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Happy Organize Your Home Office Day! Yes, there really is such a thing, and it's celebrated on the second Tuesday in March. Time to celebrate with a perfectly organized and de-cluttered office. You do have one, right? No? Well don't fret. With a few guidelines you'll be celebrating this organizing holiday in no time.
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PAPER, PAPER, and MORE PAPER
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The thing that bogs down most home offices is the sheer amount of paper that we accumulate.
Sure, we say we're living in the digital, paperless age, but if the average home office is a reflection, we're far from it. So many of us still take comfort in having a hard copy of whatever document we feel we must keep, and it can be hard to change that mindset. Certainly, there are documents that must be kept in their original format, and then there's the question of how long to keep that document.
Find a list here.
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Whether you're dealing with a single pile of paper, or an entire office with papers strewn about, you'll need to start somewhere.
1. Clear an area where you can create sorting stations.
2. Set up boxes labeled File, Shred, Toss, Recycle
3. Sort through each pile of paper, placing every page in one of the labeled boxes.
Here are a few questions to help you answer the question: Do I need to keep this?
a. Is this referred to regularly?
b. Is this needed for tax or legal purposes?
c. Is this necessary to complete a current project or does it require an action?
d. Is this essential to the core of my business or does it represent a revenue opportunity?
When you've completed this high level sort, you may find that you were able to get rid of lots, if not most of the paper, and what remains is ready for filing. If you have an existing filing system, review the categories and determine if they still make sense. Are you able to quickly and easily find any document? If not, think about making some changes to your labeling system. Do you use a hanging file folder system, or do you store your documents in binders? There's no right or wrong answer - it just has to work for you.
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Clear the Decks
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Most likely, your desk is the hub of activity in your home office, and it, too, should be cleared of paper and other clutter. S
tock only the supplies such as a computer, writing utensils, and an inbox to complete necessary tasks. Don't let it become the dumping grounds for things you don't know what do with! Be sure to keep a wastebasket and/or shredder nearby, and be diligent about processing each piece of paper that enters the room. Remember, each piece of paper has an action tied to it such as file, shred, or recycle.
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...and the Other Stuff
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Label containers, drawers, shelves, or wherever you store office supplies, process mail, pay bills, and house reading materials that will leave no doubt about what goes where no matter who uses the space. Remove any items that don't belong and return them to their ri
ghtful place elsewhere in your home.
Finally, make your home office a place where you will enjoy spending time. F
avorite photos, a potted plant or pretty lamp are some special touches that make the room uniquely yours.
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Facing down piles of paper may seem overwhelming, and organizing them a task that you've been procrastinating. Eat the frog! Visualize the outcome and how it will make you feel. Taking the time to go through the process as described will be well worth it, and if you're still not quite sure where to start,
everyday ORGANiZiNG is here to help.
Sincerely,
Nancy Patsios
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