The Beginning of the End ...

... of clutter, that is!  Ok, I'm hopefully optimistic that this is going to end on a positive note, and not with me storming out in a huff, leaving scads of documents, photos, and other papers strewn about my office after being tossed in the air in frustration.

You know, I really thought I'd have more time over the holidays to do some research.  So much for that.  School starts back next week (my last semester - yay!), so I'll be in class 2 nights per week, with one online class, along with 2 fitness training sessions per week, plus fitness boot camp on Saturday, not to mention my full-time 9-5 job.  I'm exhausted just talking about it.

One good thing is that I have planned a trip to see my mom in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in March (over spring break), and we'll visit the National Archives while I'm there.  I'm not sure when I'll have the time to put a research plan together, but I guess I'd better try!

In an effort to start working on at least one of my new year's resolutions, I sat down and watched Elyse Doerflinger's (Elyse's Genealogy Blog) video Conquering the Paper Monster Once and For All, which I downloaded here.  She has some great ideas that are flexible enough to handle any organizational conundrum.  The video package is available for the low, low price of $7.99 and includes a PDF of the material covered in the video.

I also went to DearMyrtle's Organization Checklist for some inspiration as well.  Fortunately, I've already started a blog (or this is a really wierd space-time continuum issue), set up my Dropbox for backup and sharing, and attended a live webinar (Myrt's, actually - that's how this blog came to be!). 

I even consulted Dick Eastman's new series The Organized Genealogist (available with Plus Edition membership) ... that's how serious I am!

I am going with a file folder system instead of binders, so I have purchased some filing crates, hanging files, file folders, colored markers, and a label maker so I can get started on getting all my documents organized.  Now, I just have to actually do it.

It's supposed to snow late tomorrow or early Monday morning.  Maybe I'll get snowed in and will be able to work on my filing for the entire day!  I may even be able to sweet-talk my daughter into helping (oh wait, I think she reads this.  So much for a surprise attack).

Alright ... I'm goin' in.  If no one hears from me in 2 or 3 days, you might want to call for backup!