Tips on how to Organize your Office

I polled my peeps on Facebook and this topic was the winner! I am not shocked as many of my friends are working women who most likely work for themselves and need every trick in the book to keep the office tidy and therefore easier to stay focused on work and not de-cluttering or searching for items.

Here are some tips to keep your office in good working shape :)

Purge your office space, go through it all and get rid of what you don't need nor use. This includes, furniture, knick knacks, equipment, papers etc.

Put every item where it belongs and make a commitment to self to get something from its spot and return it to its spot when finished with it.

Think of what you use regularly and have those items stored close at hand.

Time to organize and clear off your desk, make it as streamlined as possible. Use desktop organizers or containers to organize the items on your desk. Use trays for papers, containers for smaller items.

Organize your drawers, put items used together in the same drawer space, stamps with envelopes, sticky pads with notepads, etc. Use drawer organizers for little items, such as; paper clips, tacks, elastics etc. Use a separate drawer for personal items.

You can "zone out your office into areas. Where you do most of your work, usually your desk, research/reference zone your filing cabinets and book shelves, a supply zone, usually cupboards and closets. Make sure the appropriate items are in their zones.

Separate in-boxes – If you work regularly with other people create a folder, tray, or inbox for each.

Assign discard dates – You don’t need to keep every piece of paper indefinitely. Mark on files or documents when they can be tossed or shredded. Some legal or financial documents must be kept for specified length of time. Make sure you know what those requirements are.

Storage boxes – Use inexpensive storage boxes to keep archived files and get them out of your current file space.

Reading folder – If you read magazines for work related articles do yourself a favour go through the table of contents, highlight articles you want to read, then tear those articles out, staple them and add to your file called "to read" and recycle the rest of the magazine or use it in arts in crafts with the kids.

Archive files – When a project is complete, put all of the materials together and file them away. Keep your “working folders” for projects in progress

Put all of your hanging file labels to the same side...this will be easier to look through and your eyes will be happier for it! Also use clear tabs not coloured ones, they are hard to read through ;)

Keep a list of all your file names nearby so you do not duplicate one or go looking for papers in the wrong file.

Have a file for all your office equipment's manuals, on front cover date it and or attach receipt. Label file as "office equipment" by all means do this for all household equipment/appliances.

To re-do your filing system write out all the file names, see what can be condensed, deleted, and added. Do it on paper first.

Forget "pending files." Items placed there are often forgotten. Try "consider" and "holding" files instead. "Consider" is for anything you want to consider doing or buying (concert, computer software, etc). "Holding" is for an item which you will take action on in the future. Be sure to note it in your calendar!

Organize your office by category. For example, place all your marketing files and information in one place. Put all your financial paperwork together. This will help you focus on one project at a time. It is also a time-saver. 

Get a simple label maker and label binders, drawers, containers so it reminds you where items are but also is helpful for others if they need to find something in your office.

Always keep your business cards handy, in a holder on your desk, in your top drawer.

When sorting through mail do it when you have time, no interruptions so you can avoid the risk of piling. File items immediately.

Keep all your ideas, lists, to-do's and notes all in one planner or notebook this will keep you on track and organized.

When going through a pile of papers remove and file the larger ones first this will keep you motivated as your pile will shrink faster than you thought it would.

When reading articles, memos, letters, use a highlighter to highlight the important part of said item so you can refer back to it quickly and do not need to re-read in its entirety.

If in a meeting take notes and highlight where you need to take action therefore it will not be missed nor forgotten.
At the end of each day take 10 minutes to straighten up your desk, make sure everything is placed where it belongs.  You will be thankful the next morning when you come back to the office.

I hope this is helpful and inspires folks to get started on their offices...I know I have a few things to re-do and purge!  Please share your tips in the comments below!  Also take before and after shots of all your hard work and share them ~ inspire others  :)