Help for Small businesses to Get Organized

Organize Papers to Increase Productivity -- Scattered papers are a sign of disorder and, more importantly, they don't allow you to feel as in control or productive as you should in your worklife. Organize your documents so that top priority files are close at hand using something as simple as a desktop organizer. Available in assorted colors and styles to match your office decor, desktop organization. Under $10.

Create a Master To-Do List -- With a dozen messages to return, reports due and calls to make, how can you be sure that everything that needs to get done is accomplished in a day? Winston suggests creating a centralized, master list of to-do items each week, from which you can pull 10-12 daily tasks. You will want to carry your list with you in a convenient organizer at all times so that action items can be easily added and crossed off upon completion. Winston recommends either a PDA, or a paper-based organizer, such as a FranklinCovey(R) planner.

Toss It -- A natural part of getting organized is tossing unneeded papers. But in today's environment where identity theft is prevalent, protecting your information is more important than ever. Winston recommends using a shredder to ensure that confidential documents, personal papers and financial information do not fall into the wrong hands. The Ativa(TM) diamond-cut shredder, available exclusively at Office Depot, shreds documents, credit cards and CDs into tiny, unusable pieces that are smaller than the typical shredder output. This process also reduces the need for frequent emptying.

About Stephanie Winston

Stephanie Winston is recognized nationally as the country's preeminent professional organizer. She is the author of five books on organization and time management, including The New York Times Paperback best-seller "Getting Organized." She is a member of the Author's Guild and was honored by the National Association of Professional Organizers as the founder of professional organizing. Stephanie's business, The Organizing Principle, is based in New York City.