5 Tips for Staying Organized and Productive at Work

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Whether you work for yourself or someone else you will need to be both organized and productive at work; every day. Not only will you feel better but you'll also impress your boss, colleagues, and clients. So how can you make sure that you stay organized and productive?

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5 Tips for Staying Organized and Productive at Work

While these tips are oriented for your work environment, I find that they are applicable in all areas of life.

Clear Clutter

Your workspace should be clear and clutter-free.

By removing distractions, you will make sure that you remain focused on your work.

Have a trash can by your desk and use it. If it's trash, then it isn't needed so bin it immediately!

Add a small container for recycling and put anything that can be recycled into it as soon as you've finished with it.

Some of us can trick ourselves into believing the clutter does not zap our productivity. However, it becomes apparent how much it impacts your life when something goes missing and you spend time looking for it.

When you look at this image, what emotions come to mind?

I know for me it is NOT a feeling of calm. Rather I get a little antsy thinking about things left undone.

Process Your Emails

Do you remember when everything started going digital?  I do!

The promise of less clutter in our physical environment was very appealing. Yet, there is now digital clutter to battle.

Emails are a huge time suck. Instead of just reading them or thinking you'll read or act on them later take a more structured approach.

Set a specific time for dealing with emails each day. Don't check them in between.

Use folders to organize emails: junk/spam, trash, by project or client, personal and to do.

Any emails that require you to take action and that cannot be completed at that moment should be put into the to do folder. Make it a habit to work through that folder and empty it every day. Have a specific time slot allocated for that each day.

Delete junk, spam, and emails that aren't important or needed for further action and empty those folders at the end of each day.

This is something I am starting to work towards doing. Seeing thousands of unopened emails in my inboxes saps my energy, too.

Schedule It

If you work for an organization, then you probably have set break times.

However, if you work for yourself then it will be up to you to decide when to take a break. Make sure to schedule in regular breaks as these will keep you more focused and productive.

If you sit down for a large part of your day you need to take regular time out to get up and walk around. This will keep you fitter and reduce tiredness.

Stay Hydrated

Your body and brain need water to stay hydrated and to achieve optimal performance.

Of course, you don't need to drink plain water all the time but you should limit caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee. It is a constant struggle when the weather is cold, so drinking herbal tea with no caffeine is a great choice.

If plain water isn't a favorite, look at adding flavor drops with no calories.

Don't Skip Lunch

It can be all too easy to skip a meal when you are really busy. However, this won't actually boost your productivity as you'll find your blood sugar level will drop and you’ll lose energy and the ability to focus.

Make sure that you’ll always have lunch by taking it with you. If you can’t make it yourself then buy it on the way into the office. Stocking a spot in your desk or office with a couple of healthy snacks ready to have during the day will ensure there is always something at the ready.

These simple tips for staying organized will help you be more productive when you’re working.

What are ways that YOU stay organized and productive in your work environment?

This post was originally published on Jan 27, 2017  and has been updated.