Work Smart Organisation Tips

We all work smarter not harder when we have a tidy desk and office, this leads to a tidy and efficient mind. NoteMaker have a range of organisation tips for those tasks that just don’t seem to happen at work, the old files in disarray and the office drawers that are just a mess.

Wouldn’t it be nice to go home of an evening having had a productive day, completed the tasks you needed to complete so that your mind is clear and free to enjoy your time outside of the office? This kind of productive day at work is possible if you get things into order, organised and keep on top of what you need to do regularly.

The ultimate work desk layout

An organised desk is ultimately the most important tool to a productive day. Ensure you have a well ventilated space for your desk, if you are in a big office perhaps bring in a small plant to provide a natural element that also filters the air around you. You need a bright task light over your work space, some natural light is also important but without positioning your desk so that your computer screen has glare. In terms of what you have on your desk right now you may only use 25% of what is there. Cull the rest or move these items to a place stored away but on hand if needed. You only need your stationery essentials on hand – removing the unnecessary 75% will instantly make the space on and around your work station look larger.

Your desk top should be a place for current projects and work and not for storage. Grab two magazine files to file your current work or jobs in their appropriate files. Don’t let jobs that are finished stay in these magazine files. The other items on your desk top should be your phone, which should be to the left of your computer if you are right handed. A small pen holder with only a few pens and pencils in it – that work!

The space under your desk often has a file cabinet or drawers – this is highly valuable space if organised well. On top of the filing cabinet or in your top drawer you should place your everyday notebook, diary and address book. Also your stapler, tape dispenser and hole punch can sit here too. This means these items do not clutter up your desk top but are still in easy and quick reach.

The rest of the filing cabinet and drawer space right under your desk should be dedicated to everyday stationery – sticky notes and memo pads, paperclips, envelopes etc. The filing space should be filled with only regularly used files – not archived files or out of date information. If this filing space needs clearing out do it now and archive the papers that can be archived and recycle the out of date information. Also under your desk should be a good size bin and a recycling bin – there are small double bins that you can buy that are perfect for this job.

Next to your work station or nearby make sure you have a bookshelf with a printer, paper supplies, document files where you regularly file jobs/bills and this is also a great space for regularly used resource books ie. software manuals, design books or magazines you need on hand. An archive filing cabinet with all your archives is essential to any efficiently run office space however this does not need to be near your workstation.

Now you are set to start your productive day! Your work space is now clean, organised and everything is still close on hand. The key to keeping it this way is to keep filing and sorting paperwork and jobs as they come in. Don’t let out of date paper clutter up your work space.

For more great organisation tips visit our home smart tips page to help you get productive at home.

Or for a sneak peek behind the scenes at the NoteMaker check out our office team meetings in action!