Office Organizing
If you are like me, you sometimes feel as if the office door leads to a black hole of papers--endless piles of unanswered mail, mislaid messages, bills, catalogs, magazines, and junk mail. It’s easy to park everything in the dreaded “to be filed” folder and try to forget about it. The problem is, it never goes away.

In an effort to clear out and prepare for spring, I inevitably need to set aside time to clean off my desk and freshen up my files. Here are some ways I make my office a pleasant and productive work space.

Elements of Style

• Every office space should be good-looking and functional. You will be more likely to keep it orderly.
  
  
• Install a shelf for resource and reference books, such as telephone directories, a dictionary, and a thesaurus.
  
  
• Post tickets, notes, and items that need immediate attention on a decorative bulletin or cork board.
  
  
• Place labels on boxes containing stationary, note cards, menu and place cards, reminder cards, and invitations.
  
  
• Put all gift-wrapping supplies—ribbons, paper, tags, etc.—in one deep drawer.
  
  
• If you collect certain magazines, box and label them and place them on a shelf or in a drawer.

Documents

• Ask your accountant or tax advisor which bills and records you need to save (and for how long). Shred the rest.
  
  
• Photocopy your birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, insurance cards, credit cards, and Social Security cards and keep them in a central file.

Time Savers

• Keep a personal telephone book for services. Include everything from the florist and dry cleaner to doctors, dentists, accountants and the auto repair shop.
  
  
• Laminate typed lists of frequently called numbers and place them next to appropriate telephones. Make condensed version for your bag or briefcase.
  
  
• Organize photographs in labeled boxes or manila envelopes. Arranging them in photo albums later will be a lot easier.
  
  
• Create a series of desk folders labeled BILLS, TO DO, TO FILE, and IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
  
  
• Set aside a half hour each week to empty the TO FILE folder. The discipline will pay off in spades!