Getting your home office organised can be a challenge, especially if you’ve let things fall by the wayside for a while. With clutter and piles of paper everywhere, it might seem like a big job to get on top of filing and arranging your home office items. However, by taking some time to get the right equipment and tools to sort out your home office, you’ll find it much easier to focus and work more productively and efficiently.

If you need some help with your office organising, read on for our expert tips and tricks.

Identify Your Organisation Goals

The first step in organising your home office is to identify what organisational issues you want to fix. Think about what is causing you stress and what is distracting you from work. It might be that you don’t have the right tools to complete your tasks, or it might be that you can never find the equipment that you need. It could be that you struggle to keep your papers organised, or that you routinely lose an important document. It might be that you struggle with timekeeping and scheduling, which is making you late and unprepared for meetings, calls, or deadlines.

Once you’ve recognised where you’re going wrong with your home office organisation, you’ll be in a better position to find the solution. You can then figure out what tools you’ll need and if there are any changes to your working processes you can make to help you get organised and work more productively. 

 

 

Utilise Home Office Storage

Clutter can be a big problem in your home office. Not only is it distracting, but it can also result in inefficient working, with you having to spend time looking for a specific tool or document amongst the mess. The best way to solve this problem is with home office storage. At Leitz, we have a huge range of storage solutions for your home office organisation, including stylish storage boxes, drawer cabinets, and archive boxes.

Think about the sorts of things you need to store. What tools do you use sometimes, but not all the time? These can be stored away, freeing up space at your workstation and keeping your home office tidy so you can stay focused. Just make sure your storage is easily accessible and properly organised for when you do need to find something.

Create A Home File Storage System

If you have a lot of documents to store, think about what sort of filing systems you’ll need. Suspension filing is a great way of keeping your documents organised and easy to find, or you could use lever arch files. Just file and label in a system that makes sense for you and your way of working, whether that’s by date, alphabetically, by category, or a combination of them all.

The key to your home filing is to make sure you keep to your system. Don’t leave documents on your desk when you’re finished with them, but, instead, file them straight away. It might seem like a chore when you want to get on with the next task, but it will likely save you a lot of time next time you need to find that document.

 

 

Your filing system should also extend to your virtual documents. The desktop on your PC should be just as clutter-free as your physical desktop, so ensure you’ve properly organised your files there too. It can be helpful to use a similar filing system as you have in your home office, so finding the right document becomes second nature, whether you’re looking for a hard copy or a soft copy.

Properly Equip Your Workstation

An organised desk is an essential part of an organised home office. Letter trays are great for organising your documents, so you know what needs to be dealt with and what’s already in hand, or a drawer cabinet can work better if you need more sections. Make sure to clearly label the sections so you know exactly what should be going where.

Think about what tools you need to be able to work efficiently. If you routinely work with paper documents that need to be filed, do you need a stapler or a hole punch on your desk? Do you need scissors or a tape dispenser? A desk organiser will keep all your tools tidy and easily accessible, so they’re always to hand when you need them. If you use your phone a lot for work, a handy wireless Qi charger will keep your device charged up and ready to go and you won’t have to worry about plugging and unplugging cables. 

You should also consider ergonomics for your workstation. This will help you to work comfortably and stay focused. Ensure that your equipment is positioned correctly so you don’t have to stretch or strain to reach anything, with your screens at the right height so you can see them easily.

Keep Visual Reminders of Your Schedule

If you struggle with timekeeping, visual reminders of your schedule will be a great help in keeping you organised. Writing down your weekly or daily schedule on to a whiteboard will ensure that you never forget a meeting or deadline. You’ll also easily be able to change or update it when plans change.

 

 

You should try to keep one version of your calendar to prevent any confusion, although you may find it beneficial to have a virtual calendar connected to your work account and then keep a physical copy of that on your whiteboard. If anything gets changed on your virtual calendar, you then only need to update your physical copy. You should make sure to check your day’s schedule first thing every morning, so you know exactly what meetings you have and what you need to prepare for, as well as any deadlines.

A wall clock is another excellent visual prompt to help with your timekeeping, which can sometimes work better than just relying on the clock on your laptop or phone. Our Leitz Cosy Silent Glass Wall Clock has a minimalist design and includes a dry-wipe pen so you can add your own numbers or notes, perfect for when you have an important meeting that you want to ensure you remember.

Invest in a Shredder

A paper shredder could be an essential part of your home office and will help to keep you organised. With a home shredder, you’ll be able to quickly and securely dispose of old documents that contain confidential information. This is perfect for both work documents and also for your personal paperwork that might include information that could be used for identity fraud.

 

 

At Leitz, we have a range of paper shredders, including small shredders for little jobs, larger shredders, automatic shredders and manual shredders. If you’re not sure what paper shredder you need for your home office, our shredder buying guide will help to explain the different features, include the sheet capacity and cut type, so you can find the right paper shredder for your needs.

Keep Personal Items Separate

When you’re organising your home office, you should always ensure that your personal items are kept separate from your work items. This includes your document filing, as well as any stationery and other equipment. If you have to use your home office storage for certain personal items, you should aim to keep them well away from work items, so nothing gets cluttered and confused. You might find it helpful to use different coloured storage boxes to separate work and personal items. A simple storage system like this will help everyone else in the household to keep to it too, meaning your home office can stay organised.

 

Leitz has a range of stylish home office essentials so you can create a comfortable and organised working environment at home.

Read more about working productively from home:

How to Minimise Distractions When Working From Home

How to Combat Working from Home Fatigue

The Best Home Office Essentials 2022