Top 10 Tips for... Staying Organised at Work
1. Recognise there are only 24 hours in a day
A good starting point. No one can work 24 hours a day or get more time out of a day. Working too many hours each day leads to burn out not achievement.
2. Don’t feel guilty about having a messy desk BUT…
Do have a system … not everyone has a pristine, organised workspace but for some, a good tidy up now and again may help. You don’t need to have a place for everything and everything in its place but you do need a system that works for you. Try and sort through your desk once a week though and get rid of anything you don’t need.
3. Put things away after you use them
Although you don’t have to have a pristine desk, do put things back in their place so that you can find them next time and feel more in control.
4. Have a to-do list and follow it
Keep a daily, weekly and if possible monthly to-do list and focus on completing the tasks. Before you leave the office, try writing down the things you need to do the next day.
5. Try not to multitask.
Focus on a particular task and then manage your time instead. Trying to do too many things at once can mean you don’t give either of them your best efforts. Concentrate on the most important tasks first and give each one all your focus and energy. You can then feel satisfied that you have managed to complete something when you move onto the next job.
6. Don’t be addicted to email.
Make a rule about how often you are going to check your email inbox and stick to it. Turn off your email notification. This way you don’t keep getting distracted and you get more done. Put a contact phone number at the bottom of your emails – remember, if it’s so urgent, they will ring.
7. Unsubscribe
Set up a separate email address or have a folder to receive e-newsletters. Unsubscribe from anything you don’t want to receive. It might seem easy enough to just delete them but having less mail in your inbox has a great psychological effect and helps keep stress levels down.
8. Treat phone calls like meetings
Plan lengthy phone calls in your diary like you would a meeting. Agree an agenda and be clear about the outcome you need. This way you can make the most of the time you spend on the phone. Also try standing up when you are speaking on the phone – if you are less comfortable you’ll be less inclined to stay on the phone longer than necessary.
9. Don't procrastinate
Procrastination increases your stress levels as well as your workload. Tackle the challenging things first to get them out of the way – it makes you feel so much better.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in getting organised
Others may have some great ideas to share with you.
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