By Karen Van Winkle

Space Management simply refers to setting up and maintaining a well organized and efficiently operating workspace. Organizing your workspace is like any other skill - it is a learned talent that anyone can tackle and conquer with great success. Sometimes it's breaking old habits and sometimes it's just being shown a better way that maybe you haven't thought of before.

COBS can help you develop a system that works for you.

Do you feel overwhelmed at times when you approach your workspace? Whether you work for someone else, are in business for yourself, or just taking care of the household stuff? A cluttered workspace makes getting the tasks completed just a little harder.

Think about how you feel when you enter a room and everything is in its place. Now think about how you feel when you enter a room and can't find what you are looking for. Two very different feelings.

When things are in their right place, easy to find - and easy to put away - you feel a sense of peace and calmness within. A cluttered workspace creates chaos in ones mind and tends to put the idea of "I have to take care of..." vs. "I get to take care of..." The mind can create a scenario of fun, relaxation and desire to address a situation with just the flip of the mindset of "have to" vs. "get to".

Organizing a workspace doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive. Depending on your needs, setting up a functional and efficient workspace can be fun and very fulfilling. A few hanging files, a few manila folders and a place to store them is all you need to get started.

Being organized makes any task less time-consuming, less stressful, and allows you to move on to other things that need your attention.

My experience includes not only my own home office but also the many companies I have worked for as an employee. The goal is always to create a more productive workspace that reduces the amount of time spent looking for files and information. That at the end of the day helps you feel better about your accomplishments.

Something to ponder: It has been said that organized people are lazy. Is an organized person lazy because they don't want to handle a piece of paper twice or someone who sees the value in having more time to spend taking care of other things and having fun with their family and friends?