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Messy Office? 5 tips to get you started
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If the walls of your office appear to be closing in on you, you may need to spend some time de-cluttering and organizing your workspace. However, if you're like many, the job seems daunting and overwhelming and you're unsure on where to start.
I recently presented Buried Alive! in which we discussed the steps needed to begin an organizing project.
- Identify the various "zones" of your office that need attention. I.E. desk space in front of monitor, floor space underneath desk, filing cabinets, book shelves, bulletin board, flat surfaces such as table, chairs, tops of filing cabinets and of course, your desk. Choose one to work on. And only one.
- Next, define the purpose of that one space. For example, if the zone you're working on is your filing cabinet, what is the purpose of each filing drawer? Perhaps one drawer will be for Client Contracts and another drawer will be designated for employee records and training materials.
- Sort and Purge. Begin sorting through the "stuff" in the space you're working on. If you're de-cluttering your desk space you may run across personal items that need to go home, a file that belongs in HR or an excess of office supplies that can be returned to the Supply Closet. And you'll no doubt find things that need to be tossed so have a garbage can ready for your sort/purge fest.
- Assign Homes/Label. Once you've sorted and purged your space you'll be left with the items that fit the purpose of the space you're organizing. You can now put items away, labeling shelves, drawers, and cabinets as needed. This is also when you might need to purchase product that would be helpful such as storage containers, filing supplies, etc.
- Maintain. Getting organized isn't a destination but a journey. It's important to realize that once a space gets organized it will need occasional attention to stay that way. On Fridays allot 15 minutes in your schedule to tidy up your office, put away project files, empty out your Inbox and create a welcoming space for when you return on Monday morning. You'll be oh-so-glad you did.
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