Usually, we’re writing about the latest tips and tricks in the industry. But let’s be honest… some of the best tips for success start with a clean office. You can’t save the world with a life-changing campaign if you can’t find the piece of paper you took your notes on.
Create a place for everything. Don’t shove all of your papers, pens and folders into a drawer only to waste time recovering them later. Save time and avoid frustration by creating logical places for everything. That way, in a pinch, you’ll know exactly where to find something. Or at least know about where it is so it takes less time.
Trash what you don’t need. Recycle, trash, file or donate anything you haven’t used in the last six months. If it’s a piece of scrap paper with a phone number scribbled on it, add the information to your address book and toss it! If it’s notes you think you may need in the near future, file in a “notes” folder. (We love Evernote for storing our digital notes.)
Keep regularly used items at your fingertips. Store things based on how often you use them. Keep items used on a daily bases at your fingertips and store other items not used frequently out of immediate reach. This will help keep your work area clear of any irrelevant items cluttering your space.
Stick with a consistent color palette. Maintaining a consistent color palette will help reduce visual clutter. It will make your space look organized and clean without any extra effort. Coordinating shapes and colors makes your space look pulled-together, even if it is a little messy.
Do a two-minute tidy before leaving the office. Take a few minutes to get your desk back in order before leaving for the day. Sort through items left on your desk and put them in the appropriate place. Getting to work the next morning with a tidy desk will get your day started on the right foot.
As the great A.A. Milne once said, “Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” Ok, ok… that’s kind of a confusing quote. But if being organized helped the guy who wrote Winnie the Pooh, I think you should listen.
Happy cleaning!
By Anna Gonzalez
Find her on Google
