| 1. |
Be sure that everyone in your
household understands how the space in your home office is to be used, when "business" hours
are, etc.
|
| 2. |
Choose a location that is conducive
to conducting business. As much as possible, keep this separate from your personal
living space.
|
| 3. |
Choose comfortable furnishings
and adequate lighting that will reduce fatigue, discomfort, strain and injury.
|
| 4. |
Create stacking trays which are
labeled for the following uses and place them within easy reach of where you sit:
| Incoming-- |
where the mail goes until
you open it (once opened it never returns here) |
| Outgoing-- |
for outgoing mail |
| To file-- |
for items you wish to
file for future reference without any action required |
|
| 5. |
Trim the F.A.T.-File, Act, Toss.
Professional Organizer Barbara Hemphill tells us that these are essentially the only
choices that we have when dealing with paper. If we want to file for future reference,
it goes in the "to file" tray. If it requires action, we can either act on it now
or place it in the tickler file for action to be taken at some future time. And,
of course, 80% of what we receive we can usually toss! Better to do this sooner rather
than later. Some questions to ask yourself when you are trying to decide whether
or not to keep something:
|
What's the worst possible thing that could happen if I threw this away?
Could I get it again if I needed it later?
By the time I might need this, will it be obsolete?
Will it enhance my personal or work life to keep this? (If not, toss it!)
Are there tax or legal implications if I toss this?
|
|
| 6. |
Place a wastebasket and recycling
bin near where you open your mail. This will make it easier for you to immediately
toss anything that you don't need to keep for action or reference. |
| 7. |
Create a tickler
file system and place all of your "action required" items in the system according
to when you plan to act on it. Paauwerfully Organized can teach you how to set
up an outstanding tickler file system.
|
| 8. |
Create a system for easy retrieval
of electronic files and for filing papers so you can find
anything within 5 seconds or less.
|
| 9. |
For papers you are legally required
to keep or for files you rarely access, create archive files. You can store these
in a less accessible space, such as in file storage boxes in your garage or a storage
closet. This will free up valuable office space for your action and reference files
you need to access more frequently. Be sure your storage area is safe, dry, and free
of rodents.
|
| 10. |
Use wall space for shelving and
cabinets. You can use this space to store books, notebooks, magazines, and office
supplies. These can either be built-in or stand-alone shelves and cabinets. (SAFETY
NOTE: If you live in an earthquake zone, be sure that stand-alone shelving is securely
bolted to a stud in the wall.)
|
