| The home office is becoming a permanent part of | | | | disaster. Move files you do not access often, for |
| every American home. According to a study released | | | | example, receipts and statements from past years, |
| last year by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of | | | | away from your immediate work area. The same |
| Labor Statistics, 21 percent of all employed persons | | | | holds true with your office supplies. Keep your most |
| report doing some or all of their work at home. | | | | used items close at hand, move or remove the rest. |
| Self-employed workers are logging even more hours | | | | Three: Get comfortable |
| at the home at 55 percent. | | | | You cannot be productive if you are uncomfortable. |
| The question is how to make your home office work | | | | Top priority, invest in a comfortable chair. There are |
| for you? A home office has its own unique set of | | | | many attractive and comfortable options available for |
| challenges. It must be attractive, inviting, productive and | | | | under $100. Next, look at the placement of items and |
| make good use of space. Many people find it difficult | | | | furniture as it relates to comfort and ease of use. |
| to balance the utilitarian needs of an office with the | | | | Your computer screen should be at eye level, you |
| aesthetic needs of home. Still others are challenged to | | | | should not have to reach up or down to type on the |
| find adequate office storage in a limited space. Here | | | | keyboard. If you are right handed, place your phone or |
| we describe five essential keys to make any home | | | | other items you reach for often on your right side. |
| office work. | | | | Finally, make sure you have good lighting. A poorly lit |
| One: Clear out the excess | | | | workspace leads to eyestrain and headaches. Make |
| When I am called in to consult on a home office | | | | sure your work area is well lit. If the overhead or |
| organization the number one problem I see is too much | | | | natural lighting is poor in your office, add an attractive |
| paper. It's everywhere, overflowing the filing cabinets, | | | | lamp. Your eyes will thank you. |
| piled up on desks and bulging out of storage boxes. | | | | Four: Make sure you're fully stocked |
| The solution? Get rid of what you don't need. 80 | | | | Take a moment to think about the functions you |
| percent of the things we file we will never look at | | | | perform in your home office. List the supplies you will |
| again, so why waste valuable storage space? Commit | | | | need to perform each function. For example, if you |
| to going through all of the papers in your office. Ask | | | | pay bills you will need your checkbook, pen, envelopes, |
| yourself these questions: Will I ever need this | | | | stamps etc. You cannot be productive if you have to |
| document again? Can I access it somewhere else? | | | | leave your office and go to another room for |
| What's the worst thing that could happen if I don't save | | | | something you need. Many office supply companies |
| this document? Keep what you need and get rid of | | | | are catering to the home office by making attractive |
| the rest. Follow the same process with the rest of the | | | | and functional office supplies. |
| "stuff" in your office. Here is an organizing secret: The | | | | Five: Add personal touches |
| less stuff you have, the easier it is to organize. Many | | | | Many people want to focus on decorating their home |
| people are surprised when I tell them that they do not | | | | office first. This, however, is the last step after |
| need to invest in larger desks or more storage, they | | | | eliminating clutter and making considerations for |
| just need to clear out the excess clutter. | | | | function and comfort. Another common misconception |
| Two: Utilize your prime real estate | | | | is that you will need to go out and buy new items for |
| Be selective about what you keep in the general | | | | your office when in fact, many of the items you |
| vicinity of your work space. This is your "prime real | | | | already own can be re-purposed. For example, move |
| estate" and should be filled only with the items that you | | | | a piece of your favorite art or framed photo into your |
| need on a regular basis. Keep the files that you | | | | office, use an attractive vase as pen and pencil |
| access often within reach. Often times, when I am | | | | storage, or, re-purpose an existing piece of home |
| called in for organization help I see that my client is | | | | furniture such as an end table bookshelf. Adding |
| storing their files away from their main work area | | | | personal touches will go a long way to making your |
| because of aesthetic or storage issues. This is a | | | | home office a cozy place where you want to spend |
| mistake. If files aren't easy to access, you will not use | | | | time. |
| them. This leads to paper pile up and an organization | | | | |