I am always on the lookout for good office organizational ideas for organizing my office and my home in general. There is something that simply makes you feel better when you walk into your office and it is Pinterest Worthy. When most of us worked at the office, we were most likely sitting under standard fluorescent lighting in a basic cubicle. Working from home gives you the autonomy to take your office from drab to fab and get organized the way you want. An organized office, isn’t just about aesthetics, it must also be functional. Pinterest Worthy is great for pictures but does not always help you to get the work done.
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Nonetheless, it is important that you embrace an office that makes you feel good. We’ve taken care of that with our article on How To Create A Calming Office In 7 Easy Steps and The Best Paint Colors For Your Home Office. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of creating an office that is not only pretty to look at but is functional and enables you to increase your overall productivity.
Start with the basics of the following:
- Start with an audit
- Purge Paper
- Maximize Desk Space and Storage Space
- Tidy all wires and charges ( my HP all in one has a built-in phone charger built into the stand)
- Labels and more labels
- Use Wall Space
Check out our top 21 items that will increase your overall productivity and make you feel better.
Office Organization Ideas
1. Label Everything
Staying organized takes preparation and work. Labeling everything will put your three steps ahead. Using a Cricut machine or an everyday label make can take your organizational quest from drab to fab with the click of a few buttons. I’m sure that I am not the only person that has organized their home storage cabinet and then could not remember where I stored an item that I needed asap. Labeling all of your items will help to keep you organized and save you time.
Organize all of your file folders as well and get into the habit of cleaning off your desk on a daily basis so that you can start each day with a clean organized desk. Consider an under-the-desk filing system that can hold everyday files that you need to touch on a regular basis.
Snap N Store®
Keeping your office shelving neat is simple with help from this magazine file. Organize a selection of periodicals, keep brochures tidy or eliminate piles of documents and mail. Add a custom label to the outside of the file, so you can quickly see what’s inside with just a glance
- Grommet in spine simplifies removal from shelves.
- Stores flat and snaps together when you need them.
- Constructed of heavy-duty fiberboard with a water-resistant PVC laminate.
2. Automate Tasks
Let’s start with a plan. It will make more sense, in the long run, to know how your office is going to be configured prior to re-arranging items that don’t work with the overall flow of efficiency. Does your office engage with Feng-Shui if you are using Feng Shui? If you are like me, I have a large traditional, heavy desk that is a beast to move. We don’t want back injuries that could have been prevented. Did you know that home depot will come out and make a complete floor plan of your home for under $150? I recently had one completed. I absolutely love it. Envision what your new space will look like.
3. DIY Cord Labels
Take advantage of having a blank canvas and design out your space the way you want it. You have complete control over your home office space. Ensuring that your desk has access to natural sunlight (even your make-shift office table) will improve your mood and productivity throughout the day. Do not underestimate the effect that the sun has on our moods.
4. Purge Paper
One of the easiest things you can do is simply purge paper. Do not allow the paper to pile up. Use the system of Three: Shred/Trash, File It, or Action. If it’s trash, then put it in the shred/trash pile. File it, and organize your files into a color-coded system. Take action, is it something that you can take action on and complete in under 10 minutes. If you can, then stop what you are doing and take the necessary action to get it off your plate asap!
5. Use A To-Do-List
Preparation is key during the day. One must prepare to be productive. Creating a To-Do-List the night before will enable you to get a jump-start in the am. Break your tasks up into time blocks as well as priority blocks. Studies show that spending 15 min the night before may increase your overall productivity by 20%.
6. Create A Morning Routine
Control what you can control; you can design a morning routine that helps you to accomplish your daily goals. My morning routine consists of getting up at 530am three times per week so that I can get on the treadmill for an hour. I use this time to listen to a variety of podcasts or audible books. Once I did it a few times, it became habit-forming and I’m losing a few pounds in the process. I stick to my morning routine through 8 am.
7. Organize Your Email Inbox
8. Create A Printing Station
9. Use Storage Containers
10. Add Some Plants
Something as simple as adding plants to your space will improve your productivity. Not only does it add visual interest, but it also helps to improve your overall mood. Dr. Chris Knight from Exeter University and his cohorts concluded that employees were 15% more productive when “lean” workplaces are filled with just a few houseplants, as employees who actively engage with their surroundings are better workers. Plants also help with filtering and providing additional oxygen to the air.
11. Use an Electronic Assistant Such As Amazon Alexa
Amazon Alexa puts researching info at the sound of your voice. From traffic and weather updates to sports and events, to finding local places nearby. Alexa is here to give you all the answers you need. You can use Alexa to remind you of upcoming deadlines as well as to simply remind you to take a break during the day and even to drink your water at designated times. Do not sleep on the benefits of using Alexa in your office.
12. Utilize Wall Space
Take advantage of your verticle space. Utilizing a hanging wall organizer system will provide you with the additional space that you need to store files that you use on a daily basis. In addition, I use one of mine to store, my headphone and a few other items that I use on a daily basis that I tend to misplace on a regular.
Spacrea Hanging File Holder Organizer – 6 Tier Wall Mount File Organizer
Create vertical storage space in your home or office with this metal wall organizer grid hanging file.
- Easily mounts
- Holds letter-size notebooks, documents & file folders
- Stylish and durable
13. Keep A Water Bottle Nearby
We have a tendency to dive into our work, and before you know it a few hours have passed by and you have not had any H20. Ensure that you keep water handy. Dehydration is a source of fatigue during the workday. Make sure that you stay hydrated. Nothing beats a nice tall glass of water to quench your thirst.
14. Create an Under Desk Storage Area
15. Declutter Your Office
16. Throw Out Sticky Notes Daily
17. Create A Vision Board
I’m all about creating vision boards. I even have my real estate clients create vision boards for home buying. I typically host an annual vision board party with clients at my home yearly. Recently I came across a fabulous Linen Vision board ( I swear, I had been thinking about creating a huge vision board that I could update on a regular) compliments of Home Goods. I love that I can put a multitude of items on this Vision Board. Being able to look up daily and see my goals is definitely a productivity enhancer.
18. Post Your Mission Statement On The Wall
Post your mission statement on the wall so that you can view it on a daily basis. My BragDifferently Mission Statement is as follows: I help women who are stuck and need the inspiration to earn, save, invest, live & thrive in a global world.
19. Paint Your Office With Calming Colors
Never underestimate what painting your office with calming colors can do to improve your productivity vibe. Click here for the article on The Best Paint Colors For Your Home Office
20. Create An Office Storage Supply Closet
One of the best things that I did in my home was to convert my closet which is for my home office into a storage supply closet. Everything is nice and organized. I opted to use the Ikea Ivar System, hence it is semi-customized for my space. I incorporated several drawers and shelving has different heights. Once you get organized, you tend to stay organized. Having a centralized storage area keeps all of these items out of my office and off of my desk.
21. Create A Mail Center
I’m not sure why companies still mail out items via the postal system but they do and it turns into a hot mess of misc mail on the table. Create a mail organizing center. It will help you to remain junk mail free. Make sure that you contact these companies and have your name removed from their mailing list prior to tossing all your junk mail. Implement the following steps
- Sign up for electronic bill pay
- Get off the junk mail list. For $2, you can register at the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) website and you will be placed on the do not mail list for 10 years.
- Preview what mail is headed your way. You can register for Informed Delivery by USPS. It’s nice to know what the US Postal Service is scheduled to deliver.
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Resources
- Gel Mouspad by HumanScale Add comfort and function to your work surface with the Gel Mouse Pad with Gel Palm from Humanscale. The gel helps keep your hand and wrist comfortable while the lycra covering works well with any type of mouse.
- Samplize – takes all the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color and color combinations. Use their easy peel-and-stick samples that are made with real paint
- Wall File Folder –
