If only you could work from home you would be able to get more done. No interruptions from co-workers. No pretentious banter with your boss. No sitting in meetings for hours thinking about all
work you could be doing, or better yet, daydreaming of being someplace else altogether. And beyond all that, you’d have no worries about who would pick up kids or prepare dinner or how you’ll manage to squeeze in your daily workout. Heck, if you worked from home, you’d be able to do all that and more because your life would be so much more convenient and organized. Yeah, right.Home-based business owners have it tough when it comes to staying balanced and getting things done. Although working from home seems like ideal situation for being more efficient and organized, and maximizing your time and effort, it doesn’t always work out that way. Getting and staying organized is more than just buying a PDA and writing a to do list. It involves making a commitment to be efficient in everything you do—from home and family to leisure, fitness, and of course, business. But what do you do when you have a million things to do in one 24-hour period, and no one to help you—or so you think? You get organized.
According to LaNita Filer of Organizing Concepts Plus, a Houston, Texas-based professional organizing firm, you must have a system for everything. “Determine your personality style and find a system that works for you, whether it’s electronic, a planner, file folders, a Palm or good old fashioned paper and pencil,” she advises.
But how do you go about getting organized? Try these suggestions to help manage your time, know where things are when you need them, make most of your day, and be more efficient.
Organize Being organized isn’t just for anal-retentives out there. Nor is it a matter of being meticulous about every aspect of your life. But benefits of basic organization in your home office can save you time, money and perhaps some embarrassing moments. While it might take you some up-front time to get things in order, it will definitely be to your advantage in long run.
First of all, take a good look at your work area. If you’re like me, you might not work at a desk. Since I work from home using a laptop computer, my desk is wherever I am—my bed, kitchen table or living room sofa. Wherever you work, place often used items within arms reach so you don’t waste time and energy searching for cordless telephone, stapler, memory key, data CDs or other items critical to your daily tasks.
If you’re comfortable with technology and want to use it to fullest, automate as much as possible. Get rid of that antiquated Rolodex that’s collecting dust on top of your desk. Take time to add contacts to your electronic database. Stop using that old-fashioned calculator and start using one on your computer or PDA. Simple adjustments such as these can help you focus on task at hand and avoid being distracted by time-wasting activities.
Next, make staying organized an ongoing task. “When you start a new project, immediately make a new folder for it,” advises Filer. “If you prefer to go electronic route as well, be sure your computer filing system reflects one in your file cabinet.” And finally, at end of each day, create a “To Do” list for next day. This way you’ll know exactly what needs to get done so you don’t waste time trying to remember that one thing that absolutely, positively has to get done tomorrow. Take it a step further and rank items, placing most important items first and least important items last. What a great segue to our next suggestion.
Prioritize Okay, so you’re reviewing your “To Do” list, which includes ten “must do” business items for today. Besides that, you have to mop floor, take kids to golf lessons, drop off Duke at vet, hit gym and probably take a nap. But what really needs to get done today?
