Here’s a statistic that will startle you into action. According to a recent Office Depot survey, the average business professional loses 90 hours — or more than two full workweeks — a year due to disorganization.

Thankfully, there’s a solution to help you deal with the overflowing piles and outdated files. It is an easy-to-accomplish five-day office makeover plan that has been developed by Stephanie Winston, organizational advisor for Office Depot. Best if all, it’s sweat-free, and doesn’t require any heavy lifting.

“All it takes is a few clear-cut systems and a dose of consistency to trim your in-box and perform a ‘nip and tuck’ on the ever-bulging files in your office,” says Winston. By following her advice and using the simple solutions in the Office Depot Five-Day Office Makeover Plan, anyone can maintain an orderly workspace. Highlights from the plan include:

* Toss It — Get organized by tossing unneeded papers. To help keep confidential information private, protect your information by shredding sensitive paperwork. Winston recommends using a shredder like the Ativa diamond-cut shredder because it shreds documents, credit cards and CDs into tiny, unusable pieces.

* Create a Master To-Do List — Winston suggests creating a centralized, master to-do list each week, from which you can pull 10 to 12 daily tasks. Whether you use an electronic or paper-based organizer, carry your list with you so action items can be added and crossed off upon completion.

* Organize Your Files — To group related files together, Winston suggests creating broad file names versus very specific titles. For example, if “Acquisition Targets” is the general title, then label each manila folder with the individual company names.

* Less “Taxing” Taxes — Start tax preparation early to eliminate last minute tax filing stress. You should store receipts, W2s and interest statements in a single place to prepare for tax filing. To assist individuals who prepare tax returns personally, look for products like TurboTax that can guide you through the proper steps of tax preparation.

* Log Expenses Regularly — Seasoned road warriors are vigilant about recording every expense. “When on a trip, it’s easy to forget little expenses such as morning coffee or a service tip,” said Winston. She recommends carrying an envelope to store all travel-related expenses.

These and other suggestions are available free of charge at www.officedepot.com/getorganized.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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