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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - Organized Living: Disciplines for Working at Home
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Guest Article - How to Save Money Without Giving Up the Things You Love
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Phew! I get to do a quick newsletter today after all! Wasn't sure I'd be able to.
The move has been an utter disaster, so we found a new place, and will probably move next week. No, I'm not crazy, despite this plan to move twice while so far pregnant. Things here have just been that difficult. Thank goodness this place has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so we aren't stuck with the lease! We haven't been too pleased with how they've done with the other guarantees, so we'll see how this one goes. I'll put more details in my blog and discussion boards when I'm more caught up with everything.
I hope you all had a wonderful new year's celebration and have much to look forward to in 2005!
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A home office is an interesting place. It has the status of being a place to work, yet sometimes people are unable to work in it.
If it’s a home office that people can’t work in, then its purpose is defeated, isn’t it?
The thing that’s fairly common at the bottom of this is that a person has turned their workspace into a non-work space just by being disorganized.
Sometimes when that happens, the person or the work has to move to other parts of the house. Can you guess what happens from there?
Papers have to be shifted from one piece of furniture to another, often getting lost in the shuffle or accumulated piles. Dining spots are transformed into paper clutter central, leaving meals served on laptops or coffee tables (if there is space on them).
Yes, it gets pretty ugly once papers and work leave the official workspace.
This defines the reason we need to have an official work environment. The space must be made functional for work, and kept that way in order to continue working in it.
Firstly, this area has to be a defined workspace. Whether it’s in its own room or in a corner of a room, all work-related items need to be in one place.
Even if the office is set up for after-hours production, or a household workstation to manage affairs of the home, this space should be in a designated area.
Secondly, the area must have certain things in the space to enable a person to carry out the functions of their work. A desk, files, and computer are some symbols of a workspace.
These pieces of furniture and office equipment are there to help us produce work. Now, if one of these is used for another purpose, like a desk being used for paper storage rather than a surface to work on, then the chaos begins.
Thirdly, the area needs to contain tools that organize our work items. File holders and file cabinets are places to keep our files organized. Calendars and appointment books organize our appointments, schedules, and events.
There are many such organizing tools that keep our information and office paraphernalia in order. Without these, items can get placed anywhere and everywhere, making it difficult to do work productively.
And lastly, if the area receives frequent distractions, then it becomes an unsafe work environment. Family that enters the space often during work hours, or lots of personal phone calls that take you into chatter mode for indefinite periods of time, are among those distractions.
Without rules that set the standard for working at home, little work can actually get done. Yet, setting rules is one thing, enforcing them is another thing.
So, to make a home office a place that allows you to do work efficiently and productively, we need to ensure that all four elements are in optimum form.
What’s optimum form then?
A defined workspace, necessary office furniture and equipment, office products that keep our work items organized, and guidelines that remove work distractions are all things that bring about optimum home office form.
Now, that’s just about the workspace. But, working from home goes beyond the space. To get work done in the workspace involves a little more than the space itself, proper furniture, equipment, and tools, and household rules.
It involves managing time and information. And, although working from home has its conveniences and advantages, if the work is not managed, little work gets done.
You could say, that’s the fifth element. So, if you start seeing “completed work”, you’ll know you’re there.
Written by: Cyndi Seidler
Web Site: Organized-Living.com
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Recently, a close friend wanted to lose weight. He had psyched himself up, and he was ready to go. Until his doctor suggested he had to restrict his calories, that is. "No way!" he said. He left his doctor's office, determined to never return there.
You can relate, can't you? Chances are that cutting back, phasing out, or even eliminating things you enjoy will not inspire you for long. The very thought can leave you feeling as if you're facing an uphill battle.
The words, *giving up something* are fighting words for some! I mean, can't you just picture the boxing gloves coming out? The good news is that you truly can make changes without giving up those things that bring you pleasure. Let's look at how you can win the battle, hands-down!
Simple Pleasures
I love coffee (especially hazelnut.) I love the smell of coffee brewing. It brings me to a standstill. The earth could slip off its axis, but I'd only worry about it once I have that fresh cup of brew in my hands. Then, and only then, am I interested in moving on.
You know what I mean, don't you? Perhaps for you it's eating out. Or chocolate. Books. Shoes. Clothes. Perfumes.
If it's something you love, there's a slim chance you'll give it up easily. There has to be a mighty fine reason to do so. Right?
A Mighty Fine Reason
I had set a goal for myself of learning to live on one-half of my paycheck. It required fine tuning my spending (in many areas). And that's where the coffee came into the picture. You see, I was purchasing two to three cups a day -- and spending about fifty bucks a month for my pleasure.
Ah, the moment of truth! So, what were my choices? I could eliminate. I could reduce or cut back. Or I could keep my fresh coffee, but have it cost less.
I chose to keep the coffee, but make it *less expensive.* For me, the trade off was to keep what I love, but do it for a reasonable cost. This meant no more drive-thru coffee for me.
The Trade Off
A trade off allows you to get the job done without feeling deprived. Here's an example of how you might set up a trade off for yourself, based on my own.
To keep my coffee but have it cost less, I bought a proper coffee pot and a travel mug for my car. (I spent a lot of time in traffic back then.) I then found a delightful blend of hazelnut coffee and ground it fresh at the store. Cost? About eight dollars per month (compared to fifty.) I buy several bags at a time while on sale, saving even more money. I freeze it to retain its freshness.
In hindsight, it was such a simple solution, but it didn't *click* until my goal became extremely important to me (live on half my paycheck so I could save the rest for my future business.) Now, isn't that much easier than the dread that comes with thinking you have to *give it up?*
Three Quick Steps to Immediate Success
1) Know the reason you want to make changes. To have this work, you must have a specific reason. What is your very special purpose in *trading off* something you love?
2) Determine the first, small change you will make to set up your trade off. Choose something that will leave you feeling great about your decision. Deprivation doesn't work for the long haul.
3) Tuck away every cent you save, once you begin your plan. Put it up to have it for your own special purpose. Quickly reaping your rewards will provide motivation and keep you saving.
So, what's your pleasure? Is there something on which you spend a bit too much money? Set your timer for just five minutes, and do some brainstorming on ways your pleasure can cost you less.
Remember, the idea is to meet your goal without feeling as if you're *giving up* something!
You can do it!
Author and ezine editor Darlene Arechederra inspires
busy women to have fun putting the simple back in saving.
Her complimentary newsletter serves up heaps of
motivation with a unique, down-home style of writing.
Join her today at http://RatRaceRemedies.com
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