No matter what your Santa Rosa home office is used for, things are harder to get done if the area is messy and cluttered. Office organization can be hard to do when other things also demand your time. Getting and staying organized is a way to reclaim your office space. Here are some organizational strategies recommended by experts that could help you. With this, you will be able to create an organizational system that will boost your productivity in just a few hours throughout your workweek.
Set Up a System
First of all, you have to find a place to put everything before you start clearing off your desk– or your desktop computer for that matter. That is why creating an organizational system is an important first step. Working with a lot of paper would mean you will need a system that includes things like an inbox, a file rack for open projects, file storage for completed work, a recycling bin, and so on. You can also come up with a way to organize files and documents on your computer, whether by date, alphabetically, chronologically, etc.
Invest in Storage
It is inevitable that you will still be keeping some important documents and papers in your office even if your work is mostly online. Thus it is always a good idea to invest in quality storage for your home office. A filing cabinet and some shelving are must-haves for any office. And if you need more space you can take advantage of the vertical space in your office to maximize your storage. Having taller shelves give you more storage space without crowding your desk area.
Go Digital
Do you feel buried under the paper? Why not try scanning them into digital files instead? A lot of software programs let you easily convert printed documents, invoices, bills, and others into digital files. A good quality scanner or all-in-one machine (printer, scanner, fax) will also be a good investment as well as a shredder to destroy documents you no longer need to keep.
Clear Away Clutter
One of the fastest ways to feel more organized in a hurry is to clear the clutter off your desk or other areas of your office. Make it a rule to keep your desk free from anything not related to your current project, including office equipment. Try creating a neatly organized area next to your desk and move items you don’t need easy access to into a different room or store it in a cabinet or boxes. It will be easier to focus on your work if your office is organized.
Re-think Your To-Do List
Another concern for home offices is keeping track of schedules and deadlines. If you don’t already have one, choose a system to help you keep track of everything you need to remember and do. This system could be as simple as a desktop planner, or an app on your computer or smartphone. It is important to choose a daily to-do list format that works for you, regardless of what others are doing.
Make Time for Organization
Once your home office has been organized, the next challenge is to keep it that way from day today. An effective way to do this is to schedule time for it every week. Schedule it on your calendar, just like you would any other meeting. And then use that time to shred old papers, go through your inbox, or put away clutter. Doing this will help maintain your home office and keep it ready for a productive work week.
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