Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight (60 page)

Task 3:

ESTABLISH ZONES

During this task, you'll start arranging your office space like the layout of your car. The items you use often while you sit in your office chair are akin to the steering wheel and turn signal lever in your car. You want them close. Items you seldom use—like the spare tire and jack—go in the trunk of your car, and along those lines you'll stash less-useful office items farther away from your chair. To begin, I want you to imagine your office space as three distinct zones.

Zone 1:
This is the area closest to you within arm's reach as you sit in your chair. Zone 1 is the place where you'll be doing most of your bill-paying and other chores to keep your household running. This may be a desk or even a table where you set up your laptop computer.

This area contains only items that you use regularly and that enable you to operate in the space efficiently and well. These are what I call your
current
or
active
items. They likely include:

A file tray to hold all incoming mail and other paperwork that needs your attention, such as bills and credit card statements. (Better yet, cancel the
paper versions whenever possible and get these statements online.) Be sure that everyone in the house knows exactly where the mail goes immediately when it arrives.

A file tray to hold items such as invitations, upcoming school events, or family commitments. You might choose to invest in a notice board to hold these items instead. As you declutter and organize your office, decide what tools work best for you and your family.

Information about active projects such as work being done on your home or upcoming medical treatments. A vertical file holder, with individual folders labeled for quick and easy filing and access, is great for this purpose.

Your computer and phone

Shredder and trash can

A reasonable (this means minimum!) supply of pens, pencils, and other office necessities

You should only put items here if you're going to use them on a day-to-day basis. Remember, Zone 1 equals your car's dashboard.

Sit in your chair and stretch your arms out in front of you. Decide which items you'll need to keep here in order for your office space to function in a way that's true to your vision. Whatever you decide to place here, be sure that Zone 1 can comfortably hold it. Avoid overloading this space, since it's key to helping you quickly and easily manage any day-to-day “business” challenges of your home.

These activities tend to not be the most enjoyable use of your time (unless you truly find satisfaction in balancing your checkbook), so be sure that clutter doesn't give you an excuse to ignore them.

Zone 2:
This is the area just a little further away. It should contain items that you use
regularly but infrequently
. Assess the space that's available for items that you'll store in this zone. This is the equivalent of your car's console, glove box, drink holders, and the little storage space in the driver's side door. Where will you put the items that you use occasionally or will be likely to use in the next month? Set limits for what type of objects you'll put here and how much this space can hold.

Items that live in Zone 2 are likely to include:

Books

Research materials and paperwork

Semi-active files such as school reports for earlier semesters or projects that aren't very active but not yet finished

Files for ongoing medical issues that you need to check on regularly but infrequently

Paperwork that you'll need for the preparation of your tax filings at the end of each financial year