Have you ever wasted precious time sorting through papers or trying to find that one piece of information that you need to complete your task? Let’s fix that.
It’s been said that a clear mind starts with a clear desk – while that may or may not be true for you, there is something to be said for an efficient workspace. Whether your desk is in an office or in a dedicated spot at home, having a strategy for keeping it clean and productive is essential. Here’s a look at some ideas for making your workspace work for you, instead of the other way around.
Desk Tips for the Busy Entrepreneur and Business Owner
Do A Purge
Take a hard look at everything on your desk and if it’s not current, relevant or useful to what you need, subtract it from the area. What you keep is up to you – everyone has different items that are equally important for daily tasks and inspiration. If it’s truly important to you and your productivity, hang on to it. Once you’ve subtracted clutter, give the area a good wipe-down, including monitors and keyboards.
Segment Your Desk
Now that your entrepreneur desk clean and clear, here’s an interesting idea for organizing your new workspace: segment your desk. You probably spend the majority of your day on the computer, but you should still have a section of your desk that is designated for non-computer work. You can review papers, read, and tackle your to-do list there, rather than mixing the two areas and creating a jumbled mess.
Sort Items By Level of Importance
Once the workday gets going, you’d be surprised how easy it is for less-essential tasks to get pushed to the front. Create areas for categories and organize papers in order of their importance. Keep the things you’ll need less frequently away from the important stuff. Not only will it maintain focus on what’s high up on your To-Do list, but you also won’t get distracted as easily by the things that can wait.
Keep A Notebook
Even if you pop a lot of notes into your phone or computer, having a small notebook or notepad is like adding a true workhorse to your desk. This consolidated spot to jot down numbers, quick notes or daily strategies is a great way to avoid having a flurry of other scraps to manage. Not only is it a space-saver, but it’s also a powerful day-runner.
Go Digital
Scan your documents to subtract paper clutter. Save the files as PDFs, and you’ll have a directory that’s far more searchable and convenient than a file cabinet. You should scan papers you need and save physical copies of too, but find a storage space for them somewhere else in your workspace if possible, since you will probably rarely need to access them.
Managing your physical workspace is a great way to keep things moving smoothly in your business. Whether you are working a successful work-from-home-business or looking for a part-time business to make extra money, talk to Alan with AdvancingWithUs for more business productivity tips and inspiration
