Your workplace can affect the quality of your work. When you work in a messy, distracting or cluttered environment, you will probably have negative results. If you are like the average knowledge employee, you spend most of your working hours in front of a pc screen. While most of your works are done on a computer and all your files are stored there, it is still best to keep your workplace organized and clean as it can help you become more productive and positive.
A clean and well-organized workplace can actually offer you a wide array of benefits – it can give you a feeling of competence and control that can lead to much higher productivity levels. Second, the mere fact that it is organized and clean defends against possible distractions when you work. When you have a clean office, you can be able to absorb the incoming work easily and immediately, enabling you to become productive and climb your way up to success.
1. Begin with a Purge
You cannot be able to create a productive workplace without the purge. Usually based on the condition of your workplace, the purge can take a few hours and might take a whole day as well. No matter how long the purge will take, the final goal is to achieve a clutter-free workplace. If you do not have the luxury of time to clean your workplace on top of your work-related tasks, then hiring a janitorial service Houston might be the best solution.
2. Create a “Catch-It” Space
Your office certainly needs a place to catch all incoming junk. Typically, there are 3 main kinds of junk that usually flow into an workplace: 1) important documents, files or paper works, 2) things you need to keep such as umbrella, mag, jacket, shoes, and 3) trash.
Your office’s catch-it area must be set up in an obvious space in your office. If there is a door in your office that is visible to everyone, you can create a catch-it space there, such as on the door’s right side. However, if you work in a cubicle, you can create a catch-it area somewhere near the entrance.
Your catch-it spot should have these items: 1) a tray for documents or credenza 2) a shelf, some hooks, or maybe a box where you can keep your important items, and 3) a trash bin. Your catch-it area will extremely help you keep your workplace clean with very little effort.
3. Clear Your Desktop from Clutter
Always keep your desktop free from clutter as it is one of the most important physical spaces in in your workplace and it can help you stay productive throughout the day. With other creative types of people like to work in a messy, disordered setting, most workers still believe that they are much eager to work if their desktop is clean and organized, as well as completely free from clutter.
If you believe the creative side of you prevails and you secretly love to work in a disordered setting, then just follow what you think suits you best. Some entrepreneurs love a messy desk after all. For the less inspired, a pristine and clean desktop is still the best option to work productively. Our work surroundings actually reflect our work styles. Therefore, a clean and organized workplace can certainly create a much more productive workflow.
4. Use Two Documentary Trays on Your Desktop
One of the most effective and simplest ways to handle incoming paper works is to have a two-tray system right on your desk. The system can go like this one: one new tray for new documents, and the old tray is for documents you have already looked at or opened, and need to deal with. Try to make this two-tray system and you will certainly stay productive and stress-free the whole day.
All unread, new or unopened documents should go in the new tray. This is for the benefit of your colleagues who come to your office and toss stuff on your desktop. Now, you can simply point to the tray for a clutter-free desk. The other tray is for documents that you have already opened and you still have to work on. This tray is intended for opened documents, folders and envelopes that are neatly stacked and all waiting for you. You can get back on them when you are ready or have plenty of time. For the meantime, you can let them sat there while you work on other priority tasks.
While this is a very simple and easy approach, it can really do wonders for reducing or even completely eliminating unwanted documents and paper clutter from your desk, enabling you to work freely and more productive throughout the day.