We’ve all heard about it. The process where one deep cleans, declutters and organizes their office, house, garage, car, barn etc. the list goes on. It seems it is currently trendy (or maybe it’s just who I follow on Instagram – A Bowl Full of Lemons) with home organization challenges, tips and tricks everywhere you turn. Netflix’s hit series called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” has spread the Kondo Effect with a tidying tide. People are motivated and the second hand stores are reaping the benefits.
This process is often referred to as spring cleaning. I’m not sure why it is season specific, but I’m pretty sure google knows. I’ve always thought that it occurs in the spring when the weather warms up enough to stop burning firewood and the air outside warms up enough to open windows to air out your house. We burn wood, lots of it. It is warm and cozy and efficient (depending on the species and your fireplace). Nothing beats sitting next to the fire on a cold, blistery day with a good book in hand; except maybe sitting on the beach at sunset, but that’s not an option here in Montana. We are lucky enough have a back-up heat source, so I am not stuck feeding the fire day in and day out. However, all of my family members prefer a nice fire in the fireplace, so we have a fire more often than not. And with that comes dust. Lots of DUST and soot – this is where I have drummed up my reasoning for why people do a deep overhaul clean in the spring.
Many of us participate in this ritual in our homes, but do we apply this to our office? How often does your office get a good thorough tidying up? Now I’m not just talking about the dusting, vacuuming, garbage emptying tasks, but the sorting, dejunking, and overall organizing of your office space. Last week, I spent my (little) spare time doing just this. I began by pulling each item off of the bookshelves, wiping it down and sorting before I put anything back on. When I was finished, I had two boxes of books to get rid of, one to the used book store (where I get store credit if they take them, win, win!) and one to the thrift store. It has been four years since I’ve taken on this task. It wasn’t easy. And that was just the bookshelves.
See, I’m attached to books. I love print (Print Is…). I hold on to books I have read and love and someday when time permits hope to read again. I hold onto books people pass on or books I pick up at a yard sale, used book store, Costco, wherever books make an appearance. Now I’m not a hoarder, I’m more on the minimalist end; I try to only bring things into my life that I have the intention and desire to read. So, this task was necessary because the stack of books by my bed is getting too tall and my night stand is running out of space, the office collection was spilling off the shelves, and I needed to organize and deep clean my office. Once I emptied the bookshelves, I had to make a decision on every item before I returned it to the shelf. I needed to free up space and organize.
Books might not be your trouble zone – maybe it’s the pile of paperwork that needs filing, the office supplies that need organizing, or the drawer where you shove everything before a client comes in (out of sight, right?). Or maybe you stay fairly organized, but your office hasn’t had a good cleaning. We all have a good excuse. We’re busy. Most of us don’t get paid if we’re not producing; cleaning, organizing, and dejunking aren’t tasks that bring in the bacon. However, I know I am more productive when my space is organized and clean.
10 simple steps to get you started on your office overhaul:
1 – Gather boxes, bins, and garbage bags to donate, return, keep, throw away, or recycle your items.
2 – Sort and file or shred all paperwork. Log into your accounts and choose “go paperless” to minimize the amount of paperwork that flows into your space. Create a mail station to manage the incoming paper clutter.
3 – Tackle your bookshelves. Ask the question, “why am I keeping this item?” Get rid of books you’ve read and didn’t love, articles you can find online, and manuals of items you don’t even have anymore and ones you do have (the manual is online). Take everything off and wipe them down before returning items in an organized manner.
4 – Clean out your desk drawers. If you don’t already have drawer organizers, buy some now. Place “like” items together. Donate multiples to the thrift store. How many pens do you really need?
5 – Clean and disinfect your keyboard, mouse, screen (follow instructions), and desk. Wipe down your office chair.
6 – If you have a basic cleaning service, contact them to do the “extras”. Let them know you would like the blinds and fan blades wiped down, as well as light switches and baseboards. If you are the cleaning service of your office, you probably let things go way too long. Hire someone or tackle it yourself. Don’t assume your clients don’t notice the dust bunnies on your fan blade or the cobweb in the corner.
7 – Windows. Check with your landlord and review your lease. The outside windows may be included to receive a cleaning once or twice a year. However, the inside is likely on your own. Use a simple solution of 1/3rd vinegar to 2/3rds water in a spray bottle and a microfiber or lint free cloth for easy streak free cleaning. Use this solution as well on picture frame glass and mirrors.
8 – Back up your files to the cloud or external devices.
9 – Using that same solution of vinegar and water, wipe down and disinfect your water cooler parts. This should probably be done at least monthly to keep everyone healthy.
10 – Load up the bins for donation, walk the bags of garbage to the outside trash collections site, and return all items that don’t belong in your office. Get in your car and drive to the donation site. Give yourself a pat on the back for not having the items in your car for weeks on end!
It might be the middle of April, but there are days I still wish I could build a fire in my fireplace. We had a couple of inches of snow last week. But I’ve done the spring cleaning in my living room and cleaned all the ash out of the fireplace. Spring has sprung in most parts of the country. Let the tidying tide flow into your office and enjoy how great it will feel when you have decluttered, organized and cleaned your office space! And I’d venture to say your productivity will increase as well.
About the Author:
Growing up in Arizona at 7,000 feet elevation, Nicole Post has always been most at home in the mountains with their seasons and outdoor adventures. Home was the main lodge of a 14-cabin property that her family owned and ran as a family business. It was there she learned how to work hard and gained people skills, all while having the outdoors as her playground. College took her to the University of Arizona in Tucson where she completed her degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. During those four years, she eventually found the beauty of the desert, but couldn’t wait to escape the heat and the city. Life took Nicole and her husband to Missoula to look at the University of Montana and on the first step off the plane, she knew this was the place. It was love. In August 2003, one U-Haul, one truck, one horse, and two little boys drove into the five-valleys area known as Missoula to embark on a new adventure. 15 years and two more kids later, she still calls the Bitterroot Valley home (just south of Missoula). In her spare time if it exists, she likes to hike, cross country ski, snowboard, read, practice yoga, run, quilt and try new things. Nicole has played a few different roles at Meetings Northwest since joining the staff in 2008. As an event planner, she is creative, efficient and responsive. As our copy editor, she makes us and our clients sound concise, intelligent and interesting. Nicole’s attention to detail and remarkable dissection of words always shines our clients in the perfect light!
