Don't have a luxurious corner office (yet)? That doesn't mean you can't make a place for everything you need! Use these ideas to maximize your office space -- increasing productivity and your sense of serenity:
Create Instant Space and Serenity by Decluttering
Stacks of papers, sweaters, jackets, knick-knacks, and other odds and ends can quickly overtake a tiny office. Straighten your shelves, shred or recycle old documents, and take home any items that are eating up valuable workspace. If you haven't touched something in the last six months, odds are, you can get rid of it.
If you are worried about destroying old documents, you can scan them and save them to a secure, backed-up file so that the information can be retrieved if necessary. A good rule of thumb when decluttering: if it's covered in dust, you probably don't need it.
Tackle Your Files
As more information moves into digital and cloud-based platforms, the need to keep paper copies of files has lessened. However, some things must be saved. To help manage your filing cabinet, use the following guidelines:
Enlarge Your Space by Thinking Creatively
Is your computer monitor sitting on top of your desk? Purchase a monitor platform, and you'll instantly create space to store folders, notebooks, and other items. Is there a lot of empty space under your desk? Use it effectively by adding portable file drawers or storage cubbies.
If you have an inbox on your desk, you can free up desk space and limit clutter by utilizing hanging file baskets. Just be sure to label them well so that your co-workers don't toss important papers where your inbox used to be.
Next, scan your walls. If you have empty wall space, it's just begging to be used productively. Add shelves, a white board, or cork board to give those empty walls purpose.
Put Everything in its Own Place
When items have a "home," it can instantly declutter your desk while helping you de-stress. Are you constantly looking for your stapler? Do you lose pens three or four times a day? Give everything its own home. Get a pen cup -- and use it. Keep your stapler in your desk drawer for easy reach. When you're done with something, put it back in its space so you always know it will be available at your fingertips when you need it.
Light Up the Room
Poor lighting casts shadows that make a room look smaller. Think about your own living room at home. When you're reading the paper on a sunny Sunday morning, your room probably feels bigger than it does in the evening after the sun goes down. The same principle holds true in your office. If you're working with dim lighting, talk to maintenance about getting brighter bulbs, or find some small lamps to help cast better light and instantly make the room feel bigger.
Crowdsource New Space-Saving Ideas
While you may think you have the smallest office or cube in the company, there are others who also have to deal with small spaces. As you make your daily rounds, pay attention to what others have done with their spaces. Not only will you get some new ideas on how to maximize a small office or cube, but you can ask those co-workers where they purchased their solutions or what steps they took to open up their tiny offices.
Organizing a small space is not always easy. It takes time, planning, and effort. If you've become frustrated with your tiny office, decluttering and organizing is well worth that effort. Not only will it give you more room to move, but it will also give you a boost of energy, helping you to feel more productive throughout the day.