Many people struggle with office organization, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many ways to declutter and organize your office space for maximum productivity, not only for you but also for your employees.
Of course, this can’t be done overnight. Implementing a new organizational system in your office will take time, patience, and dedication. But after a bit of work, you’ll have an organized space that you can be proud of. So, here are a few easy steps to get you started.
1. Let your employees know about your plans
Before you begin organizing your office space, it’s important to let those who will be using the office know what you have planned. This can help them to avoid coming to your office to have a conversation in person, when all along they simply could have sent an email.
It will also help to prevent any unnecessary office clutter, as your employees know that they won’t be receiving anything in the mail or seeing piles of paper on the desk. Plus, this will ensure that your office is always neat and orderly when clients visit.
2. Declutter your office
The first step to organizing your office is to declutter the area and remove anything unnecessary. This will help you see what you actually have, making it easier for you to organize and locate it later. Before you begin, make a list of everything you do and don’t need in your office.
By doing this, you will know what to keep and what to get rid of. Having fewer items in your office space will make it easier to find the things you need, and benefit your productivity.
3. Create a filing system and designate storage areas for files
Once you have removed any unnecessary items from your office, you can begin organizing and placing your items where they belong. A great way to do this is by creating a filing system and dividing the files into categories based on the type of information you plan to store.
For example, one area could be designated for your personal files and papers while another could be designated for your work files. Other areas should be designated for any other items you will have in your office space, such as storage boxes for items such as office supplies and additional papers.
4. Buy storage equipment — or make some yourself
If you would like to further organize your office space, there are many storage devices you can buy that will help keep all your items in place and off the floor. These include drawer storage units, cubicle storage, or even a corner desk.
Another option you have is to make some storage devices yourself, such as a pencil cup to keep all your pens and pencils organized and close to your desk. You could buy your supplies from an online platform like Banner Solutions to save both time and money.
5. Use your office space every day
After you have decluttered and organized your office, it’s important to use the space regularly so that nothing gets cluttered again. Make a habit of either clearing up and putting away your files and other belongings at the end of each day, or making a weekly plan for how you will use your office space.
By keeping your office organized and your files put away, you can easily find the information you need when you need it. This will help reduce clutter, save time and boost your productivity since you will always have what you need in an organized, efficient manner.
6. Make a daily and weekly plan for using your space
The last step to organizing your office for maximum productivity is to make a plan for how you will use the space. Determining which areas of your office you will use for specific tasks will help you to create a daily and weekly plan on how to maximize your use of your office space.
For example, you may decide to store all of your personal files in the filing cabinet next to your desk, while you keep all of your work-related items in the box labeled “work files” in the bookcase across the room. Once you’ve made this decision, your daily and weekly plan could be to check your personal files each day and check the work files weekly.
By making a plan on how you will use your office space, you will be more productive because you will be able to avoid unnecessary time spent looking for items, and maximize the space you have.
