Becki Maxson wrote this article targeted at work at home mothers but I think that her tips
apply equally well to anyone who is running a home business.
If I were to come into your office area right now, would you cringe? Don't feel bad, I've been
there too! But you know you don't work at your best when things are a mess, or all the
important stuff is swimming around in your head. Here are 5 tips to start getting better
organized.
Email is your best friend and your worst enemy. If you don't take charge of it, it will take
charge of you! Outlook is a terrific tool to keep track of your emails, your daily schedule, your
to-do list, client phone numbers and email addresses and more. I use the folder function to act
as an online file cabinet. Really, it's simple and it works great! I just create a folder by subject
and drag pertinent emails into it. Then when I wonder, "What did we talk about last time?" or
"Where's my log-in for that account?" I know right where to go.
Paper, paper everywhereâ¦are you buried? Maybe a computer system isn't for you, but all is
not lost. If you don't have a planner, get one! There are many kinds of planners to choose
from, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Find one that fits your needs and use it to keep track of
doctor appointments, school meetings, your work schedule, etc. Set up a good old-fashioned
rolodex or file box to keep track of phone numbers, emails and other information.
I also print out e-books that I buy and put them into report covers with a clear plastic cover so
I remember to read them and they don't go to never-never land on my hard drive.
Now, tax planning. Neglect your record keeping and you're asking for a real headache down
the road. An easy way to keep track of receipts is to get a hanging file folder and 12 manila
envelopes. Have one envelope for January, one for February and so on. During the month,
throw all your receipts in the corresponding envelope. When the month is over, tally up your
receipts and write it on the outside of the envelope. That way, when tax time comes, most of
your work will already be done. Or again, use a simple Excel spreadsheet or just a spiral
notebook to keep track of your expenses by category. Remember to track your income too!
Take some time each day to "take care of the little things" and you'll stay organized, feel less
stressed, and get more work done!
