We have arrived at week 11 of the Home Organization 101 Challenge. This is my favorite week, the office. There’s something about organizing pens and sticky notes that gets me every time. The paperwork, not so much, but it’s something that has to be done. If you’re drowning in paper piles, join me this week and get your office organized!
If you are new to the challenge, look over the details then begin working at your own pace. For encouragement, join our Home Organization 101 Facebook community and share your progress or struggles. Or simply look through the photos and read how others are doing. If you’re on Instagram, share your progress using the hashtag #2016abfolchallenge. Don’t forget to print out the complete 14 week schedule and checklists below.
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF HOME ORGANIZATION
For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as tons of pictures and tips that will help you organize your spaces each week. No need to log onto the computer for inspiration, this manual has it all!
MY OFFICE
ORGANIZING INSPIRATION
Here are few blog posts that will inspire you to get your office organized.
- Office Organization
- My Office (& Project Life Organization)
- Purging Your Desk
- How to Organize your Taxes
- Tax Preparation Checklist
- Purging Email Subscriptions
- Paper Organization
- Purging the Bills
- 5 Tips for a clutter Free Workspace
- Household Bill Payment Center
- My Office Organization
- Filing System Organization
- Budget & Mail Drawer
- Budget Binder
THE ORGANIZING PROCESS
- Shred
- Donate
- File
- Return (to other rooms)
- Keep (Everything that stays in the office)
- Trash/recycle
- Paperwork – Give yourself at least 2 hours to go through ALL of your paperwork. Each piece of paper will be placed in one of the following bins (shred, file, trash). You are not organizing at this time – Just sorting.
- Everything Else – Go through the remaining items in your office. Place everything into one of the 6 bins (listed above).
- Clean the windows, blinds, frames & mirrors
- Wipe down doors, baseboards, doorknobs and switch plates
- Wipe down desk & shelves
- Clean out trash can
- Wipe down office chair
- Vacuum
- Clean ceiling fan & lighting
- Clean the keyboard, mousepad & computer screen (according to instructions)
- Filing System – Now it’s time to organize all of your paperwork into a filing system. The categories I use are listed here. At least 50% of the paper you have now should be tossed. You can also go paperless at this time. (Log into your accounts and chose this option).
- Mail Station – Create a designated mail station. You will need one to get control of the incoming paper clutter.
- Books & Magazines – Organize your books & magazines in an orderly fashion.
- Everything Else – Create categories for everything else in your office, then label & organize into containers, drawers & baskets.
WHEN GOING THROUGH YOUR PILES OF PAPER, ASK YOURSELF…
- Is this paper necessary to keep? (Taxes, etc)
- Will I use it in the future?
- Do I have a place for it?
2016 HOME ORGANIZATION 101 SCHEDULE
- Week 1 (1/9/16) – Kitchen
- Week 2 (1/16/16) – Pantry
- Week 3 (1/23/16) – Dining Room
- Week 4 (1/30/16) – Launch Pad
- Week 5 (2/6/16) – Living Room
- Week 6 (2/13/16) – Master Bedroom
- Week 7 (2/20/16) – Master Closet
- Week 8 (2/27/16) – Kids Closets
- Week 9 (3/5/16) – Linen Closet
- Week 10 (3/12/16) Bathrooms
- Week 11 (3/19/16) – Office
- Week 12 (3/26/16) – Playroom/Toys
- Week 13 (4/2/16) – Laundry Room
- Week 14 (4/9/16) – Garage
- Week 15 (4/16/16) – Car (Bonus Week)
Take a few days this week to clean out and organize your office. Purge as much as you can. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #2016abfolchallenge, blog about the weekly challenges, and share your before and after pictures over at my Home Organization 101 group here. Keep up the great work. I’ll see you back next week for week 12 of the challenge. Happy Organizing!
~Toni
Tags: home organization 101, office
2016 Home Organization Challenge, Blog, March 2016, Office, Organize Posted in
7 comments
7 comments on “Home Organization Challenge Week 11: The Office”
Toni, where did you purchase your acrylic file folder boxes?
Office Depot.
Our office has been on my to do list for forever. I need to just jump in and do it this spring.
May I ask where did you get the file folders the ones with the blue border tags please? Where may I find where you purchase your items? Thank You–So ready to organize my cluttered home, just bought your book on amazon. Thank You for sharing your ideas-I am so excited, I am not organized both at home or work and ready to uncluttered my life. Please keep the ideas coming.
Popping from Staples.
Toni, your office is beautiful!
Thank you 🙂