Organization Leads to Better Productivity
If you're having trouble getting things done, it could be because you're not organized. Some people are naturally organized, but for most people it takes some work to learn how to be structured.
Even if you're not instinctually detailed, there are many steps you can take to get better at being organized.
Clean up where you work. If your workspace looks like it was hit by a tornado, you won't be able to work as well. Cleaning your work area is the first step toward being more organized.
This means getting rid of trash, putting papers in file folders or binders, giving office supplies a place to live, and getting rid of things you no longer need.
Get your computer and email in order. If you have 50 icons on your computer's desktop and hundreds of emails in your email list, it's time to clean those up. Make sure that all of your important documents are in folders that make sense, and get rid of any icons that you don't use from your desktop.
Spend a day organizing your email so you can delete the ones that aren't important and put the ones that are into folders so you can find them when you need to. If you have mail you haven't read, read it.
Make a plan. People who get things done make plans for each day. Keeping track of your day with a paper or digital planner can help you stay on track and get more done. It's best to plan the next day's work at the end of the day so that you can start fresh the next day and know what needs to be done first.
Concentrate your efforts. Learn to focus on one thing at a time instead of trying to do everything all at once. Set aside time every day to check your email, answer your voicemail, and work on social media. You should spend the rest of your day doing more important things.
Don't put things off. It can be tempting to put off tasks that you don't really want to do. But all this does is make you late and put off what needs to happen. Just use self-discipline to do what you need to do and move on. It will save you time and effort.
Keep to a schedule. When you stick to a set schedule instead of doing different things every day, it's easier to get things done. This may sound dull, but after a while, you'll find that you like having a routine and that it helps you get more done in less time.
Even if you're not instinctually detailed, there are many steps you can take to get better at being organized.
Clean up where you work. If your workspace looks like it was hit by a tornado, you won't be able to work as well. Cleaning your work area is the first step toward being more organized.
This means getting rid of trash, putting papers in file folders or binders, giving office supplies a place to live, and getting rid of things you no longer need.
Get your computer and email in order. If you have 50 icons on your computer's desktop and hundreds of emails in your email list, it's time to clean those up. Make sure that all of your important documents are in folders that make sense, and get rid of any icons that you don't use from your desktop.
Spend a day organizing your email so you can delete the ones that aren't important and put the ones that are into folders so you can find them when you need to. If you have mail you haven't read, read it.
Make a plan. People who get things done make plans for each day. Keeping track of your day with a paper or digital planner can help you stay on track and get more done. It's best to plan the next day's work at the end of the day so that you can start fresh the next day and know what needs to be done first.
Concentrate your efforts. Learn to focus on one thing at a time instead of trying to do everything all at once. Set aside time every day to check your email, answer your voicemail, and work on social media. You should spend the rest of your day doing more important things.
Don't put things off. It can be tempting to put off tasks that you don't really want to do. But all this does is make you late and put off what needs to happen. Just use self-discipline to do what you need to do and move on. It will save you time and effort.
Keep to a schedule. When you stick to a set schedule instead of doing different things every day, it's easier to get things done. This may sound dull, but after a while, you'll find that you like having a routine and that it helps you get more done in less time.