Follow these quick tips to quickly organize your home office and increase your efficiency.
Working at home gives people the flexibility to be at home, while still being able
to collect a paycheck. But, does working at home automatically make you get
more done? As more and more people begin to work from home, it’s increasingly important to organize your home office and stay productive. Here’s how to tidy and declutter your space in 15 minutes or less.
Before you start organizing your home office, consider your needs. When you work from howe you need your home office to be a place where you can be efficient and productive. The best way to maximize your work at home efficiency will be to set your self up for success by creating a system of organization that is in line with the way that you work. Everyone’s workflow is a little different and you will do yourself a huge favor by keeping your style of workflow in mind while you organize.
For this quick how office organization you will want to begin by prioritizing and designating a place for important paperwork, items to be shredded and office supplies. If your kids do their home in your office, set aside space for them to work and store their homework, books, and school supplies.
For now, ignore the computer. Electronic file and inbox organization are projects for another day. If it’s dusty, go ahead and give it a quick wipe down and move on.
A lot of stuff accumulates in home offices: knick-knacks, awards, mugs and more. Then you have office equipment: a printer, scanner, shredder and perhaps an external hard drive. Then there’s the paperwork. That is where things can get really messy. Do yourself a favor and prioritize these quick home office organizing sessions so that you can maintain an organized home office.
Start organizing by collecting and sorting any clutter on the horizontal spaces of your office, such as your desk, file folder cabinet, chairs, and tables. When you pick up an item, quickly decide where it needs to be put away.
For large stacks of paperwork, tidy the pile and leave it for another day when you can organize documents and do all the filing. If you have time, sort similar paperwork into categories: bills to be paid, items to be shredded, paper to be filed, etc.
To keep this organizing session quick, grab a box or basket to toss items that belong in another part of the house like clothes, dishes, and toys. Simply collect those items and leave them for another time. By clearing away items that don’t belong you will be able to see what kind of space you have to organize and keep the things you do want in your office.
Straighten up as you move around the room. Put books back on the bookshelf and return collectibles to the appropriate shelf. Gather office supplies like cables, notepads, and pencils. Place them in your desk drawers or supply cabinet. Don’t be distracted by disorganized drawers or cubbies. Remember, this is a quick cleanup and it’s important to stay focused on the areas most visible. Make a note of other spaces that need to be organized and put it off for another day.
If you come across trash, toss it immediately. When you fill the trash can, be sure to empty it as soon as you’re finished. Finally, do one last pass of the entire room to ensure everything is straightened up. Don’t worry about dusting or vacuuming. Instead, focus on tidying your home office. You can always dust during your routine cleaning.
When you are finished, take a few minutes to appreciate what you have accomplished. You will feel rewarded and much more productive when working in your organized office. Making these quick home office organizing sessions a regular habit will greatly increase your efficiency while you are working from home.
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