Five Ways to Stay Organized at Work

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Organization is the key to productivity at work. If you’re unorganized, you will have difficulty concentrating and finding the items you need. Another downside to being disorganized is lack of creativity. In order to be efficient in the workplace, we encourage you to try the tips below.

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1. Make Sure Your Desk is Clean

Many studies have shown that you will have trouble focusing if your desk is cluttered. According to a report by OfficeMax, 77 percent of adults say clutter negatively impacts their productivity. For this reason, you should get rid of unnecessary clutter and only keep the items you need. You should also go through old documents to see if you need to hold onto them. After you’ve decided which documents you’d like to keep, put them in a designated folder so you can refer to them at a later time.

2. Organize Your Inbox

Create folders in your email to store important information. This will help you stay organized and find emails more easily. If you don’t have time to respond to an email right away, you could flag it so you can come back to it later. You can also leave it on unread so it stays at the top of your inbox.

3. Write it Down

Writing things down makes a lasting impression on your memory. So instead of typing notes on your computer, you should consider keeping a notebook. That way, you will be able to remember things more easily. Not only will the act of writing help your memory, but it will also unclutter your brain. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin says, “[…] if you can get stuff out of your brain and out there into the world — something called externalizing your memory — it frees up your brain to be uncluttered and to think about the things you really want to think about.”

4. Avoid Multitasking

When juggling multiple tasks, your attention is divided. This prevents you from giving 100 percent. It also takes longer to complete tasks if you’re working on more than one task at a time. So, try to complete one task before moving on to another, as this will make you more efficient.

5. Take Breaks

It is important to take several breaks throughout the day in order to stay productive and be creative. Even if you have a lot going on, you should still make time for yourself every couple of hours, as this will positively impact on your work. You can do something as simple as stepping outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air or walking around the office. If you skip your break because you feel like you don’t have the time, you will be less efficient. For more tips on how to feel good at work, check out the health and wellness blog.

As long as you make an effort to be more organized, you will not only see a difference in your work, but you will also notice a difference in yourself. Let us know if these tips worked or if you have any other tips you’d like to share!

By Kate Artmann

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Leeza Hoyt

Founder and President at The Hoyt Organization

With over 25 years of experience, Leeza’s campaigns have garnered over 150 awards from top public relations organizations nationwide. Additionally, THO serves as the Los Angeles area partner of the Public Relations Global Network, granting clients access to over 50 global markets. The agency was also named to one of the top 200 firms in the country by Forbes magazine in 2021, and she has been named by Globest.com as a Woman of Influence and a Woman to Watch, among other designations.