As more and more businesses adapt to doing business over the internet, more of you have the opportunity to work from home. But having a home office comes with its own set of challenges – separating your workspace from the rest of your living quarters, for example, or keeping your laundry and other household chores from creeping onto your office files. 

These 50 simple tips can help you maintain a comfortable, clean, organized office, maximizing your productivity.  

Although they include Feng Shui recommendations, such as making sure you have all the elements represented in your space -– fire, water, earth, wood, and air -- you will find that more often than not, these things are usually what “feels right,” in a room, whether you’re purposely practicing Feng Shui or not.  

Here are a few of my favorites: 

1. Keep the doorway free and clear of clutter. Stumbling over piles of files or other paraphernalia as you enter the office is sure to set you off on the wrong foot.
2. Leave some open spaces. Cramming too much furniture or accessories into your workspace can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed and tense. Assess what you need and get rid of everything else.
3. Make sure you have a window. Natural light keeps you in sync with the progression of day and night, the environment, and the seasons.
4. Maintain a balance of color in your room. Each color is represented by an element, and too much of one color can lead to feeling either over or under stimulated.
5. Keep flowers or a potted plant nearby. Not only can it boost your spirits and bring a touch of the outdoors in, they can also help diffuse the harmful electromagnetic fields around your electronic equipment.

Most of it really boils down to using common sense. An organized space is bound to make you more productive and less stressed, and even if you do nothing else, getting rid of clutter can make a huge difference in and of itself.

As some of my readers already know, the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can be useful when tackling the task of getting organized and clearing your surroundings of stuff you no longer need (but have difficulty letting go of.)

I also like David Allen’s sensible recommendations in his book, “Getting Things Done.” And Tim Ferriss’ “Four Hour Work Week” is a must-read for anyone seeking to increase efficiency, so you can have more time to do the things you truly enjoy! 

Being able to beeline out of your office – tennis racket or canoe paddle in hand -- without tripping over laundry, might be an added boon for getting organized.

Bootstrapper August 29, 2007