By Roberta Beach-Jacobson
Are you feeling your home office is the absolute pits? Not to worry. Here are some tips to pep things up and make smarter use of your working space at the same time.
1. Make use of that unused corner by getting a corner table with shelves. No space for a table lamp? Simply clip on a gooseneck desk lamp.
2. Keep on your desk only those reference books you frequently use. Get the others out of your office space and store them in your regular bookshelf.
3. Remove the wheels from your desk chair. You'll avoid scooting into walls.
4. Consider stacking your two-drawer file cabinets. Just be careful not to open too many drawers at once, or they could tip.
5. Handle your correspondence promptly and then file away. Remember, there's insufficient space to store it all indefinitely - no matter if it's paper or e-mails. Tack notes and messages onto your bulletin board so you don't have those little papers fluttering about and getting lost.
6. At the end of each month (or calendar quarter), box up your old notes, reports, manuscripts and other finished work-related paperwork and store away from your office area. Label the cartons clearly so you can find things later.
7. Remind family members (adults as well as children) not to clutter your working space with their belongings.
8. Buy only a reasonable amount of office supplies to keep on hand. Don't clog up your desk drawers with outdated business cards or other unnecessary items. Trust me, you don't need a hundred rubber bands and three staplers.
9. In and out-boxes take up precious desk area. Switch to hanging baskets above your desk. For the same reasons, you may want to consider installing a wall phone. What good is a telephone if it's hidden under a stack of papers?
10. Add a mirror to one wall and your tiny office space will appear larger. Have a look in it to make sure it's straight and then give yourself the "thumbs up" signal. You're doing a great job!
Roberta Beach Jacobson started out writing and selling short romance fiction (confessions), graduated to travel articles, then moved on to greeting card verses and humor essays. Her publishing credits include Woman's Day, Natural Home, Playgirl, Transitions Abroad, JustSayGo.com and I Love Cats. She is an American who has lived in Europe for three decades and she makes her home on a tiny Greek island.
