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Health & Fitness

Your Inner Office

Start Spring off with more lightness and less clutter. These easy tips range from managing the paper build-up to buying a desk that maximizes your space. Find Your Inner Office.

Finding Your Inner Office

I call this article, “Finding Your Inner Office” because we need a vision of what we want our office to look like.  But, we put it off to handle the “urgent” matters, while the “important” things like organization are put on the back burner. So, pick a weekend and devote yourself to finding your Inner Office. Draw out what it will look like and measure your room dimensions if you are purchasing new office furnishings. Or, make a collage, if you are a visual person, of the type of desk and shelves you need with any other chairs or furnishings that you would like to have. Make the room inviting so spending hour after hour there is a pleasant experience. Add good lighting, your family photos and some artwork you enjoy.

Managing the Paper

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First, I took my own advice in “Tips for Managing Paper” and began the de-cluttering and organizing of the paper. I took the dreaded In-basket and sorted it according to the three rules: To File, Do Now or Do Later.  I use the three-tiered paper tray to organize my paper, but hanging files are also fine. The goal is to handle the paper once. After I sorted the paper in the Do Now and Do Later files, I filed the rest of the paper in my hanging files or recycled it.

Another filing tip: I reuse my old files by putting new labels on them, so I do not need to purchase new ones.

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The New Layout

I admit, I put organizing my office off for a long time, like the rest of you Procrastinators. Eventually, when I dreaded looking at this room, I did “gut it out” and make it a weekend priority. The results will give you renewed energy and a sense of calm and control over your work life.

After the paper de-clutter, I wanted to set up my new desk that I had found at IKEA.

I had researched the Galant Left-Cornered desk (Cost: $180) which would curve around my wall, giving me twice as much desk space.  It is made of a natural colored wood with three T legs and a metal frame, so there is ample room for drawers or cabinets underneath.

My husband loves reading manuals and putting things together, and I loathe it! So, we decided to divide and conquer. I moved some furniture out, vacuumed and finished the “Paper Triage,” and he spent half the day reading the manual (happily), assembling the pieces and putting the drawers together. No small task, so don’t make any big plans for the evening. The following day I resumed the Office Reorganization.

The Office Extras

I added my former computer desk as an extension to my new desk, creating more tabletop space for the paper tray, In-basket and miscellaneous bin. I also purchased a rolling set of six wide drawers  (Cost: $109 at IKEA ) These shallow drawers are great for papers, notebooks or office supplies.  I have a smaller set of drawers (available at any office store or Target) which holds business cards, check books, receipts, and everyday supplies like scissors, tape, post-it notes and paper clips.

The Heart Center of the Household

In sum, for approximately $300 I have a functional and attractive home office configuration. The result: I feel happier and at peace when I come into work now. My epiphany today is that the home office is really the heart center of the household. Everything reverberates from this epicenter, so it must be well-organized, as well as an appealing place to be.

Time to find your Inner Office … .

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