As a business owner, you know that it is important to have all of your ducks in a row. Keeping business affairs organized helps life function smoothly, but sorting and color-coding doesn’t work for everyone. Follow these guidelines to create a system that works well for you:

Assess your needs

Look around the office. Where do you tend to place your important papers? Where do receipts and invoices end up? Are pens and paper clips laying on every usable surface? If you’re used to working in a chaotic environment, having a spotless workspace might actually be a detriment. It could feel strange to have everything out of sight, so knowing yourself will play a huge role in creating a system that works for you.

Don’t rearrange everything

It sounds counterintuitive, but you don’t need to rearrange your entire office unless you really want to. If you always drop your receipts by the entryway, place a basket by the door specifically for your receipts. The same thing goes for writing utensils. If you have a habit of walking around with your pens, make sure there’s a container for them in all of your favorite places. It’s okay to have more than one spot for something!

Out of sight, out of mind

You may think it would be easier to shove everything in a drawer and forget about it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what would happen. You’ll forget about many of those items and inevitably create a “junk drawer.”

Utilize baskets and transparent drawer systems so you can see what’s inside. This will help you remember where your tools live, and you’ll be less likely to lose them. You can find baskets like this just about anywhere. From Dollar Tree to the Container Store, you have plenty of options!

Dedicate your space

In school, we went to a different classroom for each subject. Do the same with your workspace. If you have a variety of tasks to complete, why not place everything needed to perform that task in the same area? For example, envelopes, stamps, and return labels can all live in the same drawer or basket so they’re easy to access for mailings, and you don’t have to run all around to put them away.

This is about you

Just because a system works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work for you. There’s no real rule to organization. Your goal is ease and efficiency, and if that’s not what you’re getting, then change it up. And if you aren’t sure what to do, ask for help!

Hopefully these tips will help you create a game plan to get organized and feel more productive each day.

At Centerco Office Suites, we can help you reach your goals. Our administrative team is here for you. Find out more today!