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Office organization requires effort and

planning, but it isn’t difficult to accomplish.

Taking the time to organize and maintain

a productive office can benefit you

financially and reduce the stress of not

finding what you need, when you need it.

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Use these tips to turn your office

into a haven for productivity...

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The Desk ZoneDesks should only contain the necessities like your

computer, phone, printer, and reference materials. Too

many things cause clutter and disorganization.

Ideally, your desk should have drawers for supplies

and files used daily. Pens, pencils, tape, paperclips,

and staples should all stay in containers or in easy to

reach drawers.

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The Paperless OfficeOne of the best things you can do for your office

and the environment is to go paperless. Paper

creates clutter!

Although a certain amount of paper is necessary,

try reading and storing documents online instead.

Before you hit the print key, ask yourself:

“Do I really need to print this?”

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Inbox and Outbox Having in and out boxes on your desk

creates a space for those documents that

have to be printed, as well as incoming and

outgoing mail.

This allows you to know exactly where

documents are, instead of having them in

piles all over your desk.

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Snail Mail If your office gets a lot of mail, it might be

better to sort it into smaller trays and title

them:

To-File, To-Read, and To-Contact (write or

call), rather than placing it all in your in or out

boxes.

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Filing CabinetsAn organized office needs file cabinets, so use

them! Color coding makes it easier and faster to

find information.

If your files become stuffed, clean them out. Put

prior year’s files in a labeled storage box to free

space.

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Magazine Boxes Store the magazines you want to keep in special

magazine boxes on a shelf so they don’t clutter

your work space.

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Paper ShredderShred documents with personal information that

you don’t need to keep. This will free up file space

and protect confidentiality as well.

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Recycling BinUnneeded papers can quickly pile up, so keep a

bin close by and use it often.

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Do Not Disturb Reclaim your time by hanging a sign on the door

or a dry erase board to let others know you’re

unavailable.

Dedicated work time helps maintain an organized

mind as well as an organized office.

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Personal ItemsPersonal items can crowd your workspace. And

that’s okay, but don’t let them overrun you.

Designate a specific area for personal items. This

keeps your desk organized and free from

distraction.

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Plan ItA personal planner or desk calendar will help you

keep track of your schedule and deadlines.

Write everything down! Include birthdays,

appointments, client meetings, deadlines, and any

other helpful notes.

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Once A Month Clean Sweep Spend one day a month doing a total clean sweep in

your office. Put files and supplies back where they

belong.

Clean out desk drawers and file cabinets. Shred

papers that you don’t need if they contain personal

information.

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Tip Top ComputersComputers are the lifeline of an office. Use canned

air to dust weekly and screen cleaners to keep your

screen in tip-top shape.

Install and use anti-virus software and system

utilities to keep your computer running well. Also,

you’ll want to backup regularly.

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What ‘To-Do’Maintaining a daily to-do list will help you stay

organized. Make it a habit to write down important

tasks and cross them off as they’re completed.

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Ugly Cords?Tidy up those messy cords with twist ties or rubber

bands. Or cut empty paper towel tubes lengthwise

and gently push the cords into the tubes. You can

even decorate them for a creative flair.

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The Reference Zone If your job requires you to have reference material

on hand, set up a specific zone in your office for

these materials. This could include binders,

books, manuals, magazines, dictionaries, and

professional items. A bookcase should fit the

zone nicely.

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Surge Protectors and BackupsSurge protectors and battery backups are a must for

any office. They play a huge part in keeping you

organized by ensuring your computer stays up and

running.

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Deadlines No one likes them, but we all have them.

Incorporate your deadlines into your master to-do

list and keep that handy in your planner. Sticking

to a deadline schedule will force you to stay on

track.

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Did Someone Say Lunch?Lunch is important to keep you focused and

motivated through the rest of the work day.

Stick to your scheduled lunch time and give

yourself an extra boost of energy by taking a

short walk for some fresh air.

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Fresh Start Straighten your desk at the end of each day.

That way, when you sit down in the morning,

you can start with a clean slate.

If you have a priority task that needs to be

completed first thing in the morning, leave that

out on the desk to help you get focused and

ready to go.

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Label It!A label machine is your best friend. Labeling all

files, folders, bins, containers, trays, boxes, and

other organizational tools lets you know exactly

what’s inside.

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Time Yourself! Using a kitchen timer can be a great help

when you’re pressed for time or taking

breaks.

Stopping when you’re in the middle of an

important tasks wastes time. You lose the

time from the task and you lose time trying

to get your train of thought back on track!

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Organize Your Phone Time Make the most of your phone time by making

calls in batches, leaving detailed messages, if

needed.

Always include the time you called and make

notes about what needs to be done next

regarding the call.

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Develop Your Own SystemTake time to discover what works for you and stick

with it. It’ll be well worth the effort.

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Stick To Your GoalsIt takes 21 days to make a habit. Stick with

your organization goals and they’ll become

habits.

Your increase in productivity will make you

glad you stuck with it!

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Keeping yourself and your office organized isn’t

hard.

Following these simple tips can keep your office

running smoothly, enable you to accomplish

more, and help you feel less stressed!

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:SAMANTHA POINTER-FOXX, FOUNDER OF GET IT TOGETHER!

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