by Natalie Morey | Jun 16, 2016 | Declutter tips, Home Office, Home Organisation, Office Organising, Personal concierge, Tips
The end of financial year is the perfect time to get motivated and get your office paperwork organised in 4 steps.
Organised home office
Step 1 – Set up a filing system
I recommend at the beginning of each financial year to set up your filing system. It could be as simple as a box. I like to use a 2 ring binder with labeled dividers for each category. Don’t forget to label your storage system or file with the relevant financial year i.e. 2016 – 2017.
Step 2 – Divide your paperwork into categories
The first step in keeping your bills and paperwork organised is to categorise the types of paperwork you have. For example, you might like to use some of the following categories: Bank accounts, including credit cards, Superannuation, Rental property, Share statements, Tax, School, Utilities, Car Expenses and Medical. Once you have set up these categories you can file accordingly. You don’t need to have lots of categories either. Just keep it simple and it will be much quicker and easier to use.
Step 3 – Go paperless
A great way to reduce clutter and papers in your office is to go paperless. It’s easy to set up to. You simply contact your bank and other companies such as your utility providers and ask them to email you your bills. Then, you can save the documents on your computer. However, just like having a hard copy filing system, you need to set up a filing structure and system on your computer. You might have a main folder called: 2016_2107 Fin Year (for the relevant financial year) then create a range of subcategories as mentioned above. If you don’t set up subcategories, then just like piles of paper sitting on your desk, it becomes messy and you can waste time looking for documents. Going paperless will definitely help reduce the paper and clutter in your office. However, it’s essential that you regularly back up your computer because if it was damaged, lost or stolen then there goes all your paperwork which you will need for your tax.
Step 4 – File it
A filing system is only good if you use it. Get into the habit of filing your bills once they have been paid. You might like to set up a system where you file all your paid bills on the last day of every month, or perhaps every Sunday night. Whatever it is, just ensure that you set some time aside and file all your paperwork. That way, when next year’s tax time comes around, you will be all organised for your accountant. Or, if you are doing your own tax, then you will have all the information you need organised in one place.
Office paperwork organised in 4 steps
It’s not long now till the end of financial year, so get motivated, set some time aside and organise your office. If you need help getting your home, life or office organised, then contact us. Based in Melbourne and assisting clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, The Lifestylers Group provides professional organising, decluttering and office organising (for both the home office and small business).
by Natalie Morey | May 25, 2016 | Home Organisation, Personal concierge, Tips
Are you always busy and always playing catch up? Do you wish that you could be more organised? Is there never enough hours in the day, to get everything done?
Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours every day. You cannot change that, but what you can change is how you use your time throughout the day.
Tips To Stop the Busyness and Get You Organised
Here’s a few tips to help get you organised and “get the most” out of your day.
- Use Sunday morning to prepare for the week ahead and map out a weekly plan listing everything that is happening. Kid’s activities, personal appointments and important dates should all be included on your list. Include a meal plan for the week noting down what’s for dinner every night. It is so much easier when you get to Thursday and you know exactly what you’re having for dinner.
- Write a list the night before you go to bed or leave work and include everything you need to do the next day. Then prioritise that list with the most important things at the top of the list.
- Don’t become overwhelmed by what you have to do. One of the fastest ways to overwhelm yourself is to think about your massive to-do list. Realise that no amount of thought will make it any shorter. Just start working your way through it.
- Complete the most important tasks first. It’s a great feeling when you can tick off a few tasks from your to do list.
- Learn to say “no”. Sometimes we just take on too much and you need to say “no”. Try it, you might be surprised at the impact it can have on your day.
- Sleep at least 7-8 hours every night. Some people think sacrificing sleep is a good way to increase productivity and get a couple of extra hours out of the day. However, this is not the case as most people need 7-8 hours of sleep for their bodies and minds to function optimally. You know if you’re getting enough. Listen to your body, and don’t underestimate the value of having enough sleep to ensure you have a productive day.
- Devote your entire focus to the task at hand (or what’s on your list). There is lots of research out there now to indicate that multi-tasking may not be as efficient as we all first though.
- Work smarter not harder. The old adage, “work smarter, not harder” is so true. Sometimes though, we are so busy on the merry go round of life that we simply don’t have time to stop and think about what we are doing, or if it can be done better. Managing your time isn’t about squeezing as many tasks into your day as possible. It’s about simplifying how you work, doing things faster and relieving stress.
- Ask yourself, can I outsource any of the tasks on my to do list? Would getting a cleaner free up a few extra hours that I could spend with my family or friends. Do I spend way too much time trying to “find” stuff in my wardrobe or home office? Do I need to get some systems and procedures in my life or home? Perhaps a session with a professional organiser might help to get your organised. Working smarter is about clearing away space in your life to make time for people, play, and rest. I promise you — there really are enough hours in a day for everything you’d like to do, but it may take a bit of rearranging to find them.
The Lifestylers Group offers a personal concierge and professional organising service in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
