10 Top Tips to Organise your Office-Life
September 2, 2013
Dear budding neat freaks,
After almost two months of being unable to do a lot of my usual work therefore moving my office to my bedroom, I really miss the organisation my work used to enjoy. As getting an organised office is our focus this month, here are my 10 top tips to help you organise your office-life (in the hope that it will make me feel better about not being in mine)!
Sift, sort and chuck: Going through paperwork can be a drag but it’s a vital part of creating an organised office. You should also chuck out old equipment that isn't working but seems very at home on your office floor!
Create a system: A good filing system is vital. Invest in something that functions for your needs such as drop-file systems to lever-arch files to filing cabinets.
Go paperless: As much as possible, consider the paper-less route. Many businesses are going this route to save trees (and their sanity). Email me if you want more info.
Do an audit: Identify exactly what you will need in order to achieve the vision you have for your office space.
Get stuff you need: I know I told you to chuck stuff, but part of acquiring an organised office-life might require you to equip it properly. Invest in functional items such as wall-mounted or desk paper trays, notice boards for planning and correspondence with other staff members, a shredder, productivity software, possibly training and staff development as well as furniture.
Create a work plan: Schedule when admin is going to be done as if it is for a client. Keep to your schedule and admin will be breeze. Do the same for other aspects of your business that you need to attend to each month.
Consolidate daily planning: Operate from one diary (electronic or otherwise) that has enough space to plan your day and write some notes when necessary. If you have a notepad for ideas and notes, then use one at a time.
For work-(at)-homers
Define your space and make space: You shouldn't have to sift through toys to get to your documents so if you don't have a dedicated room for work, try to partition space wisely to avoid 'home-work' contamination.
Set boundaries early on and reinforce them. Make sure that everyone in your home environment knows that they only disturb you if they really have to. This is so tough to implement but really valuable if you get it right.
Factor in personal activities, remembering to schedule them into your day. This is probably the one thing that work-at-hom(ers) struggle with the most because it is so easy to get sidetracked and tempted by a coffee with friends. Make sure these ‘private’ activities fit your day’s purpose.
Happy organising!
Isabelle
Head Chiquita
After almost two months of being unable to do a lot of my usual work therefore moving my office to my bedroom, I really miss the organisation my work used to enjoy. As getting an organised office is our focus this month, here are my 10 top tips to help you organise your office-life (in the hope that it will make me feel better about not being in mine)!
Sift, sort and chuck: Going through paperwork can be a drag but it’s a vital part of creating an organised office. You should also chuck out old equipment that isn't working but seems very at home on your office floor!
Create a system: A good filing system is vital. Invest in something that functions for your needs such as drop-file systems to lever-arch files to filing cabinets.
Go paperless: As much as possible, consider the paper-less route. Many businesses are going this route to save trees (and their sanity). Email me if you want more info.
Do an audit: Identify exactly what you will need in order to achieve the vision you have for your office space.
Get stuff you need: I know I told you to chuck stuff, but part of acquiring an organised office-life might require you to equip it properly. Invest in functional items such as wall-mounted or desk paper trays, notice boards for planning and correspondence with other staff members, a shredder, productivity software, possibly training and staff development as well as furniture.
Create a work plan: Schedule when admin is going to be done as if it is for a client. Keep to your schedule and admin will be breeze. Do the same for other aspects of your business that you need to attend to each month.
Consolidate daily planning: Operate from one diary (electronic or otherwise) that has enough space to plan your day and write some notes when necessary. If you have a notepad for ideas and notes, then use one at a time.
For work-(at)-homers
Define your space and make space: You shouldn't have to sift through toys to get to your documents so if you don't have a dedicated room for work, try to partition space wisely to avoid 'home-work' contamination.
Set boundaries early on and reinforce them. Make sure that everyone in your home environment knows that they only disturb you if they really have to. This is so tough to implement but really valuable if you get it right.
Factor in personal activities, remembering to schedule them into your day. This is probably the one thing that work-at-hom(ers) struggle with the most because it is so easy to get sidetracked and tempted by a coffee with friends. Make sure these ‘private’ activities fit your day’s purpose.
Happy organising!
Isabelle
Head Chiquita
Posted by Isabelle de Grandpre. Posted In : Newsletters
Eliminator of clutter and creator of function. Supermom of 2 and determined to survive life (with a side of humour and contemplation)!
