With more and more people telecommuting and working from home, one of the most important things to remember is that a home office is still an office, and organization is the key to making it work for you.

Files and folders are virtual dinosaurs in this age of the paperless office. All businesses can benefit from the proper management and organization of office records. Throwing things away seems almost a sin for some small business owners which is precisely why many find themselves buried under a mountain of disorganized paperwork.

Business owners will tend to keep everything in an effort to avoid having to decide what to keep and what to pitch. In time, the storage room door cannot be opened and hope is all but lost for finding any documents that may be needed. It is the responsibility of management to make sure things remain organized to prevent lowered productivity or a complete shutdown of business operations.

Barbara Hemphill, an expert on office efficiency, says that “most small businesses don’t deal with their papers until it’s too late.” If there is one important piece of paper you need to find amongst hundreds if not thousands of other papers it could take you days to locate its whereabouts. Management needs to take steps now to prevent this type of situation from happening.

Beginning to Organize

You are going to need an entire day (if not more) to organize the office. You do not want to find yourself interrupted and distracted by customers, so choose a day when you are not normally open to tackle this mammoth project. Make sure all office staff get in on the fun because it is certain that they helped to create the mess.

Organizing your office space and paperwork is more difficult if you work alone, but not impossible. Even entrepreneur diehards can squeeze in a day for cleanup.

The paperwork atop your desk needs to be first priority. Organize by subject and then date. After sorting is out of the way, it is time to put everything in its proper place. If file folders do not exist for some of the paperwork, then create some so there is a place for them.

Next, locate income statements, expense receipts, and sort them accordingly. Your accounting should be a priority. Record transactions into an accounting system or ledger until you’re current. If you’re like me, you could spend the majority of your day just entering transactions. Instead, end at a time that you can easily pickup from.

Once you’ve organized paperwork into file folders, you’ll need to assemble boxes or purchase crates to keep documents in. Your filing system will depend on the type of business you operate. Some businesses organize their files by the client’s name, while others use job numbers. No matter what type of business you operate, you will always file your accounts receivable and accounts payable the same. All that matters is that you have a system to your filing.

Organizing your Computer Documents

Fire or water can wreak havoc on a business if either of these two hazards reach critical documents. Businesses have coped with these dangers by investing in scanners so that they can digitize their physical documents.

Always keep extra copies of your computer documents and files in a fire resistance safe at another location. Files can be stored on backup tapes, floppy disks, CD ROMs, or external hard drives. Be sure to keep a log of what files you have stored where.

You may want to consider an automated backup service for your financial files and records. For a reasonable fee you can have all your important documents stored on an off site server. This will keep your files safe give you peace of mind.

“Your ability to accomplish daily tasks is directly related to your ability to find the right information at the right time,” Hemphill said. Management strategies are essential to the livelihood of your office staff and the success of your business. Don’t wait until the last minute to organize!

By: Vlad Ehrsam

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About the author: Vlad Ehrsam is the chief writer at Full Info on Business, it’s one of the webs most up to date Business sites, their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too.
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If you need to organize, declutter, restructure, eliminate, purge, and/or clean, this site will get you off to a great start and on the track to cleanliness, organization, decluttering, and de-stressing!

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

Take a deep breath and let’s plan your strategy!  Your room probably didn’t get messy, dirty, or cluttered in a day, so don’t expect it to instantly become perfect.  There are actually techniques involved when trying to declutter, and organize a room.

If your room is large, mentally section it off into smaller areas, such as the bookcase area or the TV area, etc.  Focus only on that small area first so that you can make a dent in it and see some progress quickly.  Even a little bit of progress makes you feel like you have accomplished something and then you are ready to tackle the next area.

I like to get out plastic bins and place them in the middle of the room and have them labeled.  The first I label, “Give Away”.  The second I label, “Put Away”, (meaning out of view).  The third I label, “Throw Away”, and sometimes I just get a big garbage can and skip the bin for this group of stuff.  The fourth group is things I need to keep, but don’t belong in that particular room.  The last group is the things I want to keep in that room, but just need to find the right spot for, after I have cleaned that area, i.e. dusted and vacuumed, etc.

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These are just a few tips I use when I need to declutter my room.  I also use these same techniques when I am organizing, cleaning, and decluttering my garage and/or office.

How do you begin decluttering your residence! You can confess your difficulty. Instead of getting to work, you’re here on the web searching for help! Before we get to any solid ideas or tips on the best way to start decluttering your residence, however, you have to have the right mind-set about the challenge ahead. Give some thought to the factors below, for they will assist you get to the purpose where you are actively ready to get to work decluttering your home!

My five steps in how to declutter the house.

1. Clearly define your objective. What would your home ideally appear like? What are you prepared to give up to complete this objective? Why do you desire a de-cluttered residence?

2. Be positive. Remind yourself of all those ancient sayings that are cliche but factual: “The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time” and “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Do NOT say to yourself that you are too far behind to initiate anything, or that the project is too big for you.

3. Ask yourself why you’re holding onto stuff. Emotional attachment? Thrifty nature? Feel bad? If you can uncover (even vaguely) what it is that keeps you from getting rid of mess, you will be better able to confront those issues head on and notice if they are actually valid.

4. Examine what stops you from placing things away right away. Distractions? Lazy? No easily-accessible place for letters to be filed once you open it? Lack of adequate shelving,  storage containers or cabinets?

5. Judge your strengths. Determine what method and/or plan of attack may best suit you. Does it make you happy crossing completed tasks of your to-do list? Do you consider you might enjoy a timed approach where you dedicate a specific amount of time to organization and de-cluttering each day? Or would you be intrigued by the idea of having a “De-clutter My house” weekend where you allow no interruptions and get as much done as possible in one extended stretch?

Once you have thought these through, congratulations! you’re one step closer to getting your house clutter-free! Mentally you are ready for a huge challenge! Now that you are ready to start searching for practical tips on a way to initiate decluttering your residence!

When I went to buy my apartment everything was in the early stages and I was not able to see what my garage would look like (apart from the wonderful designs that the builder showed me). I was very skeptical about paying that large amount for something I had not seen, but I knew I had to! I moved in recently and my happiness was doubled when I saw the enormous garage space. Sometimes life springs little surprises, some happy some sad, thankfully my garage belongs to the former category.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

How to Organize Your Garage Storage
Organized space not only looks visually appealing but also provides a sense of well being. Today we will discuss a space that is usually a dumping ground for all the rubbish lying around the house. All the things that lie cluttered in the garage can be organized by installing a good garage storage system. To begin with you need to carefully decide which of the items you plan to keep and the ones you need to throw away. Once you have decided that, double check to ensure that you haven’t put something you need into the boxes.

Now you can finally decide what to buy to store the left over items in. Do not fret because there is a wide range of garage storage units such as shelves, racks and cabinets available in the market. Each of these pieces come in different styles, capacities and designs which make it easier to select one that goes with the other elements in the room. Garage Storage Racks Racks are an ideal way to store most of the things like gardening tools, screwdrivers, pliers and gym equipment. If you are undecided about what to do with some of the items that you have stored in the garage, you could just place them on the racks.

To select the ideal garage storage rack you can visit a trusted and reliable home improvement dealer. If you do not find one, then go to the local dealer or visit the stores online. You are sure to find the right rack from amongst the wide range available in the market! Garage Storage Cabinets This is another option that you can choose while looking for storage units. Garage storage units can be customized, all you need to do is find a reputable supplier online and place an order with him.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

If you are not comfortable with ordering goods online, you can visit the local dealer and look through the range that he has to offer. Most of the cabinets are easy to put together and are available in a variety of sizes to provide a custom look and fit. These cabinets are available in various materials like wood, metal and heavy-duty plastic. Sturdy, beautiful and customized, what else would you want in a garage storage unit?

Garage Storage Shelves
Add that spark to your garage using garage storage shelves. Garage storage shelves are less expensive than the other storage units and provides access to all the things at home. Not only that, this storage unit only uses a very small area of the garage’s vertical space and despite that has plenty of storage spaces for your things!

Garage storage shelves come in various styles, configurations and materials. You could opt for steel shelves if you want durable, heavy-duty storage. You can also make your own shelves if you want to. All you need is some planks of wood like pine or fir and some tools.

By Rachna Gupta Published: 12/7/2007

Organize That Garage

ONLY put back in what goes in a garage. Either find a place for the other stuff or have a yard sale!!!

Organizing a Garage: Garage Storage Solutions

Organizing a garage can be a daunting task. Follow these tips to simplify the process of organizing a garage.

50-Piece Peg Board Set – Organize Garage and Workshop!

50-Piece Peg Board Set – Organize Garage and Workshop! Works with any 1/8″ peg board. Set includes four 5″ & five 2-1/2″ single stakes, six small & two large curved hooks, six angle hooks & twelve large angle hooks, five straight hooks,

Organize the Garage with Slatwall

If you’re like most people, the garage is the last location to organize. So you keep tripping over boxes, tools, toys, cleaning supplies; whatever won’t fit in the house, goes into the garage, right?

How To Organize a Garage Sale

Remove everything from the garage that you don’t want to sell or cover the items with a sheet or drop cloth.

One way you can do this is to sell items that you do not need any more and get some cash. Think about the extra things that you have in your house or in your office and that you are not using. There are several ways you can sell your stuff and turn your things into cash. Think about selling the items online or you can also organize a yard sale. Why not organize a big yard sale where you can sell your things and invite your neighbors and friends to come and sell their things too. This way there will be a bigger variety for the buyers and everybody will be happy.

If you are not in need of extra cash you can donate some of your things. Chances are you will get a tax break on your donations. Once you organize the clutter you will realize the value of all the things that have been taking up space in your house. Organizing will also help you to have less of the same things. Most of us buy double items because we do not know where the first one is. When everything has its own place you have more space in your home and …. you save money!

When your things are organized and properly stored they will last longer. You don’t have to buy the same things over and over again. Storing your stuff in sealed plastic containers and other special storage (depending on the kind of things you are organizing in them) will help you save money, because they won’t get damaged.

Having your papers organized will also help you save money. Think about the late fees you had to pay, because you forgot to open the mail. You can prevent this by having a well organized space where you open your mail, sort and file your papers.

Does all the clutter in your house and in your life make your head spin? Well it doesn’t need to anymore, visit my Organizing Clutter Blog for easy ways to take control of your clutter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carola_Martin

Declutter Has Become My Least Favorite Word

Our house goes on the market in two weeks. Two weeks.

As a professional organizer, I love it when I have the ‘bug’ to declutter my house! For me, going through closets and drawers filling a donation bag makes me feel lighter.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Declutter

Last month, I began a mission to declutter my house under the misguided notion that decluttering would be a good thing.

Declutter A Little Each Day: Declutter Day 23

Originally, we were planning to move my grandmother’s piano here to the new house and I measured to see where the mirror needed to go in order to be above the piano.

Many people are not aware they may be living in a Toxic Home. There have been many chemicals linked to toxins in the home. According to a 15-year study presented at the Toronto Indoor Air Conference, women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home. The study concluded that this was a direct result of the increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.

More than 9 out of every 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household products. The most common poison exposures for children were ingestion of household products, such as cleaning substances. Chlorine is the number one cause of childhood poisonings in the U.S. There have been over 150 chemicals found in the home associated with allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.

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Recently, The Get Clean line was featured on Oprah as a alternative to cleaning products that were Non Toxic for households. Oprah stated that the Get Clean line was one of her favorites for living environmentally safe.

According to research, over 90% of toxic hazards are caused by inhalation of vapors and absorption of hazardous particles. Also, the rise in women getting asthma over the past 10 years is believed to be caused by long term exposure to chemicals in household cleaning products. Women often work closely with chemicals in household products and this may be a contributing factor to why they have a higher rate of asthma, cancers, and other health concerns.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

 Toxic Chemicals in Your Home on Intent.com For example, freshly installed wall-to-wall carpeting emits toxic gases into the environment; however, carpeting stops outgassing six months to a year following installation.

Amiable Amy: Hot Tub Chemicals

Hot Tub Chemicals. Do you have hot tubs at home?

How to Clean The Air Inside Your House

My grandma always ‘aired out’ the house by picking a mostly warm, slightly breezy day and then opening up every window and door in the house for at least a couple of hours.

That brought me up short. I didn’t know what she meant until I stopped to think what she was saying. When we get an idea that we are going to organize and everything will be perfect right now, remember the saying: “Rome wasn’t built in a day”we don’t need to get everything de-cluttered and organized in one day.

It is an important step in organizing anything, a room, a closet, a desk, an office, shelves, attic, or garage, or other places we realize it is important that first comes chaos during the organizing process. When looking at the project it may feel overwhelming but realizing physically things will purposefully be undone and many times emotionally we will be undone and there will be chaos, but when focusing on the goal we can be sure it will all be organized and something better will have been accomplished. It shows something new is being created in your life. Remember the Phoenix was burnt to ashes? Out of the ashes it was reborn.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

When doing many ordinary tasks first comes chaos. For Example: Take clothes shopping for instance. By searching through racks and stacks of clothes, discarding many and trying on others; we eventually find what we want and then purchase them. Once home it is necessary to sort through the bags and separate the clothes in piles according to the person they were intended for. These will then be taken to their rooms to be put away. The shopping experience went from chaos to organization.

For people who sew or quilt first comes organized chaos. There is the process of selecting the fabric among a plethora of bolts of fabric, finding the right pattern, gathering the necessary supplies, cutting the fabric into pieces, then sewing it all back together to make a beautiful quilt. This beautiful work of art started in creative chaos.

When students are studying for a test it first starts with chaos. There are books to read, notes to refer back to, study groups to attend and organizing of thoughts. Then comes the test and it all comes together.

By taking things one step at a time we will accomplish what we want to accomplished and be organized with the least amount of stress. Remembering that first comes chaos both physically and emotionally but out of this will rise calm, peace and a sense of accomplishment.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

When tackling a room, a box, the kitchen cupboards, or the closet that will hardly close just remember there IS a Tuesday and by starting with one thing at a time, realizing out of chaos comes beauty organizing will be a rewarding and less stressful.

Organize Your Garage – In Four Simple Steps

Learn how to organize your garage with these simple organization techniques that will walk you through how to organize your garage and rid yourself of clutter forever.

I’m an Organizing Junkie

This year is my year to organize my house and my life!

Organize Your Life -by The Organized Mom

Software to Organize Your Family · Teaching Healthy Habits for Life.

What’s it like to work with a professional organizer? Victoria Pearlman, a professional organizer in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, who calls herself the Order Artisan (www.orderartisan.com), answers our FAQs:

What types of people hire a professional organizer?

It’s quite a variety. A lot of clients are professional women. They’re working all the time and have no time for the stuff that needs to get done at home. Busy mothers and people who are chronically disorganized are also frequently clients. Working with a professional organizer is good for anyone who needs a semblance of organization in her busy life. If you just don’t have the time or you can’t get it scheduled, having someone come in and help you with it means you’ll get it done.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, by Yourself -  Click here

How does it work?

It starts with a phone conversation. Typically a professional organizer talks at length with the client to get an idea of what’s going on in her life. Most of the time people call because they’re under stress: there’s some life change going on, or they just can’t take the chaos anymore. Then you set up an appointment, and the organizer comes to the person’s office or home for a tour of the space they want to organize. You talk about a game plan and get started.

How long does it take?

It depends on how quick a decision-maker the client is. Professional organizers help you move along. We’re not going to sit there and look at the box of pictures. That’s part of the benefitwe keep you on task and help you to prioritize what really needs to get done right now. We focus on what’s driving you the craziest. And we help you examine why you’re keeping things and how to let go of items that you don’t love or want. But we’re not going to say that you have to throw everything out. People are afraid of that, too. We help you find the treasures both emotionally and physically.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, by Yourself -  Click here

What does it cost?

Organizers charge anywhere from $50-$250 an hour. Business organizing usually is double the cost of residential organizing.

Should people expect to go out and buy new storage systems?

It depends on the organizer and the client. Many people have all types of organizing and storage devices; they just aren’t using them. Sometimes organizers can see things in a different way and get better use from storage that clients already have.

What should you look for in a professional organizer?

I would recommend finding somebody through the National Association of Professional Organizers (www. napo.net). NAPO members have a code of ethics and ongoing education.

Look for someone you have a good rapport with. You can get a feel for the person on the phone. Just as you want to go to a hairdresser you feel comfortable with, you need to have a comfort level with a professional organizer. The things we’re going through are very personal. (Of course, everything is confidential.)

A good professional organizer will tailor his or her system to you. We work with clients to figure out what works best for them. We don’t just set up a system and leave. We talk, we tweak, we do it together.

How do people feel about the results?

People are always happy in the end, even if they cry during the process. (One client actually did cry, but it was a good thing because she was letting go of something that was a burden to her.) But everyone’s happy because they’ve accomplished something.

So if you’re tired of dealing with the mess, consider hiring a professional organizer to restore your home or office to a place that works.

About The Author

Carol Weeg writes and edits Finding Our Way: Wit and Wisdom for Women, the newsletter for thinking women in midlife. Carol inspires women to explore their lives todayfrom work, to relationships, to dealing with perimenopause and menopause (is it hot in here?). Visit Carol Weeg on the Web at www.findingourway.com to download a free sample copy of Finding Our Way.

This article was posted on September 04, 2006

If you are feeling suffocated by your “stuff” or dragged down by a lack of organization, it’s time to declutter. House improvement is within your grasp. You just need to get off on the right foot in order to declutter your home and to get organized once and for all. That involves doing a few things before you touch a single item in your home.

First, you need to reflect on what got you into this situation in the first place and to then devise means by which you can avoid going through the same situations again. There’s nothing more frustrating than finally decluttering your home, only to find yourself back in the same position a few months later. Clutter doesn’t happen overnight and you can’t expect a permanent cure for the causes to come after a decision to declutter. House disorganization has roots. Figure them out and you’ll be in great shape to stay organized.

 To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

Second, you most definitely need a good decluttering plan. If you’re like most people, the idea of somehow decluttering your life may seem almost insurmountable. There are complexities involved and getting organized isn’t as easy as running through your house, stuffing garbage bags with items and hoping for the best. Professional and experts have designed awesome blueprints for decluttering and you should definitely get your hands on one and follow it step by step for the best possible results.

If you’re reading this article, that’s a very strong sign that it’s time for you to declutter. House improvement can be dramatic and easy if you go about it the right way. Get your mind straight and grab a good plan. Ready, set, declutter!