Dear Organizing Help,
My desk is piled high with mail, papers, magazines, etc. I’ve tried many times to get organized but have difficulty figuring out where to start and what to do with all of it. What do I do?
When it comes to organizing any office, the first step is determining your personal organizing “style”, so that the systems you set up are based on your natural tendencies.
A typical “Piler” has stacks of paper on every flat surface they can find. These right-brained individuals have a strong visual orientation and need to see everything! That’s why when you open a drawer or cupboard you won’t find much there.
“Filers” are generally thought to be more organized, but one style is not necessarily better than the other. We’ve discovered many left-brained filers create systems that are so detailed they can’t find what they need when they need it. Then in their haste to put things “away” filers often create cluttered drawers and cupboards.
Whether you are a Filer or a Piler, it is important to work with your natural tendencies to achieve lasting results. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when organizing your office:
If you are a Piler:
- Use desktop vertical file holders, corkboards, wall files and open book shelves
- Color code files and use visual cues to find things at a glance
- Label everything!
- Consolidate files by using broad categories to prevent over filing
- Use drawer organizers and bins to separate items in cupboards
- Make sure out of sight is not out of mind!
