Organize: Office Quick Fix

Our first resolution for 2009 is almost over!  I hope each of you are feeling a little more organized.  I thought I would finish out with quick fixes for a few rooms in the house.  First up, the 10 minute fix to organizing your workspace surface!

Supplies needed

• Polish, all purpose cleaner, and/or disinfecting wipes (depending on your work surface).
• Cleaning cloth
• Folders
• Paper clips, gem clips, stapler, etc.
• Scanner

Get rid of the trash
Clear any dishes or bottles.  Take recyclables to the proper receptacle.  Throw away any napkins.  Take dishes to the sink.  No trash left behind!  

Put all supplies into proper containers
Pens go in one cup, paper clips in another.  Books go on the bookcase.  Magazines go in a tray or neat stack.  Pads of paper in one stack.  If you don’t have a container, find one from the ktichen or other room in the house.  

Move all random notes to a single to do list.
If you use gmail, utilize their new task function. I work on multiple computers, so it is a must for me to have something that can move with me.  If you still like your lists in paper form, buy a cute notebook (I love mine from Night Owl) and keep it in a visible location.

Get rid of the mail
Separate mail into three piles: to recycle/shred, to scan, to respond.  In the future, pledge to dealing with mail immediately after checking it.  Don’t put it down to create a new pile.  

Organize paper by project
If it belongs to the same project, group it together.  Clip, staple or rubber band the information together and keep in one stack.  If the information does not belong together, separate the stacks.  Only one topic per stack. Can I get any clearer?

Wipe it down
Clean off your space.  Disinfect the keyboard, mouse, phone and anything else that can be scrubbed down.  Polish the wood, clean the glass, etc.

Make it pretty
Find a new blanket to drape over a chair.  Move a picture frame to a prominent location.  Cover a bland office object with paper.  Whatever you do, make it visually interesting to you.

*Bonus* Make it digital
This may take longer than ten minutes, but is necessary to get rid of the junk.  Go through each stack and scan in what you can.  File the information electronically and then recycle the paper. You’ll feel a lot better without so much clutter.