1. Organizing your home office space: It is well worth analyzing your ‘home office’ space to make sure it is truly working for you. I am fairly sure all of us have ‘pet peeves’ when it comes to what isn’t working there! Do some brainstorming to come up with a better solution. Do you have a dedicated spot to handle all incoming mail and bills so that they don’t get lost all over the house? Think of it as command central. Are your most often used items accessible when you are at your desk? For example, the printer, the shredder, the phone, office supplies, and so on. Is your chair comfortable? Is your computer ergonomically set up so you don’t strain your back, eyes, etc. every time you are sitting there? Even making a few small changes will really make a difference, and set you up for a great new year.
2. Is your home office attractive to you? I know, sounds pretty ridiculous, but do you like how your office looks? Does it make you happy? Maybe it’s time for some flowers or a plant or two, new artwork, a great 2017 calendar hang up, or some new paint on the walls to make your space more “you.” After all, if you are at all like me, you spend a lot of time in there!
3. Simplify your Calendar system:I can’t urge you enough to pick one calendar and stick to it! Whether it is paper, a web app on your computer, or your phone, just be consistent and if you are using the same calendar on many devices, make sure it is syncing.
4. Paperwork: If you are using paper folders, set up your 2017 folders for paid receipts.I do mine by the month. It’s simple, uses up less space and just as easy to find what I am looking for. You can also go digital; scanning only those receipts you really need — for appliances, medical expenses, and home improvements, business expenses, and so on. Trust me, you do not need to hold onto every non-tax-deductible items like groceries, Starbucks and so on. Of course, there are certain documents you need to keep and should keep separately from your monthly documents, preferably in a safe-deposit box: such as tax returns, investment and retirement records, anything pertaining to property and valuables (including mortgages), and legal documents such as wills, birth, marriage and death certificates and so on.. Your passport should also go in there, along with any other sensitive documents, such as your social security card, credit cards you don’t use regularly, and so on.
5. Autopay your monthly bills: If you don’t already use autopay for paying your monthly bills, mortgage, etc.; you should. It is easy to set up through your bank, it will help you avoid late fees, and best of all, help you cut down on paper receipts in your office.
6. Keeping Organized: Set aside a regular time each week to keep your office and desk organized. That includes purging of unnecessary mail, bills, notes, post-its, and doing your filing regularly. Trust me on this one–you will thank me!
And if you need some extra help and or support getting ready for 2017, give me a call and let’s get you organized!
Thanks, great article.