Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission at no expense to you. Affiliate links are marked with the asterisks (*)
You have an office to work from home in. Now you need to organize your office to make sure you work productively.
I’ll admit that I do not have the most organized office. At least, not in the way that you would see an organized office in a TV show or movie. Or even in a workplace.
I run two businesses. And they are in two very different areas of work. I have my office organized to work for those two businesses, and in a way that suits my brain. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and all my ways of organizing my life and office make sense. Hire Top-Rated Wall Insulation Services to keep your office comfortable 24/7.
So, one thing that I will say is when you need to organize your office, make sure you do it in a way that suits you. If you have a brain like mine, here are some tips to help you get things organized.
Organized your desk by putting everything onto the floor
Get everything off your desk and out of your drawers and place it all on the floor. Once it’s there, you can start from scratch.
Now it is time to go through your paperwork and books and start putting them away. The aim is to put as much in the trash as possible right now. Look at the paperwork and determine honestly whether you really need to keep it. Chances are you won’t! If you’re not sure, why not scan it in and store it on your computer instead?
I keep a rule of having paperwork for taxes for seven years. Each year is in a different folder so I can just grab and go if the paperwork is needed.
Only immediate things on the desk
You want to keep the top of your desk as clear as possible. With that in mind, there are certain things you will need on a daily basis. I have my computer, a holder for pens and my diary. There’s a coaster for my drinks, a tub of candy, and the USB hub because I hate constantly reaching to the back of my keyboard.
Only place items that you need immediately on a daily basis on the desk to make life as easy as possible for you. The less clutter on the desk, the easier it will be to just get on with work.
Notebooks are put in the drawer just under where I type. They are pulled out throughout the day when needed and then put back at the end of the day.
On a shelving unit next to me is my printer.
Organizing your drawers
Whether you have two, three, or four drawers, you need them to be organized. Put the items that you regularly need in the top drawer. This could be a notebook, your stapler, and even a hole punch depending on your needs.
The second drawer is for items that you don’t need on a daily basis, but will use now and then. Try to keep the rest of your drawers empty. The only exception is if there is a locked drawer and you need to keep things confidential locked away.
I have three drawers on my desk for different needs. There’s the standard pencil drawer that has my stapler, headphones, portable microphones, small spotlight, etc. Then the second drawer is next to that usual drawer. I have an art desk, so this drawer is large and is great for notebooks.
Under the usual drawer is an open space for my business cards and anything related to my financial business. Under that is the third drawer, which holds this year’s paperwork for taxes and a large hole puncher.
What about the shelves that my printer is on? Those are organized with envelopes, notebooks, cords for the computer, etc.
MORE: Why you can’t treat your business like a 9-5 job
Your productivity is improved ten-fold when you organize your office. It isn’t that hard to do either! With three steps, you could have everything within reach and set up in a way to works specifically for your job.
