The arrival of spring often motivates
us to clean our homes and spruce up the yard. Why not do the same for your
office? Cleaning your office is typically
not a top priority, but the resulting clutter and disorganization can
definitely slow you down. Follow these 5 SPRING cleaning tips for a fresher
environment and a new outlook.
Before you begin go buy yourself some flowers for your desk to put you in the mood.Who doesn't love flowers?
1.
Schedule your clean-up advance. The day before, have
large wast
e receptacles and cull through old files and remove unused desk
items. Make it fun with a casual day and a healthy lunch whether it is your
home office or company office. While taking a few hours to clean will likely
interrupt the work flow for the day, in the long run it will make you all much
more efficient. Don’t forget a
shredder for sensitive items like receipts, bank statements, or confidential
client information.
2.
Recycle or Donate.
That old monitor, printer, blackberry’s
(so 90’s) stored for the last two years is taking up prime real estate. Go
through you
r office and collect old electronics and extra still-usable supplies
like tape dispensers and staplers. If items are salvageable, donate them to a
local non-profit, otherwise recycle them along with appropriate paper products.
3.
Invest in new supplies.
Now that drawe
rs and cabinets are free
of clutter, it's time to restock. Make a list of the frequently used
items and be sure to include organizers for drawers and desktops as well.
Having the right supplies at your fingertips will keep you focused on your
work, not wasting time tracking down incidentals.Also consider buying fun and colorful files. Work does not need to be boring.
4.
Neaten up your computer.
Sift through emails, deleting unneeded
files and organizing those you want to keep. Turn a critical eye to documents,
photos, and files on your desktop. If you haven't used or looked at them in a
year, do you really need them front and center? Delete them or refile.
5. Organize your desk. Start with your filing system. I share an office with someone who needs to have everything on his desk that he thinks he might be working on. We are talking CHAOS! While we
each have our own way of organizing, in general it's helpful to set up a system
that includes four components:
This Spring Desk Accessories and File Totes from Jamie Raquel now sits on my desk and in my office.
1) An Inbox such as a letter tray for
random items
2) A Review File for magazine articles or potentia
l projects
3) A Tickler File for future action items
4) A Current Projects File often kept handy in a wire filing rack on the
desktop
Next, think about your overall
practices and procedures. Are there any new or simpler ways of doing things?
This is a good time to re-evaluate and update.
A thorough cleaning always brings a
renewed sense of optimism and freshness to your life. Boost your outlook and
your productivity by sprucing up your office today!
