Something about how you can not keep up with files on your work desk? Or too many appointments have got you tied up in a mixed blend of confusion and frustration? It is a known fact that several people find it hard to organize their workspace. In short, they went ahead to list some behaviors that might suggest disorganization in a workplace. They include tardiness, missing scheduled appointments, confusion about work goals, receiving several customer complaints, and more.
While this might seem like so much to handle, it is best you take some practical steps to put yourself in order. You can click on https://www.teamly.com/blog/how-to-stay-organized-at-work/ to learn more about being organized at work.
“Being organized is not about getting rid of everything you own or becoming a different person: but living the way you want to live, but better.” — Andrew Mellen. Organization is more personal than it is ethical. So, start by making your bed when you get up in the morning.
11 Tips to boost Productivity through Work Organization
Work organization is vital in boosting productivity and profitability. This is because it helps you prioritize and focus on tasks which lead to timely completion.
You can do several things to be organized. Below are eleven of them we got from several work professionals.
- Set achievable goals
- Measure your progress
- Use planning tools
- Make a task list
- Be intentional about accountability
- Stay away from distractions
- Keep track with a timer
- Avoid dirty environments
- Take breaks
- Use file labels
- Group your emails
Set Achievable Goals
Goals are like binoculars; they help us focus on the aim of a task while taking notes of the little details along the way. However, not all goals are achievable.
To set achievable ones, you must understand what the task requires, break it down into duties and create milestones. Also, including a time frame is vital for assessment.
Measure your Progress
Measuring or tracking your progress helps you keep a tab on your accomplishments and the milestones you are yet to conquer. In short, with this, you can understand your most productive areas and otherwise. This adjusts your mentality and gives you a sense of organization.
To measure your progress, you need to create a system that explains your work behaviors. For instance, you can use a spreadsheet to record your work resumption time, work completion time, tasks completed, and more. This way, you may begin to notice a circle surrounding the work behavior that will tell you when you work best and can help structure your work for enhanced productivity.
For instance, tracking your progress can help you discover that you work best at night. So, structuring your working time like that can boost your performance and productivity.
Use Planning Tools
Planning tools are vital in putting down a detailed description of your tasks. They also allow you to break down these tasks into simple and visible milestones using different timeframes.
While you can plan your daily activities on some planning tools, others might only have space for weeks or months. Therefore, ensure you go for what is suitable for your schedule.
Make a Task todo Note
“Task lists are always the best option for a visible representation of your duties. There is no better way to organize your activities than to have a list that outlines them in clear and concise points.” – Murray Johnson (Project Manager at Wilson).
Making a task list can help you place your daily tasks in short bullet points. Also, you get to arrange them in order of preference. For instance, you can fix urgent matters first, and others follow that order.
In addition, you should use a notepad or sticky note for making your task list. You can also use different pen colors for grouping items. For example, write urgent matters with red pen or client meetings with blue.
Be Intentional About Accountability
When it comes to staying organized, it is easier said than done. For instance, you may decide to follow a plan but find it hard to maintain consistency. However, accountability can help you manage such issues.
Putting in efforts to ensure that you are accountable to yourself can help you stay organized. Although it might be hard to maintain, you become better at it with intentional efforts. Also, you can ask someone in your work circle to check in on you regularly.
Stay Away from Distractions
Distractions are an easier way to lose focus and become disorganized. Though a little distraction here and there can inspire creativity but ensure you limit it. Keep your work area organized and free of anything that can take away your attention. For instance, you can put off notifications on your phone.
Keep Track with a Timer
Time management is an aspect of organization that you should not overlook. Therefore, understanding how best to spend time on a particular task can improve your performance. You can click here to learn more about time management. By ensuring that you spend time on more relevant things, you are also becoming more accountable. So, create a system that inputs or records the time you use for each activity you do during the week. Then take time to go through the summary by the week’s end to understand how you made productive use of your time.
Avoid Dirty Environments
A dirty environment causes discomfort that indirectly affects the quality of work. So, do you want to stay organized at work? Clear your table, file those documents, and keep enough space on your desk. Arranging things can help give you a sense of organization.
Take Breaks
Stay away from distractions? Yes. But as we said, a little distraction helps with creativity and refreshes your mind. So, while you go about your day’s task, ensure you take a break, grab that coffee, chat with some friends, or take a walk in the park.
Use File Labels
One thing that can make you feel disorganized is trying so hard to search for a file. However, you can solve this by labeling and grouping your files.
Do you know how books and shelves in the library are systematically labeled and arranged? Yes, that is it. Those labels help you find books quickly. And that is what you should do, too.
Create a system of labeling. You can use alphabetical order, color code, or anything you can easily relate with – maybe animal names. Just ensure that you have a filing system to help you navigate your files quickly – limit frustration.
Group your Emails
Several folks overlook this, but it is necessary too. This is because our emails contain some vital information regarding our work. For instance, we receive job quotations, client orders, etcetera, in our mail. In short, it is like a mini office there. So, grouping them can help us find things faster.
Conclusion
Organization is more personal than ethical. So, start from the little things around you, like making your bed every morning or doing your laundry every weekend. This way, you can build a personal habit that will reflect in your daily activities and your workplace.
