Throughout North America October 3-9, 1999 is being celebrated as "Get Organised'' week.

GO week, founded by the National of Professional Organisers (NAPO), celebrates the various benefits of how proper organising can relieve stress.

It also showcases ways for individuals and business to reap those benefits.

Every year NAPO suggests a theme for the upcoming year and this year's theme is, "Organising For the Future''.

As we are all preparing for the 1/1/00, the "Organising For the Future theme is right on target. Most clients are feeling stressed out with all the hype surrounding the upcoming millennium.

They can tell of all the Y2K stuff they have purchased to prepare their software to adapt, but very few have included a future personal plan beyond the year 2000.

It's as though their world may just end on 31/1/00.

Some people meet me in the street and ask, "What is the best way to get organised, I know what I need to do but it's just doing it that holds me back?'' There is no one way, correct answer or a simple solution.

Organisation is a personal matter.

As a professional organising consultant, I have to develop a system to fit the client's needs; and the method and solution changes for each individual.

Unfortunately, an organising pattern does not come in a one size fits all package.

Each method has to be customised to the individual client.

In preparing your plan to organise your future, try implementing some of the following suggestions: Set a long-term timeframe plan: Try to set up a timeframe plan for the next five years and work backwards.

Include goals you would like to accomplish. Include career developments you want like to achieve.

Set up steps: Set up the steps you need to take to accomplish your goals.

These steps should be things you need to accomplish on a yearly basis to fulfil your long-term goal. To manage the yearly steps, break it down further by placing them on a monthly schedule. If for instance your five-year plan includes buying a home, you may want to set up a monthly savings plan to accomplish your goal.

Don't overextend yourself: Overextending yourself guarantees failure.

If you need a new vehicle, and can't afford one, consider buying a good used one. If developing your own business is a career goal, set up a home office prior to seeking the burden of the overheads incurred in renting office space.

Seek assistance: Seek assistance of an experienced mentor and/or organisng consultant. A professional organiser can help you save time and money.

When hiring an organising consultant, make sure she/he is credible with the proper credentials and recommendations.

If all you want is some to purge your junk, hire an experienced housekeeper, it's more economical.

Two of the most common used and misused hype words, are "staying focused''.

Most self help books and articles will tell you to stay focused. Just saying it over and over does not make it happen.

Practice makes it happen. If you're experiencing difficulty in staying focused, try different approaches to the same task.

Work at your peak times: If you are not a morning person, and can afford not to be, don't stress yourself out trying to be one and visa versa.

Do your most undesirable task at your highest energy peak.

In planning for your future, plan some fun time as well. This will help to alleviate the burnt out periods we all tend to experience.

Cindy Swan is a Professional Organiser with over 20 years of office administrative managerial experience and a member of the National Association of Professional Organisers. Her column appears in the business section on the first and third Thursday of each month.

Address inquiries to Cindy Swan, PO Box 304 St. George's GE BX or e-mail her at bermudagolf yibl.bm