How To Organize Your Paperwork

Many people have a huge challenge coping with the incoming paperwork. (Whatever happened to the paperless office?).

Paperwork lands on your desk and somehow finds its way into your in-tray. Eventually the in-tray becomes so high it explodes and ends up all over your desktop. That's because you avoided taking action on those messy pieces of paper the moment they arrived. Now you have no option but to sort through the explosion and tidy up the pile or actually do something with the paperwork.

It's also frustrating when you need to search through the pile to look for information someone has asked you about. Many times I've contacted people to follow them up and I can automatically picture their desktop as they search their in-tray for the information I've sent them.

How can a pile of paper cause you so much stress? If only you could organize the paper so that it would disappear! Looking at it is enough to raise anyone's blood pressure. Well here are a few organizing tips to help you tame the paperwork.

Purchase a large vertical wire step file (available from stationers)

Sort through your in-tray/s or piles and organize the paperwork into similar categories, ie.

Correspondence

Reading

Clients

Invoices

Staff

Label manila folders with the above categories.

Place folders into step file.

Now you'll have all your work to do sitting in manageable files. It's much more effective than shuffling piles of paper.

This simple but practical device saves my accountant 2 hours per week. Do you know what that means to an accountant who charges out at $100 per hour?

Save Two Hours / Week @ Hourly Rate of $200

2 HRS/WEEK = $200

= 8 HRS/MTH = $800

= 96 HRS/YR = $9,600

You don't need to be an accountant to understand the significance of saving a small amount of time and the impact it has overall. It's always the little things in life - the one percenters which make the difference.

About The Author

Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach. Her business The Office Organiser specialises in showing small business owners and managers, how to get organised at work so they can have a life! Lorraine is also a dynamic speaker and has produced many products including "How to Survive and Thrive at Work!"

To subscribe to her free ezine visit www.office-organiser.com.au

This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio and all links. For further information please contact Lorraine Pirihi; lorraine@office-organiser.com.au



Without a Plan, You?re Doomed to Failure

"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More

Making Space - Letting Go of Clutter

To make room for new things to come into you... Read More

Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More

The Problem With To-Do Lists

Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying... Read More

Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 1

Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More

Time for a Clean Out

Time has flown. It's been six months since you came... Read More

Daily Systems Keep You Organized

Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More

5 Reasons to Organize Your Home Today

Home organization isn't just for neat-nicks or those drawn toward... Read More

Four Easy Steps to An Organized Closet

The National Association of Professional Organizers has dedicated January to... Read More

Getting Organized for Achievement

Getting and staying organized is critical to achieving your goals.... Read More

Four Tips For Clearing The Clutter

Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More

What Balance Looks Like For You

Recently, in an online group, we talked about "balance" and... Read More

The Clutter Campaign - Design Your Vision

I like a room you can dance in the middle... Read More

Organizing Solutions for the Disorganized Entrepreneur

After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More

The Organized Move: Packing Made Simple

(This is the second in a series of three articles... Read More

Essential Tips for the Kitchen

* Cupboards and drawers should contain items that are grouped... Read More

Organized Living in a Disorganized World

We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization.... Read More

The Five Ways To Ease The Process Of Eliminating Clutter

I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More

Keep, Get Rid Of, Or Not Sure?

Cleaning out can seem overwhelming -- especially if it's been... Read More

Compartmentalize

The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I... Read More

The Natural Law of Attrition

I'm cheap and proud of it.I use and re-use things... Read More

What Clutter Clearing Can Do For You

You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits... Read More

Tired of Endless Chores and To-Dos? Stop Running Around in Circles and Enjoy Life Again

Do you feel like you are running around in circles,... Read More

35 Santity Savers - Get More Productive

Use these 35 sanity savers this year to help you... Read More

Spring into Spring

Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More

If you'd like to keep up-to-date,
please complete the form below and we'll put you on the mailing list
to receive our twice-yearly newsletter for supporters

* Your email address:
* choes your language: