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Organizing Strategies for the Self-Employed
©Vicki Norris, Restoring Order®
2003
www.RestoringOrder.com
503.625.5774
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Version
Self-employed professionals usually run their businesses and their homes out
of the same office space. This convergence of the personal and professional
life in one space can cause disorder for even the most conscientious.
Restoring
Order® recommends the following strategies for the self-employed to
create and maintain order:
1. Invest
in adequate furniture
Often, those running home-based businesses or tele-commuting
just patch together a home office, rather than investing in the appropriate
furniture. Every office needs a clear work area, space for peripheral
equipment and computer hardware, a spot for reference materials, file space,
and a location for frequently referenced supplies and paper.
2.
Properly place hardware and peripherals
Once the right furniture is purchased and put in place,
place peripherals and hardware by frequency of use. If the printer is used
daily, it should be within reach. If the CPU is only accessed for
troubleshooting, it can be placed under, or next to, the desk. If a scanner
is rarely used, it can be placed outside the work area. Sometimes
peripherals can only be located as far away as cords allow. When setting up
hardware, be conscious of access to drives, trays, and cords. Do not block
access to drawers or leg room with tangled cords.
3.
Establish centers
The efficient office is zoned into activity areas: the
work center (usually the desktop), the reference center, and
the supply center. The work center should include clear work space,
the computer, and accessible office supplies. The items in the reference
center will vary from person to person, but usually includes binders,
manuals, dictionary, and professional books and materials. Reference
materials are commonly stored on bookshelves or in cabinets. A supply center
could contain office and paper supplies inside a cabinet, or within a bank
of drawers.
4.
Make paper work for you
Multi-tasking is the name of the game for self-employed
professionals. This often results in a desktop piled high with paper. In
order to clear the desktop for ample work space, some key paper management
systems must be established to tame the paper pile-up and allow the
professional to work on one thing at a time. The successful professional
needs to process actionable paper, store projects (like client
or administrative matters), and access a permanent filing system
built around their specific job and needs. Without proper paper management
systems, the self-employed will struggle in a sea of confusion, ill-equipped
to capture information and documents.
5.
Consolidate calendars
The family calendar, the PC calendar, the PDA, and the
paper planner all hold various appointments and events. The savvy
professional will choose one calendar system, and consolidate personal and
business items. This way, no events "fall through the cracks," and all
commitments can be viewed simultaneously.
6.
Carry in the car only what is necessary
Some professionals find that their office is morphing
into their car. They haul around files and materials, but find that they
rarely use what they transport. Once effective office systems are
established, paper, reference material, and supplies will find "homes."
These items can be removed from the car, and stored in their appropriate
home. Using a simple, consolidated calendar system, the professional can now
plan ahead for appointments, and bring with them only the necessary files
and materials. This approach also eliminates searching for things between
office and vehicle.
The
experienced, trained consultants of Restoring Order® make
a living bringing order to the home-based businesses, corporate offices, and
residential environments of local and national clients. For more
information about Restoring Order® professional organizing service, visit
www.RestoringOrder.com or call (503) 625-5774.
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