The Zone Plan – Office Zone

A brand-new year! I would love to have a reset button that would make my whole home clean and organized to start off this new year. However, that’s not going to happen. It’s up to me to make that vision come true. It’s overwhelming for me to take on my whole home at one time. That is why I use my Zone Plan to work on one area at a time.

For the Zone Plan I divide my home into ten zones. Then each month except for July and December I deep clean and reorganize the chosen zone. By the end of the year, I have touched and cleaned everything in my home.

The office is the zone that I like to work in during the month of January. For my business and for my personal life I want my office clean, inviting, and organized in order to encourage growth and productivity.

First, I evaluate what is bothering me with my office at this point in time.

I am bothered by:

·        Loose paper that is not filed but is sitting spread out on my desk and on my couches

·        Project bins that are not current – they hold past projects and need to be repurposed to hold the paper that is scattered

·        Over full files in my file cabinet and desk file

·        My action file that is not current

·        A feeling of heaviness because everything needs a good deep clean

Next, I schedule a time to work on each of these areas. The areas are still too large to work on in one setting so I break them down into tasks that can be knocked out in an hour or less.  I look at my calendar for the month and schedule a time to work on each task.

On the first week I work on my desk and my files in the file drawer and in my desk. I also clean and wax the wood of the desk and file cabinet.

The next week I focus on my credenza and bookcase.

The third week I work on the fountain and the tables that hold the fountain and an art piece and the windows.

The last week I finish up the bits and pieces not done like vents, the fan, hanging artwork, brushing down the walls, and anything that got missed.

By the end of the month, I call this zone “good enough” and move on to the next zone. The office is now ready for just regular maintenance until next January. I always reward myself by putting a fresh flower on my desk.

If your office is a complete disaster or just needs a little tweaking, develop a plan now to make it a perfect workplace for you. You will notice that your productivity increases and your stress decreases.

If you recognize that you are struggling with completing an organizational project like your office and want some help or accountability, join Diane Quintana and me in our Clear Space for You virtual support group. Each month everyone in the group chooses what project they want to complete. This month I will work in my office while others in the group will work on the project of their choice.

Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, author of four books as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients.