A clutter-free office is very important. Clutter can cause havoc to a person’s ability to work well so it is important to do an office decluttering every now and then, particularly if you have not done one in a while.
A clutter-free, organised office leads to increased productivity, focus and general job satisfaction. Within this article we are going to take you through our top seven tips for office decluttering, which will help to boost your productivity and focus.
Start with a Clear Plan
With anything, it is always good to begin with a plan. In order to have a clear plan, you will want to set some goals. Think about what you want to achieve with your office decluttering, this will help you to know what goals to set.
Next, you need to set a schedule. This should include setting specific times for decluttering tasks but you should also set a time for when you want your office decluttering to be finished. This will help you to keep on track.
Categorise Your Items
After you have your plan and schedule set, you will want to sort everything in your office into different folders categories. The categories can be things such as documents, supplies, personal items etc. Categorising everything will help you to see how much stuff is with your office and determine what is essential and what can be placed in storage, donated or thrown away.
Go Digital Where Possible
A great way to do some office decluttering (and to keep your office decluttered) is to go digital where you can. For example, digitise all your documents. This will help you to reduce the physical clutter and the need for extensive storage. There are some documents that you have to hold onto for a period of years but, for most of these, digital records are perfectly fine and are often encouraged as it is a more eco-friendly way of keeping documents.
Invest in Adequate Storage Solutions
When it comes to choosing office furniture, you will want to opt for desks, shelving and cabinets that offer ample and versatile storage. There are many desks on the market that offer some form of storage such as shelving or drawers. It is about figuring out what works best for you and your businesses.
It is also a very good idea to utilise the vertical space. This is easily achieved through the use of shelving and hooks. This will not only make use of all the space within your office but also keep the floor and surfaces clear, aiding your office decluttering by making your office tidier.
Implement a Daily Cleaning Routine
Once the major office decluttering has been done, you will need to keep on top of it, making sure to not allow clutter to accumulate again. A great way to stop this is to implement a daily cleaning routine. This need not take up a huge amount of your time. If you simply dedicate a few minutes at the end or the start of the day to sort out your workspace, you will be able to stay on top of any clutter that may have worked its way back into your workspace.
Personalise Mindfully
It is great to personalise your desk and workspace because it is a wonderful way to show parts of your personality and to help get through harder work days. It is something we all do but you want to do it in a mindful, intentional way. Keep the decorations and/or photographs to a minimum so you don’t overcrowd your workspace and hinder your productivity.
You could also try moving around your furniture and equipment to see if any particular layout inspires more creativity or efficiency.
Review and Revise Regularly
Along with having a daily cleaning routine, it is really important that you schedule regular checks in. These could be monthly or quarterly but it is important to fit them into your work life so you can assess your space and see if you need to do another office declutter.
It will also allow you to see if the organisation systems you implemented are working and, if there aren’t, change them up so they work better for you and your business.
Tips on Office Decluttering
Office decluttering is really important because a clutter-free office allows for much greater productivity and focus. You will see benefits not only within your work performance but also in your mental clarity. Clutter is not good for us, mentally or physically, so it is important to remove it from our lives, both at work and at home.
We hope our tips have encouraged you to take the first steps to declutter your own office, allowing you to achieve a more productive and enjoyable work environment.
If, after your office decluttering, you find yourself in need of some extra storage, we are here to help. Click here to find your local store and one of our teams will happily assist you in finding your ideal storage.