Being a professional organizer and having a home office such as I do, I know how important it is to keep it clutter free and organized.  

Paper clutter as well as computer clutter are both problematic for most people.    It is vital to feel good about your home office environment in order to be productive.

Here are some tips you can use to get and keep your home office functional and enjoyable to work in:

1.  Clear your surfaces.  Paper tends to pile up on any flat surface such as a desk if it does not have a home.  It can be overwhelming to get it organized and under control.  So, the first step is the clear the surfaces of all paperwork and office supplies. Start with a clean slate.  

2.  Provide yourself with sufficient storage space in your filing cabinet.  You need to have enough room to store active files and reference/archival files. If you do not have enough space for a good filing system, your paperwork might end up piled on a desk or even on the floor.   

3.  Keep it separate.  Do not co-mingle your personal paperwork with business-related paperwork.  They should each have their own zone.  If it is not possible to have separate filing cabinets, then designate certain drawers in the cabinet for personal and for business.  

4.  Create sufficient room to work.  If your PC is taking up a lot of space, consider using a lap top computer instead.  Designate a portion of your desk for computer work and another portion for spreading out paperwork.  Be sure to designate space for your printer, scanner, etc.  A good option is to purchase a multi-functional printer/scanner/copier to save space.  Make sure your equipment is placed where you can easily reach it from where you are sitting.  

5.  Out with the old and in with the new.  On a regular basis, you should go through your files to clean out old, unused paperwork to make room for new materials either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.  This is vital to staying organized as your paperwork will always have a good home.  This applies to your computer as well.  Eliminate old email, folders or programs you no longer need or use.

6.  Create an environment you enjoy spending time in.  It is important to have the furniture, lighting and items that reflect your personality in your home office space so that you enjoy being in the space.  This will help you to be more productive.  Create a space that is functional and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  Be sure to incorporate items that will not only be functional, such as a desk with drawers as opposed to just a desk surface and select a comfortable office chair to sit in.  Add artwork or photographs to the walls that you enjoy looking at.   Incorporate bookcases or shelving for added vertical storage.  

The less you have out on your desk and work space, the better.  You will be able to think much clearer and be much more productive when there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.  Of course, you know, that is how you create A Better Space!  

By using the tips mentioned above, you will be well on your way.  If you are just too overwhelmed and need assistance to get it under control, I invite you to contact me.  I can help.  

In the meantime, Happy National Organize Your Home Office Day!