The New Year is associated with good intentions and resolutions for the months ahead. At the top of the list is often something related to organization, whether it be cleaning out closets or getting rid of the mess in the living room. Since many people are working from home for longer amounts of time than they originally expected, a temporary workspace has become somewhat permanent and perhaps a bit disorganized. Here are a few helpful organization tips that are perfect for work from home office spaces.
Keep only what you need on your desk
It may seem like an obvious suggestion, but the less items on your desk, the more space you will have, and you will be one step closer to being more organized. Keep only what you need out because the rest is just clutter. Instead of a mug that has a dozen pens in it, keep one or two that you love out. Have a small spot with a few paperclips and if you don’t need tape on your desk put it in a drawer. It is the same idea with a stapler. Many organization experts recommend desk organizers for drawers. A fun DIY is to use small boxes from gifts in the drawers of your desk and fill them with pens, tape, paper clips, post-its, etc. These long and narrow boxes are great for organizing and also remind you of that great gift you received.
Give your desk a style promotion
The more organized and stylish your workspace, the more effective you will be. Having a stylish desk will provide the optics needed to create an organized look. Professional organizers recommend Love Desk Mats as a great way to style your desk, showcase some personality, and give you all the room you need to move your mouse around. Plus, it mitigates surface dirt, keeps your desk scratch free, and will put you in a good mood from the moment you sit down. These desk mats are made from neoprene (a material every style geek loves) and are super soft, easy to clean, and made with 1/8″ thick non-skid natural rubber backing.
Cut the clutter
One great habit is to clear your workspace before you shut down your computer for the night. Many people also find it helpful to start a to do list for the next day so that you start being efficient first thing in the morning. Get rid of notes that you no longer need, snack wrappers that never made it to the trash, and file folders that can be placed in another location that is not on your desk. Make it a habit to review and take action within a specific period of time so that things do not clutter up. Working from an organized space feels great and once you start, you will never want to stop!
Establish a reference center
It might sound like a funny suggestion, but find a dedicated area for files, notebooks, and reference items that are not on your desk. Some people have a file cabinet, others a spot in a closet, or you can even use a nice tote bag that can hold some of these items and look stylish in your work area. The general idea is to keep your desk with only essential items and have the important ones in one location that is easy to reach.
Schedule a maintenance meeting with yourself
Take time each month or every other month to check supplies, make sure papers and notebooks are in its proper place, keep a list of long term and short-term tasks. All of these maintenance tasks will all help to keep your desk organized and focused. Remove all of those post-its that are covering your screen and don’t catch your attention anymore. Schedule 10-15 minutes and keep it like a regular work appointment.
Being organized is a habit and might even be considered a life change. No one is perfect, but if you keep practicing, staying organized will come more naturally.
