We are wrapping up our room by room series with arguably one of the most overwhelming areas to organize-HOME OFFICES. Joining me today is Stephanie Shalofsky, founder of the The Organizing Zone which she started 14 years ago as a means to provide organizing and productivity services to small companies and individuals in NYC. If we learned anything from the pandemic, it’s the importance of having a dedicated workspace in our homes. What once was considered a luxury has quickly turned into an essential part of the home. Whether you have a separate room or you’re working from the kitchen table, we all need systems to keep paperwork, files, and supplies organized.During our conversation we talked about common pitfalls she sees with her clients, and Stephanie offers some solutions for organizing your home office including:Adopting a mobile workspace. Keeping all of your essentials in one central location is key to staying organized. The benefits of having your workspace mobile is that you can work from anywhere in the home and easily tuck it away when you are done working for the day. (fyi we love rolling carts!)Double-Duty Storage. In Stephanie’s case, her home office also serves as a den/guest room. Incorporating products that don’t scream “papers everywhere!” are a great way to keep your space streamlined and confidential information private.Establishing Retention Guidelines. In other words, a checklist that details “how long do I need to keep that?” One of the main reasons that we hold onto files and papers is because we fear that we might need it. We don’t always take into consideration the impact that this excess clutter can have on our productivity. Establishing clear guidelines based on legal and practical regulations (ie: what are the odds I will need this?) removes the guesswork for you.In my world, we do a deep-dive once a year for our personal files. Each year, more and more documents are accessible online which allows me the freedom to keep less physical paper. Stephanie has created a free download which has some best practices for Home Office Organizing-make sure to check out the link below to grab yours!Happy Organizing!LaurieP.S. If you found something valuable in this episode, please share it with a friend!If you feel so inclined, please click the 5-star button ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave us a review so that others know our show is worth listening to. My friend Angie Griffith created this short video teaching you how to do it!CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE WEBSITE | YOU TUBE | LINKEDINFREE DOWNLOAD: HOME OFFICE ORGANIZING & PRODUCTIVITY BEST PRACTICESSTEPHANIE’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION PLATONIC: HOW THE SCIENCE OF ATTACHMENT CAN HELP YOU MAKE AND KEEP FRIENDS

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