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A
Guide To Setting Up Your Home Office
By Jakob Culver
Starting your home business can be fun and exciting, but it
is important to make sure that you have the essentials. The
most important thing you will need for your home business is
a home office.
Working at home is a luxury of having your own business.
Thanks to the internet this is something that is becoming
more and more popular.
Creating a home office is a great idea. It gives the sense
of being at work without ever leaving your home. Remember
this is the place where you will be earning your money. It
is always a possibility that your clients could stop by your
office.
You want a space in your home that is comfortable and quiet.
You will also want your privacy when working as well and
when you start your home office you should have these needs
in mind.
If you have a spare bedroom that is ideal to use for a home
office. You want a space that is closed off from the common
noise of the house. If possible have the room that is
farthest from the rest of the rooms of the house to use for
your home office.
Furnishing your office can be the easiest or hardest part,
deciding on what you feel you need in your office. You
should have a desk, shelves and a filing cabinet at the very
least. After you have the basics you can look into maybe
putting a chair or small couch in your office just for
comfort.
You will obviously need a computer and internet connection.
You may also want to think about getting a separate phone
line set up with voice mail, and a printer.
Add some pictures and cheery curtains. Working from home
should be enjoyable, and you should enjoy the space you are
working from.
To find additional
information like this or about home decorating visit -
http://homedecorhelponline.com http://homedecorhelponline.com
was founded Jakob Culver. Jakob has a background and large
knowledge in and about home decorating.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jakob_Culver
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Organizing Your Home
Office
By Samuel Murray
When organizing your office, you’ve got a couple choices.
Write a list of all the little things that need to be done
and work on them a few minutes each day, or dive straight
into the deep end and do it all in one fell swoop.
If you’re sick of your entire office, box it all up like
you’re moving, and set the boxes in a different room. Then
unpack one box at a time and organize from the bottom –up.
Make sure to file papers as you go along.
I like the “little at a time” approach. My first step would
be to take all the papers that are scattered about and put
them into one box. You can file these now, or clean your
desktop and surrounding area further. I like putting all the
filing together, all the books together, and then working on
one pile at a time.
If several folks in your home are receiving mail, you can
use wall-mounted acrylic holders and just label them with
each person’s name. That takes care of the mail lying
around.
A friend of mine keeps all her bills on her refrigerator
with a magnet. As soon as they come in, they go straight on
the fridge. That way, they can’t get lost underneath piles
of papers. I’ve adopted this idea and it’s saved me a huge
headache. Now I don’t have a bunch of envelopes and bills
lying around on my desktop, just waiting for payday.
Decide what your office needs and designate a spot for each
item. If you make calls from this area, you’ll need a phone,
phone book, message pad and pens.
You’ll need a place for the computer and accessories, plus a
spot for copy paper.
Set up the basics first, and then decide item-by-item what
else you want to place in your office. Do you have room for
personal items? Pictures can be placed on a bulletin board
or hung on the wall. You ability to focus and accomplish is
affected by a messy desktop, so make it a priority to keep
it decluttered.
Once you’ve set up the office and filed your paperwork, you
can buy some colored folders or stickers and color-code your
files to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
If you take just 15 minutes every other day to clean off
your desk and surrounding work area, you’ll find your home
office a much more pleasant place to work! And your personal
efficiency will skyrocket as well!
About the Author: This
article provide courtesy of
http://www.office-furniture-shopper.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com |
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Clearing Office Clutter
By Janet Barclay
The Oxford Canadian Dictionary defines clutter as "a crowded
and untidy collection of things" or "an untidy state." When
we don't have designated places for all our belongings,
clutter is often the result. Even if you have established
organizational systems, you will face problems with clutter
unless you have a plan to find homes for every single
article you bring into your office. Otherwise, it's too easy
to set things on top of your desk, filing cabinet, or
another surface "for now." All too often, "for now" ends up
becoming "forever" or at least until things reach the point
that you can no longer tolerate the clutter. If you're
already at this point, the following tips may help you get
back on track.
The first thing you must do is set aside time to deal with
the clutter. Many small business owners feel they are too
busy to do this, but in reality, the time you'll save once
everything is organized will more than make up for it. You
might choose to block off a day or two just to concentrate
on this project, if your schedule allows it. If not, set
aside an hour a day or a couple of hours a week and keep at
it until there's no clutter left in your office. Treat this
appointment with yourself the same way you would treat an
appointment with one of your clients - don't cancel it
unless you have a dire emergency, and don't deviate from the
task at hand by taking phone calls or getting distracted by
other work.
The best place to begin decluttering your office is with
your desk. There is no reason to keep anything in your work
area than the things that you are currently working on. Your
current projects should be kept where you can access them
easily, but rather than keeping them in piles on your desk,
they should be
organized into clearly labeled file folders. It's very
likely that those piles of paper on your desk include
information which is out of date and can be discarded, as
well as documents that you need to keep, but are not
currently using, which can be filed in your filing cabinet.
Once your work area is clutter free, you need to go through
your files and discard anything you no longer need,
shredding all documents which contain confidential
information, of course. Large organizations usually have a
retention schedule that dictates how long certain types of
information must be kept. If
you're not sure, it may be wise to consult a lawyer or
accountant to determine how long certain documents must be
retained by law in your area. Items which are needed for
legal or other reasons,
but not referred to on a regular basis, should be put in an
archive area, such as a lower file drawer, storage room, or
offsite storage, depending on the volume of paper you have
and the space you have available.
While going through your files, be sure to pull out any
documents which don't seem to belong in their existing file
folder so you can find a more suitable home for them.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, getting rid
of the clutter is only half the battle. Maintenance is
equally important, and here are three tips to help keep
clutter from coming back.
1. Make a practice of handling each document only once, if
possible. When you open your mail or email, deal with it
immediately. If it's about an upcoming meeting or other
event, copy the information into your planner, then get rid
of it. If it's a quick question, answer it immediately, then
discard it. If you may need the information again in the
future and it's not readily available elsewhere, file it,
don't just put it back in
your inbox. There will be some items that cannot be dealt
with immediately. These should be noted on your "to do" list
and the document placed in the appropriate folder on your
desk.
2. Implement a "clean desk" policy where desks must be
cleared of all paperwork at the end of each work day.
3. Set a filing schedule to prevent a backlog of unfiled
documents. You often need to refer to something you've
worked on recently, and you don't want to have to sift
through piles of paperwork to find it. How often you need to
do filing will depend on the volume of paper you keep, but
the important thing is to
keep it up to date.
A tidy office is only one of the benefits of getting rid of
clutter. When your work environment is clutter-free, you'll
be more productive, because there will be fewer things to
distract you from the task at hand. You'll be less likely to
forget about things you're supposed to do, or to miss
important events,
because the information won't be buried under a pile of
other documents. As a result, you'll be more confident,
appear more competent, and free up time for the types of
activities that will help you to become successful!
Janet Barclay, Organized
Assistant, offers office organizing services in and around
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and virtual assistance around the
globe.
Visit http://www.organizedassistant.com for more
information and additional resources to help you organize
your office, including The Organized Assistant Resource, a
free monthly ezine.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Barclay
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10 Tips for Organizing a
Writer's Home Office
By Barbara Hemphill
While writers are
experts as organizing words, I’ve
discovered that organizing one of the
major tools of their trade – a home
office – is often an enigma! One of the
major myths of organizing is that it
will stifle creativity. But how creative
– or profitable? – can it be to spend
time looking for what you need, or
rewriting something you could have
“tweaked” from a previous project – but
couldn’t find it?
In my experience, that old saying “A
place for everything in its place” is
only half right. After 20 years of
organizing home offices –including my
own – I am confident that “everything in
it’s place” all the time would stifle
most writers’ creativity. The stress
comes, however, when you’d like to clean
up the place, because company’s coming,
or you’re just tired of looking at a
mess, but you don’t know how – at least
not so you can find it again! Creativity
is often a messy process – but being
able to recover from the mess when you
choose to do so – is the mark of a
professional.
Consider these tips to help you get
started:
1. Develop clear understandings and
guidelines with others in the household
to minimize misunderstandings about your
home office. If you work at home in
order to be able to care for children
while you work, consider organizing a
part of your office to be their
“office.”
2. Choose a location for your office
that you like to be. Select furniture
and lighting to suit your individual
preferences. If possible, create an
L-shape for your desk area with filing
space within reach. Consider ergonomic
design to protect yourself from fatigue
or even injury. Used office furniture
stores can offer great bargains.
3. Clutter is postponed decisions. Apply
the FAT system to every piece of paper
that comes into your office: File, Act,
or Toss.
4. Set up your desk so you can process
mail quickly. Most people need at least
three large containers within easy reach
of their desk: • In - for mail you
haven’t yet looked at • Out - for items
that need to go someplace else • File -
for items that need to be filed outside
the reach of your desk Minimize
unnecessary clutter by eliminating
containers that are not designed for a
specific purpose, such as paper clips,
pens and pencils, expenses to submit,
etc.
5. Put wastebasket or recycling
containers wherever possible – for
example, under your desk, near the
filing cabinet, or next to the fax
machine. Create a location for used
paper which can be used for “scratch”
purposes.
6. Create “Action Files” for projects
you are currently working on, or things
you need to do, such as pay bills,
submit expense statements, update your
database, etc.
7. Create “Reference Files ” for
completed projects, or for information
that might be useful for future
projects. Keep a File Index – a list of
the names of your files so you won’t
create a file for “automobile” when you
already have one for “car.” (Check out
www.thepapertiger.com for Kiplinger’s
Taming the Paper Tiger – which
automatically cross-references and
indexes your paper files, and guarantees
you can find anything in your office in
five seconds or less!)
8. Develop a “Just in Time Reading
System.” Instead of piling up journals
and magazines, scan the table of
contents for articles related to your
expertise. Tear them out or photocopy
and file them by subject so you can find
them when you actually need to use them.
9. If you need more filing space, create
“Archives” in a less accessible or
off-site location for files you are
legally required to keep, or for files
you rarely use. Keep a list of those
files at your desk for easy reference.
10. Feeling short of space? Look up!
Make good use of wall space for
bookshelves or cabinets for resources
such as books, audio and videotapes,
notebooks, magazines, and office
supplies.
Remember, creative minds always have
more to do than the physical body can
carry out. Few writers I know are short
on ideas – and frequently the more paper
they have, the less they use.
Continually ask yourself “What’s the
worst possible thing that would happen
if I didn’t have this?” If you can live
with your answer, toss – or recycle it –
and write happily ever after!
© Barbara
Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's
Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and
Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and
co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living
Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of
Hemphill Productivity Institute is to
help individuals and organizations
create and sustain a productive
environment so they can accomplish their
work and enjoy their lives. We do this
by organizing space, information, and
time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237
or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Hemphill
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WHAT
CLUTTER-CLEARING CAN DO FOR YOU
by Stephanie Roberts
You can get a pretty good idea of the
benefits of clutter clearing simply by
imaging your life free of all the
negative effects of clutter: lack of
focus and clarity; feelings of being
professionally, creatively, spiritually,
and/or romantically stuck; insufficient
time and attention for self and family;
increased stress, irritability and
depression. Wouldn't it be great to be
free of all these?
No matter what other factors may be
dragging you down, I guarantee you that
clearing your clutter will dramatically
improve your mood and energy. And then
any other problems you are confronting
won't seem quite so bad.
When you first start clutter clearing
you may be surprised at the emotions
triggered by the simple act of dealing
with your stuff. You think you're just
cleaning out your home, but what you're
really doing is rooting around in dusty
corners of your psyche and coming
eyeball-to-eyeball with unresolved
business from the past. The personal
relics that lurk within your clutter -
college papers, family memorabilia,
detritus from a long-dead marriage - can
be easier to ignore than to carry to the
dump, which is why they've been haunting
the back of your closet for so many
years.
As you persevere with clutter
clearing a moment will come when you
realize how much lighter and happier you
feel. In the process of coping with your
clutter, you've reconnected with your
inner self, with dreams and wishes long
ignored. Those you've outgrown can be
released with a fond smile. Those that
make your heart leap with recognition
and longing... well, now you have the
space, time, and energy to pursue them.
Clutter clearing gets you out of your
rut. It shakes loose frozen aspects of
your soul and allows them to journey
into your heart where they belong and
where you can listen to and act upon
them.
Eventually, you will find yourself
turning to clutter clearing instead of
aspirin or caffeine when you notice that
you're not as clear-headed, focused or
insightful as you'd like to be. If
you're feeling lethargic and don't want
to exercise, you'll know to examine
whether you've allowed a zone of
stagnation to creep in around the couch
(where you are most likely to be having
lazy thoughts in the first place). If
you can't seem to decide on priorities
for your business, you'll realize it's
time to clear off the desk and catch up
on paperwork. And if you're not eating
as well as you should, you'll remember
that clearing off the kitchen counter
and cleaning out the fridge will help
get your eating habits back on track.
What this all boils down to is that
managing your clutter helps you feel
like less of a victim and puts you back
in control of your moods and your life.
You have greater confidence in your
abilities and decisions, so you feel
more hopeful and optimistic about the
future. You respect yourself more, and
will probably find that other people
treat you better as well. You feel less
stressed, and have more courage to try
and do new things. You stop turning to
material objects to make you happy,
because you are content with less.
Clearing out your clutter creates
space for possibility. You may find
yourself deciding to go back to school,
change your career, start your own
business, go out on a date, take up
painting or singing or ballroom dancing,
try out for a part in a play, or...
what's your dream? (No wonder clutter
clearing can be a little scary! Suddenly
there are no more excuses for why you
can't pursue that dream.)
Your friends will say you look
terrific. They'll wonder where that
sparkle in your eye came from, and how
you manage to look both energized and
serene at the same time. It's because
you have released from your life
everything that is no longer useful to
you. You have let go of the past and are
no longer hoarding for the future. You
have made space for living freely in the
present, where peace resides.
© 2003 Stephanie Roberts
[exerpted
from "Clutter-Free Forever!", Lotus Pond
Press, 2003]
Stephanie Roberts is the author of "Fast
Feng Shui: 9 Simple Principles for
Transforming Your Life by Energizing
Your Home", a #1 most popular feng shui
book at Amazon.com. Here "Clutter-Free
Forever!" Home Coaching Program has
helped hundreds of people get rid of
their clutter, and it can help you, too.
Find out more at
http://www.clutter-free-forever.com. |
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Your
Home Business Office
By Chris Keenan Having an appropriate home business office is just as
important as your business itself. Many factors affect
how you approach your work at home business including
distractions, proper office equipment and the overall
environment of your business office.
Setting up your home business office properly may not
seem like it’s really necessary, but try to picture how
your office at work is set-up. Other than the fact that
you may hate your job, your office is probably well
organized, open and contains all the necessary equipment
to perform your job effectively.
A carpenter would not arrive at your house to perform a
remodel without bringing any of his/her tools would
they? Of course not. Thus, your home business office
should have all the tools necessary to operate a
profitable business.
Place your office in a strategic location of the house.
Placing it next to the baby’s room upstairs or in the
dining room are not appropriate places. Your chosen
location should be free of all distractions like a
washer/dryer, kids playing a dishwasher or a TV. (Taking
time out to watch “Friends” while you work is not
productive). Have the attitude that you work from home,
not at home. Hibernating is fine for bears, but not for
people. Go out to make new contacts and keep old ones
alive as well. Particularly if you're a naturally
reserved person, remember that your home's a base, not a
permanent place.
Keep your office organized. Everyone has their own way
to organize, but whatever you do, make sure that office
supplies are readily available to you when you need to
use them. Get furniture sized for home offices instead
of standard office furniture. A number of furniture
companies are manufacturing special home-office lines.
Smaller furniture is better adapted to the entryways and
available space in most homes.
Supply your home office with a computer, printer, adding
machine, telephone, pens, pencils, paper and possibly a
fax. Get a comfortable chair for your desk. A cheap
chair may save you some money in the short term, but
remember, your mind will continue to work only as long
as the rear-end can endure.
Your home office should also have plenty of natural and
artificial light. Make sure there is a decent window in
your selected room. (A pleasant view would be nice!).
Place a light on your desk and in other parts of the
room as well.
Lastly, enjoy yourself! After all, you are working at
home without a boss. So go get a cup of coffee whenever
you want, or take a long lunch!
E. Christopher Keenan has been a successful banker and
lender for over 25 years. He now offers home business
articles, ideas and opportunities through his popular
website http://www.bizmancan.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Keenan |
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