Organize your HOME OFFICE! 
Do you use your home office to run a full-time business from your home? Is it used for a quiet place to catch up on work outside of your normal workplace? Is it used for a side business or part-time business? Maybe you use your home office for all of the above. However it is used, you should have it set up so that you are able to function efficiently while you are there.
In order to be productive in your home office, you should have a clutter-free work surface in which to work. You should be able to locate important papers quickly, and not be distracted by piles of paper. Therefore, you need a good filing system.
Setting up a Filing System:
Determine a filing system that will work best for your specific needs. You can set up your filing alphabetically, numerically, by client, or by subject matter. It depends on what you have the most of. You can also use a combination of these (i.e., one for personal financial information and one for your business).
Determine how much storage you need. Do you need a two-drawer filing cabinet, four, or maybe more? It is a good idea to make sure you have room to grow. It is also helpful to have a designated place for “current” work, items that need attention right away. This should be placed near your work area, where it is visible, so that you can stay on top of incoming bills, urgent “to do” items, or current projects.
Purchase colored hanging files for clarity and recognition. For example, you could use blue for financial information, yellow for client files, red for marketing, etc. These, of course, come with labels you can either print out from your computer, or hand write. I like the colored file folders too, that fit inside the hanging files, but you can use manila ones just as well.
You might want to invest in a good label maker like the Brother PT-1280, so that your file labels are uniform and legible. You can find the one shown below at Staples.com
Other Home Office Tips:
– Keep your personal files separate from your business files.
– Keep a current listing of all of your important personal financial information/files where your family can access it when needed. Take a look at my October Monthly Organizing Focus for a great way to keep your personal information organized for your family.
– If you don’t already have one, invest in a good storage/shelving unit, similar to the ones shown in the picture above. It allows additional space for storage, books and other office needs. The two above have drawers below the shelving area as well, which provide more organizing space, keeping the desk work area uncluttered.
– Consider paying your bills online to reduce additional paperwork.
– Keep copies of all of those important tax receipts on your computer by using a digital scanner. See neatco.com for information on how it works.
– Make a conscious effort to let go of paper and other items in your home office that you are no longer using or have a need for.
When your home office is organized and uncluttered, you will be able to focus on specific work items with more ease. You will be able to accomplish much more in a shorter amount of time and this will help eliminate stress too!