Easy tips for de-cluttering and organizing your office

Some simple tips for organizing your work environment include having a master to-do list at your desk that you update daily.

Do you have stacks of files piled up all around your office? Are you constantly rescheduling deadlines? Have you been passed over for a promotion or been denied projects that you knew you could do well? Are you costing your company time and money because of misplaced documents, information, or files? If your answer to these questions is “yes,” it's time to get organized.

The Costs of Being Disorganized

Being disorganized eats up time and money. For example, if your secretary wastes time going through her work just to get to her work, he or she can lose at least 30 minutes every day. If his annual salary is $30,000, the wasted time will cost your company about $1,500 a year, or 25 cents a minute, in lost productivity.

Or if your annual salary is $90,000 and you lose 30 minutes every day getting your work together, you will cost your company $4,500 a year, or 75 cents a minute in lost productivity.

Disorganization also can undermine your company's reputation and credibility. First impressions are important, and a cluttered, poorly organized work environment will project a negative image to current and potential customers.

Easy Ways to Get Organized

Just as you didn't become disorganized overnight, you won't be able to get organized in a day. However, you can begin by getting a desk that is right for your personal work habits, business activities, and daily needs. It doesn’t have to be expensive. If you regularly use reference books, manuals, or other publications, you need a desk with an upright hutch or shelves. If you use a computer and have plenty of floor space, an L-shaped desk might work well. You can put your computer on one section and have a large workspace on the other section. You won’t have to juggle two activities on the same desktop.

Manage your time better by reconsidering realistically how long specific tasks will take and schedule them accordingly. Envision yourself completing each task from start to finish along with the actions you must take to complete them. Until you become accurate at estimating your time, add 25 percent to the time you think you'll need to complete a specific task. In addition, time yourself while doing specific tasks, such as paying bills, balancing the accounts, or checking the mail. You might be surprised to find out how long a specific task actually takes. Note down how long a specific task takes so that you can remember to allow plenty of time for it in your schedule.

Throw away clutter you know you’ll never need again. Old mail, faxes, memos, and advertisements pile up fast. Paper is the single largest contributor to clutter in the office. Although many people are afraid of throwing away something important, 80 percent of the paper clutter saved “just in case” is never needed again. If you do throw away something that is needed again, it’s likely that you can recreate it or get it from another source. Your trash can and your paper shredder are on your side!

Often clutter builds up when you put off making decisions. To make decisions faster, get into the habit of quickly assessing your mail, advertising, memos, and other paper items and tossing what you don’t need. As your confidence in making fast decisions grows, you'll be able to keep things moving through your life and prevent a backlog.

Some simple tips for organizing your work environment include having a master to-do list at your desk that you update daily. Sort your mail into four categories: to file, to read, to contact, and to discard. Use specific containers to organize your office supplies, such as one for writing instruments, one for paper clips, one for push pins, and so forth. Use desktop organizers or trays for papers. Color code your files to find information faster. Subdivide large files with interior file folders. Return several calls at a time and leave specific messages if the person you called wasn’t available. Cut down on distractions by clearing your workspace of everything but your current project. When you complete a project or task, file your paperwork as appropriate. At the end of the day and week, clear your desk so that you can start fresh the next work day.

Ergonomic leather office chairs
When shopping for an ergonomic chair for your home or office be sure the chair will fit under your desk and keyboard.

Coffee table clocks
These are unique pieces of furniture. If you were looking for a conversation starter this is it.

Height adjustable office chair
For those people who are extra tall or are shorter than the average person then an adjustable chair will help you adjust the height to better suit your size.

Easy Tips for De-Cluttering and Organizing Your Office