By: Amy Howell Hirt
Like thinking vertically, especially if storage space is lacking. Working from home has a lot to offer. No more long commute (or drama from your cubicle mate). It’s so much easier to be productive, right? Only if you’ve got an organized home office, that is. “It really allows you to focus on what’s important,” says Calabasas, Calif.-based organizer Lori Gersh. That means you can more easily ignore distractions (like that pile of dirty laundry). Here’s how to fix your home work space to pump up your productivity. #1 Purge First Sure, shopping for organizers is fun. They don’t call it “retail therapy” for nothing. But to create a system primed for maximum output, you should first soldier through the task of ditching paperwork and office supplies that clutter rather than help and, most important, find homes for all things unrelated to work (well, except for a sentimental photo or two — and plants; plants are good). Consider it boot camp to get your work life in shape. Plus, the more open and organized your space is, the easier it’ll be to focus. #2 Create a Work Hub — Even if Space Is Minimal A separate room with only one function — work — is ideal, but so is a beachfront address. Just because you don’t have a spare room doesn’t mean you can’t have an “office.” You can easily create one. A small desk and storage ottoman for files and supplies may be all you need. Or a small coat closet could be repurposed if you need something more substantial. Relocate the coats and jackets to hooks in your entry or move them to other closets, and convert that closet into a work nook with a built-in tabletop and floating shelves. But if you work from a multipurpose space like the kitchen table, or prefer to roam from table to couch, it’s a bit more of a challenge — but still solvable. Try a rolling cart loaded with your work supplies. “It helps you focus because you have things right where you need them,” says New York City organizer Stephanie Shalofsky. (There’s a ton of sizes and configurations to choose from.) Then simply roll it out of sight when company comes. #3 Use Vertical Space to Organize It’s surprising how often wall space is overlooked as an organizing solution. When everything you need is right there on your wall and easy to find, your productivity jumps. Buy ready-to-hang cubbies, or create your own system, and hang them just as you would a collection of pictures. Some other ideas:
#4 Separate Household Files from Work Files If you do business and household duties from the same space, you need separate systems to help you stay focused, Shalofsky says. This is super easy to do. You just need to commit to do it:
#5 Tidy Up Before Clocking Out When you work from home, there’s no cleaning crew to spruce up your space after hours and no peer pressure to maintain a somewhat orderly space. So, although it’s tempting to let it be, take just a few moments to toss unnecessary paperwork, remove trash, and make sure your work space is ready for work in the a.m. By clearing the way today, you’ll hit the ground running tomorrow. Congratulations. You’re now living the work-at-home dream!
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AuthorJason Gelios is a Husband and Father. After that, a Top Producing REALTOR®, Author of the books 'Think like a REALTOR®' and 'Beating The Force Of Average', Creator of The AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show and Expert Media Contributor to media outlets across the country. Archives
November 2024
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