If “get organized” is one of your 2012 resolutions, take a look at this helpful list of 7 Organizing Mistakes to Avoid by Angela Kantarellis of www.Akorganizing.com . By avoiding some of your past mistakes, this really could be the year your office becomes organized!

1. Not knowing your personal organizing style – When it comes to organizing, one of the key elements is to understand your personal organizing style. What does this mean? It means that you need to analyze your current organizing habits before you implement new systems. For example – are you a piler or a filer? Do you like an open bin system or drawers? Are you an “out of sight out of mind” person and need everything visible or do you prefer everything to be put away? Do you like paper or are you striving for a ”paperless” office?

2. Going for quick fix solutions – Quick fix solutions offer the promise of magically whipping years of clutter and disorganization into shape. If you see a storage product or new piece of technology that seems to offer a quick fix, hold off, it may just wind up as another piece of clutter, frustration and ultimately a waste of money. If the product doesn’t match your personal style, it will not work for you long term. Whether for weight loss or organizing, quick fixes rarely work. Know that like anything worthwhile, getting organized takes time.

3. Boxes and bags syndrome – This is a very common one and I see it all the time. You may be so frustrated with all the clutter on your desk or you might just need to clear it in a hurry – you put all the clutter in a box or bag and stick it in the closet. Before you know it there is an avalanche of boxes and bags in the closet causing you stress and possibly even a great deal of shame. Avoid the boxes and bags syndrome by implementing systems – such as mail processing systems that prevent clutter from happening in the first place.

4. Vagueness about your possessions – It’s important to know what you have. One thing I do with clients all the time is consolidate like items. Organizers are particularly skilled at identifying patterns. If you are a Staples junkie like me for example, keep all your office supplies in one area so you know what you have and what you need to replenish. You’ll avoid duplicates, cut down on clutter and save money in the process. Also, when you are clear on what you have, you’ll be able to purchase the right containers to store them.

5. Procrastination and Avoidance – If you have been living with clutter for a long time, there is a high level of procrastination and avoidance that may cause you to freeze up. This paralysis leads to avoidance leads to frustration. Getting organized is a process. Fear of beginning or not knowing where to start is a common obstacle. This can be addressed by simply making a decision. Make a decision to start with the simplest task for example or with the area that is causing you the most stress. Another great way to begin is to start with the area that is of most interest to you or that will give you the most satisfaction or have the biggest impact. Regardless of what you chose – make a decision!

6. Someday/Somehow syndrome – The someday/somehow syndrome results from not having a plan. Your plan could be a simple one such as I’m going to spend 10 minutes a day organizing my files or I’m going to come in on Saturday when the office is quiet and do a major purge. Whether your style is to do a little at a time or tackle a project head on, having a plan will help you get it done.

7. I can do it myself syndrome – When it comes to getting things done in our super fast-paced world, we all can fall into the trap of thinking we can do it all ourselves. Avoid this organizing mistake by bringing in what my colleague and pioneer in the field of chronic disorganization, Judith Kohlberg has termed “a body double”. A body double is someone, a friend or family member for example, who will sit with you while you organize and de-clutter. Make sure you chose someone that is supportive and non-judgmental. You’ll be amazed at the results of asking for help.

Designers and cubicle manufactures are rising to the challenge of designing spaces that foster greater flexibility. The importance of collaborating and meeting with others must be considered. In the future we will likely see more shared spaces and less square footage dedicated to individual work areas.

When Frank Graziano, Principal Researcher for Steelcase, was asked how his company is responding to the new shift in work patterns, he replied, “In the past, we’ve spent quite a lot of time implementing designs to raise efficiency. Now we are also looking at how we can use design to galvanize the culture of an organization. What kinds of shared assets might we put in place that evoke new behaviors on campus and help our employees understand the larger details of the projects they are working on? I would say that we, and many of our customers, are beginning to understand that communal spaces — really well done communal spaces — are central to an organization.”

A great example of corporate experiment with the coworking concept takes place at Steelcase. They just remodeled their cafeteria and now call it “WorkCafe”. It wasn’t designed for healthy meals only. It is designed as a productive retreat throughout the day. Employees have many options with a range of settings and postures to a Barista serving cappachinos. It came as no surprise that employees are selecting this as one of their preferred spaces to work and it has become a great place for interactions across departments.

With corporations moving their desktop technology to handheld devices, it is easier for employees to have the independence to work anywhere. When employees are considering where to work they are looking for a space that supports them in achieving a productive outcome. It is important to look at individual devices and consider how they work and how they will bring content to a group situation. As an example, 5 people meeting together at one time cannot all look at one iPhone. It is important that collaborative environments allow for each to share their own connection so it can be reviewed by the group.

The old pattern of an employee used to be sitting in their office at a desk in the morning, going upstairs for a meeting in the conference room, then down to the lunch room, and back to their office to work for the remainder of the day. Now employees have a choice and as a result we see corporations embracing new ideas and solutions.

“Success in the workplace doesn’t happen ‘on a wing and a prayer,’ but rather by knowing what specific job promotion pitfalls to avoid in working toward that heavenly pot of career gold,” says John McKee, business coach and author of “21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot.”

While we all want to be successful in the workplace, there are good ways to accomplish this ambition as well as areas where we can fall short.  Here is some great advice from McKee on the seven deadly career sins.

1. Pride

Despite any help they received along the way, time and again, people take full credit for their accomplishments in the office, thinking that personal success will fast-track their career.

The sin: “What often goes unrecognized is that people around, and especially below, the serially solo-successful resent the ego-centricity, and may actually begin to actively undermine that person’s efforts in the future.”

The salvation: “A dose of acknowledgment of and appreciation for one’s peers and subordinates, so they may share in some of the glory, can go a long way to foster one’s long-term success.”

2. Envy

It’s OK to acknowledge other’s achievements, but lamenting “what should have been yours” can be destructive and adversely impact your own ability to focus on current job tasks, McKee says.

The sin: “Allowing yourself to be overly envious of others in the workplace can sabotage your self-esteem, which is one vital characteristic every successful business person shares.”

The salvation: “Rather than being envious, let the accomplishments of others become motivational fuel for your fire in working toward your own successes.”

3. Anger

Anger doesn’t benefit anyone in the workplace — it only damages your reputation, credibility and professionalism.

The sin: “Those prone to angry outbursts rarely get promoted; they are seen as being poor leaders who cannot inspire or motivate others.”

The salvation: “It’s fine to feel passionately about your job or a project at hand and to disagree with others, but learn how to channel those emotions into actions that will work to your benefit in the eyes of others — especially your superiors — rather than against it.”

4. Greed

An employee’s selfish desire for “more, sooner” is what motivates many workers. While these folks may do well in the moment, they won’t be prepared to take things to the next level, McKee warns.

The sin: “Taking this notion to the extreme can and will be self-defeating as core values become misguided and life becomes unbalanced in the process.”

The salvation: “The road to success requires a long-term approach in all aspects of one’s job duties. Those laser-focused on quick, short-term gains may do well in the moment, but will be ill-prepared to take things to the next level.”

5. Sloth

Indolence gets you nowhere in life — especially in corporate America. Laziness in the workplace will have you sitting idle, watching others surpass you in success and authority.

The sin: “Simply put, complacency and laziness have no place whatsoever in the workplace — especially for those with high aspirations. Expecting one’s past achievements and successes to carry them forward in their long-term career is imprudent.”

The salvation: “Treat every work day and every project as if your job, and your future at large, depends on it. It very well may.”

6. Gluttony

Too much focus on only one facet of life, like work, is a recipe for overall failure. Make sure you’re ready — professionally and personally — to take on new and bigger challenges, for which expectations are also bigger, McKee says.

The sin: “Many individuals move up the corporate ladder so fast that they actually end up failing as a consequence. More isn’t always better — especially if you’re not ready for the challenge at hand.”

The salvation: “Achieving career success also includes maintaining a life balance, and a misplaced professional desire can create a backlash both at home as well as amid peers for your perceived obsessiveness.”

7. Lust

The old adage, “the grass is always greener” applies to the workplace as well. Spending your time focused on others’ work achievements rather than working to further your own is a “sure-fire career killer,” according to McKee.

The sin: “Spending an inordinate amount of time fixated on what you don’t have rather than what you do will foster a bad attitude and negative overall demeanor.”

The salvation: “One’s overall ‘presence’ in the office plays a big part in who gets promoted and who doesn’t. No matter how ambitious, it’s prudent to be ‘present’ and make the most out of your current position at this moment in time.”

Do you dread Monday mornings?   If you are like many of us, it is hard to get motivated  to face the workweek!  Here is a list of 20 ways to beat the Monday Blues from

1. Procrastinate feeling blue. Is a gloomy cloud forming above your head? Ignore it – you’ll give your attention to it later, not now.

2. Wear your best clothes or the cheeriest color from your wardrobe. You’d be surprise how much your clothes could affect the way you feel about yourself.

3. Early start - bad things happen when you are late, the tension level is high, you are in a rush, you don’t have time for breakfast, when you arrive at your office, people are shoving work into your face. It may seem like a punishment to wake up earlier on Monday but trust me, when you have enough time to organize yourself, you’ll feel like you can conquer the day easier.

4. Treat yourself in the morning – Sit down and eat. Enjoy your food. Monday is Pancake Breakfast day for me, so I actually look forward to Monday mornings. But eat well - although it’s ok to treat yourself, make sure you eat well. I have a good serving of fruits along with my pancakes. Have enough to drink too - your malaise could be a sign of dehydration.

5. Have a list of why you’re having the blues – you might be surprised that there will be things on the list that you can easily work on to make your Mondays better. My problem used to be a completing work from last week (very difficult to gain momentum after a weekend break) which brings us to the next point:

6. Complete as much work possible on Friday – you’ll have less work to worry about on Monday, which lead to the next point:

7. Have everything laid out the day before – your clothes, files, etc. Saves you a couple of minutes in the morning so that you can concentrate on other, more important things.

8. Plan your day in small gentle steps. Apply micromovements throughout the day. You can use a GTD system or simply divide your day into of 1/2 – 1 hour chunks with a goal for each time unit.

9. Talk to a friend – it’s most likely he/she is having the blues too. Keep your conversation short. Remember this is about taking comfort in the fact that you aren’t alone in this, not an hour-long complainfest about XXX from marketing.

10. Listen to happy songs – a tune can affect your mood. Let cheery, happy songs be the soundtrack to your Monday.

11. Dance - just move that body! Jog in place, stretch, do yoga. You’ll feel less lethargic.

12. Laugh and smile. Recall happy memories or a good joke. If you can’t think of any, do it anyway (fake it till you make it) Some research is saying that even the thought of laughing raises your endorphin (feel-good hormones) levels and a fake laughter provides similar benefits to a real one.

13. Affirmative statements – Today is a great day. I will complete my report today. Stick positive messages around your monitor and take them seriously.

14. Choose to feel happy. If you don’t already know, being happy is a choice, so choose happiness!

15. Buy something new for Monday – it doesn’t have to be big or expensive – a pen, a sketchbook, fancy post-it stickers. Monday is like a birthday for me- I get a present for myself nearly every week. I got myself a sticker for $1 today.

16. Try something new - you’d be surprised how easy it is to feel energized by doing something you’ve never done before. A new dish, a new song, a new route to work.

17. Start working. The thing about work is, it’s usually not the work that makes us tired, it’s the thought of starting work that makes us procrastinate and go into a cycle of unproductivity. Quit thinking about starting work and just work instead!

18. Take short breaks – too much work can be overwhelming and when this happens, it is easy for you to give up. Remember to take short breaks to recharge. If your schedule allows it, you can also take a 10 minute nap after lunch.

19. Plan something special for Monday night – meet a friend for dinner, rent a DVD. The day will be easier when you have something to look forward to.

20. Do not get distracted. Youtube, Facebook, personal emails. Once you allow yourself to get distracted you will be sucked into hours of time-wasting activities. If you don’t have the discipline to limit your distraction to 10 minutes, don’t attempt to do it at all. Reading blogs like this is another time-sucker so now that you’ve reached the bottom of the list, why don’t you get working!

The standing desk is a trend that is returning to many offices.  By altering time spent sitting at the computer with time spent standing at your computer, you can give your circulation a boost, your eyes a break, your knees a flex and quite possibly, even your mind a stretch.  Imagine how easy it would be to take phone calls, scan email and even edit while standing.

Research has shown that sitting all day is not ideal for the body.  Sitting for a long period of time can put you at risk for back pain, a slower metabolism and even cause a drop in healthy cholesterol.  However, standing all day is not healthy either.  It places a high workload on the body that puts it at just as much risk for back pain as the low workload of sitting.  Studies show that it is best to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the work day.  This reduces the risk of back pain and improves circulation.     

Luckily, there are more products available than ever to create a sit/stand working environment.  For example, Herman Miller has their Everywhere and Envelop tables that give you many postural options as you work and are height adjustable.  Levenger offers a great Sit to Stand line that doesn’t require any kind of retrofit.  They simply provide an STS desk, laptop lifter and a book riser that will sit on any desk or cubicle surface.

Even though our bodies thrive on movement and a variety of position, today’s work doesn’t require much of our bodies.  Most of our work seems to be brain work.  Even though movement improves creativity and concentration, workers who have the freedom to get up and move usually just stay put.  Most workers feel like if they are not sitting at their desks, coworkers will think they are slacking. 

It is important for employers to provide a way for employees to sit and stand and move throughout the work day.  This can be accomplished with furniture itself or by building it into the workplace through the placement of shared equipment and common spaces.  You can create a layout that forces employees to take a longer route to their destination.  This will be good for their backs, circulation and social interaction.

If your cubicle doesn’t allow for a sit to stand surface or you are not walking regularly to the printer or to meetings, you should stand up at least once and hour and walk around for five minutes.  This simple activity can help to refresh all of your major and minor muscle groups.  If you must sit all day, be sure to find a good ergonomic chair that will support your lower back and allow for a variety of positions.

Are you stuck working in a cubicle or desk all day long?  If the only time you stretch your legs is to go to the restroom or water cooler, keep on reading.  It is important to fit some physical activity into your workday to maintain good health, feel brighter and be more productive.

Here are some quick, easy suggestions from the Mayo Clinic to keep healthy and to get moving, even with a job that keeps you in your seat much of the time.

• Make activity part of your routine. For example, if you spend a lot of time in meetings, consider making some of them walk and talk meetings. Before the meeting, ask the others who are planning to attend if they would be willing to walk while discussing agenda items.

• If walking and talking isn’t an option, ask your meeting facilitator for permission to stand or pace during the meeting. This will provide some activity in your day and will keep you more alert and focused on the task at hand.

• Another possibility is pacing while on the phone – simply walking back and forth as you talk. If you are on the phone a lot, this is a great way to infuse quite a bit of movement into your day.

• If you must sit to do your job, identify times in your day where you can move. For example, if you’re a telemarketer who has to sit in front of a computer, go for walks during breaks. In fact, find a co-worker to join you so it’s easier to stay motivated.

Keep in mind that sedentariness isn’t just an issue of not burning calories and increasing your risk of obesity. Inactivity also makes you prone to diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, poor sleep and even premature death. Whether it’s walk-and-talk meetings, parking at the far end of the lot and taking extra steps to and from your building, or using the stairs instead of the elevator, all activity is beneficial. The more you do, the fewer health problems you’re likely to have.

Do you have a hard time getting any work done at the office during the holidays?  I find myself constantly distracted by Christmas music, goodies coming into the office, decorations and lights, vendors dropping off a card with well wishes, and the temptation to get online to order one more gift.  It is difficult to stay on task, meet deadlines and even put in that little extra time that may be required in the evenings or weekend.

It is always a struggle to balance work and family life, but the holidays add a whole new dimension!  This is a social time of the year and everyone wants to spend as much time as possible with friends and family.  Let’s face it, if you are not with your loved ones, you are probably sitting in your cubicle planning the next get together or thinking about the few gifts you can pick up on your lunch break.

Lindsey over at Grindstone offers some great advice on how to stay on top of our demanding jobs while all of that lovely holiday spirit is tempting us to cut out early.

• Prioritize that to-do list. What has to be done now? If there’s a new project that won’t be discussed until after the new year, put it on hold, no matter how excited you are. Try to focus on the things that have to be completed in the next six weeks. You can worry about everything else after the ball has dropped and your social commitments have returned to a sustainable level.

• Plan out your holidays. Get your game face on and apply some your business mindset to the holiday rush. Make your schedule is detailed and complete. Write out prep lists, so that you remember what you have to bring to certain engagements or errands that need run before you throw your own get together. Create a gift-giving budget, so that you won’t get overwhelmed by all the extra costs. Write out your present ideas for each special person in your life and cross them off the list once you’ve gotten their gift together. Attacking your social obligations in the same way that you would attack a hectic work week will make you feel more prepared and less stressed.

• Give yourself a break. During the holiday hustle, it’s easy to spend every waking second working or socializing. Try to carve out a little personal time. Most people need at least one evening a week to stay home, recharge and appreciate all those beautiful holiday decorations that you hopefully had time to put up.

• Outsource. Busy professionals know how to delegate. With professional shoppers, complimentary gift-wrapping and party-planning services, there is a lot of help available for those of us who can’t take time off to bring holiday cheer. Don’t worry, enlisting a little help doesn’t make you The Grinch.

• Keep your office all-business. I realize that decorating the office for the holidays is often a company tradition. In common areas, go for it. But in your personal space, it might be helpful to leave out the tinsel. The hardest part of working through the holidays is often the distractions that they bring. Keeping your workspace completely focused on the project at hand might make it easier to concentrate.

For instance, have you ever thought about what happens to the chairs, panels, desks and tables you no longer need? Chances are they stay in a landfill for many years to come. Furniture at a landfill slowly rots and any plastic components may endure for centuries and leak toxic substances as they slowly break down.  When getting rid of office furniture you no longer need, think about trying to resale in your local classifieds, donating to local charities or thrift stores, or selling back to an office furniture company that refurbishes or sells used goods.  Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

A great way to make an environmental difference is to purchase refurbished office cubicles.  A company like New Life Office can provide you with remanufactured office furniture to meet your needs while saving your pocket book and the environment.  For 20 years, New Life Office has been refurbishing used Steelcase office cubicles with new fabric, low VOC paint and features available in new work stations at a fraction of the cost. Refurbished cubicles will give your business points towards a LEEDS designation, and contributes to elimination of waste – besides saving money up front!

Another effort that office managers can make to create an eco-friendly office is to institute policies which are environmentally friendly.  This can be done by making simple changes like switching to products such as paper, pens and notepads that are manufactured from recycled materials.

Providing recycling bins in the office for paper, plastic and aluminum can also make a big difference.  Americans throw away a startling 72 million tons of paper products alone each year, according to EPA estimates. Also think about recycling ink and toner cartridges as well as electronic equipment.

Companies can also offer incentives to employees who utilize mass transit to promote environmental awareness. You can also encourage employees to carpool or bicycle to work.

Going green is a lot easier than you may think. Even little steps you take can make a big difference to our environment and, potentially, your pocketbook.

White Elephant Gift Exchange
A classic gift exchange game that goes by many names, this event always ends in laughs. Have everyone wrap and bring something from around their home that they’ve been meaning to get rid of or something they don’t use anymore. You’re sure to be amazed at what some people want to give away!
 

Christmas Coffee Mug Exchange
During the winter, hot beverages are a must; so make sure everyone at the office has a fun mug with this gift exchange everyone can enjoy. For an added touch, place packets of hot cocoa or hot apple cider in the mug or fill it with candy before wrapping it.

Christmas Decoration Exchange
Need to brighten up your office a bit? Consider a fun gift exchange for decorations everyone can put up in the office or at home year after year. From humorous ornaments to classic yard decorations, this exchange can run the gamut. Whether you narrow down your gift selection to just “ornaments” or keep the selection open is up to you.

Cheap Gift Exchange
It’s been a tough year for everyone, so go ahead and set this gift exchange’s price limit to $5 or under. Tell everyone to try and find a useful gift and be prepared to be happily surprised at what turns up when the wrapping paper is removed.

Edible Exchange
Whether it’s homemade Christmas cookies, fudge, hot chocolate, a cheese and meat platter or something different, this is another gift exchange most everyone is sure to enjoy. Just make sure your item is wrapped up sufficiently to stay fresh! As a twist, instead of bringing something edible, just exchange a few of your favorite holiday treat recipes. This way everyone can share in the fun, even if budgets are tight.

Office Essentials Exchange
Another exchange perfect for the office, encourage your co-workers to purchase a fun, functional gift to be used at work. It could be as elaborate as a nice clock or a pencil and pen set or as simple as a paperweight or a humorous stress ball.

Book Exchange
It might be best to declare fiction or non-fiction first, but this exchange is a great way to share a favorite author of yours with your co-workers. That is, unless you already know what your office mates enjoy reading.

Calendar Exchange
Day-to-day calendars, pocket calendars, wall calendars – there’s always plenty to choose from. Here’s a tip: calendar prices are always slashed right after the holidays, so this gift exchange may be best if you can’t fit in your office Christmas party until after the holidays.

Re-Gift Exchange
Self-explanatory. Another gift exchange that’s perfect when you can’t get your office Christmas party in before the holidays.
 

Party Game Exchange
It’s a party, right? So let the good times roll after the gifts have been opened with a game exchange! Tell everyone to bring a good party game to give away and then after the exchange you can make use of the gifts as an unforgettable way to finish your event. Leave it up to your co-workers to decide whether they want to go deluxe with big board games or keep it thrifty with card and dice games.
 

From drawing straws, picking numbers from a hat or just round robin, each of these gift exchange ideas can be played in a number of different ways. Pick which way you think will be enjoyable and have fun! Just make sure you give your office plenty of time to find a gift. Before you start, though, think about setting a price limit to keep your gift exchange fair and balanced. Remember, ‘tis better to give than receive!

According to Anita Fontana, who presents Attitude of Gratitude seminars, when you’re in the mindset of appreciation, your life is increasing in value. When you’re in the mindset of depreciation, your life is decreasing in value.  At any given moment, each one of us has complete control over enriching the quality of our lives. All we have to do is raise our level of appreciation. The moment we do, we open ourselves up to a richer, more bountiful life.

Gratitude is not just saying “thank you” when someone holds the door for you or gives you a birthday gift.  Fontana defines gratitude as “A meaningful gesture backed by sincerity of purpose that involves feelings. Gratitude is appreciation for the little things, an emotion that opens us up to seeing life in a more positive light, which produces feelings of excitement and joy. It makes the workplace more meaningful. And when people find meaning in their work, they generally find motivation to perpetuate that sense of meaningfulness”.

Can you imagine what your workplace would be like if all of your co-workers expressed genuine appreciation for each other?  Fontana says, “With the power of gratitude and appreciation at your disposal, you can transform a negative atmosphere into a new spirit of appreciation in your office, empowering people, bringing enthusiasm and satisfaction back into their work and building strong bonds between employees.

You can make a difference at your office.  In order to feel appreciated, you must begin by appreciating, you can’t wait around for others to change.  It doesn’t matter what your boss is doing or what your co-workers are doing. You can take the responsibility for carrying the spirit of appreciation each day to your office, and letting the power of gratitude revitalize your workplace.

People are craving to be appreciated.  As you show your appreciation towards your work, customers, vendors and co-workers, you will feel better and those around you will feel better too.  Make a point of acknowledging people for who they are and what they do, let them know they’re valued and appreciated and that they and their work are important. True gratitude needs to be personal and genuine. It’s not just saying thank you, but how you show it that makes all the difference.

Here are some easy ways to say thank you at the office as shared by Anita Fontana:

• Send a thank-you email or e-greeting card. Our mailboxes are flooded daily with email telling us all the things we didn’t do, all the things we did wrong, or all the things we should be doing! Think how refreshing it would be for a co-worker to open their email and find a note of gratitude.

• Send a virtual box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers. They cost nothing and are calorie free!

• Take someone out for coffee or lunch “just because.”

• Leave a sticky note. Imagine how great someone would feel coming back from lunch, a boring meeting or the restroom to find a note of thanks stuck on their monitor or to their desk!

• Send a hand-written card or note. Everywhere I go people complain that all they ever get is junk mail and bills. Believe it or not, people long for a hand-written card or note in your handwriting, in an envelope, with a stamp on it! So keep a box of thank-you cards in your desk drawer and use them.

• Leave a thank you voicemail message. Most of us are inundated with voicemail messages that we’d like to delete two seconds after they start! You can make someone’s day by leaving a message thanking them for who they are or the great work they do.