Paper Management Tips For The Home

Handle incoming paperwork

• Paperwork will come into your home in many ways – usually in the mail, email, paperwork from work, travel and school.  Set up ways for dealing with the paperwork so it doesn’t build up and clutter your areas.  Decide what to keep, what needs to be actioned and what needs to be filed.  Be tough and hold no prisoners. 
•   Reconcile your bank statement every time you receive it.
• Reduce paperwork that you receive by cutting down on how many bank accounts you have if possible

Keep follow up documents in clear sight so you don’t forget about them. 

• Keep your gift cards in your purse so you have them readily available when you need to use them
• Write your bill due dates in your diary and file them in a folder designated to that purpose, or keep them in a tray where they are in clear sight and you won’t forget about them and can clearly see the due date.  Schedule designated times to pay and review your bills. 
• Keep invitations where you can see them and record the party date in your diary when you receive them and make sure you rsvp.  A great way to keep items in clear sight is to use a bulletin board.

Filing & Storage

• Always file your bills immediately after paying.
• Staple papers together instead of using paperclips.  Paperclips can easily get caught on other papers and muddle everything up.
• Store your valuable documents in a fireproof safe
• Regularly update your filing system
• Keep your business transactions separate from your household transactions and expenditures.

Tips For Creating A To Do List

Why should you use a To Do List?

• A to do list can help you manage your time better
•   It allows you to visualise what you need to achieve
•   A to do list can help prioritise
•   It can help improve your memory by writing everything down
•  It can help keep you organised
•   A to do list can help reduce stress

How to create a To Do List

• Create a master list with ALL of your activities and tasks that you need to complete
• Break large projects into smaller tasks
• Code the items according to priority.  For Example: A = Absolutely must complete B = Should do  C = can wait

Tips for using a daily To Do list

• Put tasks in order of importance that need to be completed
• Allocate a time frame for each task
• Include no more than two large tasks
• Try to list no more than 10 items that you aim to complete
• Include appointments and commitments to others
• Always try to leave room for interruptions and urgent items that may come up unexpectedly
• Track your time to see exactly where your time goes
• Know your energy cycles – when you are most productive and when you are not and plan your to do’s around these.
• Delegate tasks where possible
• Cross or tick tasks off once you have completed them

Quick Tips To Maintain Your Computer

Back It Up

• Back up all documents that you create on an external drive
• Make good use of external disk drives, CD roms, zip files
• Keep back up copies of all of your computer programs just in case you need to re-install
• Back up your entire system regularly

Safety

• Use firewalls to prevent others from accessing your computer from the outside
• Use a good virus protection program
• Use a surge protector for your computer
• Change passwords regularly

Maintenance

• Empty your recycle bin on a regular basis
• Delete .tmp files – you would be amazed to see just how much space they take up
• Use disc clean up regularly
• Regularly delete your browsing history
• Remove programs that you do not use
• Clean out your email on a regular basis
• Defragment your computer regularly 
• Use “air in a can” to clear out your keyboard and your computer