Time
Just ten minutes per day searching for documents or other working tools adds up to over a week of lost time in a year. That’s one whole week of lost productivity and lost profit.
A useful rule is: give every item a place. Hardcopy or electronic files, books, tools, computer equipment or anything else in a soloists office, everything really does need a home. If it’s not worthy of a suitable home, it doesn’t belong in your office. Of course it will have time away from its home, even in a Professional Organiser’s office, but with dedicated spots for everything, you will restore order far quicker than if you do not have homes for everything.
Space
It’s not the size of your space – it’s how you use it! Organising your office for its specific purpose maximises the usefulness of the area and keeps you clear about what you really need to have there.
Get rid of what you don’t need and make room for what you do need. This article providing decluttering tips explores this concept further.
This creates an amazing effect. Everything that enters your organised office has a life cycle. It may need to be in there for five minutes, five years or forever. It needs a space for every day it spends in your office.
Money
Global meltdown or not, as soloists we can always appreciate ways to be more efficient with money. Being organised has many financial benefits.
For example, you need to ensure you have an effective system for creating and following up invoices. Never, ever be too busy to do this.
Also you can avoid unnecessary duplicate purchasing by knowing what’s in your stationery cupboard and when it expires. Maintaining office equipment and other working tools enhances their longevity and saves on replacement costs.
Energy
Maintaining an uncluttered space, where everything has a home, takes far less energy than cleaning a heavily cluttered space.
It’s crucial that everything in your office has a purpose and that you get rid of things that no longer serve you. Do this and the energy in your office will be renewed and you will benefit from higher energy levels. You will be able to think more clearly, sleep better and feel more motivated. Your creative brain will also be freer and more able to problem solve. What are you waiting for?
Have you benefited from decluttering and having a more organised office? Tell us about it.
“ A useful rule is: give every item a place. ”
Roz Howland , the Productivity Professional runs programmes that will increase productivity in any business. Roz is based in Brisbane, and travels regularly to share her passion and expertise with businesses all over Australia.
