One challenge I face in staying on top of things is that my home office space is not a private spot for me, as David recommends, but is shared with my wife and located in a room sometimes used as play space and a guest bedroom. Obviously, this is not ideal because there are times that I cannot use the desk effectively when I want to.
The solution I have come up with is to think of my "desk" in portable or virtual terms so I can easily set up on the dining room table or at the public library, etc. when needed. I have a small compartmentalized plastic box (marketed to hold fishing tackle) that contains a variety of office supplies such as paper clips, small stapler, pen, post-it notes, stamps, letter opener, etc. This thing snaps shut securely and carries easily and allows me to instantly have a well-equipped desk on any flat surface. I also keep an empty briefcase handy with a few empty folders in it, a calculator and a pad of paper. I can drop any relevant files in there along with the box of supplies and go anywhere to work on a project. It is also handy to have one of those portable plastic file boxes around for when you need a lot of files with you, or as a cheap alternative to a briefcase. You could use one of the file boxes as a permanent home for project folders and tickler file and that would make it easier to make your weekly planning sessions mobile.
My general reference file cabinet is the only important thing that can't be easily moved, so the main limitation is that I have to take relevant files out of it beforehand and return them along with any newly created ones the next time I can get to the filing cabinet. I also think that processing the in box is best done near the file cabinet, so I usually save that task for times when I can work at the main desk.
Another solution I have considered is to get one of those self-contained desk armoirs and set it up as a private desk in some more exclusive location in my house such as the master bedroom. But there are space and cost considerations, as well as getting agreement on the decorative impact. And besides, I often work late at night or early in the morning when my wife is asleep, so the master bedroom would not be an ideal location anyway. The portable virtual desk concept seems best for now.
Has anyone else found good solutions to this issue?
The solution I have come up with is to think of my "desk" in portable or virtual terms so I can easily set up on the dining room table or at the public library, etc. when needed. I have a small compartmentalized plastic box (marketed to hold fishing tackle) that contains a variety of office supplies such as paper clips, small stapler, pen, post-it notes, stamps, letter opener, etc. This thing snaps shut securely and carries easily and allows me to instantly have a well-equipped desk on any flat surface. I also keep an empty briefcase handy with a few empty folders in it, a calculator and a pad of paper. I can drop any relevant files in there along with the box of supplies and go anywhere to work on a project. It is also handy to have one of those portable plastic file boxes around for when you need a lot of files with you, or as a cheap alternative to a briefcase. You could use one of the file boxes as a permanent home for project folders and tickler file and that would make it easier to make your weekly planning sessions mobile.
My general reference file cabinet is the only important thing that can't be easily moved, so the main limitation is that I have to take relevant files out of it beforehand and return them along with any newly created ones the next time I can get to the filing cabinet. I also think that processing the in box is best done near the file cabinet, so I usually save that task for times when I can work at the main desk.
Another solution I have considered is to get one of those self-contained desk armoirs and set it up as a private desk in some more exclusive location in my house such as the master bedroom. But there are space and cost considerations, as well as getting agreement on the decorative impact. And besides, I often work late at night or early in the morning when my wife is asleep, so the master bedroom would not be an ideal location anyway. The portable virtual desk concept seems best for now.
Has anyone else found good solutions to this issue?