Organizing Your Home Office For Privacy & Productivity

Even with the pandemic coming to an end, many employees are still opting to work from home. Working from home offers the convenience and flexibility that an in-office position lacks. But, preparing a home office that promotes productivity and focus is not so easy. Oftentimes, working from home comes with distractions that a standard office space does not. Cultivating a space that allows for high efficiency is essential to maintain your productivity whilst at home. And if your work requires a certain level of digression, having a private space away from family and friends is necessary.

Privacy Enhancers

One perk of the office, especially one with cubicles, is privacy. In some lines of work, the files and content that exist on the computer are meant to be kept private. It can be difficult finding this privacy balance at home with a family and children. However, there are several options on the market for making sure your space is kept relatively private. Aside from monitoring your online privacy, by limiting your cookie settings, you can privatize your screen by opting for a screen protector that tints the display a shade darker. This way, you can see your screen but other people passing by cannot. Another option is looking into a room divider or privacy shade. These are miniature, movable opaque walls that shade your area for some seclusion.

Revamp Your Files

Having an organized and convenient filing system is necessary. It is important to keep track of all your important documents. There are several methods for organizing your filing system. Ultimately, each person will find a different way that works best for them. However, ideally, you would have some main categories accounted for. Creating a folder for meetings will help you be prepared much quicker for those Zoom calls. Putting items that are ready to be discussed in a separate area will prevent you from losing an important document prior to a meeting. Along the same vein, putting together a “high priority” documents folder is another necessity. While these documents may not be as immediate as the meeting folder, they are still documents that should be kept at an arm's reach. Additionally, having a “follow-up” folder is important for not losing track of documents that may be awaiting a response. Periodically check in on that folder and see if any papers have been followed up on and moved to a separate place. While some people do still use an actual physical filing cabinet, many work entirely virtually. This filing system can still be implemented online whether it’s email folders, desktop folders, or even Google drive folders.

Purge Your Desk

If you’ve ever worked in a cluttered space, you may have realized that your productivity struggled. While there are some who thrive in the chaos, many do not. In fact, research shows that there is a direct correlation between clutter and a decline in productivity. Being at home can enhance clutter in the workspace. Whether it's dishes from various meals, kids’ toys, or other miscellaneous items, your desk may be becoming less conducive to productivity. Purge your main workspace of clutter is a one-way ticket to enhance productivity. Try keeping, at a maximum, 5 items on your desk. Whether that’s a laptop or desktop computer, your coffee mug, a note pad, a picture frame, or a plant, make sure only the necessities are present. As for the rest of the home office, consider a shelving system with concealed spaces. This way you can toss all the clutter into those bins or drawers and it is out of sight. While this doesn’t eliminate the clutter completely, it at least keeps it out of your way while you’re trying to work.

Bottom Line

Working from home has a lot of perks. A more flexible schedule allows for you to maximize your day in the way that works best for you. However, working from home also comes with a set of distractions that don’t normally exist in the traditional office setting. Organizing your space at home can help maximize your efficiency and productivity. And the more efficient and productive you are, the more you can do with the rest of your time. While these are just a few tips, there are plenty of ways to make your space match your needs. Ultimately, your choice in organization will be personal to you and how you work.

10 Best Organizing Tips for the Tidiest Home Ever

We all want to keep our houses clean and put together, but not every single person has the time to spend hours cleaning their homes. But for all the busy people there are some tips that will help you keep your house tidy and organized without having to spend hours upon hours on cleaning and organizing. For those who need some guidance, there are 10 best organizing tips for the tidiest home ever. 

Create a Command Station

One of the best ways to keep your home tidy and well organized is simply by sticking adhesive pockets on the side of your cabinets. That way you will be able to keep your coupons, recipes and grocery lists in order. 

Try a Tiered Shelf

If you are struggling with keeping your canned goods organized as well as any spices, the key is to get a tiered shelf so you always know when you are running out of something because you can see everything at once. 

Have Rules

Most of us like to collect things, especially kids. So a good rule to have in your family that will apply to every single member is not collecting things. If you get something new that you already have instead of keeping two of the same things, donate the old one.

Repurpose Your Trays and Bowls

One of the best ways to make your home stay tidy is by reusing old dishes and making them into little organizers. That will prevent you from having a junk drawer.

Have a Designated “drop zone”

Another use for repurposed trays and bowls are the drop off zones. Those zones will prevent any clutter on the tables. Instead of having heaps of stuff everywhere, it will all be in a tray or bowl.

Make Storage Labels

The best thing that you can do to keep your house organized is simply by creating labels. You can do it for everything, file folders, bins, inside the drawer and so on. It will encourage people in your house to stay organized and put things where they belong. All you need to make some labels is washi tape and a marker, but if you want to go all out you can get a label maker.

Establish Different Zones

One of the best tips that you can get when it comes to keeping an organized and tidy home is having different work zones. Since most people in Australia are working from home it is also important to do this because it will also increase your productivity. The work zone should have only your work things in it such as desks, computers and printers and you shouldn't use it for anything besides your work. All of your zones should be organized for their purposes and they shouldn't mix. As most people will opt to have carpets in their zones to make them cozy, you should hire professionals such as Aussie Pro Carpet Cleaning to clean your carpets at least every couple of months to ensure your home is tidy. 

Use Color to Avoid Confusion

This is just like labeling things, but it is better if you have kids. That is because when you have little kids they most likely can't read, so the best thing that you can do and help them keep organized is using color as labeling. Give each kid their own color so they know what things are theirs and where to put them back at. 

Use Storage-Smart Furniture

There is nothing more stressful and nerve-wracking than hurrying to tidy up your home before your guests arrive. But when you have storage-smart furniture that can be done in just a few minutes. Choose furniture such as lift-top coffee tables, sofas that have under cushion storage as well as ottomans that open up so you can store your blankets in them. It will save you so much time and it will keep your home looking tidy at all times. It can also make your home much cozier. 

Keep the Bathroom Tidy

Just twisting in your cotton swabs, soaps and other bathroom supplies in your drawers will leave your bathroom looking cluttered and messy. Not only that but you will constantly have to dig through everything just to find that one thing you need. The best thing that you can do to fix that is to buy jars in which you will store things such as cotton swabs, cotton balls as well as toothbrushes. If you have leftovers you can store them under the sink and keep refilling the jars when needed. 

Organizing your home can feel like a big accomplishable thing, but with the right strategy, you can do it in no time. All you need to do is be confident and persistent. Once you have organized your home and set down the rules, you will just have to keep up with the work and your home will always be in pristine condition. 

3 of the Best Ways To Keep Your Home Workshop Organized

Keeping your workshop organized can be difficult, especially at home. Your workbench is clean one minute and being used for storage space the next. If your workspace is all clutter with no room to work, keep reading for three of the best ways to keep your home workshop organized. With these tips, you’ll be more efficient than ever before.

Take Inventory of Your Tools

The first thing you want to do is assess your tools and equipment. What materials do you need to keep, and what can you toss or donate? If you minimize clutter in the first place, finding homes and storage space for the rest of it will be easier. You can also keep tabs on which equipment is most important for your tasks. You’ll want to keep these tools nearby and within reach, while you can store away less important or more situational equipment for future use. Just make sure to label any boxes for reference when you do need those tools.

Build Upward

Speaking of storage, if your workshop is situated in the garage, the shed, or another confined space, you want to be as smart with your storage as possible. Decrease the use of your precious floor space and foot room by building your storage solutions upwards. Add storage options to the walls by installing shelves, hooks, racks, and pegboards. All of these options are great for organization purposes and for clearing clutter. Plus, you don’t have to sacrifice any of the minimal space you’re working with.

Tool Chest for the Essentials

If you don’t already own one, consider investing in a toolbox or chest to hold your smaller hand tools. Tool chests are great for organizing essential tools such as drill bits, screwdrivers, and measuring devices. Plus, you’ll likely need these items for many of your projects, so keeping them organized and easily accessible is ideal.

Now that you know three of the best ways to keep your home workshop organized, you’ll never have to go searching for a tool again. Clear that clutter and tackle organizing your workshop head on—you'll be glad you did when you see the results.

How to Make Better Use of the Space in Your Garage

Garages aren't just for parking your vehicles. Whether you have an attached single car garage or a detached three-car garage, make the most of this usable space by getting it in good shape for activities like a workshop, an art studio, or a woodworking bench.

Organize the Space

Decide the best configuration of the garage area for your hobby or workstation. A workbench, for example, might fit best at the rear of the garage. But if you have just one vehicle parked in a two-car garage, you could partition the unused parking area for your other work. A partition could be a basic concrete block half-wall or even a row of potted plants. You might prefer to have no division of the spaces for an open feel. But it will help to decide where you want to do your new activity and concentrate on organizing that area for the purpose.

Install a Garage Floor

If you plan to spend time in the garage, it might be a good idea to install durable, water-proof garage flooring. Indoor-outdoor linoleum, tiles, or carpet will help to keep the area dry, clean, warm, and stable for foot traffic or moving things around. This is especially true if the garage has a dirt floor or an aging concrete floor that is starting to crumble or crack.

Add Heating or Cooling Equipment

A portable heater should be adequate to heat the garage while working there in cold temperatures. You may also want to get a portable air conditioner to keep the area cool and comfortable on warm days. A fan can help to move around light dust from your garage work so that it doesn't settle everywhere, unless it is substantial. Make sure the electric wiring in the garage is adequate for the appliances and equipment you plan to use.

Make Sure the Garage is Protected

While you probably won't need to insulate the walls, it will help to keep the roof in good shape to prevent leaks. Any windows should be secure and stable. The door should be fitted with a lock if you plan to keep valuable tools or materials stored there. If you don't have a wallboard up, pound down or remove protruding nails, and get rid of insects or rodent nests.

It won't take much to get more usage from your garage. Turn your garage area into extended usable space for other activities in addition to parking your car.