How to Organize Your Home Office in 10 Steps
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Your home office is your productivity center.
An organized home office means everything is easily accessible, in order and you're at your most productive.
A disorganized home office can cost you lost time, which often means lost money, and the clutter can drain your energy making you feel less productive, overwhelmed and frustrated.
Therefore, it pays, literally, to have an organized home office. Here are ten tips to organize your home office, and keep it organized!
Find a system that works for you, create appropriate zones, put everything in its place and enjoy your organized and efficient home office!
A disorganized home office can cost you lost time, which often means lost money, and the clutter can drain your energy making you feel less productive, overwhelmed and frustrated.
Therefore, it pays, literally, to have an organized home office. Here are ten tips to organize your home office, and keep it organized!
Find a system that works for you, create appropriate zones, put everything in its place and enjoy your organized and efficient home office!
Contents at a Glance
How to organize your home office - 10 tips to get the job done!
Getting started, and knowing where to get started in the first place, is often the hardest part for new home office operators.
There is no need to make the job any more complicated than necessary, so here are some step-by-step tips for you:
There is no need to make the job any more complicated than necessary, so here are some step-by-step tips for you:
1. Create zones.
Zone 1 is anything you need on a daily basis. For example, pens, your laptop, purchase orders, your phone, printer and so on. These items should be within easy reach.
Zone 2 are items you may use on a weekly or monthly basis, for example your banking account information, your sales reports and so on. These should be in storage that is easy to access but not necessarily within arm's reach.
Zone 3 are the items you access infrequently. These items will be things like your tax records, manuals, contracts and so on.
Store these items in an organized manner, so they're easy to access but they don't have to be easily accessible - the top of the closet would be fine.
Zone 2 are items you may use on a weekly or monthly basis, for example your banking account information, your sales reports and so on. These should be in storage that is easy to access but not necessarily within arm's reach.
Zone 3 are the items you access infrequently. These items will be things like your tax records, manuals, contracts and so on.
Store these items in an organized manner, so they're easy to access but they don't have to be easily accessible - the top of the closet would be fine.
There is a huge range of storage systems available to suit your exact needs:
2. Label specifically.
Files can easily become overwhelming.
Imagine if you have a file labeled "Taxes". Well everything from your tax statements to your receipts from the past five years could end up in there, making for a really big mess.
Each file should be extremely specific.
For example, 2011 tax statements, June 2012 business receipts, August 2011 medical claims and so on.
Each file should be extremely specific.
For example, 2011 tax statements, June 2012 business receipts, August 2011 medical claims and so on.
Once you start using electronic labelers you will never stop!
These are so fast, neat, and makes your filing and labeling systems so professional looking!
3. Create a purge and file system.
Once every quarter (every three months), go through your files and clean them out.
For example, if you have a business receipts file, sort through it quarterly to make sure all receipts are valid.
If you have an electronic system of also recording receipts then cross-reference and get rid of any duplicates.
For example, if you have a business receipts file, sort through it quarterly to make sure all receipts are valid.
If you have an electronic system of also recording receipts then cross-reference and get rid of any duplicates.
There is no need to feel like this - ever!
4. Store electronically.
Digital storage, in the form of a backup drive or online system is a great way to eliminate clutter.
Scan documents and store them in two digital locations, on your hard drive and via an online data storage system for example.
Scan documents and store them in two digital locations, on your hard drive and via an online data storage system for example.
5. Create three "To Do" zones on your task list.
Instead of one heaping pile, organize your tasks into three piles by priority.
For example, to do today, to do this month, to do this quarter.
Make sure each zone is in a labeled desk organizer and not just a pile on your desk.
Desk Organizers for all Your Stuff
6. Have a place for everything.
It will never, ever, work to tell yourself "I'll put this away later" .. or ... "This can wait until I create a new file for it"... as whatever it is you are handling in person, or on your computer desktop, will simply sit in a pile and gather dust.
Every document and work tool you handle must have a permanent place or file that you 'put it away' to when you finish with it.
Learning to 'handle it only once" is a great rule. Use it, then store it. If you find yourself handling a document or office equipment more than once, you need to find it a home.
Having a tidy and clear desktop will make you much more productive. It is a fact!
Every document and work tool you handle must have a permanent place or file that you 'put it away' to when you finish with it.
Learning to 'handle it only once" is a great rule. Use it, then store it. If you find yourself handling a document or office equipment more than once, you need to find it a home.
Having a tidy and clear desktop will make you much more productive. It is a fact!
Prioritize Your Desk Papers
7. Find one system to organize yourself and stick to it.
Do you prefer a PDA, paper calendar, or a software program like Outlook?
Find a system that works for you and stick to it.
This will keep you on track and eliminate redundancy from using several systems.
Find a system that works for you and stick to it.
This will keep you on track and eliminate redundancy from using several systems.
Awesome Desk Calendar for Any Office!
If you're a visual person and need to see your agenda then a large wall calendar with your tasks and an open filing system might work best.
Contemporary Magnetic Memo Board / Calendar / Picture Frame
Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 06/01/2012)
* Simply attach your memos
* comes with picture frames as well
* great for desktop
* with calendar
8. Create an open/close system.
Each day, when you leave your office, prepare it for the next day.
Set out items, which will need your immediate attention the next day.
Create a prioritized task list. The next morning, tackle your must dos immediately and work your way through your task list.
It'll keep you organized and on track.
Set out items, which will need your immediate attention the next day.
Create a prioritized task list. The next morning, tackle your must dos immediately and work your way through your task list.
It'll keep you organized and on track.
Having an organized home office is more about creating systems than anything. The key is to create systems that work for you.
9. Put It Back!
At the end of each day, put everything back in its place!
Leaving your office clean and ready to go for the next day, starts the day off right.
Leaving your office clean and ready to go for the next day, starts the day off right.
10. Sort mail.
Mail typically falls into three categories, open immediately, open eventually and trash.
Sort mail into three piles each day and tend to the immediate ones, throw the junk mail away/recycle and place your intermediate mail in an appropriate location, for example your to do this week bin.
Sort mail into three piles each day and tend to the immediate ones, throw the junk mail away/recycle and place your intermediate mail in an appropriate location, for example your to do this week bin.
A Few Organizing Favorites....
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How neat is YOUR desk!?
Do you have any experience with organizing your home office?
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Richard3331
Apr 12, 2012 @ 2:48 am | delete
- I love getting visits from you - I love that you take a bit of time with me and i Love the smile Thank you
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Helene-Malmsio
May 11, 2012 @ 10:30 am | delete
- My Pleasure, love dropping by and saying hello!
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7thStone
Mar 9, 2012 @ 3:02 pm | delete
- I'm in the process of trying to organize the office/work-area at my shop ... digital storage, no problem ... tools, metal bits, beads and such, driving me crazy! I'm going to try zones for my space and to do list ... thank you for the great suggestions.
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Helene-Malmsio
May 11, 2012 @ 10:29 am | delete
- Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated!
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klaird
Feb 26, 2012 @ 12:27 am | delete
- I need to start doing digital storage of paperwork. My papers seem to multiply overnight.
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Helene-Malmsio
May 11, 2012 @ 10:29 am | delete
- Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to leave a comment, much appreciated!
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Helene-Malmsio
Jan 29, 2012 @ 7:34 am | delete
- -:¦:- ~ *'"* Happy New Year 2012 *'"* ~ -:¦:-
Thank you for your visit and Squidoo Angel Blessing of my lens - it's much appreciated!
Have a great New Year, and I wish you every success in 2012!
Helene Malmsio aka SCSS
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oceansky Jan 29, 2012 @ 3:16 am | delete
- You have another hit on your hands. Great tips for getting the office organized.
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Helene-Malmsio
May 11, 2012 @ 10:28 am | delete
- -:¦:- ~ *'"* Thank You *'"* ~ -:¦:-
Thank you for your visit and Like of my lens - it's very much appreciated!
All the very best to you and your loved ones, from me and mine.
Helene Malmsio aka SCSS
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susannaduffy
Jan 22, 2012 @ 5:56 am | delete
- I'm always looking for ways to organise my home office - great resource here, thanks
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Helene-Malmsio
Jan 27, 2012 @ 2:59 am | delete
- Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated!
My home office is a never-ending challenge to get and to keep tidy!
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Good-Parenting-Skills
Dec 27, 2011 @ 5:41 pm | delete
- Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
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Helene-Malmsio
Dec 28, 2011 @ 6:04 am | delete
- Thank you for your visit and Like, much appreciated!
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Christmas-Elf
Dec 26, 2011 @ 6:48 pm | delete
- Very handy guide to follow. Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. :)
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Helene-Malmsio
Dec 28, 2011 @ 6:04 am | delete
- Thanks for dropping by and leaving your kind feedback on the lens!
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TLC08
Dec 25, 2011 @ 11:48 pm | delete
- You provide wonderful and useful tips here. :)
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Helene-Malmsio
Dec 28, 2011 @ 6:05 am | delete
- Glad you enjoyed your visit, thanks for saying hello!
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JJNW
Aug 10, 2011 @ 2:53 am | delete
- ha ha ha ha - not neat (my desk - now where did I put that desk...)
***SquidAngel Blessed*** for a well-written lens, a sense of humor, and giving me the idea to go to clutter lenses on the "school bus" --- I need the clutter lenses!! : )
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terrapin719
Aug 10, 2011 @ 1:44 pm | delete
- I need the clutter lenses too! My desk is the worst hot spot in the house, everyone piles their stuff on it.
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Helene-Malmsio
Dec 28, 2011 @ 6:05 am | delete
- woot woot! thanks so much for your Angel Blessing!
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Fitzcharming Nov 7, 2010 @ 12:44 pm | delete
- Great stuff here. My desk is semi-neat. I do a once over every week and today's the day. I learned a few things from your lens too.
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