Whether you work from home or need a place to manage family business, creating an organized home office is fundamental for success. Get tips for what you need and visit The Container Store for more help on creating your dream home office.
According to a recent Gallup poll, the average worker telecommutes two days per month. And with the increase of technology, more companies are creating a virtual office environment. Another poll says the trend in 2016 is for more home-based businesses. For me, I actually have a home-based company where I run my PR/social media company, manage mamachallenge.com, AND my family’s business, so it’s futile to have an effective space no matter how big it is.
So whether you have a defined space for an office, are looking to create a space in a spare bedroom, or you are truly mobile, you need to have a process to keep you moving in 2016!
To be the CFO or CEO of your business, you’ll will need to SFO. That’s right we’re gonna SORT, FILE, and ORGANIZE.
Starting off with some help from my friends at The Container Store (start off at to save even more money – affiliate), one of my favorite stores EVER, I was able to get not just a few tips, but also find out about a NEW products that will get you going STAT.
SORT
Let’s start by going through the “stuff.” Start making piles of things that have like purposes – bills, kids’ stuff, items to file, to-do things, etc. From your piles you’ll figure out how you need to organize your stuff. then from there, you decided what types of space you’re going to need – exposed files, boxes, drawers, charge station, supplies… whatever makes sense to you.
Tip: to prevent unnecessary clutter — and wasted time — limit the amount of items on your desk!
[Pickup Power by Quirky]
How you’re going to keep your to-list managed, how you are to keep track of your appointments, what needs to do be done in a few months – those are all things you need to think about as you look at what you need in your home office space.
Having a way to keep up with your to-d0 lists and your calendar is easiest with an agenda. [Find out how to choose the right agenda for you here.] However, not all agendas are the made the same way and sometimes people prefer to keep all information digitally [here’s what Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg uses], a hybrid, or take a hint from the office with a big calendar for the whole family and a white board.
FILE
Now you need to decide how to categorize files into two categories: active and inactive. Keep active files accessible (on your desk, in a rolling file cart or in a filing cabinet) and store inactive files in a labeled storage box. This will reduce time spent rummaging through a huge stack of files that may not be current.
Reading a document over and over can waste valuable time. Minimize the number of times a document is read by immediately filing, discarding or placing the items in a “to do” file. The amount of paperwork on your desk will be greatly reduced by making this a part of your daily routine.
ORGANIZE
Now for someone like me, this is where it gets good! Now it’s time to get to work! This is where you start really putting your ideas to work. Since a significant amount of time is spent sitting behind a desk or in front of a computer, design your work area so that there’s a place for everything and that the telephone, notepads, pens, pencils and appointment book are at your fingertips. Place additional resources — but only those that are essential — within easy reach and begin putting things together!
[Synchronicity Stockholm Collection]
Tip: Don’t forget to utilize the often-wasted space available behind the door or on the wall over your desk like using the Perch System created by Urbio (featured on Shark Tank!)
Now you’ve cleaned it up, let’s talk two tips that will really make a difference in your home office space!
COLOR
Most people fall into two categories – ones that like lots of color and ones that don’t.
First off, you’ll want to take into consideration where your office space is located. If it’s in the middle of another room, you’ll want it to blend. However, if you have a room to itself, then feel free to go in whatever direction you want, but having by using one color hue like white gives a sophisticated space that won’t make it feel like a work space, but more like a beautiful part of the house.
Tips for Using Color
According to a study by UT at Austin, depending on your gender, the color of the room, can affect your mood differently. So you definitely want to think about who else has to encounter your space and how you want to feel working in your office.
- Blue: Creates a calming environment and positive well-being
- Green: Initiates effectivity and happier mood
- Red: Increases energy and activity
- Yellow & Orange: Stimulates creativity
PROCESS
It’s all great if you clean up a space to look good, but if it doesn’t work for you, then it’s useless. Make sure the area works for your lifestyle, your family, your thought process, and most of all your work! However, the fundamental concept of having an inbox for things as they come in to do, a “In Processing” for the things you are working on, and either an Outbox for completed items or just to file them immediately, can easily keep your space and your workstream moving forward!
Now are you motivated to get your space together? What are you organizing?
Well here’s even more motivation – a giveaway for $5o Gift Card to The Container Store!
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