TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR HOME OFFICE

Whether you have a home office as a place for paying bills or you run a business out of your home, organization is the key to things running smoothly.  We live in a world where there just never seems to be enough time, so by following some simple tips, you are sure to maximize your time and have more of it to spend with your family.

• Keep your desk clean.  I know, I know, this probably sounds pretty difficult. But remember, your desk is not a place for storage.  Your desk is your work space.  So it is time to go through those piles of papers and find them a home.  You can make 3 piles for your papers.  Toss it, file it, or do it.  Remember when tossing things, to shred anything that could used for any type of identity theft.  (I shred almost everything that I throw away simply because it has our names and addresses on it.)
• Organize your files.  If you don't have a file cabinet, buy one.  They come in all different sizes and different price ranges.  This is one of the BEST ways to get your office organized.  By having established files, you can file papers immediately as you go through them.
• Have an in box.  As you check the mail or receive mail/packages, have a central place for them.  You may not be able to go through them right then, but you can have a basket or box for them to be until you CAN go through them.  (I recommend having separate drawers for business/personal bills/mail.)
• Make the most of the space that you have.  Not everyone has a large space for an office.  And that's okay.  The important thing is to make sure that you use the space you do have, wisely.  Use those file cabinets, desk drawers and shelves.  Try to have the essentials at arms length, such as pens, paper, printer, calculator, etc.

Things to remember:

• A messy, cluttered office can result in incomplete work, missed deadlines and/or lost information.  The time spent, turning your office upside down, looking for that phone number or address, is time that is wasted and unproductive.  Just taking a few minutes a day (or even once a week), will save you so much time in the long run and will be worth the initial extra effort.
• Try to control outside interruptions/distractions.  You don't have to answer the phone every time it rings.  If possible, have hubby help you with the kids so you can close the door and get things done.  If you have older kids, they may understand if you simply let them know that you are working and need some time with the door closed.
• Once you are caught up going through those papers, be sure to stay that way by either going through papers immediately when you get them, or setting aside time each week to go through them.

Organizing your home office may seem daunting at first, but by taking it just one step at a time, you will be prepared to meet any challenge head on!  And once this is done, you will be surprised just how much stress it will cut out of your life.