Makeover your Workspace
Last Updated (Monday, 12 September 2011 08:40)
Written by JoAnne DeOleo
One File, One Pile At A Time
QUICK Tips on Getting Your Workspace Organized
Look around: do you have papers on your desk that are spilling onto the floor? Do you have trouble finding anything in your office or workspace and have to move things out of the way before you can sit down and work? Then it is definitely time to organize your office or workspace.
Whether a home or workplace setting, getting your space organized and clutter-free is the most important factor to maximize functionality and productivity. Too often, office spaces are jam-packed with office machines, supplies, and pieces of paper, and the spaces are completely dysfunctional. These quick tips for an office space makeover will show you how to organize your desk and workspace so that you have an office you can work in.DE-CLUTTER: Before moving onto any other step, de-clutter. Get three boxes, one a keeper box, one for donating items, and the last for tossing items. Consider the items in your office that you actually use and get rid of non-essentials. You will probably find there are loads of items that you never use.
CLEAN: Now that you have de-cluttered, your workspace should be thoroughly cleaned. When your environment is clean, so is your mind. You will be more productive.
SYSTEMS AND STORAGE: Start by making a list of your problem areas and find storage solutions for the problems. For example, if it is bookkeeping then clearly label folders with different categories to keep you organized. Determine your organizing style. Are you a ‘filer,’ ‘piler,’ or ‘put everything in binders’ kind of person? Create simple systems that suit your organizing style.
ORGANIZE: Have A Place For Everything! As you get new items or find that there are items regularly on your desk create a space for them to live. This might mean a drawer for chords, a desk organizer for incoming mail, or a cork board for business cards.
• Only the bare necessities should be on your workspace. For example computer, pens/pencils and a stapler.
• For books and magazines use organizers that go on a bookshelf so they are easily accessible.
• Put office supplies in a drawer, easy to reach. If you do not have a drawer consider a rolling file you can place under your desk. Group like-things together. For example, envelopes and labels.
• Have inboxes for bills or work-in-progress. Use these inboxes for temporary storage so not to see the pile grow and grow.
• Personalize your space with photos, but hang them on the wall instead of adding them to your desktop.
MAINTAIN YOUR SPACE: If you want to have a clutter-free and organized space you will have to dedicate yourself to daily maintenance. If you take ten minutes at the end of each workday to clean up your office and put things away, you will find it stays organized and you do not wind up with any non-essential items cluttering your space. In addition, go through and get rid of your non-essential email and paper files every six months. You can always turn paper only documents into electronic ones. As things come up, re-evaluate your space so that you have a dedicated spot for everything.
For more information on JoAnne and Clear A Space, visit http://www.clearaspace.com/
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