Smarter Home: Organize Your Home Office

[Jenn D.]

Home organization is always something we're striving for, but never seem to be satisfied with. A few weeks ago I did a piece on cleaning up all those kid's toys that are scattered around your family room. Well, that's just one small part of your home that probably needs help. At least, for me it is. Some of you mentioned you needed help in the home-office area. Well, I'm with you there, too. Here are a few great ideas to help all of us all get better organized-me included!

I have an abundance of paper clutter, thanks to never-ending stream of mail and magazines. To keep track of all the medical documents, mine, my daughter's and my husbands, I'm going to try a file folder, like this stylish one. At least the medical documents will all be in one place. So when I get a bill that I know I already paid, I'll be able to go to one source to locate it. Tip: Don't go crazy and try organizing by type of doctor, month, etc. Step one is to just get all the documents in one place where you can find them.

For other documents, I'm going to use a 3-basket system: One for bank/finance; one for other important documents that are not medical and not bank/finance but things related to our car or home, and one for non-important stuff, like coupons and cards. This way I can just dump the mail in the appropriate basket.

One trick to cut down on your magazines is to rip out the pages you want to remember, and then toss the magazine when you're through. (Harder said than done, I know.) For the magazines you're waiting to read or want to save, keep them in a magazine file. Nice and neat.

Last, it's time to move all those notes-to-self somewhere more constructive than your desk, where they get lost and linger for months. Try a corkboard, which will help you see all your remidners quickly and at a glance.

What's your home organization tip for mail?

[Flaca43]

I look through the mail and throw out all the junk mail first. Then I figure out what is important and what isn't. I have a place for the important things and bills on my desk. When I finish paying a bill I put it in my cart in my room.

[amy7243]

I throw away all junk mail...and bills go on computer desk.

[Jukebox_Jenny]

Opening and filing right away helps. Trash to the trash and important stuff to the desk or cabinet.

[eustacejessica]

junk mail is thrown away instantly

[Luvmybooskies]

That's a good idea, we could use some organization for our mail!

[lasombrs]

i open over the trash lol

[fraujones]

I try to toss junk mail immediately. We have a mail basket. 

[charlene_kyle]

 This.

Quoting eustacejessica:

junk mail is thrown away instantly

 

[ceciliam]

I always go through mail right away and put everything in its' proper place....no piling up here:)

[lizzig]

 junk mail goes straight into recycling, bills to be paid are clipped to the fridge, all else i need to keep gets put into a box to be filed when i get a chance.