Is there anyone who can honestly say they don’t feel at least a tinge of jealousy and Martha’s incredibly organized style? I feel my complexion turning a lovely shade resembling brussel sprouts when I envision perfect little spaces to hold perfectly organized items that are finished with perfectly adorable labels that just happen to be written in (you guessed it) perfect handwritten cursive. Especially when I then look over at my imperfect clutter of papers, sitting on my imperfect desk and stare into my imperfect prop closet and try to figure out where I just put that sticky note?

This should go without saying but my productivity has a night and day different from when I’ve got it together and when I don’t. Clutter kills creativity and chaos stumps productivity. In short – organization is crucial. If I’m trying to be the photographer, web designer, receptionist, bookkeeper, advertiser, PR Rep and the janitor I need order!

It’s really easy for me to think about what pretty things I would like in my office! A flip through the Pottery Barn Magazine, a stroll down the aisles of Target and those ideas are flow’n!  The fresh flowers, the vintage cameras and the beautiful canvases adorning the walls… I can see it all now. Isn’t it lovely?

Wait a minute, I did it again. What in the heck does fresh flowers have to do with being organized? Nothing! So how do you go from just pretty to pretty and functional? How do you actually say… ‘Yes. This space is being used to it’s utmost and is organized and ready to set me into a blaze of productivity’…. No really how? I set out to figure out this magical land of organization. Now I want you to know I’m not there yet… It’s going to be a slow work in progress.

But here is the first step that I took… I created a functionality plan. Instead of planning the color scheme or the cool ‘pigs fly lamp’ that I loved I scrutinized over what actually make my workspace workable…

This is my list of what I need my office to be able to accomplish for me…
1. Computer Station: Clean/clear desk with computer.
2. Reference Station: Archival disks, notebooks, client paperwork, etc.
3. Supply Station: Office supplies such as ink, paper, etc.
4. Packaging Station: Ribbon, boxes, bags, tissue, tags, press printed products, etc.
5. Prop Station: Tutus, hats, bowls, clothing, fabric, etc.
6. Equipment Station: Camera gear, projector, screen and such.

Does it sound like I have a studio space to organize all of this? I don’t! I have the extra bedroom, and that’s my office. But by creating “stations” I can start to determine what it is I really need in order to create functionality. Try it and see what you come up with. Any stations that you’ve thought of that I forgot?

So the next step is coming up with cute organization options to fit all of this stuff.

Moral of the story… Think past just pretty and onto pretty functional!