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Blog Post
Getting Your Home Office Organized for the New Year
Bret Carr • December 17, 2019
It’s that time of year again--time for New Year’s resolutions. One of the top resolutions that people make in the new year is one to “get organized.” This can mean different things to different people. You might want to get your closets organized, get your schedule organized, or just get your life in general organized. One area of the home that can get overrun with clutter is the home office. A disorganized office can lead you to be less productive than you would be if it were in good working order. Here are some tips on getting an organized home office
in 2020 and keeping it that way all year long.
Purge Your Paper
There are certain documents you do need to keep for various lengths of time. Consumer Reports
offers an explanation of how long you should keep tax records, loan documents, bank statements, and more. But most of us have papers floating around in the office that really don’t need to be there at all.
Remember that you probably have a way to access digital copies of things like utility bills and mortgage statements. If you have your statements backed up online, you most likely do not need the paper copies (though you can check with your tax advisor to be sure).
Certainly, you do not need to keep old sticky notes, phone messages, to-do lists, page-a-day calendar pages, your child’s math papers, and the postcard that your dentist sent you reminding you to make an appointment for a cleaning. Dedicate 15 minutes per day to go through these types of papers. If you see something you need to do, do it right then (yes, that includes calling the dentist!). If there’s something that is coming up, add it to your calendar and toss the reminder. Save your kids’ schoolwork in an area outside of the home office
or, better yet, let your child choose just a few special papers and put them on the refrigerator for a week or two before recycling.
Add Storage Accessories
If you don’t have enough storage components in your home office, it’s likely that you have clutter on your workspace and shelves. Adding office cabinets, more shelves, and drawers will give you more room to store the items you need to keep off of your desk.
Anything you can keep behind a cabinet door or in a drawer will not only be out of sight but also protected from dust. Think about finding an enclosed place to keep items like your printer, binders filled with files that you are not currently using regularly, and even supplies like pens and your stapler. The less you have to attract dust, the cleaner your office will be and the less time you’ll need to devote to cleaning.
Before you go out and invest a small fortune in organizers, however, think about what you will be putting where. Having too many empty cabinets or a set of drawers that you don’t know what to do with is not going to solve the problem of home office
disorganization. The custom closet organizers
at Affordable Closets, LLC can design you a custom home office
that will have plenty of room for everything you need in that area of your home.
Have a Routine
Staying organized in your home office
is about more than just eliminating clutter and storing your supplies. Many times, people who work from home find it hard to get all of their tasks done in a timely manner. Parkinson’s Law is that work will expand to fill the time available for it. This means that while you might have eight hours to accomplish a given task, chances are good that it doesn’t actually need to take that long. This is where good routines come into play.
Decide what time you will start work each day and what you will do during each segment of the day. Don’t get pulled into answering emails first thing in the morning if you can help it, as this can easily expand to fill up too much time. Always start your day with a to-do list where you sketch out your top priorities. And always end the day by taking a few minutes to clean up. Put away all of your supplies, brush any eraser dust off of the desk, and straighten up your work area. This will help you to start the next day with a clean, organized space that invites productivity.
Make It Pleasant
Finally, your office doesn’t have to be strictly utilitarian. Make it as pleasant as possible so you won’t dread getting to work. Hang up some beautiful art or put up framed photos of your family. Be sure that your chair is comfortable and easy to adjust. Make sure your desk is at the right height. If you prefer to work standing up sometimes, look into getting a desk that will convert into a standing desk. Hang a vision board on the wall if that helps you to focus on your goals. In short, make your office what you want it to be, as this will inspire you to keep it organized for the long term.
If you are struggling with organization in your home office
or any other area of your Denver home, the organizers at Affordable Closets, LLC can help. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation so we can help you define your needs and then design a storage system that will help you meet your goals. There is no cost or obligation, so you have nothing to lose. You can start off 2020 with better home organization for a more successful year, and we can help.