Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

If you're ready to get your home office spruced up for spring, I'd like to share a few of my own little tidbits for keeping my office neat, tidy and enjoyable.  Try one or try them all, and be sure to share your own ideas and insights too!

• Become a "clean desk" executive. Every night before I shut out the lights, I make sure there's nothing on my desk that will distract me the next morning. That means filing paperwork as it's created, updating my to-do list and my calendar, and setting any items to tackle the next day in the top drawer. Rather than a concept of "out of sight, out of mind", this is reassures me as I close the door on a calm room.
• Store resources efficiently. I have a small bookshelf in my office that holds all the books I own that are business or homeschool related. This allows me to access work-related materials (stored on the top shelf and sorted by topic and author) or take a break and do school work with my Kidling without taking an extended trip downstairs where I'll get distracted. Office supplies are stored in the closet along with larger (but infrequently used) items such as a scanner or file boxes.
• Surround yourself with beauty. The walls of my office are currently painted lavender; it's admittedly not my favorite color, but it's a holdover from when the room belonged to my stepdaughter. Now I realize that the energizing red I would love to paint it might also create anxiety or stress on the bad days, so I've resolved to live with the lavender a bit longer. My window looks out to a picturesque view of Mount Rainier on the sunny days, and though I have a bulletin board and a white board right next to my desk, I keep them neat and organized. Once a week I clear off outdated or unneeded paperwork from the bulletin board and rearrange items so they are not only easy to view, but attractive to look at. I keep a scented votive candle (it's lit right now, actually) and a picture of my daughter in a lovely frame on my desk. They are in a corner, out of the way, but easily seen when I take much needed breaks for my eyes by looking away from the computer monitor. (That mountain view helps there too!)
• Soothe your senses. Running a business can be stressful! In addition to the scented candle, I make sure my nose is happy by dusting frequently and not bringing heavily scented foods into my 8x10 office. My eyes delight in the surroundings, and are treated well with task lighting that helps me see easily. Touch matters too! Keep some good lotion nearby (I like to keep a tin with Dahlem's Soapworks "Solid Lotion Bar" in my top drawer) for mini-manicure moments. Breaks from the keyboard are all the better if you grab some non-greasy lotion and hydrate those hard-working hands. I cut my ears a break too. I hate hearing loud phones, so the ringers on both my land line and cell phones are turned down, as is the volume on my answering machine. Find a level that works for you so your senses aren't jarred every time the phone rings. Don't forget your taste buds, either. Keep bottled water, Altoids, gum, or little treats handy for those moments when you're snacky or thirsty. (You'll save yourself a trip to the kitchen for something more calorie-laden too!)