Christa Wagner

I am always asked about my favorite organizing products and wanted to point in you in the direction of a few of our favorites:

We purchase products at these stores or their websites on a regular basis:

• Storables 
• The Container Store  
• Levenger     
• See Jane Work   
• Franklin Covey  
• DayRunner    
• Pendaflex     
• Office Depot   
• Staples     

Continue to check our website for products we recommend and for companies that offer my clients a discount. See Products We Like on the Products Page on our site.  Remember to know what you’re organizing before you purchase any products.

Many times what is contributing to office clutter is all the stuff we keep on our desktops that is not really necessary.  It can be excess paper, photos, memorabilia, Knick-knacks, etc. This stuff can negatively affect productivity and just builds up over time.  Additionally, it often escapes up to place the tools we really do need on our desks. 

If this sounds like you desk, here is a tip for a down and dirty desktop de-clutter. 

1. Remove everything from your desktop.
2. Toss anything you do not use, need or love.
3. Clean desk removing dust
4. Add items back in order of importance.  Really consider if you need that stuffed animal or trophy on your desk.
5. Decide where you will place things based on use. 

Here are some important desk items that contribute to an organized office:

• Desk – An adequate, but great one.  One that you will motivated and inspired to use.
• Telephone – Obvious, but be sure to select the appropriate phone to enhance productivity. 
• Computer Equipment – In most home offices, but be sure to utilize your software to enhance productivity. 
• Shredder – Critical to eliminate unneeded paper containing personal information. 
• Action Files – For all that paper requiring your attention on your desktop
• File Cabinet - Remember to review contents annually.
• One Calendar – Paper or electronic; use it consistently. 
• Wastebasket and Recycle Basket – Don’t let items that need to be tossed linger around the office. 
• Appropriate lighting

Your office should support your career and your needs. Take the time to create a comfortable workspace you are proud of.

The other day I was working with a client and a quintessential filing moment happened. It started out like all appointments, I learned what was working, not working, etc. Then I explained to her the FreedomFiler, which we use nearly exclusively with all clients, and taught her the basic principles of the system. I explained the reason it works so we well is because you file your paper according to use. Makes sense, right? Oh and did I mention she is a bookkeeper?

Then we started creating her files based on her specific needs. As we reviewed her paper we came across a medical receipt from last year (2007) that she did not report on her taxes. Why, because it was with her medical records and she forgot it was there. Using the FreedomFiler, this medical receipt would have been in the tax section. She would not have had to “remember” it, it would have just been there with her other write-offs.

Can’t explain it any better than that. We have too much on our plates to remember everything, especially little details. By using the tools available to us, you can avoid losing on 20% of write-offs because they are in the wrong place.

My client now has all her receipts in her tax section and she is all set for tax season 2008. To order a FreedomFiler, go to www.freedomfiler.com and use our coupon code with our compliments. Contact us to get our coupon code for a discount!