Let’s talk about your office & desk area, whether it’s a home office or a business office. Many of the same issues are the same for both areas. If you find that you have always struggled with getting or staying organized and managing your time, consider hiring a Certified Professional Organizer to help you identify and set up a sustainable customized system.
Why Organize Your Office & Desk Area?
1) Video calls – Skype, YouTube & video job interviews. What impressions are you creating?
2) Concentration on tasks is more difficult with clutter & lack of clear work surfaces
3) If you do not have good paper & time management systems in place, you may be penalized with the following:
Late fees
Lost job opportunities if you do not have a good follow up system
Get overwhelmed & procrastinate
Suffer the judgment by bosses (if a company is considering downsizing the organization – looking or being disorganized can be the kiss of death.
Suffer the judgment, comments & threats from family & friends.
Missed appointments – “Where Did I put that sticky note?”
Insightful fact: We waste 6 weeks a year looking for information and stuff in our offices. What else might you do with 6 weeks a year – every year?!
How To Start:
1) Purge old files (have 25% empty space in your drawers for future filing & storage)
Trash or archive
2) Have the right tools – if they don’t work well, you won’t use them
3) Set up new files for 2010
Annual files such as – Meeting notes, Taxes 2010, Bills Paid, medical EOB’s
4) Use your inbox as an in box vs. a dump box. Process your mail and paper documents.
5) Use your calendar to get rid of all those sticky note reminders of things to do. You don’t need to keep everything out as a visual reminder. Transfer’ to-do’s’ & follow-ups to your planner so it is scheduled to get done!
6) Helpful desktop files that I love:
To Discuss file
Upcoming Events
Bills to Pay
Pending
7) Make recycling & shredding easy – put the bins (or paper bags) under your desk so you can get them off your desk & floor immediately.
For more info visit: www.withinreach.biz
Don’t forget to plan a cleared space for coats & boots when your guests arrive! Work on that coat closet (great time to make a bag of donations for outdated things!)
