Work From Home In An Organized Way

When you become your own boss and your home becomes your own office certain adjustments become essential. The first priority is to arrange a place to work, an office location.

Even though it is home sweet home, you have to plan the best way to organize your work area. The place to work, however small it may be in size, need to be set up properly. Think of the items you will need in addition to your computer. There will be files, books, magazines, CDs, furniture etc., to keep properly to optimize access. Your working environment should be free of stress and clutter.

The initial focus need to be on keeping the place organized. Organizing a work from home office or even a formal work place like a huge office or a factory will involve the same principals. To do this there is a time tested and successful methodology known as 5S. The 5S methodology originated in Japan helps to systematically organize any work place small or big.

The 5S principals can be applied even to organize a small area of activity like your own hand-bag. The 5S ensures a place for every thing and every thing  In Its  place. Where ever applied, the 5S methods improve efficiency and productivity. In Japan 5S can be seen usefully applied in offices, kitchens, rooms, roads, gardens homes, stores and big plants as well.

5S helps to reduce space needed and maximize speed of retrieval of items. This amazing system is called 5S because it uses five Japanese words all starting with S sound.

The five step 5S methodology in brief is as follows;

1, Seiri -Sort – To keep what is necessary and discard what is not necessary.

2, Seiton -Specify location – Keep what is in need arranged in order so that can be picked up easily when you need them.

3, Seiso -Clean/clear – Clean the work place regularly to be free of rubbish, be neat and tidy.

4, Seuketsu  -Cleanliness- To regulate with  schedules and ways to  ensure workplace cleanliness.

5, Shitsuke – Self discipline (Motivation) -  To train and discipline all involved on following and maintaining 5S.

Start with the first 5S principle – Seiri by sorting and identifying what is not necessary, what is needed regularly, what is not needed immediately etc. There may be items that should not be there at all like a broken chair or an item not of any use to be there. So you can start to sort with the participation of your home people too as team work always helps. You will find items that will never be needed. Such items can easily be discarded.

The next 5S principle namely Seiton is to identify, sort, and label or tag the items found Necessary to enable to identify easily and indexing will help. Visual identification methods such as using color codes, colors, location indicators etc., which will help to locate and pick up any item from where it is kept speedily. You can be innovative here.

The third S of 5S, Seiso ensures clean and tidy place to work by cleaning, sweeping and dusting etc.

The fourth step namely Seuketsu involves standardizing with set routines, schedules etc, to maintain continually the workplace clean and as arranged.

The fifth Step that is Shitsuke ensures that the system is clearly understood and practices with training and self discipline by every one involved. This training will help you to think analytically, always identify whatever is needed for your progress and discard what are time and energy wasters in life too. Benefits of 5S orientation being improved efficiency and productivity it will boost up your overall business performance too.

The 5S will make the work place, your home business office, or your home if applied a beautiful environment pleasing to the eye so that you will feel home is where the heart is and can work with comfort, ease, speed and mental peace.

Author Resource Box:

Chandrasoma Perera writes frequently on a wide range of subjects and Chandrasoma promotes a simple work from home opportunity in his website: – http://www.chanano.com