2018 Home Organization Challenge: Week 11 Office

March 17, 2018

 

Welcome back to the 2018 Home Organization challenge. If you are here today, you haven’t given up. Keep working your way through the challenge. It’s almost finished. This week, we’re cleaning out the home office (or space where you pay your bills, etc). If you are new to the challenge, join us this week and complete the first 10 challenges when you have the time. Take a minute to watch my office video tour below.

 

 

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule and checklists below and begin on the current week. For encouragement, join our Home Organization Facebook community to share your progress, or struggles, or questions. Or simply look through the photos and read how others are doing.

 

Free Challenge Kit

 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

 

 

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

 

 

THE ORGANIZING PROCESS

PREPARE:

Gather 6 large bins or boxes, one for each of the following.
  • Shred
  • Donate
  • File
  • Return (to other rooms)
  • Keep (Everything that stays in the office)
  • Trash/recycle
SORT:
  • 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:
  • 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)
ORGANIZE:
  • 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?
If you answered no, toss it! (Shred if needed).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For details about my home office, click here.

 

Here are few blog posts that will inspire you to get your office organized.

 

Clean out your office this week. Purge your paper piles and filing system. It will take a while, but you’ll be so glad you spent the time to do this. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge, blog about the weekly challenges, and  share your before and after pictures over at my Home Organization group here.  Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 12 challenge. Happy Organizing!

~Toni

7 comments on “2018 Home Organization Challenge: Week 11 Office

  1. Carole Hartnagel says:

    I was wondering if you could tell me the name of the green purse you have in your launch pad?
    Thank you so much.

  2. Kathy says:

    Noticed your printer, because I’m shopping for one, and I have it in my Amazon cart, but haven’t committed yet.
    Are you happy with it? Do you print a lot of photos?

  3. Audrey Johnson says:

    Very similar to how I do my spring clean. I can’t break it into weeks because I simply don’t have the time. But I plan ahead and get it done over a long weekend. Thanks for sharing the awesome ideas.

  4. Jenn says:

    Your office is gorgeous!! We just bought a new house and my layout is almost the same I may steal a few decor ideas as well as organizing it all. What color are the walls? It is exactly the color I was looking for.

  5. Karen says:

    These office tips are amazing. I love the the post it drawer. So motivating to get my spare room turned into an office instead of the junk collector that it is now. Your posts are so motivating! Thanks

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