Quick and Dirty Home Office Organizing

Home office organizing is not something to take lightly. If your home office looks like the aftermath of a natural disaster, your work and productivity are being impacted, whether you realize it or not. Your office doesn't need to be so clean that you could eat off of the floors, but it does need to be organized properly.

Your Workspace

Do you find yourself scooting around the room to get from your computer to your files and then to your copier? If so, your workspace isn't set up correctly. The things that you use most should be within arm's reach. That means that your printer should be set up near your computer, and your files should be close to your desk.

Storage

Face it: Your office could use a bit of help from the Declutter Fairy. Head to the local dollar store and buy a few plastic shoe boxes or totes. If you don't have a label maker handy, grab a roll of Scotch tape and a Sharpie. Put printer paper in one tote, envelopes and mailing supplies in another. The organization system you use is completely up to you.

To Do or Not To Do

With a few manila file folders and a poster board, you can make a handy to-do rack. Take your poster board and use glue or double-sided tape to attach a few files in a vertical row. Label your files Today, Tomorrow, Next Week. Hang your rack above your desk or on the back of your door, and use it to keep your office and work organized.

Junk Drawers

Junk drawers belong in the kitchen, not in your office. Utensil holders and ice cube trays make handy desk drawer organizers. Use them to hold paper clips, thumb tacks, erasers, staples, and anything else that you have to go elbow-deep into your drawer for.

Go Up

If you don't have room in your office to spread out, spread up. Floating shelves and baskets give you a wealth of storage options without taking up valuable floor and wall space. Just remember to keep the things you use more frequently on the lowest shelves.

Don't let the disaster that is your office affect your work. You can easily, and cheaply, get yourself organized in a single afternoon. Spend some time on Sunday organizing your home office, and you will be insanely productive on Monday.

Need more home office organizing ideas? Contact me for tips or strategies for optimizing your workday and space.