Use Your Space Effectively
In real estate, it’s often said that the three most important things are location, location, location. Surprisingly, this applies to organizing too. Whether you’re determining where to place a new filing cabinet or deciding where to put your pencils, keeping in mind the concept of “prime real estate†can make your life a lot easier.
In your office, prime real estate refers to those places that are easiest to get to, most comfortable and most visible. If you are standing up, it’s generally easiest to reach things that are between the height of your shoulders and your hips. If you are seated at your desk, it’s easiest to get things that are within arm’s reach (without stretching!).
To make the best use of your space, use your prime real estate to store things that you use most often, that you need to access quickly, and that you need to keep in mind.
A few examples:
If there are files that you use every day, consider putting them in the file drawer that’s easiest to reach or in a small file stand right on your desk.
Keep books that you frequently refer to on shelves that are at approximately shoulder height to make them easy to see and easy to grab.
On your desk, keep those items that you use frequently right at hand and in the most comfortable spot. Consider your phone – can you grab it easily and without any tension in your arm?
If you’re constantly misplacing your BlackBerry or other crucial tool, keep it in a place where it is likely to remain visible, not where it could get buried under a pile of incoming mail.
ORGANIZING CHALLENGE
Determine where the prime real estate is in your office. Are you using this valuable space most effectively? As you go about your day, pay attention to whether the things you use most often and that are most important to you are located in prime real estate. Become conscious of any time you have to stretch or strain to reach something. If necessary, do some re-arranging and notice the difference it makes.
(c) 2007 Lisa Zaslow.
Lisa Zaslow, the founder of www.GothamOrganizers.com , is a nationally recognized expert on organization and productivity. She helps individuals and businesses to be more productive, more organized and less stressed. For her Top 10 Tips to be more organized and to receive the free monthly Productivity Tips newsletter, visit www.GothamOrganizers.com Lisa is the author of Can’t I Just Shred It All? 101 Quick Tips to File – and Find – Your Important Papers, available at www.101FilingTips.com
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Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 12:50 pm →
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