Organize Your Office
for Maximum Efficiency

I'm sure you already know that if you organize your office, you'll work more efficiently and effectively. But, if your life is anything like mine, it's almost impossible to find time to do so with people constantly dumping paperwork on you, going to meetings, running out to doctor's appointments, etc. As a working mom who's been in the trenches of the 'corporate world' I can tell you there's nothing more frustrating than getting your office organized only to have someone come in and dump more work making it un-organized again. Trying to stay one step ahead of the un-organizable is just a fact of working life.

But, there is hope and if you want to work efficiently and enjoy your work space, you must organize your office. Here are some things to think about:

• Physical clutter slows you down both physically and mentally, since you'll be diving through piles of papers looking for that one important document.
• With a messy office comes mental clutter which, makes you less motivated and less efficient.
• You're going to have to learn to make it a routine to purge and sort paperwork, and keep unnecessary items off your desk.
• Keeping a calendar and planner will keep you on track.
• A simple legal pad to jot down important ideas, events, phone calls, and projects keeps mental clutter on paper and not in your head.
• Lastly, you'll want to label work reference materials/manuals and store them out of the way.

Most of us spend a lot of time at work, and our work environment is critical to our productivity. The way your space is organized (or not organized) can have a major impact on your mood, energy, and overall well being. You want to feel good and energized while you're working, so that you have the stamina and motivation to complete the tasks that need to be finished.

How you organize your office is not only important for your mood and motivation, but it makes a big difference in your ability to quickly find what you need in order to perform vital tasks. Organizing your stuff for easy access and an uncluttered appearance is important to your level of efficiency.

There are some simple steps you can take to organize your office more efficiently. If you have a small office, this is even more important, since a small space can quickly become cluttered and overwhelming. If you share your workspace with other co-workers, the problem may be even more pronounced. Let's get started by examining, step-by-step, some of the ways that you can combat office clutter:

Paperwork – for most of us, paperwork in the office is the bane of our existence. It's important to purge, sort, and organize your paperwork. Recycle papers that you don't need immediately, so they won't get mixed up with things you really do need. Also, create hanging files that are clearly categorized either by type or date. Finally, create files for pending, miscellaneous, or "to-be-filed" items to keep them out of circulation. Keep unnecessary papers off your desktop.

Organizing Paperwork provides even more great tips to help you tame the paperwork nightmare.

Calendars – Keeping a calendar is crucial when you want to organize your office. You can do this electronically, or simply write your appointments and events into a planner type notebook. Keep your calendar out and open on your desk. Write down important daily tasks and deadlines, and peruse your calendar each morning to more effectively plan your day.

Reference materials – Keep a notebook on your desk to jot down important information and ideas. Make sure to date each day's entries so you don't forget about them later on down the road. It's also a good idea to keep a separate notebook for phone conversations. Keep a folder for reference materials, and get rid of what you don't need immediately. If you have lots of reference materials, keep separate folders for different projects or categories.

Staying organized at work is as important as staying organized in other aspects of our lives. Disorganization leads to a mental muddle that makes it doubly difficult to get work done. On the one hand, you'll be slowed down because you can't find what you need. On the other hand, your lack of mental focus will make you less efficient. You'll enjoy a much more pleasant working environment if you take these simple steps to get control of your space and organize your office.

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