Keeping organized not only looks good but actually helps you stay focused and productive. We’ve all spent time looking for things that get lost in the mess, so keeping a tidy desk will help reduce clutter which in turn reduces stress. Did you know that a clean desk actually saves you time, spurs on creativity and communicates professionalism? That’s right, it might actually have more of a benefit than just looking neat. These are some ways I like to stay tidy in the workplace.
What I organize constantly:
I organize my desk
There is a specific place where I keep my bags when I come into the office at the beginning of the day. I keep one water bottle or glass of water on my desk; there’s no need for more than that really (unless I’m drinking coffee, then you can find my coffee cup as well). I keep only one pen, and one highlighter along with my daily planner on my desk. Anything that comes out of my desk goes back right after I’m finished with it. My biggest tip is to clean off your desk at the end of the day so you have a fresh start the next morning. Keeping only the things you need on your desk eliminates unnecessary clutter.
I organize my daily planner
I like to plan my day out in front of me on paper. Once I complete a task I check it off or highlight it. This helps me balance my workload throughout the day. At the end of the week I make a plan for the next week (so I don’t forget tasks over the weekend) and when I come in on Monday I eliminate the ‘Monday fog’ and have my day already planned for myself. I update my planner frequently during the week and balance out my workload if any new tasks arise.
I organize my Computer
Instead of keeping all tabs and programs open, I like to filter through the things I am absolutely finished with, save and close them. If I have a few things on the go I simply minimize the programs until I am actually working on them. This way I don’t tempt myself to jump back and forth between projects. This allows me to focus on one thing at a time and close projects when they are completed. I go through my emails/voicemails (like most people) at the beginning of the day and throughout the day I reply to the ones that require my attention as well as delete any junk mail that may come through. All these things help me keep my brain organized.
What I organize occasionally:
I organize my whiteboard
There is a whiteboard on the wall by my desk and this is where I jot down things that I need to look at daily. I don’t update this as often as some things are analytics, strategies and reminders. However, I do make sure that when I jot down things on my whiteboard, since they will be there for a while, that I keep it looking neat and legible.
I organize my computer files
This is something I will admit that I need to be more organized with. I have a tendency to save documents or pictures in the ‘all files’ or ‘all pictures’ category. I do however still go through and move files and pictures into their correct places. Just like paper documents, this keeps the clutter out of computer files.
I organize my desk drawers
Desk drawers are sometimes a dangerous place! If you want something off your desk it gets thrown into a drawer as fast as possible: out of sight out of mind, right? Cleaning out your drawers may be more rewarding than you think! You may find your favourite pen that you were sure was lost to the darkness behind your desk. I’m curious what the craziest thing was that you found in your desk drawer you didn’t even know was there.
Organization bonus:
Since I am the social media specialist at the office, I definitely organize my social media accounts. Going through your social media and cleaning up old tweets, Facebook posts or Instagram photos is a great habit to get into. Keeps your accounts looking fresh and professional. Once a year I go through the accounts that I follow, and I unfollow accounts that no longer serve purpose to me, are spam, or accounts that hinder my mental well being.
Share some things you like to do for keeping organized or if you have some tips for me leave a comment below!