Managing an Organized and Efficient Office

It seems that in today’s work environment, more is expected of us in less amount of time. The last thing we need is to spend our precious time hunting for a file, or trying to remember where we left off on a project. Here are a couple of tips excerpted from Tenia Workman, Georgia GCSA executive director’s webcast, Clutter 101 and the Online Organizing website.

Two simple rules to live by

• Keep like items together
• Keep things where you use them

Filing tips

• Use staples to hold papers together. Paper clips add bulk to your files
• Position hanging file tabs in the same position on each hanging file. Your eyes can more quickly scan a straight line than a zigzagged one.
• File papers flat, if possible. Folded papers take up more space.
• Remove large items. Take out catalogs and binders. Clip out and file important information, or store the bulky items elsewhere.
• Use as few words as possible for file headings
• Keep really important documents in a fireproof safe or safe deposit box

Tips for Organizing Your Work Space

• "L" and "U" shaped desks offer the most efficient work spaces -- offering plenty of room to maneuver on all sides of you.
• Store all of your equipment -- phone, computer, etc. -- on one "wing" of your desk and leave the other part(s) free to spread out on while you work.
• Locate your desk so that you don’t face the door -- this will keep you from catching people’s eye and lessen daily interruptions.
• Keep motion in mind -- if you are doing a lot of walking, bending, or stretching during the day, you need to rethink your space.
• Adding a hutch to your desk can create a ton of great storage space for books, manuals, supplies, small equipment, and other items you always need at hand.
• Avoid having too many personal items -- photos, knick-knacks, plants -- cluttering up your immediate work area.
• Make sure you have plenty of drawers near your desk -- for supplies, small equipment, paper products -- whatever small items you use regularly.
• Take time each day to clear your desk before leaving work -- you’ll start the next day in a much better frame of mind.

Visit Online Organizing.com for more tips on organizing your office.