Simplify with Sage Wedding Pros

We’re introducing a new monthly feature, from our very own Kelly Simants,
“Simplify with Sage” will make your business life run simpler. Take it away Kelly…

Welcome to Simplify with Sage!  I am so excited to share my organizational tips and tricks with you all.  Call me nerdy, but one of my favorite things to do is organize…my desk, my kitchen, my closet…LOVE finding ways to make my life easier, less stressful, and prettier with fun organizational tools.  This week I’m going to share some fabulous finds with you that will help you to de-clutter your desk!

Here are things that are probably piling up on your desk:

• Papers – proposals, contracts, notes, bank statements, newsletters…the list goes on and on!
• Magazines – stacks of bridal magazines – some you’ve read, some you haven’t
• Paperclips/tape/pens – lots of knick-knacky accessories are randomly scattered on your desk
• Post-it notes – everywhere!
• Business Cards – stacks and stacks that you’ve collected from networking events…you keep meaning to enter their contact info in your computer but never have the time!
• Receipts – personal and business receipts in piles

Sound familiar?!

Great!  Hopefully the following products and tips will help you to organize all of these items so that you have a more productive, simplified work environment.

Papers

One of the quickest and easiest ways to simplify your piles of paperwork is to create a filing system.  I have “active files” for current clients or projects I’m actively working on, and those files are visible to me. Then I have “closed” files for projects that are in the past but that I still want to have easily accessible for reference.  Those files are stored away in filing cabinets.   I recommend using a desktop organizer like the one below for your active files which will help you to organize your current projects and make them easy to find.

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These file folders are from See Jane Work – one of my favorite sites for stylish organizational products for your workspace!

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This filing organizer to the right is also fabulous for holding all those files up off my desk and out of my way.

Tip: If I don’t have time to file papers right away, I place them in a folder called “To Be Filed” so that they are at least off my desk!  Then when I have a rainy day I’ll go through that folder and sort that paperwork into their appropriate files.

Magazines

This Brocade Magazine File from The Container Store is not only functional but stylish!  It’s a great way to store your bridal magazines and have them handy when you need to pick one up for inspiration.

Tip: If you’re like me you subscribe to multiple magazines and they start to pile up…and you don’t want to get rid of them because you never know when you will need them, right?  Well, my suggestion is to go through the piles and pull out your favorites that you do want to keep, and then store them in a closet so they’re out of the way.  I keep only the current issues of my bridal magazines out on my desk in one of these magazine files and it works great!  Container Store also provides these wonderful storage boxes that are perfect for storing old magazines, trinkets, etc.

Paperclips/USB Drives/White-Out/Tape/Pens, etc.

I LOVE this Desktop Swivel Storage system – again, from The Container Store!  It’s great for any knick-knacks you need quick access to…paperclips, tacks, staples, white-out, etc.  The best part is that it’s clear so you can see where things are at when you need them.

Contemporary and playful designs for pencil holders add some color to your desk and centralize your pens, pencils, scissors, etc.

Tip: If you’d like to make even more space on your desk, you can hide the Swivel Storage unit IN your desk as it keeps everything nice and tidy in your drawer.

Post-It Notes

Ok, you know who you are…you have Post-it notes EVERYWHERE! On your computer screen, on your phone, on your to-do list, on your stapler, on your window, on your bathroom mirror, and in your car.

Two fun finds for the Post-it note lovers to help you simplify your notes!

These “Big Idea Adhesive Notes” from Russell & Hazel (another fave site for fab organizational products!) are slightly larger than your ordinary Post-it notes – they are 4 x 5-7/8” in size.  Instead of jotting down notes on 10 separate smaller Post-its, combine your thoughts on one Big Idea Post-it and create a to-do list with action items at the bottom in the section they provide you.

Here’s the second find for Post-it lovers…this is one of my favorite finds…it’s a Ceramic Memo Board from See Jane Work with a dry eraser so it’s environmentally friendly and also clutter-free!

Tip: Also works great to write notes to your employees, husband, roommate, kids, or friends!

Business Cards

If you’re like me, you find it challenging to take all of the business cards you’ve been collecting from meetings and set aside the time to manually input the data in your contacts on your computer and/or phone.

With CardScan’s business card scanner, you can easily scan the cards and import contact info to Outlook, Palm handhelds, Pocket PCs and various smartphones.

This is truly a product that can revolutionize the way you manage your contacts. Brilliant!!

Tip: Make sure before you buy, that you determine which business card scanner is compatible with your computer and phone!

Receipts

You just met with a vendor for coffee, purchased office supplies, and signed up to advertise in a bridal magazine…these are all business expenses that have receipts and need to be filed for good tax and accounting record keeping.

If you’re looking for a great way to manage all of your receipts, there is a scanner available called the NeatDesk that not only scans and saves receipts but exports the data to Quickbooks, Excel, Quicken, etc.

This product also conveniently scans in business cards – so if you’re looking for an all-in-one scanning option for receipts and business cards this is a wonderful product to consider.

Tip: This scanner is a bit pricey, especially if you are just starting your business and may need something a bit more simple…so I would recommend a basic filing “accordion” and keep receipts filed by expense category.  One accordion file works great for each year!

What organizational products do you have and love to help simplify your life and your business??

Happy Organizing!