Create A Home Office Haven

Where do you start when you want to begin making that abode of yours manageable enough to handle the pressures of life?

Set Up A Home Office
Setting up a home office is the very first place to begin as it seems to make the most difference to the most people as they approach organizing their home. Why? Because dealing with the constant presence of "too many" papers causes enormous stress in our lives. Dividing, confining, and conquering paperwork brings a great sense of control to any home manager’s life. Yes, I know that sometimes there doesn’t seem to be enough room or maybe the desk you currently have is covered to the point that you have forgotten its existence, but having a place to do paperwork with efficiency and peace is so important to the running of a home. Let’s find some answers that will work for you!

Initially, let’s discuss the important elements of an effective home office. There are three main essentials: a flat surface (the bigger the better), a small drawer for office supplies and paperwork tools, and a larger drawer for filing papers.

A Flat Surface
While an actual desk with small office supply drawers and large filing drawers is best, getting creative with your current situation is a must. Other useful flat surfaces may be a kitchen table or a small counter in a corner of the bedroom. However, one thing is very important: The surface is kept reasonably clean at all times. This is because most paperwork is best handled without first having to clean up a previous mess. Try to keep that surface clean and ready for you at a moment’s notice. Of course, this means cleaning up after yourself, too, when you have tackled a stack of bills, balanced your checking account, or have sorted through papers that need filing.

Office Supplies
Second, designate a small drawer for office supplies. In some cases, this will be a container that you keep near you when doing paperwork, especially if your desk doesn’t have drawers or you are using another flat surface for your duties. Gather or purchase tools that will aid you in handling paperwork: paper clips, a stapler, a three-hole punch, pencils and pens, post-it notes, and scotch tape. Keep these all together as close as possible to the "desk" so when you can sit down, you can go right to work. Remember, if you have to stand or move around to retrieve a tool, it is more likely that you will become distracted and not complete the task at hand.

File Folders
Third, have a larger desk drawer or a convenient box to hold file folders. Four file folders should be prepared and labeled immediately. They are: TO DO, PENDING, BILLS TO PAY, and TO FILE. Every piece of mail which comes into the home can be kept in one of these folders until it is handled. Papers in the TO DO file are dealt with the next time you tackle paper work. Papers in the PENDING file have partially been handled but are waiting a reply (rebates), an event (a wedding), or a response (outstanding correspondence). BILLS TO PAY is self-explanatory. This file keeps the bills in one place so they can be paid in a timely manner. TO FILE is where papers of value are kept for one month or so before being re-examined to see if they really are worth the trouble to file permanently.

As you gather and sort through the paperwork in your home right now, you will add other file folders such as AUTO INSURANCE, HOME INSURANCE, MEDICAL INSURANCE, TAXES, and VITAL DOCUMENTS. Keep documents that are similar together in folders appropriately labeled for quick retrieval of this paperwork. It is not easy or usually convenient to file paperwork right away, but it a very useful habit, especially when it is time to find that same paperwork again.

Its Time For A Haven
So, sometime very soon, take a couple of hours and set up our own home office to your liking. With the acquisition or arrangement of these three tools: a flat surface, a office supply container or a cleaned out drawer, and a drawer for filing or even a filing cabinet, you can begin the process of gaining control. With some more time to set up file folders, gather or purchase office supplies, and make up simple systems for paper flow, you will more ready to be a professional home manager with his/her own home office!

After you have set up your home office to your liking, remember that following up with frequent paper handling is vital to your office staying the haven you have worked so hard to create. While it is not always possible to tackle this need every day, look at your schedule and realize that a paper that is piled is lost, while one that is filed is found. It is always easier and faster to deal with a few pieces of paper properly now than to wait until the mess keeps you from finding success. Maintenance of your home office is part of the process of staying organized.

A functional home office haven can be yours as you continue your pursuit of personal organization. Fix up it and then keep it up. What a great investment in your future competency as a person. Good luck!