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DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME OFFICE
By Cheryl Gochnauer
Cheryl@homebodies.org
If you've got a home office, you know how challenging staying
organized can be. Let's take a few moments to explore some
tips for overcoming clutter.
I KNOW IT'S HERE SOMEWHERE. When working from home, it's especially
important to project a professional image. That's hard to do
when the receiver rings and you can't find the crucial document
you need, much less the phone. Instead of scrambling, try these
organizing ideas:
- Assign various projects color-coded work folders. When papers
cross your desk, mark them with the color of the folder in
which they should be kept.
- Instead of adding another magazine to your stack, clip out
articles you're interested in and trash the issue. Feel like
you're wasting money? Stop your subscription. Check the same
magazine out of the library when you have time to read it.
Now you're saving space and dollars.
- Stephanie Winston, author of The Organized Executive, devised
the TRAF system for sorting incoming papers: toss, refer, act
and file. Keep a trashcan close as you sort mail; immediately
toss the junk. Have a set place (other than your desktop) for
mail that should be routed to someone else. Record mail you
need to act on in your daily planner, then mark and sort to
the appropriate work folder. Only file crucial papers you can't
reproduce elsewhere.
- For ease of filing and retrieving papers, arrange your home
office so you can swivel your chair to reach your files. Too
busy? Hire a student to file for you.
IF IT'S TUESDAY, THIS MUST BE KNOB NOSTER. Mark Failing, pastor
and Air Force Reserve chaplain, maintained several offices:
one at home, another at his church, and a third at Whiteman
Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri. "I used e-mail
to send myself messages and attachments," Mark says. "That
way, I kept information accessible."
Bonnie Perry, a managing editor, works out of her home several
days a week. To keep organized, Bonnie carries one large briefcase
to transport her laptop and crucial papers between office and
home. She keeps duplicate files at both locations, so important
information is where she can access it immediately.
"Whatever it is that's specific to your profession, keep
those resources close at hand," suggests Bonnie. That
includes phone directories, dictionaries, professional journals,
art supplies; anything used on a regular basis.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. Even if you work in the basement,
make your home office as attractive as you can. Paint the walls;
put up a picture. Don't use the kitchen one day and the living
room the next. You'll feel more in control if you work in the
same space and keep set office hours.
It's tough to concentrate in the midst of chaos. "If
your kids also have access to your computer, streamline your
desktop before you start work," says Bonnie. "You
don't want to have leftover soda cans and candy bar wrappers
cluttering your workspace."
On second thought, maybe we'd better keep the kids out of
our home offices entirely. We know how THEIR rooms look!
Even so, it can be fun to set preschoolers up with a little
desk of their own close by. Provide crayons, glue, paper, etc.
and give them activities that make them feel like they're also "going
to work". Keeping their area clean and organized can be
a good object lesson, and will help keep us accountable, too.
Cheryl loves to hear from her Homebuddies. Write her at Cheryl@homebodies.org or visit www.homebodies.org, where you can interact with lots
of other at-home parents in the active message forums. Also
check out your online Homebodies Columnists - we now have more
than 20 talented writers who will encourage and equip you in
your family-focused lifestyle choice!
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