In honour of Small Business Week, I wanted to share some of my most popular organizing and time management tips for small business owners.

The Tickler File

Back in 2006, when many small business owners had paper-based offices, I wrote about Tickler Files. Technology has come a long way since then, and most offices are almost entirely electronic. However, the Tickler File is still valuable for tracking paper-based date-related information such as appointment reminder cards. Since offices use less paper than before, people may want to use weeks rather than days. For example, create 12 folders for the months (January-December) and have four folders for the weeks in the month. If the Tickler File method works for you, consider building a digital version on your hard drive and email app.

File Folders

Have you ever jammed a piece of paper into an overflowing folder or lost small but important slips of paper? Using the right file folder for the job can help you organize your paperwork. At Out of Chaos, we often use a combination of file jackets and box-bottom hanging file folders to build effective filing systems for small business owners. In fact, Pendaflex offers “sure hook” hanging folders. Their built-in spring allows the hooks to stretch and hold the rails better. They are available in regular and box-bottom styles.

Time Blocking

Of the many posts I have about time management, one of the most popular is about time blocking. There are several advantages of time blocking. Firstly, it encourages you to focus on one task at a time for a specific period. In other words, no multitasking! Additionally, there is always a designated end time. For people with perfectionist tendencies, this encourages them to accept the “done is better than perfect” philosophy. I suggest that small business owners begin by setting time blocks on one or two days a week. Then, they can keep a few open days to deal with employee or client issues. Gradually, they can implement time blocking for the entire work week.

Escaping Quicksand

During my two decades in the professional organizing industry, I’ve heard many small business owners say they feel they are sinking into quicksand. In our initial meetings, some entrepreneurs told me their to-do lists are so long they must measure the length in kilometres!

In reality, I have not seen a to-do list that long, but I empathize with them because I sometimes feel the same way. That’s why I wrote the post about escaping quicksand. It’s all about remaining calm, setting priorities, and delegating the workload.

Three More Useful Posts for Small Business Owners

• How to Organize the Information You Need Every Day
• Email Hacks for Productivity
• How to Build Your Business Archive

Feel free to reach out to the Out of Chaos team if you would like some help organizing your office, setting up systems for your business, or are interested in a workplace presentation.