03/20/2020
How-To Put Some Spring Back Into Your Office:
Seven Steps to Creating a Clean and Organized Home Office
By: Janet L. Hall, Master Professional Organizer and Feng Shui Practitioner, FSIA
Step 1: Make an Appointment with Yourself
Decide what day, evening and time you will do your clean and organize AND how long you will work on your office.
I decided to clean and organize my office until it was completed. It took me about 2-3 hours. You might not have a full 2-3 hours at one time, or yours might take longer than mine, so work one area or wall a day until completed.
I highly recommend that you make the time to do as much as you can in one day. If you don't you will probably never finish....until next time.
Step 2: Prepare and Gather Your Tools
Gather up your cleaning tools: broom (good for reaching cobwebs), feather duster, polish and polish rag, window cleaner and paper towels, vacuum cleaner or mop and pail, garbage, recycling, and donate containers.
Step 3: Set the Mood
Select music to play while you're cleaning and organizing. I like to play different types of music and sometimes will select music that I haven't listened to in a while.
Select some incense or a scented candle to burn while you are working.
=> Two great scents to evoke a clean feeling is orange or lemon.
=> Some scents to help reduce any stress or overwhelm you might feel while doing these tasks are mint, lavender, marjoram, melissa, rosemary, and eucalyptus.
=> Lime will help elevate your mood and basil will help cheer you.
Try different ones, find the one that suits you and enjoy.
Step 4: Where and How to Start Cleaning
Stand at the threshold of your room and start on the left hand wall. You'll be working your away around the room in a 'productive' clockwise motion.
==>Cobwebs, Bugs and Dust
I believe cobwebs can represent your thoughts being so wrapped up in different tasks, like the spider wrapping its prey, that you become defocused on what's important and unable to move toward your goals You're stuck like the spider's prey.
For myself I generally will not kill bugs. I will either take them outside, usually a lady bug or spider unless they become real annoying, like a fly. If I can't manage to shoo them out the door then I use my friend Paula's saying, "Fly, if you haven't met Jesus yet you're about to." Swat.
Dust can hold the chaos of your yesterdays and serve as a reminder that you haven't dusted in a while. Some look at having dust as a sign of laziness and uncaring. Some, like myself, have more important things to do . I always tell people they can drop in and visit me anytime; however if they want to visit my house make an appointment because I'm not a duster. I do dust; however not daily or weekly.
Okay. Ready? Let's get rid of all the cobwebs, bugs, and dust!
=> Sweep your broom against the ceiling from corner to corner and don't forget to sweep down the corners, real good, because fuzzy little cobwebs like to live in those dark corners.
=> If you have a closet in your office don't forget to sweep inside that ceiling space and corners.
=> Sweep or feather dust the walls, around all your window casements and sills, under your furniture, especially your desk and chair, and all four baseboards.
=> If you have ceiling beams don't forget to sweep on each side of them and in their corners.
=> If you have a ceiling fan don't forget to sweep/dust the fan blades.
=> Remove window screens and wash to remove cobwebs, bugs, dust, or ni****ne, if you are a smoker.
=> Take all window coverings, cushions, pillows, and throw carpets outside. Shake out or beat them with your hands or broom (make sure you have gotten all the cobwebs and bugs off your broom before you do this). Set them out in the sun to bring some Yang energy back into your office. If any of the above items need to be washed (have they ever been washed?) throw them in your washer now.
=> Dust and polish all your furniture. Clean all your surface areas, lamps and lighting, and under the furniture. Don't forget to dust the light bulbs and while you're at it add a drop or two of the scent you are using. For a while, each time you have the light on, the heat from the light bulb will act as a diffuser, causing the scent to be dispelled throughout your office.
=> Clean your computer. Don't forget to dust off your keyboard, monitor, and CPU. You can purchase special little dust blowers or vacuums for around the keys and fans.
==> Plants and Fountains
=> If you have plants in your home office, trim and prune, making sure you remove all dead leaves, flowers, and limbs. Give your plants a healthy drink of water with a growth enhancer mixed in.
=> If you have a fountain, empty all the water and give the fountain, stones, and pump a good soaking in hot soapy water. If you have hard water build up place these items in the sink. Sprinkle baking powder all over and then pour on white vinegar. The solution will start to bubble, yet it's safe, no fumes. Rinse completely before using again. Don't forget to clean that little filter inside your pump.
==> Vacuum, sweep, and/or mop your office floor.
Tip: I highly recommend you do all the above tasks at least every other week so you and your space don't become stuck and stagnant.
Step 5: Where and How to Start Organizing
==> Desk and Drawers
=> I recommend that you start with your desk top. Take everything off your desk top and only put back what you use daily. Don't forget to dust if you haven't already.
=> Empty a drawer at a time. Only put back what you use or refer to on a daily or weekly basis, storing like items with like items. Make sure you wipe the inside of your desk drawers to remove any dust or grime.
==> Cords and Wires
Bundle up and organize your computer cords or wires, phone lines, and any other electrical wires. You can either use a wire tie or a tube to keep your wires neat, safe, and organized.
==> Computer CD and Disks
For all your computer disks or CD's I recommend making a computer notebook to store them in. Toss out all the boxes you might have saved from your software programs. Get a three-ringed notebook and purchase three ringed CD or Disk Sheets. Don't forget to store any key codes or pass codes with the CD or Disk. You can also store instructions and manuals in this notebook. Your local office supply store should carry CD and disk sheets that hold 2 to four to a sheet.
==> Bookcases
If you have bookcases remove all the books and dust off the shelves. Place like books with like books back on the shelves. This way you can easily and effortlessly find what you need when needed. Only put books back that you use, refer to, or are reading. Donate the rest to your local library or a shelter.
Step 6: Look Outside
This task I decided to do when the weather warmed up; however I wanted to mention it now. After all it might be nice and warm where you are...wish I was there!
=> Look out your windows. What do you see? Can you even see clearly out your windows? Wash your windows inside and out.
=> Do you see any overgrowth? Cut it back or down.
=> Do you see garbage, garbage can or recycling? Pick it up, remove it, or move to a different location where it's not visible to you.
=> Do you see cobwebs or dead bugs? I have an extension off my back windows so I have an overhang where I can see all the cobwebs and spider sacs plus some old bee’s nests. Let's water pray or knock them down with your broom on the outside of the house.
Don't neglect what you can see and don't like looking at. Take care of those items as soon as possible.
Step 7: Organizing Your Papers and Files
The one thing I didn't touch on yet is your paper files.
=> Questions to ask yourself about your papers and files:
Do I REALLY need to keep this?
Do I need to file this? (If you need to keep, ask if it should be a current files (such as clients and projects), a reference file (something you refer to occasionally) or does it need to be saved and archived.
Happy Spring Cleaning and Getting Organized!
