Start by decluttering and asking yourself some tough questions. “Do you really need a physical copy of your cable bill?” Rosenthal asks. Instead of keeping the hard copy, scan it! And don’t worry, you don’t need an ugly, bulky scanner anymore—a smartphone and an app will do the trick. “The Dropbox app has a scanning feature built right in, so you can scan and organize the digital file and then toss or shred the original,” she explains. If you do have to keep physical papers for your job, invest in a paper sorter ($25, amazon.com) that lets you separate incoming papers from those you’ve already worked on. “I sell notepads in my online shop, so I am constantly shipping out pads, and the Scotch Flex & Seal Shipping Roll is a game changer because it can save up to 50 percent on time, supplies, and space compared to boxes.” The shipping rolls are much smaller than cardboard boxes—and since the material sticks to itself, you don’t need tape. Get into the habit (and have your family do the same) of cleaning up your workspace at the end of the day, so you know all of the pens, papers, and colored pencils will be right where you need them the next morning. Even if you, like Rosenthal, are lucky enough to have an office all to yourself, you can still create zones for various tasks. “First, set up a computer zone for all work on your computer or laptop. For most people, this is where you will spend the bulk of your time,” she says. “Next, set up a place to do non-computer work, like work with paper, notebooks, etc.” Creating physically separate zones (even within the same room), will help you get in the right mindset for various types of tasks. First, enlist the help of a label maker to type out an ID to wrap around each cord. Never again will you have to guess which cord goes to your computer, phone, or fax machine. Then, invest in colorful wraps ($7, amazon.com) to corral the mess of wires and cords you aren’t currently using. “Create a beautifully organized space using organizing products that you would like to look at,” recommends Rosenthal. Keep this concept in mind when choosing everything from desk organizers to filing cabinets for your WFH space.
