most organizing problems. Getting organized is the easy part! I think the biggest challenge is finding an organizing system for your desk, one that is tailored just for YOU, so that you will use it on a daily basis . Since I'm not in your home or office watching you work, it's difficult for me to create a custom system for you, but not impossible. The first thing I recommend is to set up a communication center, then create a file system, and lastly establish a maintenance system. Command Central Your Command Central consists of your phone, answering machine (if you have one), caller ID unit, carbonless message pad, and pens. This is the main place in your house where notes are left for family members, or where you can find phone messages taken while you are away. Set up mini-communication systems near each phone for other members of your family so that there's no excuse for "no one told me the boss called!" or "I didn't know I had a dentist appointment TODAY!". The carbonless message pad is a two-part pad of paper where you can put all your phone or voicemail messages, keeping a copy on the spiral notebook for future reference. We've used them in the office for ages, and it's a great tool to have at home, too. File This! Create a simple system for filing the plethora of papers that comes through your home. Most of the paper can be eliminated at the source-- direct mail -- by requesting that your name be removed from mailing lists. No more junk mail! Catalogs can be viewed online, as well as newspapers and many magazines, so you may want to cancel subscriptions to further reduce paper clutter. Very little paper is less to process, making your organizing task much easier. Sort mail and other incoming papers from work and school by category: to sign, to pay, to file, to call, and so forth. Separate into stacks if you need to - whatever makes the job easier for you. I personally like to stand up when sorting papers, standing right over the trash can and near the file box in my kitchen. In less than 5 minutes, you should be able to sort through and purge unwanted mail, sending bills to the TO PAY file or bin, magazines and newsletters to the TO READ bin, TO SIGN to your "to do" folder or planner, and TO FILE to the file cabinet stack. Process each stack separately so that you don't create more clutter than you had in the first place, working on each category as you find the time or during the time that you have set aside. I recommend that you establish a simple weekly routine for paying, processing, and filing your paperwork. Of course the daily mail ritual is one that can't be avoided, but you can file on a weekly basis, and pay bills either twice monthly or weekly (depending on your paycheck schedule). Maintain Order Try to avoid putting items requiring action into a Miscellaneous Folder -- you probably won't ever open that again! Instead, enter action items into your planner or post on your calendar, creating a "to do" list: to call, to buy, etc. You may not even need that piece of paper; if you do, it's time to file it in your maintenance or Follow-Up File. Check your maintenance file daily , processing items on a routine basis so that they are not overlooked. Use hanging files, manila folders, a binder with pocketed dividers, or accordion-style folders for this system. It's one of the best ways to keep track of all the to do's in your busy life. Utilize the steps mentioned above for containing all sorts of clutter, not just paper clutter, in your home and on your desk. Sorting, organizing, and maintaining the clutter that is dumped into your home will create an atmosphere that you and your family will enjoy together. Good luck, Debbie Williams Also see: Ask Debbie your questions Recently answered questions Use technology to simplify your life