| If a twenty-something wrote these tips for managing | | | | than managing electric devices because it's heavier |
| paper in the home office the first suggestion would | | | | and takes up more space. |
| more than likely be to do away with paper. I can see | | | | Here are some tips for managing paper in the home |
| my son saying, "Paper? Why Paper? You don't need | | | | office: |
| paper?" | | | | * An ongoing piece of information that updates and |
| Well, there are reasons to use paper, and to file it | | | | changes periodically should be electronic only. |
| away for safekeeping, especially if you're 35 years | | | | * Writing a day planner on paper is a waste of time |
| old or more and you grew up learning from and | | | | and space. A white board at eye level on the wall |
| deriving pleasure from the printed word and the | | | | would work much better. |
| study of books. Few in the business world would | | | | * If space is at a premium build up towards the |
| argue with the need for computers, online databases, | | | | ceiling. A narrow tall file cabinet will take up less |
| Internet, contact management programs and various | | | | space. |
| software applications. We all know they can make us | | | | * Stay organized. This is perhaps the most important |
| more efficient by keeping our materials on our | | | | of the tips for managing paper in the home office. If |
| computers, on electrical storage devices such as | | | | you don't take time every day to file you won't find |
| external hard drives, CDs, DVDs and flash drives. | | | | the important paper at your finger tips the next time |
| There are reasons to have the good old fashioned | | | | you need it and you'll find yourself printing it out time |
| printed page, though. Eye strain, back strain, wrist | | | | and again out of frustration for having to spend time |
| and finger muscle strain can all be alleviated by | | | | looking for it. |
| leaving the computer and the keyboard for 30 | | | | * If you have no need for it throw it away. Go |
| minutes of relaxation in an easy chair while poring | | | | through your files on a periodic basis and weed out |
| over the printed word. | | | | the old to make way for the new. |
| Managing paper in the home office is more difficult | | | | |