5 Home Office Hacks to Get You Organized

March 2020
​Edition 3
The second Tuesday in Mach is Organize Your Home Office Day. The home office is probably number 2 on the list of rooms in the home that need a organizational system. This is behind the kitchen, which is the most used room in the home. Our home office is where we usually go to hide out and get some work done. Or you can be like some of my organizing clients and have to move to the kitchen table or counter because your desk is housing mountains of paperwork and unopened mail. Well I am here to give you 5 hacks on how to get your home office organized!!

1. Purge Paper. It's easy to let papers pile up in your home office. Get control of the clutter before it takes over your space. Go through every piece of paper in your office by using the System of Three: shred/toss it, file it or take action from it. File your important paperwork in a color-coded filing system.
2. Color-Code Your Filing System. A well-organized filing system is a good indication of a functional office space. To organize, separate the filing system into five color-coded categories: 
   • Green - Financial
   • Red - Medical
   • Orange - Personal
   • Yellow - Insurance
   • Blue - House
   Label each hanging folder according to your needs.
3. Create a Mail Station. In order to maintain control of the paper coming into the home office, create a mail station. Make a folder for incoming and outgoing mail, mail to file, bills and a folder for every family member. **SUPER IMPORTANT-As soon as the mail comes in, file it in the mail station. Then once a week, take a few minutes and go through each folder.
4. Store in Containers. Store all your office supplies in containers, drawers, baskets and bins. Putting all these supplies out of sight will give your office a decluttered look.
5. Utilize Wall Space. This is often the one step people miss when organizing their office. Use your wall space to hang filing systems, calendars, whiteboards, shelving and more.  There is so much more space available when you go vertical.​

​ 
The first two weeks in March is National Procrastination Week. 

Take this week to celebrate Organize Your Office Day by NOT procrastinating and jumping in there and getting it done. You can do it!!Five Main Reasons For Procrastination
1. Perfectionism
2. Dislike task 
3. Too tired
4. Fear of failure, success, or finishing
5. Not part of goals
“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” – Napoleon Hill
Five Ways To Avoid Procrastination
1. Find the answer to ‘What’s In It For Me.”
2. Chunk your time – set a timer.
3. Watch out for time gobblers – internet, email, TV, phone, socializing, unimportant notices and forwards.
4. Delegate when the task is not part of your priority.
5. Make it fun by rewarding yourself.
           Remember…. Organize to Maximize Space!!