We all know what it’s like to procrastinate and get distracted by unimportant things during the day. A messy and cluttered working space can result in a less productive day as you can’t ever find anything you need.
Here are our tips on how best to de-clutter your office and increase your productivity. Other beneficial factors to doing this will help to decrease your stress and anxiety levels, giving you a clearer head to crack down on some important tasks.
#1 Regular Cleans
Keeping a clean and tidy workspace creates a healthier environment for everyone in the office. You will quickly see the increase in productivity amongst all your colleagues. Before you de-clutter, be sure to remove everything from your desk. Give the worktop a thorough clean down, paying greater attention to areas such as keyboards, computers and phones. These are areas where germs and bacteria tends to build up as they are always being used during the day.
We always advise people to invest in new cleaning products to allow you to frequently clean your desk and workspace. This includes products like antibacterial sprays, wipes, cloths and bin bags. Tuck these away somewhere accessible, like a stationary cupboard, and you will find it easy to keep your workstation free of dust and grime.
#Clear Worktop
Having throughly cleaned down your workspace, you can now move onto putting everything back onto your desk. Your desk worktop should only contain the things you use on a daily basis. This will make them accessible during the day, preventing you from wasting time rummaging around to find them.
This may include things such as a stationary pot, possibly near the phone ready to write down a message. We suggest leaving paperwork and files in a storage file or box. If these are referred to daily, then leave them in a bookcase or on a shelf for easy access. Just be sure to label them clearly.
Finally, we advise to keep personal items on your desk to a minimal. Although it is lovely to have family photos on your desk, it can be an easy distraction whilst also adding more chaos to your desk. An alternative to this is having a noticeboard to pin things up to.
#Clear Out
During de-cluttering your desk, it is the perfect time to sort through your supplies. Grab yourself a box or bin bag, labelling each one ‘keep’, ‘store’ or ‘bin’. When placing items back onto your worktop, ask yourself whether you use it daily, occasionally or never.
If you use the items on a daily basis, place it back on the desk. However, if you do not frequently use it, it may be best to store it away in a cupboard or possibly throw it out. If you throw out an item however, this doesn’t mean bin it. It can be donated to charity if still in working order. Schools are always looking out for paper, pens and stationary items.
#Clean Space, Clean Mind
Clutter is bound to build up over time, especially in a busy office. That is why it is important to remember our tips and advice. It will help keep your work area clean and tidy whilst you work.
Always remember not to let clutter and mess build up. This can be prevented by setting up a routine to get yourself into the habit of doing a daily tidy. This will ensure the workspace is clean and nothing is out of place. It will also make you feel much better about your working environment and encourage a more productive day.
