Sep

24

Help Me Organize…Please

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In an effort to make this site as honest and transparent as it can possibly be, I’m going to ask for your help.  I have a home office. I have a desk. I have a filing cabinet. Yet look at all this stuff:

IMG_0891

Help me.

I would love to hear what type of system you use to not only file paper documents, but what you do with your data backups on CD/DVD, post-it notes, books, pens & pencils, checkbooks, etc.  What organization plan is the quickest to learn and implement? I don’t have a week to devote solely to organizing. I need to be able to pick it up on the fly.

What system has worked best for you? Please share some insight.

I’m going to try something new and I think it would be great to detail my progress here on AnywhereMan. Hey, it could be fun. The funny thing is, my digital workspace (email, digital files, etc) is way more organized than my physical workspace.

Seriously…help.

Thanks everyone!

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View Comments  | Posted by : Dave Yankowiak
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  • theorganizingmaven
    hi there! i just saw your dm on twitter to me! i'm the organizing maven. here's a few suggestions...

    a hanging wall file. that will clear some space on your desk and then all paper clutter can quickly go in files. just label them!!!

    a file cabinet with SMALL drawers (or one of those plastic ones with drawers) for small items. also use ramekins or small bowls for paper clips, rubber bands and such in the drawers.

    also ikea has a bar that hangs on the wall and they have all sorts of cups and bowls that hang on it to clear up desk space too! great for pens!
  • I love an open desk like yours with a few wicker baskets (yes, you can get dark, manly looking ones) or even photo-boxes. Check Office Max and stores like it, and see if you can't find a set. These often solve a storage solution while adding dimension and texture to an otherwise flat desk space.

    Back-up CD's and items you don't use often could be kept neatly in boxes in a closet or drawer somewhere. No need to have them on the desk. :-)

    I love black on dark wood. I think your sense of color and decor is clean and modern. Some boxes, or even a leather-look organization set will help tidy things up. Keep the tiered organizer! Love those!
  • Super advice, Erica. I especially like the photo box idea. I'm going to use some of the tips that Stacy gave in today's post and combine them with tips like yours and get this place organized! :-) Will try to film or photograph the process. Thanks for commenting!
  • Takes some guts to post that photo! Hard to beat a system of folders and closed cabinets. Looks like you have a shortage of closed storage space and non-file drawers. The key for me is having one inbox, and then a destination for everything so it either gets filed or recycled after first touch. And it makes a big difference to store things out of sight. That said, I won't be posting photos of my desk any time soon =)
  • Man... I'm terrible about this as well. I need to get better but... not sure that will happen. Anyone have a good suggestion about a personal document management software solution? Would love to be able to scan and index docs in a simple piece of software. That would be a HUGE help.

    Jeremy @ RefocusingTechnology.com
  • dez
    Here's a great article on a home office tour:

    http://www.geekgirlsguide.com/blog/2009/09/18/1...
  • I just commented on her blog and told her I was envious. :-) Thanks for sharing that.
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