| iv id="body"> | | | | specific purpose, such as paper clips, pens and pencils, |
| While writers are experts as organizing words, I've | | | | expenses to submit, etc. |
| discovered that organizing one of the major tools of | | | | 5. Put wastebasket or recycling containers wherever |
| their trade - a home office - is often an enigma! One | | | | possible - for example, under your desk, near the filing |
| of the major myths of organizing is that it will stifle | | | | cabinet, or next to the fax machine. Create a location |
| creativity. But how creative - or profitable? - can it be | | | | for used paper which can be used for "scratch" |
| to spend time looking for what you need, or rewriting | | | | purposes. |
| something you could have "tweaked" from a previous | | | | 6. Create "Action Files" for projects you are currently |
| project - but couldn't find it? | | | | working on, or things you need to do, such as pay bills, |
| In my experience, that old saying "A place for | | | | submit expense statements, update your database, |
| everything in its place" is only half right. After 20 years | | | | etc. |
| of organizing home offices -including my own - I am | | | | 7. Create "Reference Files " for completed projects, or |
| confident that "everything in it's place" all the time | | | | for information that might be useful for future projects. |
| would stifle most writers' creativity. The stress comes, | | | | Keep a File Index - a list of the names of your files so |
| however, when you'd like to clean up the place, | | | | you won't create a file for "automobile" when you |
| because company's coming, or you're just tired of | | | | already have one for "car." (Check out for Kiplinger's |
| looking at a mess, but you don't know how - at least | | | | Taming the Paper Tiger - which automatically |
| not so you can find it again! Creativity is often a | | | | cross-references and indexes your paper files, and |
| messy process - but being able to recover from the | | | | guarantees you can find anything in your office in five |
| mess when you choose to do so - is the mark of a | | | | seconds or less!) |
| professional. | | | | 8. Develop a "Just in Time Reading System." Instead of |
| Consider these tips to help you get started: | | | | piling up journals and magazines, scan the table of |
| 1. Develop clear understandings and guidelines with | | | | contents for articles related to your expertise. Tear |
| others in the household to minimize misunderstandings | | | | them out or photocopy and file them by subject so |
| about your home office. If you work at home in order | | | | you can find them when you actually need to use |
| to be able to care for children while you work, consider | | | | them. |
| organizing a part of your office to be their "office." | | | | 9. If you need more filing space, create "Archives" in a |
| 2. Choose a location for your office that you like to be. | | | | less accessible or off-site location for files you are |
| Select furniture and lighting to suit your individual | | | | legally required to keep, or for files you rarely use. |
| preferences. If possible, create an L-shape for your | | | | Keep a list of those files at your desk for easy |
| desk area with filing space within reach. Consider | | | | reference. |
| ergonomic design to protect yourself from fatigue or | | | | 10. Feeling short of space? Look up! Make good use |
| even injury. Used office furniture stores can offer | | | | of wall space for bookshelves or cabinets for |
| great bargains. | | | | resources such as books, audio and videotapes, |
| 3. Clutter is postponed decisions. Apply the FAT | | | | notebooks, magazines, and office supplies. |
| system to every piece of paper that comes into your | | | | Remember, creative minds always have more to do |
| office: File, Act, or Toss. | | | | than the physical body can carry out. Few writers I |
| 4. Set up your desk so you can process mail quickly. | | | | know are short on ideas - and frequently the more |
| Most people need at least three large containers within | | | | paper they have, the less they use. Continually ask |
| easy reach of their desk: o In - for mail you haven't yet | | | | yourself "What's the worst possible thing that would |
| looked at o Out - for items that need to go someplace | | | | happen if I didn't have this?" If you can live with your |
| else o File - for items that need to be filed outside the | | | | answer, toss - or recycle it - and write happily ever |
| reach of your desk Minimize unnecessary clutter by | | | | after! |
| eliminating containers that are not designed for a | | | | |