New Year’s Resolutions & Business Organization

Posted by Debbie Dragon on January 8, 2008

I closed out 2007 a frazzled mess for the most part. Inspired by the upcoming New Year, I spent most of December contemplating how I was operating my business and how I was balancing my work and home life (which to most people seem to be one and the same since I work from home, but there is a fine line there that is often crossed over unintentionally- causing all sorts of problems!)

For the most part- my freelance writing business had been going well, but there were these little issues that kept coming up and kept hindering further growth. I decided instead of making a typical new year’s resolution to lose weight or something, that I would just focus on these areas to help my business advance.

Also- my workplace was as messy as I was feeling. The room contained all of my business items- a big corner desk and chair; file cabinets, and book shelves. But it also contained my craft supplies- I’m a scrapbooker and if you or someone you knows scrapbooks, you know how easy it is to accumulate lots of “stuff”. So also in my work area, I had a big craft table, and shelving units containing my supplies for creating scrapbooks.

When I would go to work each day, I didn’t realize it, but the clutter of this room was effecting my thought process. I felt crowded and disorganized, even though I could typically find anything I needed, the place was just overflowing with “stuff”.

I decided to move the craft supplies out into a different room, and let my office be an office. The only items in the room directly pertain to my business now, and when I walk through the door, it’s like my brain turns on! I feel good… and even happy to go to work. It was amazing how much of a difference having the extra space and lack of clutter made.

Take a look at your own environment. Is it cluttered? Is your New Year’s resolution to start your own business, or to become more successful in the business you already have? If so, I highly suggest taking a good look at where you work- even if it’s just the kitchen table. Wherever you sit down to complete your work tasks, declutter, organize, and watch how it carries over into the actual work you do.