Home office hacks

15 home office hacks

Do you feel like you’re constantly struggling to keep your home office organized? Are papers piling up on your desk and taking over your closet?

If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone! A lot of people find it difficult to stay organized at home. But luckily, there are a few simple hacks that can help boost your office productivity.

In this blog post, we will discuss 15 home office hacks to improve organization. By following these tips, you can create a functional and organized space that works for you!

Here are 15 Tips to Help You Organize

1. Color-code Your Filing System

Need for Color-Coded File Labeling in Records Management | McMurray Stern

A well-structured filing system is one of the key features of effective office spaces. It will also help you save time searching for important documents.

To organize, divide the filing system into four or five (or however many you need) color-coded categories.

Label each folder to suit your requirements. For example: Financial – Red, Insurance – Purple, Medical – Yellow, House – Blue, etc.

2. Create a Mail Station

I know, I know, we’re in the digital age now. But you still likely get mail that needs sorting!

Create a mail station to keep track of the files entering your home office. Make a folder for incoming and outgoing mail, bills, and other correspondence to file.

File all incoming mail in the mail station as soon as it is received. Then go through each folder every week for a few minutes to stay on top of your paperwork!

By going through everything periodically, you won’t miss any important due dates or be tempted to store unnecessary paperwork.

3. Recycle Unimportant Documents

It’s all too easy to accumulate paperwork in your home office. Before your space becomes congested, take control of the mess.

Separate out the items that will not be used again and arrange them appropriately. Why keep it when you can get rid of it, right?

It’s time to let go of old stuff to make some room and have things in order!

I am also always saving “GOOS” (good on one side) paper for when I need to write quick notes but don’t want to fill my notebook with unnecessary writing.

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4. Create a Printing Station

Designate a location in your workplace for your printer and the materials needed to run it. Backup items like extra paper and ink can be easily stored in a cute storage bin near your printer or they can be tucked away in a drawer. It just depends on what you have available!

Also, a wireless printer does not have to be placed on your desk. You’ll have much more space on your desk for other things if you put it in a cabinet or someplace else in the office.

5. Use a Label Maker

Invest in a decent label maker and label your folders, drawers, and boxes for an easy way to keep track of everything.

I find that things look tidier in closed, non-transparent boxes. This keeps things like cables and extra office supplies organized but can make it tough to find what you need.

A label maker helps with that! You’ll be able to find anything quickly because you’ll know exactly where it is.

6. Categorize

Organize your work materials into categories, placing similar items next to one another. This will make your workplace more efficient.

If you are keeping track of info for more than one person (or employee), you may also have a dedicated paper tray for each person.

A two-tiered paper sorter can reduce the amount of desk space used, too.

7. Store in Containers

Containers, baskets, drawers, and bins are great for keeping your office supplies in one place. Putting all of these things away will make your workstation appear clean.

8. Create Life Binders

Organize your most essential documents in binders so you can grab them quickly if there was a medical emergency.

If, for example, there was a medical emergency, you might take your medical binder and have all of the information you need right away. The following are some of the most popular binder categories:

Medical: This binder is where your family’s medical documents are kept. Everything is in one location if you ever need to visit a new doctor or have a complicated medical diagnosis.

Personal: This binder can hold anything else that doesn’t fit in any of the other categories. For example, mine has my personal documents like diplomas, degrees, and letters of reference.

Home: Housekeeping, pest control, security system, and contact information for handymen should all be kept in one place. This is the binder for that!

Auto: This binder is for all automobile repairs, maintenance documents, and insurance papers. Should you decide to sell your vehicle or need to recall what work you’ve done, it’s easiest if all of the paperwork is together.

Manuals: Place all of your manuals in one binder. You may even divide the binder by subcategories, such as appliances, electronics, garden, and home.

Pet: The medical records, shot records, and drugs for your pets should be included in this binder.

Not only will this help keep all of your records in one place, but it also makes things easier to find when you need them. This saves time digging in the junk drawer or searching through an unorganized pile!

9. Use the Wall Space to Your Advantage

This is usually the step that individuals overlook when decluttering their workplace. Hanging filing systems, whiteboards, calendars, shelves, and other items on your wall allow you to use more of your space. When you go vertical, there are a lot more organization options available.

10. Organize Your Books

You have a variety of options when it comes to organizing your books. Depending on your taste, you may arrange them by genre, color, or size.

Color-coding could also provide your area with a clutter-free, organized appearance while also adding an attractive design element.

11. Desk Space

If you have a home office, chances are you’re at your desk a lot. Many of us are now remote workers, meaning we spend more time in our personal workspace than ever before.

It’s best to keep your desk space free of clutter, with the least amount of items out as possible. Keeping your desk clear and having a clearly defined workspace will help you to stay productive without distraction.

I also like to keep some energizing scents available, like a candle, an essential oil diffuser, or a roll-on scent. By having the same preferred fragrance available when I’m working, my brain knows that it’s time to focus (plus whose mood isn’t improved with a nice smelling candle?!).

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12. Home Office Environment

If you’re going to spend a lot of time in your home office, the right environment can be a total game-changer.

One of the important aspects here is light. It’s best to place your desk near a window if you can. Having enough natural light will reduce eye strain and headaches.

Having your home office in an area with plenty of natural light is ideal, but you can also place extra lamps if that isn’t an option.

13. Home Office Workspace

It can be tough to stay on task when working from home. But, trying to eliminate distractions before they’re a problem will boost your productivity.

If you have a shared office, investing in some noise-canceling headphones might also be important.

Depending on your job, you may even have a second monitor! Having more than one computer can make your workspace feel cramped quickly. If this is the case, try getting a laptop stand to increase the storage space on your desk.

Keeping your desk organized will make it much easier to stay focused, trust me!

14. Cable Organization

Cables and cords can be tough to keep organized. You might consider purchasing an organizer for cords or placing a dedicated bin to reduce cable clutter on your desk. Either or will get the job done!

15. Comfort is Key!

Nobody wants to be uncomfortable while they work. And, let’s face it, the kitchen table isn’t the ideal spot for a home office.

By creating a dedicated area for your home office that is visually attractive and comfortable, it will be easier to start work and remain productive.

Desk

Consider where you put your desk. Is it free from distractions? Can you access everything you need?

If possible, you may want to have it in a corner or at least with the monitor facing the wall. This is a good idea to keep you from watching whatever else may be going on in the house, rather than the job at hand!

Chair

If you’ll be spending a lot of time sitting, having a comfortable and ergonomic chair may be important to you. You should be able to sit for however long you need without back pain or discomfort.

Supplies

Keep your frequently used items close. Having calendars and to-do lists at eye level will reduce strain. Having pens close is a good idea too. You can use anything from mason jars to pen organizers to store them… Whatever works with your aesthetic!

Take a Break

Taking periodic breaks isn’t just important for your health, it will increase productivity, too. Taking a movement break is better than staring out the nearby window for 5 minutes, but no matter how you spend your break, it’s important to take one.

Scheduling regular breaks from the computer screen will let you come back ready to focus. Tasks are a lot easy to accomplish with a clear head, after all!

There we have it! 12 super easy hacks to help organize your home office space. All of these hacks are meant to boost productivity, letting you focus more and accomplish your work tasks quickly.

If you’re looking to organize other spaces in your home, you may want to read Nursery Organization & Baby Room Ideas!

Resources

Did you enjoy this post? Here are some other articles about home organization that you may enjoy!

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