Since we are well into tax season, many people tend to refocus their attention on their workspace where they pay bills, run a home-based business or correspond with friends and family.

For this reason, I thought it appropriate to provide some tips you can use to create an organized and inviting workspace.  After all, who wants to work in a space that is cluttered and, therefore, uninviting? 

Whether you're sitting at the kitchen table writing out bills, working at your desk in the home office, or writing a note to a friend on the computer, a pleasant, organized environment will allow for both productivity and creativity.  Focus on the following suggestions and you will find that the productivity and creativity will become established.

1. Eliminate the chaos.   If you have a disorganized work area, it will reduce the physical space needed for productivity, block your creativity, and increase the chances that you'll lose something which will dramatically increase your stress level. (No one needs more stress.) So, clear the clutter. Provide yourself with plenty of empty space. Keep a wastepaper basket near your workspace to encourage daily decluttering and clean-up.  Don't overload the space with nicknacks and picture frames.  Only keep those few inspirational pieces that you enjoy seeing in view, but out of the way.

2. Stock your workspace for its main functions. Determine what you need to use in the space and plan around that purpose. If you use a desk at home to write out bills, make sure you have a few pens, a calculator, some postage stamps, envelopes, address labels and other necessary supplies right in, or near, that work area. This will help make the task much quicker and easier.  Your filing system should be close by as well.

3. Use those organizing tools. Using appropriate sized baskets, stackable trays, letter trays, pencil holders, paper clip containers, file folders and other organizing tools can help you get your workspace organized. Before buying any of these tools though, be sure to take the time to think about why you need that tool and if the tool you're thinking about is the best one for the job.  For example, a decorative container on your shelf might hold all of your office supplies, but a drawer organizer can allow you to put more like items together for easier access.  

4. Think ergonomics. If you feel physically uncomfortable in your workspace, you will not be able to focus and will therefore be less productive and creative.  Do you suffer from eye strain?  Do your muscles ache from constantly stretching to reach something?  Do your wrists hurt from them being on a wrong angle for too long?  Does your back hurt because your chair is not comfortable?  Then, it's time for you to re-think and rearrange your physical workspace for health and comfort. Make sure there is sufficient lighting conditions. If not, you should consider adding some overhead track lighting or additional lamps that provide good task lighting. If your chair is not right for you, perhaps the seat should be raised or lowered. If your wrist hurts from using the computer mouse, get yourself a mouse pad with cushioning.  Lastly, make sure your computer monitor is positioned correctly, either at or below, eye level, at a comfortable distance.

5. Put stuff away at the end of the day. This is very important!  When you're done using your workspace for the day, put everything back in its place. Don't leave this area in chaos. This way, the next time you return, you'll have an inviting space that will allow you to get down to work without delay.  Who wants to start working in a chaotic and cluttered environment? 

If you follow these simple tips, you will find that you will have an organized and inviting workspace in which to work.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, however, don't hesitate to contact me.  I will be glad to get you on the road to life long organization.

In the meantime, have a great week!

Enough about taxes already!  Hopefully you can put them behind you until next year at this point and move on to more important things.  However, keeping in the same vein, a few Quick Tips for A Better Space when it comes to storing Appliances Warranties is worth mentioning. 

When you purchase something that is covered by a warranty, tape or staple the receipt to the inside cover of the owner's manual, and write the date the warranty will expire on the cover, preferably in red.

For example, your mixer might have a 5 year warranty, so just add 5 years to the date of purchase and write that in red on the cover. Then, if something breaks, you can quickly see (without trying to read the fine print and the faded receipt) if the item is still covered.

In addition, I suggest storing the owner's manuals in a 3 ring binder with plastic pockets, near the point of the product's use.

For example, all kitchen appliances, such as the coffee maker, microwave, etc., can be put into a binder in the kitchen near your cookbooks. Another binder in the garage can have the manuals for the lawnmower, the leaf blower, and other garden and yard tools.

For major appliances that will stay with the house if and when you sell, can be filed in a folder in your file cabinet, so you can pass them onto the new owners.

The new owners will be so thankful to know when the furnace, water heater, alarm system, etc., were installed, and who did it.  It can make it much easier to know where to get the right replacement parts, who to get for service, and so on.

Hope these Quick Tips help!  Let me know what you think!

If you have any suggestions of your own, send them to me and I might use them in future blogs to share with others. 

For more information and assistance on this topic or any organizing issue you might have, feel free to contact me. I will be more than happy to help you reach your goals for organization and make your place A Better Space.

Have a great week!

This weekend I am giving a seminar on paper management at the Newtown Hadassah Career Women’s Network brunch in Newtown, PA. I thought this would be a good time to pass along some Quick Tips for A Better Space relating to the topic of reducing your junk mail.  

Do you have piles of mail that you can never seem to get through on a daily basis?

These are some secrets you can use to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive in your mail box on a daily basis:

One of the ways to get through it quicker and more efficiently, is to have less coming into your mailbox in the first place!

First, ask to be removed from mailing lists. Write to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735. Be sure to provide your name, street address and zip code. Request that they instruct their members to remove you from their mailing lists. Once you write, you'll remain on the opt-out list for 5 years, at which time you'll have to write again. The Direct Marketing Association estimates that listing with their mail preference service will stop 75% of all national mailings. You should notice a reduction of your junk mail within 6 months.

Second, ask for privacy. Every time you provide your name and address to receive a product, magazine or service, there's an excellent chance you're being added to one or more mailing lists. Whenever you have to give your contact information to anyone, always request that your information is not to be shared or sold. Most reputable companies will respect your privacy.

Third, watch out for the phone book. If you're listed in the phone book, your contact information for all practical purposes is public record. Consider an unlisted number. Or, at minimum, request that the phone company publish just your name and phone number, and exclude your address.

Fourth, return to sender. When you receive mail that is clearly junk mail that you don't want, write to the companies and ask to be removed from their mailing lists. Most will comply, as it's expensive to keep mailing to you if you're never going to buy. Envelopes with "Address Correction Requested" or "Return Postage Guaranteed" can be returned unopened by writing "Refused-- Return to Sender" on the envelope. The company will have to pay the return postage.

Fifth, don't register your new product such as electronics and major appliances.  Avoid sending in product registration cards, unless there's a good chance the product may be recalled on a safety issue. In most cases, when you register a product you purchased, the information you provide is used for direct mail purposes.

Sixth, contact your credit card company. They probably sell your name and address more often than any other company you deal with. Call and tell them that you don't want them sharing or selling your contact information with anyone. You can also call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. Your request will be matched up with the credit bureau’s records. Visit www.optout.com for more information.

Seventh, you can request that a company stop sending you catalogs that you are not interested in. A quick way is to go on line to a brand new site called Catalog Choice. Just visit www.catalogchoice.org. It was recently featured on the Today Show and it’s free! Just select the catalogs you no longer want delivered to your home. If the ones you are interested in stopping are not listed, you can suggest others. It will take approximately 10 weeks for it to take effect, so be patient.

Eighth, avoid contests, sweepstakes or sign up for free or trial offers. Anytime you fill out an entry form to win something or get something for free, your name and address are likely being sold to other companies, which will result in unwanted mail.

These quick tips will result in a noticeable reduction in the amount of junk mail that comes through the door. At the same time, you will be helping to save the environment by reducing the amount of mail that is sent out! It’s a win, win situation!

For more information and assistance on this topic or any organizing issue you might have, feel free to contact me. I will be more than happy to help you reach your goals for organization and make your place A Better Space.