Declutter A Office And Gain Productivity
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
by Mark Ramsey
http://www.reduceclutterhelp.com
Most people would agree that it's a good idea to declutter an office, but have you ever stopped to wonder why that should be? Isn't it a bit like decluttering somebody else's home? Of course, you don't live in your office, technically speaking - but modern life being what it is, chances are that you spend nearly as much time there as you do in your actual home. As such, it's in your best interests to declutter your office, just as it is to declutter your home. In this article, you'll learn how to do it, and what you'll gain by doing so.
Your office decluttering plan has three stages - layout, furniture and desk. In the first stage, you need to look at how your office is actually set out. Has everything been laid out logically, or has it been allowed to accumulate over time? If you need to use the filing cabinet, for instance, is it within easy reach, or has it been tucked away in a far corner because that was the only space available when it was delivered to your room? To declutter your office, begin by rearranging the furniture along clear pathways, so that you have easy access to everything you need.
The second stage follows on from the first, and that's to ensure that the office furniture itself is fit for purpose. In other words, is it there because it's always been there, or do you actually need it? Can it be consolidated in some way to give you more space? If your printer and fax machine are on separate stands, can they be put on the same stand, or can you get a combination printer/fax? Always ensure that the furniture is the right size for your office.
Finally, turn your attention to your desk. If you've got your office furniture layout right, there is no need for printers, files or books to be sat on your desk. Use filing trays, to keep your desk top as clear as possible, and maximize drawer space with caddies, trays and hanging files.
The Benefits Of A Decluttered Office
So why should you go to all this time and effort? First of all, there is the psychological benefit. You spend a lot of time in your office, for better or worse, and piles of clutter will make you feel disorganized and overwhelmed. A decluttered office, on the other hand, makes you feel more in control. Work will literally be easier to cope with if your office looks more organized, and you'll project the right image to clients and colleagues, too.
Secondly, there are real gains to be made in productivity. Think of all the time you waste in an average day, fighting your way to the printer, hunting around for paper, trying to find the right file, excavating your desk to find the right document, and so on. That's a lot of time, and it's time that could be better spent.
Even if you do just one more thing each day as the result of decluttering your office, that's five more things per week, and twenty more things per month. In other words, you'll have significantly reduced your workload. You'll feel more in control, because you''ll have done more.
When you declutter your office, you create a place where you feel more professional - and when you feel more professional, you automatically do better work, and more of it.
Mark Ramsey has been a declutter enthusiast for the last 7 years and enjoys helping people reduce the amount of clutter in their homes.For more great information on how to Declutter a Office visit Mark's Reduce Clutter Information website which features tons of great articles and a exclusive Free Mini Course on Reducing Clutter
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