Last Updated on September 13, 2023
If you’re like me, your office space is a total mess, and it’s been that way for years. I’m not talking about just a few stray papers here and there — I mean a disorganized lot where you can’t even find the phone or remember what project you worked on last week.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry! Organizing isn’t as hard as it seems at first glance. Getting organized can be surprisingly simple if you take it slowly and approach it correctly.
Create a to-do list.
The first step in getting organized is to create a to-do list. You can use an app, a paper notebook, or a post-it on your mirror. The key is to make sure you’re writing down all the tasks that need to be done, giving yourself realistic deadlines for when they need to be done.
If you have trouble with procrastination, try using an app like TickTick (iOS / Android), which will remind you of upcoming tasks at certain times so they don’t slip through the cracks!
Be smart about your calendar.
You should also use a calendar app to schedule time for yourself and your family. You can set aside regular appointments like doctor’s visits, work meetings, and weekly lunches with friends.
The best way to track these events is by adding them to your calendar. We recommend using either Google Calendar or Apple’s iCloud Calendar system (or both). You might think this sounds too much work, but it’s not! You enter details of the appointment time, who else will be there, and any other relevant information (such as where everyone needs to meet).
Set up alerts about upcoming appointments at least 24 hours before they occur. This will help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks!
Get rid of unnecessary paper.
One of the easiest ways of controlling your paperwork is to discard anything unnecessary. Identify critical documents that are essential; throw away the rest. Consider whether there’s an online version, for instance, a scanned copy of your passport or social security card, that you could use instead.
Save these documents securely (like a safety deposit box) if possible for future reference. Once you’ve decided what needs to be in safe keeping, shred the rest! Shredding paper is not just about protecting yourself from identity theft—it also helps reduce the space required on your shelves and filing cabinets. Less clutter means less weight!
The unnecessary paper should be cleared from both home and work areas. You will then be better organized in both spaces!
Tidy up your desk area.
It’s easy to become distracted and disorganized when your desk area is cluttered. Keep this area clean and tidy so you can focus on the job without distractions.
A messy workspace, such as a desk, can make it difficult to focus on what matters most. Here are some tips for keeping your desk tidy:
Store items elsewhere when possible
If you have stacks of papers lying around, put them in a folder or box until you have time to deal with them later. Items remaining on your desk but not currently being used (such as an extra mug) should be stored where they don’t take up too much space or distract from essential projects.
Remove clutter regularly.
Don’t let things build up over time; give yourself an hour every week or so just for cleaning up so that everything stays nice and neat (and free from dust). This will allow all those pesky particles that collect in corners over time to keep out of sight and go away entirely!
Less clutter translates to fewer backaches. Bending over while trying to find items and lifting heavy objects off the ground can hurt your back.
Embrace minimalism
Minimalism is essential to being organized −you can’t be organized if your space is cluttered. However, minimalism is not about the amount of stuff in your home—it’s also about how much stuff you have and how many decisions you make based on what’s available.
Minimalism isn’t just about getting rid of things; it’s more important to consider what value those things bring to your life. If you aspire to be more minimalist than most people, great! But don’t beat yourself up if embracing a minuscule footprint isn’t possible.
On the other hand, if minimalism seems like too much work for someone who wants a clean house but doesn’t want to become an ascetic monk or yogini (even slightly abhorring that lifestyle), there are still ways for you to reduce clutter without completely overhauling everything about yourself.
Becoming organized will make you feel more in control
You will feel more in control of your time and be able to focus on what’s important to you. As a result, you’ll be able to delegate tasks to other people.
You will also find things more quickly—which means less stress will be involved with getting things done!
So, how do we get started?
The first step is setting aside time daily to focus on becoming organized. This could mean making it part of another daily task (like doing dishes) or setting aside an hour when no one else is home to avoid distractions.
Regardless of where it fits into your schedule, clear out any distractions like phones or TVs so that nothing distracts from this important goal!
Get the proper support!
In a cost-effective manner, you can also get the right help you need to stay organized. Hire a virtual assistant, such as a personal assistant, to assist you with managing your to-do list and ensuring that what needs to be done gets done.
Hiring a virtual assistant like a personal assistant can significantly improve personal organization and task management. Virtual assistants are great at administrative and logistical tasks, allowing people to take some of the burden off their to-do list and free up valuable time.
Manage your appointments, emails, schedules, and reminders effectively, and never miss a thing. With their support, by effectively delegating tasks and coordinating different responsibilities, people can focus on more critical tasks, reduce stress, keep to-do lists up to date, and ultimately increase productivity and organization.
The bottom line
We’ve covered a great deal of ground in this article, so here’s a summary of what to do: Create a to-do list; be smart about your calendar; get rid of unnecessary paper; tidy up your desk area; and embrace minimalism.
Remember that getting organized does not mean that you have to be perfect all the time! Even if you do one thing from this list daily, it’ll be worth it.
Remember: if, at first, you don’t succeed with cleaning up your workspace, try again tomorrow—and maybe even the day after that, too.
