| Organization plays a major role in how | | | | folder have a subfolder where you keep your |
| effective you are as a worker. The following | | | | contract templates called 'templates' and |
| tips serve to help entrepreneurs and | | | | other subfolders for each of your clients |
| employees alike to achieve efficiency through | | | | where you can store copies of the contracts |
| organization. | | | | you have with each customer. You should also |
| | | | regularly organize your desktop in order to |
| It's 10:38am and you are on a roll. You are | | | | avoid sitting and staring at it |
| so deeply involved in your work, that you | | | | unproductively for long periods. You need to |
| barely notice the world around you. You are | | | | eliminate the clutter on your desktop by |
| in the zone. You just need to verify the | | | | erasing any shortcuts for programs that you |
| date on that invoice...but where is that | | | | don't use often. This will enable you to |
| invoice? It was right there a second ago. | | | | quickly access your frequently used programs. |
| Nothing throws off your concentration faster | | | | |
| that disorganization. You may have to spend | | | | 3. Make to-do lists. Do you ever feel so |
| the next 10 minutes looking through drawers, | | | | overwhelmed with work that you don't even |
| the piles on your desk and maybe even the | | | | know where to begin? Making a to-do list at |
| recycling bin to see if it accidentally ended | | | | the start of each work day is such a simple |
| up there. | | | | step, but will help enormously to keep you on |
| | | | track. You will avoid starting one task only |
| Are you one of those people who say they have | | | | to realize that you have something more |
| their 'own' filing system? This usually is | | | | important that needs to be done first. I |
| just a cover for 'I basically know what each | | | | personally have found to-do lists to be the |
| of these various piles are here for and can | | | | most effective time saver and I am constantly |
| probably tell you what's in some of them.' | | | | amazed at how doing such a small thing as |
| There is no telling how much time can be lost | | | | creating a list makes me a great deal more |
| in a day due to disorganization. Imagine if | | | | efficient. |
| every time you needed something, it was right | | | | |
| where it was supposed to be. What a time | | | | 4. Be neat. It's incredibly simple and |
| saver that would be! If you are trying to | | | | amazingly effective at saving you time. Put |
| find a way to avoid losing precious minutes | | | | things back in their place when you are |
| out of your day trying to find that file, | | | | finished with them. There is nothing more |
| email, invoice or pen, the following tips may | | | | irritating than having to stop working in |
| be valuable to you. | | | | order to find your pen. If you don't have |
| | | | them already, find some organizational |
| 1. File everyday. Don't let papers build up | | | | objects for your desk such as, a cup for your |
| on your desk. Piles of paper sitting on your | | | | pens, a box for your paperclips and an in-box |
| desk not only hamper your efficiency, they | | | | for your newest tasks. Keep the supplies you |
| create stress as well. Imagine sitting down | | | | use frequently such as staples, staplers, |
| to work with nothing but your current project | | | | highlighters and hanging file folder tabs in |
| on your desk. Now imagine it (if it doesn't | | | | one easily accessible place. |
| already resemble this) with piles of work | | | | |
| everywhere. You can feel the stress those | | | | 5. Keep a calendar. With all of the |
| piles create. Set aside 15 minutes each day | | | | responsibilities you have in a day, you can't |
| to create files, label them clearly and set | | | | possibly expect to remember everything. A |
| up a filing system or just keep them in | | | | calendar will keep you on track and help you |
| alphabetical order. This will be a great | | | | to avoid missing important meetings, |
| time saver the next time that you are looking | | | | appointments and even family events. If you |
| for that invoice. The 15 minutes a day you | | | | use Microsoft Outlook, and have your computer |
| put into this will be regained and then some | | | | on throughout the day, use its calendar or |
| in the time that you don't have to spend | | | | you can find many free calendar programs |
| searching for things. | | | | online. Just do a Google search for 'free |
| | | | online calendars'. If you don't work at your |
| 2. Organize your computer files. Just as you | | | | computer all day, consider buying an agenda |
| set up a filing system for your papers, you | | | | to keep you on track, or a handheld such as a |
| need to arrange a filing system on your | | | | Palm Pilot or Pocket PC, or check if your |
| computer. Not being able to find a document | | | | cell phone has a calendar you can use. |
| on your computer is every bit as frustrating | | | | |
| as losing one on paper. But this is very | | | | Organization is the key to efficiency. Using |
| easily avoided, since every time you save a | | | | these few simple steps will help your work |
| document on your computer, you are asked | | | | day run considerably smoother. Taking the |
| where you would like to save it. If you have | | | | time to get organized is just the first step. |
| just been randomly saving your work wherever | | | | Maintaining organization is the solution for |
| your computer prompts you to, it's time to | | | | helping you to remain effective in your work. |
| clean up. Create folders for larger topics | | | | Take charge of your time by following these |
| and subfolders within each topic. For | | | | tips, it will cost you little time, but will |
| example, if you work with contracts, have one | | | | ultimately save you considerable hours. |
| folder called 'contracts', and within this | | | | |