The New Year is upon us and we all have plans. My plans are definitely to organize more whether in my queendom, kitchen or office! This past year was definitely about my home office. Read on below for the before and after, the process and tips for getting organized.
MIND YOUR MESS – Saved My Office
Mind your mess…sounds good huh? Well, let me tell you about Mind Your Mess. This is a cleaning and organizing group of two amazing women (Ashley and Julie) that offered to come and help me out with the disaster known as my office. My once hot mess office is now a luxurious workspace thanks to their expertise and magic touch. I definitely would not have been able to purge the way we did without these two women. My 10 tips are all a few of the most important things I learned from Mind Your Mess while organizing my home office.
1. Pull Everything Out
You’re going to start by pulling all of your things out. That means from drawers, closets, cabinets, etc. EVERYTHING comes out. By doing so you will get a better idea of organizing.
2. Sort + Purge Your Office
This is the hardest part (at least for me it is). Sorting through all of the things that I have accumulated over the years and having to decide what to keep and what to get rid of gave me massive anxiety. I know it is scary and I can’t deny it either. But, think about the payoff! I felt such a relief after my office was organized. You will need to put everything into specific piles. If it’s invoices, then they all go into the same pile, if receipts same, everything needs to have a designated spot at the finish so it’s important to start that now. If you are unsure about getting rid of something put it in a pile to re-evaluate later.
3. Declutter your office
While you are sorting through everything make sure you are also decluttering! Most problems in all rooms are that we have clutter. Just a build-up over time that we do not realize how much clutter we really have until we pull it out. A huge tip to keeping that office looking organized is – if you do not need it to work in your office, IT DOES NOT BELONG THERE!
I realized I had so much clutter of little things that did not belong in my home office and when putting them in their own proper place it cleared up so much room. With the declutter process I watched the girls haul bags and bags out. I had no clue how much junk and clutter I had around my office.
4. Recycle + Donate
We often recycle mostly in our kitchens and bathrooms. But what about our offices? This is the one place where there are TONS to recycle and even donate. Unnecessary plastic, glass, and most of all PAPER, all can be recycled. Get that clutter out! If you have an overabundance of office supplies there are so many schools that would appreciate them for their students, drop them off.
TIP: Going forward get two trash cans and label them and keep one for things you can recycle and the other for items that are not recyclable.
5. Address Fire Hazards in Your Office
Does your office have obvious fire hazards around? I’m sure if you looked around now you would still say no. But there is one MAJOR obvious hazard we all tend to look right past. Those unsightly cords. Cords bundled and bunched everywhere with piles of papers or no room is just asking for a fire. Untangle your cords and make sure they are nice and neat and nothing is touching them. You can even purchase a cord cover to vamp them up a little more.
6. Purchase Containers + Storage
One of the easiest parts about organizing is purchasing your storage and containers! Everything needs to have a place. In the widget below are some necessities when it comes to your office. DO NOT forget (if you don’t already have one) the LABEL MAKER!
*Little Tip: Color coordinate everything to give your office a more polished look!
7. LABEL!
I love having my things labeled now. Everything from tape, pencils, old contracts, to future projects for my assistant all have labels. I wasn’t able to be side by side with the girls the entire time as work still went on but with them labeling everything I am no longer searching. I am simply looking for its label. How simple does that make life? So go ahead and get carried away and label everything with what goes in it.
Here are our favorite two label makers!! LABEL EVERYTHING!
8. Everything Has A Place
It seems like all moms say “everything has a place”, this definitely applies now. Now that everything is labeled and has a place now is the time to put it all away. After you have put your things in their storage and organizers then that too has a place. You’ll want to make sure everything that is like stays together or close by. Ex. supplies go with supplies and all contracts should be in year/month order and all together.
9. PURGE MORE!
Remember how earlier I said if you were unsure about keeping something? Now is your chance to decide. Look at the things you are putting away and make a decision right then whether you really need it or not. If not, toss it! You will feel so much better!
10. Tidy Up
After everything is put up, now tidy up! Everything should look like it belongs, is tidy, nothing needs to just be ”shoved” in place. If it doesn’t fit, do not force it. All odds and ends need places and put away.
Furniture
Here are some of our favorite pieces of furniture to add to your newly organized office as well!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If I would have ever known how good it feels to be so organized I would have had Mind Your Mess at my house a lot sooner. I learned so many things to help me organize my daily life. I will say that I will be having them back to attack my closet so stay tuned. They do it best!
SHESHE’S TIDBITS
- I am back in Sanibel and I am used to the warmer temps, well it is colder than back home in Houston! Anyways, I have tons and tons of projects coming up and wrapping up the month so stay tuned!
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