How to Be Organized at Work: 4 Tips for Staying Organized

Whether you're commuting or working from home, a few organizational hacks can help keep your workspace and work life organized.

1. 1. Do an initial sweep of your workspace. Desks and workspaces tend to accumulate office supplies, books, paperwork, and other items over time, making it difficult to stay organized at work. Tidying up your physical space can help create a more productive environment by minimizing distractions. Take some time to remove anything you don’t use on a daily basis and address any paperwork taking up space.
   
2. 2. Designate a dedicated storage space. Take advantage of bookshelves, closets, and file cabinets to keep valuable office real estate clutter-free. Before leaving the office at the end of the day, make sure you put everything in its place.
3. 3. Have a trashcan nearby. Having access to a trashcan in your home office will help you declutter your workspace as items pile up.
4. 4. Post a task list. Keep a to-do list in a clearly visible spot in the office. This will help you organize your workday, ensuring that your most important tasks are completed in a timely manner. Sticky notes make quick work of color-coding tasks by task type or the time it’ll take to complete them, helping you organize your day accordingly.
5. 5. Maintain a digital calendar. Being able to look ahead and schedule accordingly can help you maintain a better work-life balance. Take advantage of a digital calendar's automation and notification capabilities to remind you of important dates such as meetings, birthdays, coworker outages, deadlines, and holidays. At the end of the day, you'll be able to quickly see what the next day holds and block out designated focus time if necessary.
   
6. 6. Schedule personal time into your day. Set aside blocks of time throughout your day to catch up on your email inbox, phone calls, or errands. Having a designated amount of time to tackle these tasks will help improve your overall workflow.

You don't need to hire a professional organizer to organize your life. Consider a few DIY organization ideas to help you streamline your home, office, and life.

1. 1. Reconsider your daily routine. It can be difficult to lead an organized life and be an organized person when there’s uncertainty around simple, everyday tasks. Establishing good habits like going to bed at roughly the same time every night and prepping meals can help you save time and streamline your day.
2. 2. Keep everything in its right place. Everyday carry items such as your phone, wallet, and keys should have a designated spot in your home. Consider placing a tray, bowl, or basket near your door or on your kitchen counter—wherever you're most likely to set things upon entering your home.
3. 3. Keep a checklist. Checklists can help you prioritize tasks, reduce procrastination, and make the most out of errand runs. Start by making a shopping list each time you go to the grocery store to help develop the habit of keeping a checklist.
4. 4. Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking often leads to poor time management. Save time by simply focusing on finishing one task at a time.

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