Have you ever been so overwhelmed with something that you don’t know where to start?
That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling every time I walk into my office. It’s become a “catch all” type of room, and anything that doesn’t have a better home somehow finds a way into my office. Although, the accumulation of stuff brings enough challenges, it’s not the biggest one for me.
The greatest challenge I have in keeping an organized office space is paperwork. Lots and LOTS of PAPERWORK.
-
Overwhelmed with paperwork!
Somehow I’ve accumulated a ton files and (and dare I say piles) of paper over the years. The quantity is not only overwhelming, but not having them stored properly really hindered my ability to be productive .
I had a few hours this past weekend to get some work done but I couldn’t seem to get my brain functioning. Knowing that I had piles of paper stacked around me and even more paperwork in boxes from our recent move was haunting me.
So, I decided to tackle the problem!
Now, keep in mind that if I was helping someone else get organized this would have seem like an easy task. But, for some reason, when it came to organizing my own space I couldn’t get traction.
So, I decided to seek the advise of a professional and pulled out Simplify Your Space: Create Order and Reduce Stress by Marcia Ramsland. Flipping to the table of contents, I was thrilled to see there was a chapter on office space. A few pages in I read the following tip:
To sort papers more quickly, start at the back of a file or the bottom of your in-box. Older papers are easier to toss than recent ones.
Now that seemed like some practical advise!
Ramsland’s advise on the next page is what really put me into overdrive though.
Sort your paperwork by asking, “Is this paper worth my time and space to deal with it?” If the answer is no, let it go. If the answer is yes, get it done as soon as possible.
It was completely obvious to me that the unprocessed paperwork in my office was not worth the mental energy I was spending on it; nor was it worth taking up valuable space. That space could be better utilized by helping me organize my current projects!
I decided to start by tackling just one thing. I really wanted to go through the piles of paper on the floor, but since I needed to clear out some room first the two file drawers in my desk were the place to begin. If I could make space in those drawers, I knew it would help me progress with the rest.
That first drawer was cleared out in 15 minutes flat! The success gave me a bit of momentum so I just kept chugging along. I didn’t want to stop working! A few hours in, I finally made it to the piles on the floor.
Success! I literally felt the relief in my body.
I’m proud to say that I now have a clean and organized office! And, I fully expect to tackle my to-do list with vigor and excitement today! One thing on that to-do list: update my cleaning schedule to include office organization so this never happens again!
How about you? Is your office or work space organized in such a way to encourage productivity? Or, if you’re office is in need of an overhaul like mine was, do you think the two tips listed above could help you get started?
*affiliate link included.
iDreamOfClean
Latest posts by iDreamOfClean (see all)
- Easy Way to Remove Sand from Hands and Feet at the Beach - May 12, 2013
- Clean Faster by Timing Yourself - May 9, 2013
- Easy Way to Make Memories with Your Kids this Summer - May 8, 2013
- Natural Green Ant Repellant - May 6, 2013
- The Path to a Minimalist Wardrobe - May 4, 2013
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
How about if you come over and do mine next. My office scares me so much I really don’t go in there anymore. Seriously.
For a chance to see you? Of course! Just fly me up, ok? :-)
And after you’re finished with Jill’s, feel free to come on over to my house! My desk in the dining room is a catch-all, and it is AWFUL. Today Mark needed a coupon for getting his hair cut, and I said, “Remember, you put it on the desk.” He said, “Never mind. I’ll just use this other coupon [for less of a discount].” Every few months I plow through the mess (which is better than it used to be, but STILL), but in between cleanings it gets out of control!!!
You know it’s much easier in my book to cleaning and organize someone else’s house…so I really wouldn’t mind that at all ;-)
the best thing to start with is a good cup of coffee in the morning. That helps to think about the next thing to be done :)
Amen! Coffee does a body good! :-)
Great work! I like your approach, sometimes it gets so mental with me and just reading how you managed through the process makes me feel like I can do it, too.
Hi! I know you wrote this a while back, but I was just browsing around your website. I just bought your ebook and am getting ready to implement the ideas that I read about and wrote down today. A while ago (a year or more), I read a book about having a house that “cleans itself”. It is very good too, but a bit longer and more detailed than yours. She called this pile up of paperwork, etc on desks or counters “barnacling”. The idea is that you have a flat surface and stuff just seems to pile up on it, like barnacles on a sunken ship. I struggle with this immensely!!! So if you have any tips on dealing with these “barnacles” on a daily/regular basis, send it my way! My mom and sisters have the same issues, so maybe it is an ingrained behavior. Let me know what you come up with! :D
I’m actually working on a year long series next year to get paperwork under control!! I’m the kind of girl who needs EASY baby steps for a task like that, so that’s what it will be :) That is one of my biggest struggles so I’m hoping it will give me motivation to get my own paper clutter under control. I hope it helps you too–although, I am sorry to have to put you off for a few more months…maybe there will be a couple of preview posts before then :)