When we were renovating our new house a few years ago, I insisted that we make a home office for my use. It would have a separate outdoor entrance (in addition to an entrance from the hall). I wanted it to have extra insulation so as to protect me from noise distraction. It needed space for a big desk near a window and of course all the electrical/internet hookups. A wall fan was a must. A sofa finished it off to make sure I had a comfortable place to take breaks.
Perfect.
When we moved, I discovered that the office was the very best place to keep boxes I had yet to unpack. And the luggage. And the portable closet. And the books we were embarrassed to let the neighbors see (bad science fiction and the like). Whenever my husband came home from work, he would find me diligently working… on his laptop at the kitchen table, or in my bed. At the beginning, it was understood that this was just temporary, until we unpacked. Then, the dirty looks started. Then, “Isn’t this what we built the office for?” Finally, he simply refused to call the laptop his, and would occasionally mutter under his breath – wondering why we had invested in setting up an office.
Eventually, the day of judgment came: My mother-in-law was coming to visit. I knew she would neither be impressed by the messy office which was impossible to enter, nor by my taking up the kitchen table with laptop, papers, work, etc while the children were eating. I knew I would have to do something.
My 8 step clean-up technique:
Step 1: Pre-reward myself by eating some ice cream. If I do this, I feel guilty if I don’t actually clean up.
Step 2: Take everything (except furniture) out of the room. Leave it in the hallway until step 6.
Step 3: Unplug all equipment and organize the wires, using those neat twisty-ties from sliced bread bags to tie them together.
Step 4: Clean. (Mop, scrub, dust, etc.)
Step 5: Put back anything that is completely necessary, and relevant to the office.
Step 6: Decorate. Check out my article on Office Decorating No Nos.
Step 7: Sit in the hallway with 4 boxes. Throw garbage into one box and sort the other things into the other boxes.
Step 8: Eat ice cream to celebrate having cleaned the office.
Ever since that day, I use my office to work. I put my husband’s laptop away somewhere, and I haven’t seen it for a month. But… as I look around while I’m writing this, I see it might be time to go through the 8-step plan again. The only problem? I’m out of ice cream.
