By Cheryl Scheir
One thing that I love about my freelancing life is that I usually have about one day each month to catch up on paperwork. That day is a truly great day.
Here’s my catch-up day task list:
Sleep in
Make a cup of tea
Read some news
Set up a 3-hole punch and stapling station
Put on a podcast (today’s was The Church Politics Podcast; check it out on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify)
Sort through all the call notes, business receipts, invoices, creative ideas, and miscellaneous papers in my filing basket
3-hole punch and staple said items to be filed
Recycle whatever isn’t important enough to file, making sure to shred any SSNs or other personal information
Insert filing items into the 3-ring binders that are organized with tabbed dividers for each of my projects and creative endeavors
Update the to-do list and calendar in my old-school Franklin Planner
Delete unneeded emails; unsubscribe where possible
Call my parents
Set up a date with a friend
Write blog posts, recommendations, and other “only because I want to” pieces
That’s it. Nothing crazy.
Of course, my way isn’t the only way; it’s just the way that works for me. The important thing to know is that no matter what organizational system is, there may come a day when being organized will sink you or save you.
You’ll have a new assignment and need the reference list from an old one--and, if you’re organized, you’ll have it!
You’ll realize you haven’t been paid in a while--and, if you’re organized, you’ll be able to put your hands on the invoice and compare it to the bank statement, no problem!
You’ll start dreaming of a big new purchase and, if you’re organized, you’ll be able to prove to yourself, on paper, whether it’s financially do-able or not.
It doesn’t take much, so I’m telling you: do it. Once you do it the first time, you’ll have an approach that will carry over to the next time.
Once more before I go, I’m telling you: do it.