ROJECT Action is to benefit from a series of workshops designed to help residents use time more efficiently.

Four representatives from the National Association of Professional Organisers (NAPO) ? a US-based group internationally recognised as the world's organising authority ? will speak at Mission Organisation, an event which will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) on March 28.

NAPO members are to volunteer their expertise in three workshops designed to address issues that impede productivity at work and at home.

They hope the event will raise money for Project Action, a bus service that enables seniors and the physically challenged free, door-to-door transportation as they journey to medical appointments, do their grocery shopping and conduct their daily affairs.

The event has been co-ordinated by Cindy Swan, a local professional organiser and chairperson of Project Action. An international member of NAPO she has devoted more than 25 years as a organiser consultant, working in Jamaica, the United States and Bermuda.

"Project Action provides a very important service that many seniors and the physically challenged have grown to depend on," she explained. "Project Action provided over 3,500 rides to seniors and the physically challenged last year.

"All monies are raised from the private sector donations, volunteers and community fundraising endeavours. Four professional organisers will be coming to Bermuda at the end of March to donate their professional time, all in aid of helping Project Action keep their wheels turning. Barry Iszak, the president of NAPO, along with other members ? Marsha Sims, Lynn Gross-Cerf, Holly Uverity and Ms Swan ? will all facilitate workshops, donating their professional services by not charging so that all the proceeds from the workshops can go to Project Action. They will teach simple organising, ready-to-use organising techniques, marketing methods and practical tools that will enable the attendees to get immediate results."

Promised are three unique workshops, each designed to improve productivity among "aspiring achievers, movers and shakers, entrepreneurs, small business owners" and even stay-at-home moms.

Scheduled topics include: Make More Money: Organising Your Business for Maximum Productivity, Getting Organising De-Mystified and Organise at Last! Take Your Office Back. "A professional organiser is a person that helps people organise their space, their time, their clutter and the way that they do things," explained Mr. Iszak. With a decade of experience behind him, he now travels the United States and around the world, motivating people to use their time more wisely. "The important thing is to be more efficient and productive, to have more time to do things we like."

The president said he learned of Project Action through his professional association with Ms Swan and was delighted to be able to lend his expertise to the upcoming event. "Cindy asked me to participate in the workshop. When she told me of Project Action I thought it was a great idea and a great way to give my time and expertise to help a worthy non-profit and help others."

He added that disorganised people exist in every element of society, that the problem is not linked to a particular gender, age or socio-economic group.

"Many people feel that something is wrong with them if they admit to needing the help of a professional organiser. But anyone is a candidate to get organised. It is a very pervasive problem.

"Being organised is a learned behaviour and unfortunately, many of us are never taught. So people are handicapped in making the best use of their time. We can teach the skills you need and create an organisation system that works best for them."

The workshops were designed to meet a range of needs, he insisted.

"Most anyone can benefit from the workshops," he said. "Today there's more to organise ever before. Inboxes are overflowing, there's constant e-mails, to-do lists are getting longer and we're paying a price for this."

For those who frequently find themselves overwhelmed by life, Mr. Iszak offered the following general advice: "One of the things I say is to break the original task into small, manageable pieces ? you don't get into a mess in one day, you're not going to get out of it in one day.

"Also, store things where you're going to use them ? it's very logical but many people don't do that. Store like things together. Sort mail the minute you bring it in."

He described clutter as "the physical representation" of unmade decisions, adding that he never brought anything home unless he knew where he could store it.

"If you're a shopaholic and buy something new, something old must go. I frequently advise people to keep a donation or give-away box going at all times, somewhere they can store old clothing, things they no longer use or need. When the box is full, take it and donate it to charity."