We tend to do things in the same way and at the same time each day; whether it’s getting up in the morning, drinking the perfect latte on the way to work, or turning on the computer while we sort through the mail. These routines are familiar and keep us on track each day. As a licensed daycare provider when…
Last week I walked into an office that looked like it belonged to a lifelong hoarder. Stacked boxes of papers were on the floor alongside plastic containers full of books, automotive equipment, clothing, and other miscellaneous items. What was not in boxes and containers were leaning towers of magazines and papers that took up every horizontal surface. After being offered a…
My introduction to an open floor plan was in high school. I walked into the building and thought, Wow! This is so cool! There were no separate classrooms, no closed doors, and I could see from one end of the building to the other. What a change from the claustrophobic school I had come from! Once my classes began however,…
You worked all day and in several hours your project will be complete. Do you take a break for dinner or do you keep working and eat at your desk? Though it’s tempting to keep working, you’re not only hurting yourself but you have a higher chance of making errors on what you are working on. When you don’t take…
Last week I found myself in a position where a friend asked me to join a charity committee. She was very excited about this opportunity and it was a great cause. “Your skills in the office are just what we need to keep everything organized!” The more she spoke, the more excited I became about the committee. Before I blurted…
We all multitask and many of us think we are pretty good at it, myself included. Doing more than one task at a time makes us feel good and aren’t we so much more productive when we are doing all these things at once? Wow, we are getting so much done! So what is wrong with multitasking when we can…
Have you ever heard a manager say they spend their time putting out fires? What does that mean exactly? We know they are not actually putting out a fire, but to them it has the same fight-or-flight response in their body. When a person is being reactive to a problem or situation, it sets off a feeling of anxiety that…
There is nothing worse than keeping a customer waiting because you can’t find what you are looking for. If paperwork doesn’t end up where you can easily locate it, a consistent filing system can help you do that. Staying organized is an essential part of keeping your office running smoothly. When setting up a filing system it is best to…