Living Well At Home
4 Home Office Organization Mistakes and How to Solve Them
Working at home became essential for countless people around the world last year, and most signs suggest it will remain a component of our work lives into the future. Many people weren’t used to working remotely. However, swift stay-at-home orders forced homeowners and renters alike to create makeshift home office spaces out of spare bedrooms, corners, and even countertops. Shuffling of belongings to make room for work papers, phones, and computers has become all too common.
If you haven’t already, taking the time to reorganize your at-home office will pay off in the long run. There’s no better time than the present to spruce up the part of your home that you’ve carved out for work. A cluttered environment means it takes you longer to find what you need. Meanwhile, a clean space can actually boost productivity. We have a few ideas and inspiration that can help you can create an efficient home office that maximizes your time and minimizes stress. Here are four of the most common home office organization mistakes to avoid and some simple ways to solve them.
1. A Cluttered Desk (and Desktop)
It is often tempting to keep everything you could ever need on your desk. While it might seem like a good habit at the beginning, too much stuff makes important things hard to find. Plus, clutter is connected to procrastination and increased stress levels, which can interfere with your focus and make you less productive.
Instead of putting everything on top of your desk, reserve your desktop for the things you use regularly. Start by thinking about which tools and office supplies you use most often. They should be easy to reach, and everything else can find a new home where it’s not in your way. Consider investing in an alternative storage solution for whatever doesn’t fit on your desk. An end table, ottoman, or bookcase like the one below works wonders. That way, your lesser-used supplies are nearby when you need them, but they won’t take up valuable workspace.
Take this same attitude to cleaning up your computer’s desktop. Unless you are one of the rare people who cleans out their inbox and organizes their desktop on a daily basis, it’s another place that clutter can quickly build up. Create folders for rogue documents and photos and eliminate the shortcuts of any programs or files that you don’t use regularly.
2. Too Many Papers
Home office supplies aren’t the only things that can clutter your workspace. Many of us deal with quite a bit of paperwork. It can sometimes feel like piles of notes and to-do lists hide in every corner. A whiteboard and planner can help eliminate some of these papers. For the essentials, develop a filing system that works for you and makes important documents easy to locate. Organize alphabetically, by topic or importance, or with other methods that bring order to your space.
For storing your well-organized paperwork, tiered desk trays are a popular choice. But if you’re already short on desk space, consider a filing cabinet. For instance, the stylish Dale Filing Cabinet blends well with other furniture and provides deep drawers for storing documents and office supplies alike.
3. Unorganized Wires
Offices at home are full of devices, like computers, laptops, printers, smartphones, and more. They’re all necessary for work, but they also take up a lot of space. The cords can also be a nightmare to deal with. Hoards of wires can get tangled up together and become a tripping hazard. Not to mention, exposed, tangled wires simply look unappealing.
Power strips can do a lot for cutting down on cords that would otherwise get in your way. Alternatively, you can invest in a desk with a built-in charging station. The integrated dock gives you a place to recharge your devices so they’re always close at hand and don’t need to be plugged into a far-away wall.
4. No Standing Room in Your Home Office
At the end of the day, sometimes all the organizational solutions in the world can’t help you focus on the tasks at hand. Lower productivity and feeling like you lack energy can happen when you’ve been sitting in the same room all day – every day – while trying to get your work done. However, standing regularly can help to stimulate your brain and prevent the back problems associated with sitting too long – but only if you have the floor space to set your chair aside.
Rearrange your office so that you’ll have functional standing room in close proximity to the technology and supplies you need most. Then, invest in an adjustable-height desk that best suits your style. These innovative desks can be raised to a comfortable standing height, lowered for sitting, or settle at any height in between. Some even have an integrated timer that reminds you when it’s time to stretch your legs. You’ll be amazed at what a little bit of standing can do for your workday and your wellbeing!
Upgrade Your Home Office
With these great tips for organizing your home office, you’re all set to meet your maximum potential while working from home. If you’re still looking for ideas on what to include in your design, sign up for the Twin Star Home® email newsletter today.
