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A
Space of Your Own
by
Debbie Williams
Recent statistics reveal
that the average executive wastes 150 hours per year searching for lost
documents. One in 20 documents is lost and never recovered.
When setting up your home office, there are a few basic ways to keep
yourself organized. Begin by defining your space, then utilize whatever
storage solutions are necessary to keep your papers and products
together.
Creating a home office can be challenging for those of us with limited
floor space. Fashion a bonus room by using an office armoire or unused
closet. Setting up a card table or banquet table, which can be folded
and stored when not in use, can create additional workspace for special
projects. Store files in portable crate systems or in a vertical desktop
rack. Hang shoe or jewelry organizers over the doors for office
supplies, books, and tapes. Bulletin boards placed around the room at
eye level provide easy viewing while you are seated at your desk.
Keep your office clutter free by providing a dedicated place for
everything. Store hanging folders in file cabinets or in portable crates
under the desk. Purchase stackable bins for processing paperwork.
Purchase a drawer divider for stationery and desk supplies. Inform
family members where to deliver incoming correspondence. Utilize a
master calendar or wipe off board for coordinating special projects.
Clip or scan articles, and file in a folder for reading at a later date.
Maintain a workable follow up system with an index card file or
accordion file. The dividers are numbered 1-30, and documents (or note
cards) are filed on the appropriate day of the month for future action.
For an office on the go, create a portable system for your car or
briefcase. Keep a large sturdy crate or laundry basket in your car to
contain product samples. Small hanging file crates carry client
information or product literature securely to your destination. Some
suggested items for your portable office are: letterhead and envelopes,
business cards, brochures, postage stamps, calculator, pads of paper,
pens, pencils, stapler and staple remover, scissors, tape dispenser,
Post It Notes, rubber bands, paper clips, and change for parking or
tolls. There are a number of visor and glove compartment organizers to
hold small items. Pocketed organizers that hang on the back of the car
seat are excellent for holding maps, brochures, literature, etc. A
compact alternative would be a zippered pouch full of office supplies
for your briefcase.
Now that you’ve set up your personal space, take just a few minutes a
day to preserve it. Write your to do list for tomorrow. Straighten your
desk before you quit for the day. Purge your files on a consistent
basis. Begin each day with a clear desk and a clear mind, and find
renewed fervor in the work that brought you here in the first place.
---Debbie Williams
is an author, speaker and radio host who offers tools
and training to help you put your life in order. Learn more tips like
these in her book, Common
Sense Organizing (Champion Press Ltd, January 2005)
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