Whether you have an actual office, have transformed your breakfast nook into one, or are using a large closet, the organizational goals for taking control of any of these areas are basically the same. You need to be able to find a stamp and an envelope when you need one, you need a place to file the papers you want and need to keep, and you have to be able to find and mail bills when it’s time for them to be paid. You need a system for staying on top of appointments too. And of course, you need space to work. This is, evidently, easier said than done.
The first step to identifying your home office’s problem areas, after going through everything and throwing away what you don’t need, is to use what’s left to create a functional workspace. After getting rid of unnecessary items, you still probably have a desk and chair, a computer or two, a file cabinet or a file drawer, a printer, speakers, and possibly a bulletin or white board. These are pretty much necessities for an organized home office, so if you’re missing any of these items, see what you can do about obtaining them.
After you’re sure you have everything you need, take a good look at your office and see if you have any of the problem areas listed here:
1. Unorganized bulletin board.
2. Books everywhere.
3. Computer equipment including router, cable modem, and switch that hard to get to and stacked precariously.
4. Cables in the way of shelf.
5. Broken printer.
6. Unused computer.
7. Cat bed taking up desk space.
8. Cables on the floor.
9. Computer in a cubby making plugging in peripherals difficult.
10. Crooked certificates.
These problems can all be solved at no cost; it only takes a little time. The idea is to figure out where the problems are, and how they occur. Once you know that, you can figure out a solution. This may mean dealing with the bulletin board, finding a place for the books to allow easy access, finding a new place for the computer equipment and hardware, getting rid of what doesn’t work or isn’t being used, and generally cleaning up the place. You may also want to move the computer and hardware out of the cubbies to allow easier access and to free up a space for books or catalogs. An unused computer and broken printer can been removed, and the place can generally be spruced up. Behind the scenes, it’s easy to organize drawers with drawer organizers, put a filing system in place, and make sure the bulletin board only holds pictures and notes about current projects.
Once your office is clean, put a plan in place to keep it that way. Consider the tips detailed in these articles:
Help! I’m a Packrat and my Office is a Mess!
Manage Your Home Office Postal Mail
Organize Your Printers and Scanners – Organize Your Home Office
