Office organization doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Discover 3 super simple ways to organize your office today!
3 Super Simple Ways to Organize Your Office Today
I’ve been avoiding my home office….
And not getting my work done….
Not a great way to start a packed and busy week!
Yesterday, I finally forced myself into my office to get some work done.
After tripping over piles, trash, and myriad items on the floor, I made it to my desk, only to find it completely covered with the detritus of last week’s work.
*face palm*
Cue the crying and cursing….
Normally, I have a good system for keeping my office and desk clutter-free, which allows me to be productive and efficient during my work time. But summer is here, the kids are out of school, and I’m SERIOUSLY out of my routine.
It’s time for me to get back to organizing basics and take a few super simple steps to organize my office TODAY.
And I thought you might be in the same boat, so I’m sharing those super simple steps.
Whether it’s summer break, holiday break, or just another work week packed with too much to do and too much clutter in the way, these simple ways to organize your office will help you move from stumbling, overwhelmed, and ignoring work tasks to efficient, happy, and ready to get down to business!
Here are 3 super simple ways to organize your office today!
Uncover the Floor
There’s nothing more frustrating than tripping and stumbling your way to your desk to start your work day!
By clearing your office floor, you’ll improve the organization in your office and significantly decrease your work day frustration.
Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and move quickly through your office.
- Throw trash away
- Stack loose papers in a bin to corral them (you can sort them later, but you’ll still know where to find them if you need them)
- Make a pile, or better yet, load up a basket or bin with items that belong in another area or room (then plan on returning them to their rightful place at your next break or at the end of your workday)
- Put books on the shelves
- Create additional bins for in-progress projects and the supplies associated with them
- If necessary, create stacks of related items against the wall to sort later
- Just get your floor cleared
Having a clear path to your work space tomorrow will start your work day off right!
If you’re looking for a more in-depth office decluttering process and printable checklist, check out this post: Spring Clean and Declutter Your Office in 4 Steps. You can spring clean any time—not just in the spring! 😉
Clear Your Desk
It’s stressful and irritating to sit down and try to work at a cluttered desk. Shuffling piles, notebooks, writing utensils, and yesterday’s projects just to find a spot to work is a recipe for poor focus and productivity.
Give yourself a positive and productive start to your work time by clearing your desk!
- Put writing utensils away
- File papers
- Return books and binders to their shelves
- Throw away or recycle items
- Wipe down your desk top, if necessary, to clear the dust, lint, and itty bitty irritants
And to avoid the previously mentioned stress and irritation, create a habit of clearing your desk at the end of every work day. Your stress level will decrease and your productivity will skyrocket!
For more ideas on how to keep your desk clutter-free and make your end-of- the-day desk clearing process super simple, check out this post: 10 Quick and Easy Ways to Declutter Your Desk!
Use an Office Inbox
If your office is anything like mine, paper clutter is one of your biggest organization struggles. I think those silly papers multiple at night, and I just can’t stay on top of it!
But one tool that has immensely improved the amount of paper clutter in my home office is my office inbox.
It’s super easy to set up: a box, bin, or tray on a corner of your desk is all it takes!
Every paper item that enters your office goes into your inbox. Talk to your team members and family about putting items into your inbox rather than throwing them on your desk.
Then every day or every week, depending on the amount of paper coming into your office, empty your inbox and process the items in it. That means:
- Open mail
- File papers
- Record important information in your planner and/or calendar
- Pay bills
- Deposit checks
- Add tasks to your to-do list
- Create folders or binders for new projects
- Scan items
- Sign permission slips and have your kids return them to their backpacks
- Peruse office supply magazines then place them in a file or on a shelf
- Etcetera
Adding an office inbox to your desk is an easy step, but it requires maintenance. Teach your team and family members to make use of this tool, then create a habit of processing the items in it on a regular basis.
You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to keep paper clutter to a minimum in your office!
Check out these 5 Easy Ways to Set Up a Home Office Inbox for more inbox inspiration!
3 Super Simple Ways to Organize Your Office Today
Make office organization quick and easy (or at least easier) with these 3 super simple ways to organize your office!
By uncovering your office floor, clearing your desk, and using an office inbox, you can organize your office today!
Get a jump start on office organization and make the most of your business building time by following these 3 super simple steps!
Related Posts
If you enjoyed today’s post, you might find these related posts helpful:
- 3 Essential Routines for Home Office Organization
- How to Build Strong and Lasting Business Routines
- 3 Ways to Instantly Be More Organized
What super simple ways have you found to organize your office? Share your tips in the comments below!
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I love a clean desk! I feel so much more productive and the brain fog eems to be a minimum. I liked your suggestions of a timer in your emaill That I always find helpful in completing many tasks.
Now just to keep the desk clean… sigh
Me too, Mary! A clear and clean desk makes such a huge difference for me. I’m with you on the timer, too. My timer is like my BFF–it helps me to stay focused and productive. 😉 When I first started creating the habit of clearing my desk, I put away whatever I could in 3 minutes, then I grabbed a bin and put everything left on my desk into it. Over the following couple of weeks, I spent a few minutes each day emptying the bin. That approach gave me a quick win in building my desk clearing habit. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions or run into any clean desk roadblocks!