Be sure that everyone in your household understands how the space in your home office
is to be used, when "business" hours are, etc.
Choose a location that is conducive
to conducting business. As much as possible, keep this separate from your personal living
space.
Choose comfortable furnishings and adequate lighting that will reduce fatigue, discomfort,
strain and injury.
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
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:
w What's the worst possible thing that could happen
if I threw this away?
w Could I get it again if I needed it later?
w By the time I might need this, will it be obsolete?
w Will it enhance my personal or work life to keep
this? (If not, toss it!)
w Are there tax or legal implications if I toss
this?
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.
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.
Create a system for easy retrieval of electronic
files and for filing papers so you can find anything within 5 seconds or less.
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.
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.) Back To Clients Only
