Home Office Organizing

7 DIY Home Office Organizing Ideas

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If you are setting up an office at home permanently or for an undermined but likely lengthy time because of COVID-19, then the ideas below are sure to inspire you. Find creative DIY solutions to make your office more manageable and keep it clutter-free to be as productive as possible there.

1. Glue Mason Jars Together

Create your own cubbies by hot-gluing mason jars together. Fill them with pens, pencils, and highlighters. Then keep the jar organizer at the side of the desk to easily reach for a writing utensil when you need one!

Home Office Organizing

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2. Pegboard Wall

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Make great use of vertical space by putting up a large pegboard or a pair of smaller ones on the wall closest to your desk. Pin to-do lists, quotes to motivate you during the workday, family photos, and more to the board. You can even hang a small shelf on it via a set of peg hooks.

3. Paint Your Office Chair

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Working from home, you know the importance of a good chair with back support. But how come they are usually only black rather than a more fun color? Use this easy tutorial to paint the chair to match your décor. When everything matches and looks attractive, you’re more likely to look forward to being in the space.

4. Wire Baskets for Papers

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While a paperless office is ideal, it’s probably not the reality. For those important papers that you want to keep organized, put them into industrial wire baskets, with each one having a specific purpose, such as “to do today” or “ready for filing away.” Stack the baskets on top of one another to save space.

5. DIY a Desk from Butcher Block

Home Office Organizing

Yes, you can even DIY your desk! If you have room at home, create a large desk rather than a small, cluttered one by following this clever guide for a butcher block desk. Setting the piece of butcher block on two file cabinets on each side and then securely attaching it will provide you with hidden storage space and a great work surface.

6. Create a Printer Station

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Are you having trouble finding space for all your books, extra cords, and more? If so, consider making a printer station in your home office that is functional and looks great too. Simply take a small bookcase and fill it with few closed boxes that hold your extra supplies. Use the top of the bookshelf like a table for the printer. Leave enough room between the wall and the back of the bookcase to hide any unsightly cords.

7. Use Chalkboard Tape for the Ultimate To-Do List

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Do you work off a to-do list daily to stay on track? If so, then consider attaching geometric pieces of chalkboard tape to your desk. Then, simply write the important tasks to do today onto the tape using a chalk marker. At the end of the day, wipe off the activities you’ve done and start fresh the next morning.

Get More Ideas to DIY Your Home Office

There are more ideas where these came from! Get unique, crafty ideas from our professional organizers, who can help you brainstorm and see the projects through to completion. Get more productive at home while also customizing the space to meet your needs!

organized tax filing system

How To Stay Organized At Tax Time

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Getting organized at tax time can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

It’s time to tackle that messy documents drawer under your desk and get organized for tax time. The biggest secret to getting prepared for the busy tax period is to keep your documentation organized all year round. Follow these great tips to make tax time a lot less stressful!

How to stay organized at tax time: Create A Filing System

Half the stress during tax time comes from trying to locate files. Start your financial year off fresh by setting up an organized tax filing systemorganized filing system. Here are just some of the ways to make your job easier come tax time:

  • Place your file system in a home office, or somewhere within easy reach of where you conduct business affairs.
  • Purchase an accordion folder to file tax-related documents.
  • Labels are your best friends! Label everything, from folders to documents. Make every document, folder, and file, clear and easy to sort through.
  • If you’re an independent contractor, consultant, or run a small business, most likely you itemize your tax deductions. If you don’t keep everything organized, filing deductions can be very stressful and time-consuming. To make it easier, create a filing system where every different type of document has its own folder and an attached description.

How to stay organized at tax time: Get Your Receipts In Order

Tracking down receipts can be a very stressful process. Many people end up tearing their hair out by the end of the tax period. There are a couple of things that you can do during the year to make it as seamless as possible.

  • Label receipts – this is an easy way to categorize your documents and make them easier to identify when filing your taxes. Write down the reason for the expense of your receipt when you make your purchase. This will make filing your taxes a breeze!
  • Go paperless – whether you run your own business or have a 9-5 job. Chances are you will need to file an How to stay organized at tax time save your receiptsassortment of different receipts. However, during the year many receipts get misplaced or the ink can fade and make the receipt illegible. Start uploading your receipts online! There’s a lot of great software where you can scan receipts and keep them in an online account. Many even allow you to take a photo and upload them right from the convenience of your phone. Having all your receipts in one place as a clearly legible scan is invaluable.

How to stay organized at tax time: Online Forms

If you often give to charity, it’s a good idea to start a spreadsheet of your tax-deductible donations. In the spreadsheet, you may include the amount of the donation, the date that you gave the money, and the charity you gifted it to. Make sure you also have further proof of your donation. This can include a bank record or official note from the charity organization providing the details of your donation.

Where To Store Your Documents

Many people file their documents in a random desk drawer in their office. Tax documents are important and sensitive items. Consider getting a secure filing cabinet to lock away important tax documents and identity files such as passports. You may also need to invest in a paper shredder. Keep in mind that bank documents, tax files, and other sensitive information should always be disposed of thoughtfully.

If you follow these simple steps during the year, you can get organized and save time and stress this tax season! And, if you need a little support in getting your paperwork organized, give us a call. Always happy to help!

Let’s Get Organized at Work

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The new year is a good time to start fresh both personally and professionally. When your peers and your superiors see an organized office, they see someone who is productive and in control. You can find thing easily thus improving time management and can work more effectively. Let’s see how ClutterBGone can get you better organized at work.

Stay focused on one task

Although we think we can work on more than one thing at a time the fact of the matter is we can’t. Dividing your concentration and efforts on more than one task reduces the focus you put on a project which reduces the quality of work. organized officePrioritize your tasks and give each one the full effort they require.

What is your peak time?

We’re not all morning people, or afternoon people for that matter. I normally need a couple of cups of coffee and a bit of time to reach my optimal working time. Know what yours is and save the most important tasks for this time if you can.

Clutter is a distraction

I’ve seen a lot of desks with an enormous pile of paper scattered everywhere on them. These people typically don’t know where to start and waste a lot of time just getting ready to start a project. A lot of time is also wasted looking for files, reference materials and office supplies. Handle the paper once when it comes in. Devote time each day to paper if you need to.

Do you have home and office balance?

A lot of studies have been done confirming that people who have a balance between the office and home typically are less stressed and we know what stress can do to the body. organized officeThey also feel more in control of their lives and feel more successful. Work is something that can easily consume us and have a negative effect on our personal lives so find the right balance for you. Maybe it means limiting the evenings per week you will work late or perhaps you can let go of some of the less important projects to staff. Whatever it is, find your balance for less stress in your life.

Set your goals and write them down

Set your goals and revise them often. They could be daily, weekly or monthly goals. Write them down and leave them where you will see them. Without setting your goals how else will you know what needs your attention and what you have accomplished? Block out time for the really important stuff and let people know it’s “do not disturb” time.

We all want to be successful at work. Use these tools to bring more balance to your life, be more productive and stay organized. Let ClutterBGone into your office to help you get organized as we have done to others. Just reach out to us here.

 

Resolve to Get Organized This Year

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resolve to get organized

With the new year fast approaching a lot of you will be making resolutions to make 2019 better than 2018 was. If you are one of those that makes New Years resolutions, then I know a lot of you will be resolving to get organized this year. In order to avoid being in the same cluttered mess at the end of January, here are some tips on how to help you stick with your clutter free resolution.

Know why you want to be organized

Jot down the main reasons for wanting to get organized. resolve to get organizedDo you want to have more time to spend with your family or friends? Do you want to reduce your frustration and anxiety levels when you can’t find things? Will being more organized improve your relationships? Will you save money on past due and interest charges and improve your credit rating? Whatever the reason, write them down and keep the list in a conspicuous place until the task is completed. It will be a constant reminder to you.

Tackle one room at a time

Rather than running around the house picking up clutter, pick the one room that causes you the most grief. Start on that room. Be realistic about how much you can give to the task at one time. With every drawer you organize, with every pile you make disappear or with any space you open up give yourself a pat on the back and realize the step you have taken towards an organized and clutter free pace.

Give, store or sell?

There are so many ways to rid yourself of the items you are not going to keep. Family members may want some of the items as a keepsake. Any items that are in good working order or aren’t worn could be sold in a consignment shop or on line. Many charities would love to receive your gently used items to restock their shelves after the holidays.

Get any help you need

A lot of the clients that ClutterBGone has worked with in the past could not have done it alone and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. Enlist the help of friends or family if you feel you just can’t get it done yourself. You can also hire a professional organizing service like ClutterBGone. We can get you organized in no time with our highly skilled team just like we have with hundreds of satisfied clients in the GTA.

So, if you have resolved to get organized in 2019, good for you! Keep these tips in mind. And if you need professional help to get organized just contact us here to get the ball rolling. We love what we do!

When You Should Hire A Professional Organizer

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Hire a professional organizer

Does your hall closet look like a four-season disaster? Does your bedroom look nothing like a place you would want to sleep in? Do you spend too much time, and get too frustrated, looking for items? Do you just not have the time to get organized yourself?

It sounds like you may be needing a professional organizer to get your home organized and clutter free. Many of our clients never thought they would be hiring the services of a professional organizer, but our testimonials speak for themselves.

Here are some of the reasons why ClutterBGone has been hired to help many clients in the GTA.

You don’t know where to start:

Organizing and decluttering a whole home can be a daunting task. Professional organizers are trained to hone-in on the areas that give you the most trouble and take it from there. We also learn how you operate in an area and organize it with that in mind. Our team can tackle an entire home in no time.

Paper piles

Not everyone has an act for organizing paper. hire a professional organizerBeing disorganized in your home office can cost you money with late fees applied because of lost bills. After a while your credit score can take a hit and that can cost quite a bit when you are refinancing a home or loan. ClutterBGone has organized small and large offices and we have staff that specialize in paper.

Improve your mental health

It’s no secret that disorganized people live in a state of anxiety. Some even suffer from depression. All that clutter can weigh you down. Once you are organized and clutter free you will feel like a load has been lifted off your shoulders. You will want to use the rooms that have not been used in a quite a while. You will also want to have company over and entertain.

Find things again

Do you have a closet full of clothes but can’t find anything to wear? Does it take you forever to find your gloves or scarf but know they’re there? Disorganized people spend more than a year of their life looking for things and this always happens at the most inopportune times. Wouldn’t you like to have some of this time back and reduce the anxiety it causes?

Maybe you eat out more than you want to because of a cluttered kitchen. Perhaps you’re paying for the storage of items you no longer use or need. Or, maybe you can’t get your car into the garage this winter due to the mounds of items already in there.

Whatever the reason, a professional organizer can get you organized and eliminate your clutter in no time. Contact ClutterBGone here to see how we can help you.

 

How Being Organized Can Change Your Life

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organizing can change your life

When we at ClutterBGone complete a project with a client we frequently hear how being organized has changed our clients’ lives. It really is one of the reasons why we love what we do. There are many benefits to being organized. You will feel a peaceful calm at home, your health and finances will be in better shape and it can have a positive impact on your relationships.

Let’s look at some of the benefits in more detail.

Improve your productivity

Both at home, and at work, your productivity will improve. You won’t be wasting as much time looking for things in an organized environment and once you’re organized the system we leave you with will keep you organized. You’ll have more time to spend with your loved ones or even have the time for that cup of coffee in the morning.

Save money

organizing can change your life Many people don’t understand just how much money you can save by being organized. Bills will be paid on time thereby saving late fees. Your credit score will improve as well. You won’t be buying duplicates of items that you can’t find but know you have somewhere. In more than one case we found cheques that were misplaced! Luckily, they weren’t stale dated yet.

Feel that sense of calm

Just being in an organized space is relaxing. Not only is clutter an eyesore but it’s stressful just looking at it. Now, just imagine living in an organized space. No more running around looking for things that you need at the last minute. No more panic attacks when you need something but can’t find it. This sense of calm will also transfer over to other members of the family and who wouldn’t want that?

Being organized is healthy for you


Let’s face it, stress is a killer and being disorganized can cause a lot of stress. organized can change your lifeOnce you are organized you’ll find you have the time to do things you love or always wanted to do. You’ll have the time to hit the gym or meet up with friends or sometime for a quick walk at lunch time. Many of us don’t do these things because we “don’t have the time”. Let us help you find that time.

In a nutshell, being organized brings you a sense of calm that translates to improved health and wellness. So, what are you waiting for? Contact ClutterBGone here to find out how we have changed the lives of many clients and how we can change yours.

Where to Start When Organizing Your Home

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organizing your home

When you finally decide to start organizing your home the first question that comes up is “where do I start?” Is there a certain order to follow? Do we start with the largest rooms? The most used? The most cluttered? Unfortunately, it all depends on who you speak to. Each professional organizer will have a different viewpoint. It also depends on you and the resources you have available. How much time do you have to devote to this? Do you have anybody to assist you? Will you be hiring a professional organizer?

Here is where we at ClutterBGone would begin the process of organizing your home.

Which room gives you the most grief?

We always ask our clients which room they would like to gain control of the most. organize your homeIt’s easy to say the whole house but there is one room that is causing you the most grief. One room that is resulting in more misplaced items, more lost productivity, one room that became a drop zone, maybe even one room that looks the worse than the others.

How much time can be dedicated to the task?

Each room you work on will require a much different amount of time. Kitchens will often be the most cluttered room but can be organized rather quickly because we are working in a smaller area with many of the same items such as dishes, spices and the likes. Bedrooms on the other hand can take a lot more time. ClutterBGone receives a lot of requests to organize bedrooms, and bedroom closets in particular. Each item must be looked at to make a decision on whether to keep, donate or toss. Then, it all has to go back in a way that is organized, with a system that works for you.

Do you have the space for storage?

organize your homeOnce the organizing process starts you are going to have items that you want or need to keep but rarely use. These items will need to be stored away. Do you have the space for the storage of items? Do you have the materials required to store items like shelving or containers? The area that you use for storing unused items must also be organized in a way that makes it easy to find and retrieve items.

Slow and steady wins the race

All that clutter wasn’t created overnight so it’s going to take some time to gain control of your room and home. Keep the end goal in mind and recognize the small victories as they occur, like an organized drawer or a cleared surface. Dedicate the time that is needed. Enlist the help of family or friends or a professional organizer to help with the task.

Overcoming clutter and getting organized again will take some time and dedication on your part but the results will wow you with a transformed living space and a feeling of accomplishment on your part. ClutterBGone has seen this time and time again.

If you are about to start the decluttering process to get your home organized give ClutterBGone a call at 647-642-5669 or click here. We can help you decide where to start and have your home organized in no time.

 

 

Back To School Organization

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back to school organizing

Whether you’re a parent that loves to have your kids home for the summer or a parent that can’t wait for the school year to begin, it’s time to get the kids organized for back to school. Being organized at the start of the year will lead to organization throughout the school year.

Leading up to school starting

I’ll bet there have been little to no restrictions on bed curfew through most of the summer. Start to wean them back on to a schedule a week or two ahead of school opening so they are not dragging their you know what from the very start of school.  You know your kids and their interests. Plan on which extracurricular activities they’re going to participate in during the school year and keep in mind that these activities, although beneficial, can impact their grades so make sure your child can balance both school and activities they participate in.

Shopping for school

Back to school shopping can be fun as well as daunting.  back to school organizingTry to purchase only what you require to start the year as you will find additional items need to be purchased as the year gets under way.  Try to have one binder for each subject or at the least have dividers to separate the subjects in one binder.  Remember the one in, one out rule on clothing too. Teens have an opinion and are not afraid to give it so have them come along when shopping.  It will go easier when they have some input. Bring your patience and negotiation skills as well as your wallet.

Study space

Students need a clean and quiet area to study in – no matter what they will tell you.  Set aside an area that is clear of all clutter and is relatively quiet for studying and have the student choose the time of day they want to study.  Giving them some input stands a better chance of them following the schedule.  Have this area stocked with the “tools of the trade” (pens, paper, etc.) so there are less interruptions during this study time.  A planner in this area can also be helpful to keep track of what is due when and which days of the week sports fall on.

Be organized prior to each day

Pack what is required the night before.  back to school organizingThis may be a challenge for you and your kids, but if you remember when you were a teen every minute of sleep in the morning is needed.  Packing the evening before will ensure that they have everything for the day so when they blow out of the house in the morning like a hurricane they will have all they need.  Throw a few healthy snacks into their bag, so when hunger sets in there is a lesser chance they will head to the junk food machines.

Teens have been through this before but still need assistance and sometimes a bit of a push to get ready for the new school year.  Making sure they are ready and organized will give them a head start and perhaps teach them a bit about being organized.  ClutterBGone has assisted many families in getting homes, rooms and home offices organized for the start of the school year.  If you require assistance you can reach us at info@clutterbgone.ca or 905-642-5669.

Organize Your Paper Mountain

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organize paper

Whether you go to work in an office or work from home, chances are you have a small mountain of paper that needs to be addressed. Did you know that a sheet of paper is roughly 0.004 inches thick? Hardly noticeable but when you start piling paper up it can be quite messy and ominous to tackle. ClutterBGone gets a lot of calls to help with paper. Here’s our tips to keep your paper from becoming a mountain.

Act on it right away

When paper arrives don’t let it rest on your desk or table. Create a system to get that paper off the surface. Use a labelled file folder, an in-box or any other system to move the paper along. Keep trying a system until you find one that works for you.

Delegate

Whether at work or at home there will be somebody who needs to know that, that piece of paper has arrived. organize paperWho pays the bills? Who responds to invitations? Whoever is responsible for the paper or the accounts or whatever action needs to be taken needs to know what has come in and needs an action. Pass it along, with a note if needed, so it doesn’t rest on your desk needlessly.

Make a decision right away

A lot of the paper that crosses our desk is not needed at all. I go to my mail box and most of what is in there is junk mail – flyers and ads. Out they go right after a quick peek. Don’t hang on to them for others to see unless you really believe they will be worthwhile or used.

Out with the dated

If you still have magazine and paper subscriptions consider an electronic version. organize paperIf you still need the feel of paper (and I do with a good book) ensure the previous issue is recycled when the new one comes in. If you really need to refer back to an article or story then take a picture of it with your phone. It doesn’t take up any space.

Set aside a bit of time

This would apply more for the office but set aside a bit of time to ensure that your desk or workspace is cleared of paper each day. You will feel more organized and productive when working at a clean and organized work area.

Go digital

A lot of us are still receiving statements and paying bills via paper. I myself switched as much as I could to digital copies. I can receive and pay bills online and electronically “file” a copy of the bill on my computer. It’s always there in case I need it. With the vast majority of paper that we file never getting looked at, doesn’t it make sense to go digital at home?

Even in this electronic age, paper is everywhere and accumulates quickly. If you don’t stay on top of it you will have a mountain of paper before you know it. You don’t have to scale that mountain alone. ClutterBGone has assisted many homes and offices in reducing the mountains of paper that come and go and devising systems to keep it that way. Just reach out to us here to see how we can help you.

Time To Get Your Taxes Organized

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Well, February has passed and you should have all the documents you need to get your taxes prepared. Whether you do your taxes yourself or you have someone else do them, just getting your documents ready can be a stressful time. Taxes are something that you should be thinking of throughout the year but unless you are running your own small business I’ll bet tax time is the only time you think of them.

How long do I keep my tax records?

Keep your tax records & supporting documents for six full years.

Even if you do not have to attach certain supporting documents to your return, or if you are filing your return electronically, keep them in case your return is selected for review or audit. Revenue Canada may request documents other than official receipts as proof of any deduction or credit you claim, such as cancelled cheques or bank statements.

This six-year period starts at the end of the tax year for which you are filing. So, if you are filing your 2017 taxes shortly you will need to keep files from 2017 back to 2012.

What do I do with older records?

After the six-year mark (2011 files can be safely disposed of after your 2017 taxes have been filed) you can safely destroy older files. organize your taxes

Ensure that they are properly disposed of by shredding them! Do not leave anything to chance. If you don’t own a shredder most office supply stores will provide a shredding service for a nominal fee. I recently stopped into my local office supply store and had a box of documents shredded for just a few dollars.

Notice of assessment

You will receive a notice of assessment from Revenue Canada once your taxes have been filed and reviewed. It will confirm that your return was assessed and whether you owe taxes, whether a refund is owed to you or if there is a zero balance. If there are no discrepancies between your filing and this notice, then file it away with the taxation year that it applies to. You will need it for your next tax year when you file.

Filing throughout the year

Throughout the year you are going to accumulate receipts for many different items that you may or may not require for tax purposes depending on your individual circumstances. Open a file and label it according to the current tax year.organize your taxes Papers and receipts you need for taxes should be placed in this file. This current year folder will make it a lot easier to keep track of important documents you get throughout the year, like donation receipts, etc. All the papers you need to prepare your taxes will all be in one place.

You can even go one step further, especially if running a small business, and separate your tax receipts into categories like health expenses, business expenses, car expenses, office supplies, etc. to be even better organized for the upcoming tax year. You may want to separate your paperwork this way anyway if you want to track the cost of running your household on an annual basis.

Tax time can be pretty stressful but if you plan ahead and have an accessible file with everything you need, things will go a lot smoother. ClutterBGone loves organizing paperwork. It’s not too late. Tax time is here, are you ready?