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