Naples Daily News columnist Marla Ottenstein shows you how to “Get Organized!”
Bonita Springs professional organizer explains why working backward is the best way to declutter an office.

As a professional organizer working in Bonita Springs, Florida, people always ask for advice on how to organize and declutter their offices so they can keep up with the never-ending influx of mail and paperwork.

Office organization can be overwhelming, that’s why the most important advice I can offer is to break down the task into smaller, more achievable “mini” projects. If you can think about decluttering one section at a time, the task will seem less daunting.

Of course, the most effective and efficient way to organize and declutter your home or office workspace is to hire a professional organizer, but if you’re set on doing it on your own, the easiest way to get started is to create a “home” for everything. In other words, “Everything has a place and a place for everything.”

I suggest working “backward.” Before clearing the top of your desk, you’ll need to organize your files and create a place to put everything away. To accomplish this task, you’ll need a label maker and several hanging folders, as well as a box of folders.

Keep it simple! Label the hanging folders with a generic, easy-to-identify name, like “utilities;” inside this folder will be individual files marked “water,” “electric” and “phone,” to name a few. The same system should be used when setting-up files for bank statements and insurance documents, et cetera. Once the files are organized, then the papers cluttering the top of your desk can be effortlessly filed away.

Hint: Try not to get in the habit of creating too many files. There is such a thing as being “too” organized.