TL;DR
Give your home business its own work area and keep everything unrelated out of it. Spend ten minutes a day keeping the desk in order, keep a trash basket close, an inbox on the desk and an outbox by the door. File papers as you handle them, keep every business receipt in one folder and enter new contacts weekly.
Once you decide to work from home, designating an office space is mandatory. Even if it is just a large table in a corner, the key is to make it an exclusive work area – nothing unrelated to your business should be allowed. This will allow you to stay more fully focused on your business at hand, and keeping your other paperwork such as private financial records separate may even qualify you for a home office tax write-off.
Organize your desk properly from the very beginning and make sure to spend at least ten minutes a day keeping it that way. Just a small investment of time will save you countless hours of frustration looking for misplaced or lost papers or trying to do paperwork on a hopelessly cluttered desktop. Make use of desk and drawer organizers to keep pens, paper-clips and sticky notes handy.
Be certain you have a trash basket by your desk to dispose of unneeded paper and discarded envelopes or mail. This will reduce mess and help keep your workspace clear. Have a vertical inbox on top of your desk to hold papers or files that require immediate attention, and an outbox somewhere by the exit of your office for mail and packages that are awaiting pickup or a trip to the post office.
Make sure your file cabinet is industrial strength. If a brand new one is outside of your price range, check thrift and second hand stores for a gently used, well made cabinet. Likewise, try to find a desk large enough to hold your computer and leave plenty of surface space free for work. These items are worth investing in; good quality cabinets will last you for years. Likewise, an ergonomic chair is almost a necessity if you want to avoid fatigue and back strain.
Form a habit of filing papers as you handle them instead of letting them stack up on your desk. Decide on a categorizing system and label all files accordingly. Use the same approach for your daily mail; open it all immediately and discard the junk, then file remaining mail (invoices, bills, etc) in the appropriate place. Have a special folder for business expenses and keep every receipt for business related items – these will be useful when tax time rolls around.
Take an hour or two each week to enter any new contact information into your database. Handheld computer scanners are available to make entering business card data quick and efficient, or you can use a regular rolodex file and simply staple the business cards to the blanks provided. Many businesses depend on accurate, up to date contacts, and you will benefit from having this information at your fingertips.
If you are working more than 40 to 60 hours a week, or are having difficulty finding time for family, consider hiring help for lawn care and housework. This will cut down on stress, and may even increase your productivity to the point that such a proposal can pay for itself.
Working from home is an incredible experience, but requires a high degree of organization to be fully effective. By designating a section of your home as a special work zone, you will enable yourself to work without distraction and reach your greatest potential.
by Kathi Burns – addSpace To Your Life!TM,
a Professional Organizing and Image Consulting Agency
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Keep reading
- Organizing a Home Based BusinessSetting up a home office that keeps work and family life apart.
- Organizing Your Home Office Paperwork and Creating a Good File SystemKeep work and personal papers apart with one filing system.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate space for a home office?
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Yes. Even if it is just a large table in a corner, make it a work-only area where nothing unrelated to your business is allowed. It helps you stay focused, and keeping private financial records elsewhere may even help you qualify for a home office tax write-off.
How much time does it take to keep a desk organized?
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Kathi recommends at least ten minutes a day. That small investment saves hours of hunting for misplaced papers or trying to work on a cluttered desktop. Desk and drawer organizers keep pens, paper clips and sticky notes handy.
What should I keep on and near my desk?
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Keep a trash basket by your desk for unneeded paper and envelopes, and a vertical inbox on the desk for papers that need immediate attention. Put an outbox near the door of your office for mail and packages waiting to go out.
What furniture is worth spending money on for a home office?
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An industrial-strength file cabinet, a desk big enough to hold your computer with plenty of free work surface, and an ergonomic chair to avoid fatigue and back strain. If new is out of reach, check thrift and second-hand stores for well-made pieces.
How do I keep up with papers, receipts and contacts?
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File papers as you handle them, using labeled categories, and open mail right away, tossing the junk. Keep every business receipt in one special folder for tax time. Set aside an hour or two each week to enter new contacts into your database.
