The new year is just around the corner and you know what that means: it’s time to make resolutions, evaluate your goals for the new year and more importantly, get organized. Start your quest for an organized new year with a few tips.
- Consider whether your home office still inspires you to work. Whether you’ve had a home office for many years or you’re ready to set up a home office for the first time, start by asking yourself a few questions: Is there enough light? Are there enough outlets? Is your home office in a high-traffic area or is it too isolated to let you accomplish anything?
- Fine tune and revamp your current personal and business filing system. On the personal side, start by labeling hanging file folders with each family member’s name and then put interior (manila) file folders inside. Assign a different color to each family member to make it easy to find their files when you open your file drawer. Cull through business files you no longer use, create files for new clients and replace any worn out file folders. Don’t forget to create files for projects you handle often including bills to pay, upcoming meetings and events, and papers that need your attention.
- Add a bookcase to your home office. Out of the last 10 home offices I’ve seen, half of them didn’t have a bookcase. The problem with that? There’s no place to store books, reference materials and even knick knacks that can add a little something to any home office. Not only can a bookcase be functional, it can serve as an interesting design element within your home office.
- Take control over your time. Rather than rely on your memory for tasks you need to do, use a planning system that’s either paper-based or electronic. Whether you use a daily planner, a handheld or your computer to get organized, find a system that fits your needs and then use it.
- Decide whether you want to use a daily or weekly to-do list and then keep the list handy. Divide the tasks on your list between things to do and calls to make. It’s less overwhelming if you group similar tasks. If you’re used to writing lists and notes on any available scrap of paper, gradually move to a list. Loose paper is hard to track and easy to lose.
