the home office

i sort of panicked last Wednesday night because i couldn't find our dog's medical record book.  the new vet was making a house call the following morning and needed the details of the last trip to the clinic which was months ago, so she would know what our dog needed this time.

my messy desk

it was nearing 10pm and i still couldn't find it.  i remembered stashing it in one of my workspace drawers.  the thing is, my drawers are full to the brim with plenty of junk and i had PLENTY [read: 10 in all] drawers.  so i had to rummage each one of them, some of which i had to go through a few times.  yes, i found the record book and yes i was able to inform the vet that night but the frantic search resulted with all the drawer contents scattered on the floor.  i was still at it at 11pm, half-cursing and half-laughing at myself for ending up with the mess [LITERALLY!] i was in.

i regretted postponing the job so many times in the past.  sifting, sorting, throwing, keeping, or merely deciding what to do with old receipts, manuals, gizmos and gadgets is i think the most dreadful of organizing tasks there is.  not wanting to have to deal with it all over again i decided to attack it once and for all.

to be realistic, i promised myself that i'd stop when i got too tired and sleepy.  so i approached my impromptu project one area at a time, one drawer shelf at a time.  what i couldn't finish, i neatly stacked in one drawer or folder case, intending to attend to them in increments each following day.

done for the night

the final arrangement, doesn't look like it changed much on the outside, but as most things in life, it's the inside that matters. =D

i finally, finished everything today, saving the table drawer for last.  i am so happy that i now have a home for each and everything i need in the office.  my drawers are free from junk.  the drawer contents are categorized although i have yet to label them.  but i now know where to look if i need something.

now, for the open shelf behind my chair, my next plan of attack will be this:

1. to avoid unfinished business - deal with the task 1 area at a time, 1 shelf at a time
2. be radical but be 100%sure - throw year-old faded receipts that have no/expired warranties, double check each and everything that ends up in the trashcan
3. create a folder and label as you go.  to save time and having to go through the same things over again, have folders, envelopes on hand so you can neatly file and place each item in their own home immediately
4. don't let a day pass with out fixing at least one shelf, this will keep you motivated.
5. last but not least, assign one drawer/file holder as a catch-all/in-box for moments when you don't have the time to put/file them in the rightful place.  EMPTY it WEEKLY, you will need the space for the next rush.

here's a sneak peek of my next project:

don't be fooled, it's not just those stack of papers, the boxes and file holders need editing too. =P