Today I am happy to welcome guest blogger, Brandie Kajino, The Home Office Organizer.  She has a fabulous website and blog for those of us with a home office or anyone who just wants to get organized!  She does a great job of sharing her expert tips along with links to other sites that are immensely helpful.  I am glad she is with us today and I hope you enjoy her tips as much as I do!

~Lorrie

Get Organized: 6 Steps To Get Started

Ready to get organized?  If you’ve decided to get organized, you’re not alone.  Have you tried before and been unsuccessful? Don’t stress! It is possible to get organized and stay that way.  Pick one area at a time, and move onto the next.  Here’s some tips to help you get real and get going:

1. One project at a time.  Don’t tell yourself “I’m going to get my life organized”.  Guaranteed you’ll be burned out in two weeks.  Pick one room that you want to work on.  If that seems overwhelming, pick one bookcase or drawer.  Small successes will build your confidence and motivate you to move forward.
2. Simplify, simplify, simplify.  I’d just love to take credit for this quote, but I can’t - it’s Henry David Thoreau.  Part of getting organized is evaluating what you have and what you really need.  This is the first step, no avoiding it.  Yes it’s work, but if you don’t do it all the other efforts are wasted.
3. Work with what’s left.  Once you get down to what you really truly need you’re ready to go the next step.  What’s left will determine what sort of products you’ll need, and help you….
4. Assign homes.  Here’s a tip: “being organized” simply means everything has a place (and everything in it’s place…).  If it doesn’t have a home, it’s homeless and will wander aimlessly for all eternity.  So, do yourself a favor and commit to giving a home to everything you’ve decided to keep.  Take it one thing at a time, and put things together that make sense to you.  If that seems a little daunting and permanent, don’t worry - you can always move it later, but you have to start somewhere.
5. Put things away.  You don’t have to live in Perfection Utopia - it’s a myth and just not real.  Period. What you need to do is put things in their homes (see previous step) consistently.  Just like anything else you’ve got to do this and make it a habit.  Once you do, you’ll see your space change for good.
6. Change and re-evaluate as necessary.  Sometimes people move from one home to a new one. The only constant is change, so don’t worry if things in your space change - because they will.  So, go with it and re-evaluate as needed.

You really can change your life with organization.  And honestly, when I type that it sounds caddy and simplistic - but I know it to be true.  Start with changing your space.  Organize your stuff, get real with it, dig deep.  You just might surprise yourself!

Brandie Kajino, The Home Office Organizer, is a dynamic speaker, author and professional organizer.  Brandie helps home office professionals get organized.  Her website includes free resources, teleclasses, personalized services and a blog with dozens of articles. For a free copy of her Top Ten Organizing Tips, visit her web site at www.thehomeofficeorganizer.com, or call her at 971-533-7735.

When it comes down to it, we all work from home.  Whether it’s the place where you earn a living or where you keep your family’s lives in order, you need space for the computer, paperwork and a few paper clips.  Otherwise it’s a constant game of “Where did that bill go?” or “Please don’t play with my computer.”  A clearly defined workspace not only creates an area for all the “stuff” but it also creates a private space that gains respect from those around you.  From closets, to guest rooms, to an entire dedicated room, here is a simple plan to help you create a beautiful, comfortable and productive atmosphere.

Here you go:

1. Know your needs - Assess what currently works and what does not.  Clean out the space and make sure your storage is adequate.  Beyond file cabinets, consider baskets, bins and shelving.
2. Develop a floor plan - Don’t try to crowd too much furniture in the room and consider pieces that can pull double-duty.  Ballard Designs has a cool little Home Office Kit to help you plan your space.  Or just get out some graph paper, pencil and ruler and design the space yourself.
3. Create the Right Environment - Make it a comfortable and supportive environment for your creativity and concentration.  Though I encourage you to go with your gut on color, here are some basic color/mood associations that might give you a boost:

• Blue - calm, orderly, water
• Green - nature, health, renewal
• Orange - balance enthusiasm
• Purple - spirituality, wisdom
• Red - energy, strength
• White - pureness, simplicity
• Yellow - joy, optimism

4. Architectural Elements - If your budget and time allow, then go for the gold with new flooring, molding and lighting.  My friend and trusty web developer, Andrew, is redoing his office so I put together these tips with him in mind.

• Flooring: I recommend hard surfaces with wood topping the list.  Carpeting can get dusty and I like to keep the area around the computer equipment super clean. 
• Molding:  Be bold with base and crown moldings.  Don’t look to the original molding for size.  Often they are wimpy and small.  If you have 9 foot ceilings then anything up to 9″ each for the crown and the base is fair game.  I usually make the base a couple of inches less than the crown.  Mixing traditional moldings with modern furniture gives the space a designer touch.
• Lighting:  The best lighting for a workspace is a combination of good general lighting (such as recessed lighting) highlighted with some task lighting (lamps).

5. Personalize- Working from home allows you to personalize your space and really make it your own.  There are no rules!  Highlight the room with your favorite painting or a lamp with a cool shade.  Use a cork-board for special mementos or family photos.  Just make sure your office portrays an air of professionalism if you meet with clients in your home.

It doesn’t take much to turn a simple space into a home office.  And the boost to your efficiency and peace of mind will be priceless.

Good luck with your Home Office and be sure to use My Secret Database to fine everything that you will need!