Workplace stress affects your personal health and costs employers $200 billion annually in terms of lower productivity and other related expenses, according to Fairleigh Dickinson University. Staying organized can help you manage your time and projects and reduce stress levels, according to Carnegie Mellon University's Health Services. Even if your cubicle or office is very messy, a few organization tips can help you cut through the clutter.
Manage Your Incoming Work
Create an in-basket or a similar depository on your desk or in your cubicle where you can place all your new projects or assignments, recommends Robert Dittmer, author of "151 Quick Ideas to Manage Your Time." This helps you quickly determine what projects are upcoming and prevents having assignments scattered throughout your workspace where they can become lost and contribute to your stress.
Make a Pending File
Sometimes organizing your workplace results in dozens of new files and folders. This can make keeping track of minor pending items even more difficult. Organization expert Liz Davenport suggests making a pending file for the odd bits of paper and projects that require action down the road but aren't critical enough to need their own file yet. Use this file for random receipts and other small documents that need action later. Every time you add something to the folder, mark a "P" on your calendar for when that document needs follow-up. When a day with a "P" arrives, check your pending folder.
Create an Electronic Filing Structure
Your computer desktop can become just as cluttered and disorganized as your physical desktop. Harvard University recommends setting up a filing structure for your electronic files. Create a naming convention so you can tell what a file is without opening it. Determine how you wish to use acronyms and dates, such as "DRFT" for drafts and "FNL" for final documents. Weed through your files once a month, and delete anything that you no longer need.
Centralize Your Tools
It's easy to let your commonly used tools, such as pencils and other office supplies, lay all over your desk, but those minutes you spend searching for your pad of paper or your red pen add up. Dittmer advises centralizing all your tools into a single drawer and returning those items to the drawer when you're done with them.
References
- Fairleigh Dickinson University: Stress in the Workplace
- Carnegie Mellon Student Health Services: Tips for Lowering Stress
- "151 Quick Ideas to Manage Your Time"; Robert E. Dittmer; 2006
- "Order from Chaos: A 6 Step Plan for Organizing Yourself, Your Office, and Your Life"; Liz Davenport; 2001
- Harvard University: Electronic Filing
