Life a Mess? Tony Stewart and Office Depot Help to Clean It Up

Did you know that Jan. 11 was “National Clean Up Your Desk Day?” I’m betting that a majority of you out there didn’t.

Why? Because you’re disorganized, that’s why!

Not to worry—you still have 343 days left in the new year to get it together!

If your life is anything like mine and you were born with the disorganized gene, then making a plan to put and keep things in their proper place is all but impossible!

But with the help of Office Depot and tips from Tony Stewart, I am well on my way to better organization, and you can be too.

I know what you’re thinking: organizing tips from Tony Stewart? Really?

Really!

Strip away his familiar red firesuit, replace it with a pinstripe business suit, and you'll quickly see that Stewart "cleans up" quite nicely!

After a successful season as a first-time small business owner, Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala and team owner at Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, knows a thing or two about the importance of staying organized.

Stewart has teamed up with Office Depot to share a few fun tips to help fellow business professionals and NASCAR fans get—and stay—organized by the time the 2010 NASCAR season officially kicks off on Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway.

The hardest part of getting organized is taking the first step. It is hard to even know where to begin, but thanks to Stewart and the good folks at Office Depot, getting organized has never been easier!

So ask yourself: What would Tony do?

Throw a caution flag and write it all down.

Make out a list of everything that you need to keep track of, projects to manage, items on your personal agenda, or just everyday tasks that are in need of a good un-cluttering.

Tony Stewart’s top 10 organizational tips

1. I have a frequent nightmare about showing up at the wrong race track during the NASCAR season...so yes, I WILL take that new day planner, thank you very much.

2. Alphabetizing fan mail is actually one of my favorite ways to relax. Note to self: Need to buy more file folders and color-coded adhesive labels from Office Depot. And note to readers of this list: Can’t wait to get your note...especially if your last name starts with “Q” or “Z”!

3. Also relaxing? Shredding old documents with an Ativa Paper Shredder from Office Depot. Seriously, just try it. Very therapeutic. Plus, it plays a key role in keeping our chassis set-ups top-secret.

4. How did anyone remember to do anything before Sticky Notes were invented?

5. So many Victory Lane photos and not nearly enough wall space. A new Ativa Digital Photo Frame is definitely on my preseason shopping list so I can put all of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice team’s winning shots on automated rotating display.

6. Gotta get a new dry-erase board for some very serious race strategy sessions with my crew chief, Darian Grubb. And—you caught me—our occasional game of Pictionary.

7. When a computer virus or hard-drive meltdown catches you off-guard, it’s a lot like wrecking your primary race car and then realizing you forgot to bring the backup car to the track. That said, I’m making it a New Year’s Resolution to back up all of my important files on CDs and memory cards from Office Depot...just in case.

8. I might not know how to play the accordion...but Office Depot accordion folders with expanding pockets? Those I know and love. A lot.

9. Paper clips and pushpins are like glitter; they really do have a way of getting everywhere. I think it’s finally time to man up and buy an Office Depot desktop organizer to help control the chaos.

10. I’m a small business owner, but there’s nothing small about my business card collection: I meet and work with a lot of great people, after all. A new Rolodex from Office Depot is a smart and simple way to keep track of my expanding network. Plus, let’s just admit it—making the cards spin around is pretty fun.

Be sure to check out the “Get Organized” tab on Office Depot’s Facebook fan page to read more about all the things Tony will be doing to organize his office space beyond the racetrack in 2010.

Photo Courtesy of Edelman/Office Depot.