What You Need for a Paper-Centric Home Workstation

When we were all young, we all used a pencil and paper in school. Needless to say, having a writing material and paper is how we all started to learn.  Among what was taught in school is where paper comes from. The answer is that paper is made from the fibres of trees. The next thing we learn is the practice of cutting trees to produce paper has an adverse effect on the environment.  

When we got older, we moved from pen and paper to gadget. In some cases, we replace those two items with a stylus and trackpad. Then we got the notion that paper will soon be a thing of the past. It is because we are modernising, and we are getting environmentally conscious.  

As we joined the labour force, we found out it is inundated by collaborative communications tools that do away with paper. This is where the unified communications for business and Microsoft Teams come onboard, which minimises the cost of purchasing papers, as everything is done online and is browser friendly.  

The innovative technology gives rise to solutions for a tedious task like transcribing meetings accurately, thanks to the advent of voice call recording where conversation over any team collaboration meeting can be recorded and transcribed instantly.  

However, there are still industries that utilise paper in the future. For now, it is still speculative which industry will still be using paper. 

One thing is definite, working from home is here, and for those who are deeply entrenched with using paper, this one is for you.  

But before anything else, some things should be considered, like:  

Real Estate 

This simply refers to the size of the area and your home workstation’s location. Will it be a whole room for yourself, or are you sharing with others, or is it still just a makeshift office space?  

• Budget 

Also, consider how you will operate. Will it be all-expense paid by the company, or are there some portion of the cost that the individual will cover? 

• Filing System  

Next is where you will place those papers and documents that you printed on. A filing system is in order; whether it be wood, steel or any form, it is up to the budget. The key idea here is to prevent clutter and have a neat organisation.  

• Storage is for Supplies 

The filing system refers to the project you work upon. Meanwhile, storage is meant for the stockpile, for ink for the printer, other office paraphernalia (like manila envelopes, parcels, and other stationeries) and paper, of course. 

Now, we have come to the part on what you need to in a paper-centric home workstation.  

1. Paper Rack 

Papers for the office come in varied sizes. There is a size for various purposes like legal, letter, A4 and so on. To avoid confusion and wastage of resources, a rack is needed; labelling it will also help.  

2. Pen and Pencil Holder 

Since you are working with paper, it will be remiss if you do not include any writing material in the mix and a holder to keep it organised.  

3. Post-it Area 

Now that there are pens and pencils, why not use them in the most cognitive way possible? Write a reminder for yourself and keep not only the area organise but also your thoughts. Dedicate a space on the wall where you can stick some notes to give you a cue of the To-Do-List or reminders.  

4. Printer-Scanner-Copier  

This is where all the consideration above comes into play. Consider your workspace’s size relative to your printer’s size, where to place your scanner and copier. If you are working in a confined area, consider having a 3-in-1 device, that is, printer, scanner, and copier all rolled into one.  

5. Paper Shredder  

As it is in standard office settings, mistakes are bound to happen, and just like that, a paper shredder should be available. Remember to keep it out of the reach of children and be careful while operating it.  

With the amount of waste that is inevitable to occur, you will need to dispose of the wastage eventually. Like any responsible adult, we should separate items like plastics from paper. The paper is, after all, recyclable.  

Speaking of recycling, according to Engelbert Schrapp, a corporate account manager for the Fiber Industry, you need not worry about the trees.  

Schrapp said, “95% of the raw material used in the paper industry comes from plantations. Millions and millions of trees would not exist if not for the pulp and paper industry because no one would be planting millions of trees just for fun. Without the paper industry, the environment would look much worse than it is today.” 

Meanwhile, in the US alone, recycling has always been a part of papermaking. It claimed that paper mills utilise used paper to produce new newspapers, magazines, paper grocery bags, corrugated boxes, envelopes, cartons, notebook paper, and other paper products. 

So, for those who feel guilty while watching “The Office”, the TV show revolves around a paper company and is fans of either the Dunder Mifflin for the US version and the Wernham Hogg for the UK version, you do not need to fret anymore.  

Moreover, there are some predictions that other industries will still support the paper and pulp industry in the long run. This industries are heavy dependent on the paper and pulp industry because of its work nature.  

These are those in the industry of law practice, medical field, accounting, finance and education, respectively.  

Understandably, these industries need paper for their respective profession. Also, having hard copies for each of these professions is crucial. Notably, the law practice is on the top of the list, as they need and requires written materials for the chosen vocation.   

Also, worth noting, some governments in the world are going paperless, however, some will take time before this can be truly accomplished. Until that time, paper will stay in foreseeable future.