Efficiency and Organization

By Laura Wright

Working from home is a dream for many consumers today. The flexibility, control, and lower costs involved often means a greater amount of productivity in a smaller time frame. One of the challenges for the home worker is simple office organization.

When a home business is disorganized or cluttered it can make working sheer torture. Misplaced paperwork, products, or missing receipts can quickly cause frustration. Many home business owners have even hired relatively needless employees because they didn't consider the efficiency they can regain just by a deliberate arrangement of office space and assigned places for their supplies. Organization not only makes your job easier, it can save you much time, money, and effort.

Look at the overall picture when you start to organize your office space. How is your furniture placed? Is there adequate room for movement? If it is a smaller space, could it do with less furniture? How are your supplies currently placed? Is the trash can within reach of the desk? Is the telephone placed where the computer can be accessed if needed?

If you are manufacturing a product, are the items needed for assembly placed for easy access? For example, if you are making beaded jewelry and accessories, are all items needed placed near one another? Do you have lidded containers to separate and manage your beads? Are all necessary tools in one carrier?

When you are organizing your office space, you should go digital as much as possible. Digital documents are just as professional and can be transmitted more efficiently than print documents. Digitized documents are easily stored on compact discs, DVDs, or portable flash drives. Routine paperwork can be stored in template form and only printed out as you need it. Customer files can be digitized and stored with the help of a scanner. You can store original paperwork in an airtight plastic container in your closet or even your garage. A good spreadsheet program will assist you in creating order forms, records, and any inventory management you may need.

Instead of using a traditional planner that you must correct with liquid paper and pen, consider a desktop calendar on your computer. Entries and important events can simply be deleted or reentered. Many programs will offer auditory and visual alerts for important events. Even removing a simple desk blotter can free up space for desktop organizers or create more room for your keyboard and mouse.

If you have pictures or figures on your desk, you can purchase "floating" shelves and install them above the desk. You can place your personal items on the shelves as opposed to your desk.

Receipts are needed for tax purposes and their collection can seem daunting. A year's worth of receipts may take up a fair amount of space that could be used for other things. Consider purchasing a messenger bag at your local discount store if you collect your receipts. These can be suspended from a closet rod by a sturdy hanger and you can slip receipts into this. A messenger bag is the perfect size for plain brown mailing envelopes. These are used to separate them by month or by deduction. If you don't have spare closet space, consider slipping the bag beneath your desk or even under your bed.

You will need an adequate wastebasket for your office. Many advertised for typical home offices are good for occasional use, but if you are working at home, you will need a receptacle that is large enough for daily use. A compact shredder can also help reduce the size of your waste and some people recycle the shredded paper in the preparation for their own mulch.

Recycling unneeded paper, plastic, and glass is another good way to responsibly dispose of your office trash and is easier than you imagine. Separate containers for waste can be stored under your desk or in a closet. This allows you more time in your work area and less time traveling to other parts of the home. It will also reduce the amount of waste in your garbage can.

Filing cabinets can be tedious to have in a small office. Before you invest in these cabinets, be certain you need them. Is it mandatory for your organization or are you just looking for storage space? If storage is more your need than what a filing cabinet may offer, consider installing a large bookshelf.

Plastic organizing containers can be purchased in a variety of colors and sizes and most will fit on a wide bookshelf. Instead of having a standard cabinet that may have four drawers, a tall bookshelf may have six levels of shelves where you can place multiple organizers. If you use a large bookshelf, please ensure that is securely fastened to the wall to prevent tipping over.

Organizing your home office is an exercise well worth the effort and time involved. Having a well arranged space will help you fulfill your duties faster and make the overall work easier.

Laura Wright is a multi-published professional writer. She has held a variety of positions in the writing field. She currently instructs two web courses and maintains several web domains. She also works as a freelance provider and novelist. Her primary web site is: http://www.laurawrites.net

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