Did you ever wonder how to make your office or home office more efficient? What workstations should you have to make it more organized and streamlined? The small business owner’s office is a consistently changing space. It expands and contracts as the business grows, slows, and grows again. To make your office an efficient and cost-effective one, you need to create zones. Here are 7 zones every small business should have in the office:
Working Zone – this is usually your desk and computer area. This could also be an area where you create products to sell. It can be a large area or a small area depending on your needs. If you sell products, the supplies to make your products would also be in this area. Keep only your most frequently used items in this area.
Mailing Center Zone – this zone would be where all your supplies for shipment would be stored. That would include envelopes, postage, boxes, packing slips and filling for boxes. Only keep items you use often in this area. If there are items, you don’t use any longer, clearing out this area will give you more space. Labeling the different supply locations in this area also helps keep it in order.
Permanent files Zone – this zone is where your client files and other important information are stored. It’s where all your older files are and where your nonessential files are stored. Determine the best way to store the files. If you prefer to store items by client name, use this method for all the files in this area. Whatever system you decide to use, be sure to stay consistent.
Active Files Zone – this is for those projects that have not been completed yet. Only keeping in this area projects that you are working on, not projects that you will start soon. If you work on several projects at the same time, have areas for the different current projects. Make it available and easy to reach.
Client/Project to-dos Zone (collaboration area) – if you are like me, you have several clients and long-term projects that have several various parts that need to be completed over time. So, to keep track of these files and completions, you will need an area of in bins solely for this use. It doesn’t have to be very close to your workspace. But, somewhere you can easily retrieve items.
Fun Zone – This could be an area that has a tv and lounge chair. This area is for you to just relax and brainstorm. Doing an activity that takes your mind off of work will benefit your big picture process. I like to sit in my family room off my office and read or watch a video for a break. I recommend taking a break for 20-30 minutes each day. This is great if you work at home all the time.
Quiet Zone – This area would be for those times you need a change of scenery. Short naps in the area can also be good. For me, this area is my sunroom which doesn’t have anything in it but a chair, table, and lots of my plants. Heavenly.
I have benefited from these areas in my office as well. The most important thing to remember is to make the space usable and not cluttered because that will only distract you from the task at hand. Be sure to revisit the office zones overtime to make sure they are still working for you. I hope this helps you get your zones in order.
But, wait, need more information? Here are some additional articles on how to create effective zones in your office. Feel free to check them out.
Office Zones: 4 Ways to a More Productive and Fun Office
Need help arranging your office space, check out Sabrina’s Admin Services.
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I’d like to implement these ideas in my home office, too, so that I can be more organized and more productive. I especially like the idea of fun zones and quiet zones in an office. Those would be a given at home for me, but in my day job as a middle school teacher we are definitely lacking in those areas. I know a school isn’t an office, but I can see an advantage to having those areas for all employees. Excellent article. Very helpful! Thank you!
Thanks, Julie for stopping by and commenting. A fun zone is one of my goals too but I just don’t have the room. So, instead, I choose a room that can be my quiet zone as well as fun zone. It’s OK to create a space that is multipurpose too. =)