When it comes to ensuring productivity in the workplace, one of the best places to start is by organizing your workstation so that any distractions are removed and everything you need is within reach. There are plenty of tips that you can use to change the way that your workstation is organized; all you need is a little time, so come into work early or take a short break.
Step 1: Clear your workstation completely, leaving just your computer and the telephone. Make sure that both of these items are in a spot that is comfortable for you to reach.
Step 2: Sort through all of the items that you removed from the workstation into three piles – those that you need all the time, those that you need on occasion, and those that you hardly ever or never use. Get rid of anything in the third pile and put items in the second pile into your drawers.
Step 3: Get a cup or holder to store all of your pens and pencils; this way, you will always be able to find one. Get a desk calendar, as this will avoid the need to litter your workstation with notes. Get a file holder and label it appropriately (avoid ‘inbox’ and ‘to be filed’ categories).
Finish by placing those other items that you need all the time on your workstation in spots that are easy to reach but out of the way. To ensure that your productivity continues, you should spend five minutes at the end of every day to clean away anything that does not need to be one your workstation, including files, preparing you for the next day.
