How To Create A Clean Office Space

When you look at your desk are you confronted by stacks of paper and sticky notes that remind you of all the tasks that you still need to complete?  A messy desk can cause a lot of problems including some mental chaos.

When you clean up and organize your workspace, you will be able to concentrate better, be more productive and lower your stress levels.  If you are struggling with creating a clean office space click here to find out more about hiring professional cleaning services.  

There are also some strategies that you can use.

Create Administrative Time

You need to choose a time at the start or end of the day when you will clear your desk and deal with all of the accumulated items.  The purpose of this time is to tie up your loose ends and make sure that the smaller items do not fall through the cracks. You should not use this time to tackle your major actions.  

This is a good time for reviewing your to-do list and answering all of the emails that you have left.  The more chaotic your working environment and life is, the more frequently you should schedule this time.  

Resist Putting Things Aside

When you pick up a document and become familiar with its content, you are expending some of your valuable mental energy.  When possible, you will need to take the next steps with that document while you have it. You should try and avoid putting it into a pile to deal with later.  

File Everything

One of the keys to maintaining a clean and well-organised office is to have a good filing system that you actually use.  It is important to note that it can take some time to create a filing system that works for you.  At the end of everything, you want file categories that will be specific enough for you to easily find the information that you need.  

Keep Your Computer Organized

Many people do not realize that their computer is the digital extension of their desk and will also need to be cleaned and organised.  All of your digital files will need to be in folders within a filing system that makes sense to you.  This ensures that you are able to easily find them when you need them.

You should always avoid saving documents to your desktop because this creates a visual clutter when you open the computer.  You also need to clean your download folders and save the files into the correct folders.

Avoid Paper

The amount of paper that you have to manage can be drastically reduced by digitizing your business.  Scanning your paper copies is a good way to start and will make it easier to find everything.  You should also consider moving completely to a paperless system if possible.

Stack Smart

There are some people who work better when their desk is completely empty.  However, there are other people who need papers to remind them of all the things they need to do.  If you are the latter, you will need to properly organize the papers on your desk to ensure that you only have what you are currently working on there.  This will help to limit distractions and will keep you focused on the task at hand.

Get Rid of Knick-Knacks

Having a few items on your desk that have some personal meaning can add a personal touch to the space.  The problem comes when you have too many items as they become distracting. You need to be selective with what you have on your desk.

Clean And Disinfect Weekly

We spend most of our time at the office and bacteria love these areas.  Cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces of your workstation is a good idea and should be done at least once per week.

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.