This post is sponsored by Staples. Go to Staples to get all your productivity tools for the new year.
For every small business owner, it is important to have an effective start in January. Getting organized now will set the path for the entire first half of the year. Use these simple non digital tools to maximize the productivity for the entire team.
This is where to start:
1. Get comfortable. Take a look at where you do business. While many people work in shared environments, everyone has some type of private space that they use as their office. Posture is critical for comfort and productivity. This starts with the right high back leather chair. It is critical to synchronize your workstation with this chair. Start by setting it up to ensure that the monitor is eye level and your feet are flat on the floor.
2. Clear the mess. Make sure your desk area is cleared of everything that is not needed that may be distracting. Here is how to clean it up and keep it that way. This type of environment will lessen the distractions of other items on your desk and will help keep you focused. A Deskpad is helpful to keep track of dates at a glance or scribble notes while working. It can also double as a mousepad!
3. Get organized. Even though a lot of the world is digital, many small business owners find that they still work best and understand a situation by taking hand written notes. Use perforated pads that can easily be put in Manila folders and then hung in a file cabinet by subject for reference. Different color paper may signify customers, line of business or internal documents so they are easily be recognized. Other people use flags and tags to identify documents. In the end, it does not matter which system you use, but create one that works consistently.
Also, buy laser printer paper by the case for the best value (most companies use more paper than ever before!)
What non digital tools are you getting to get ready for the New Year?
Photo credit: Annette Joseph
