Time To Get Organized for Work in 2024

A new year means a new opportunity to get organized. Keeping your workspace and tasks organized is essential to know what needs to be done and when.

Ultimately, this can reduce stress and help you do your best work! Organization can be key to our success in and outside the workplace.

One article from Verywell Mind states, “Clutter and mess are linked to negative emotions like confusion, tension, and irritability, while an organized home tends to produce more positive emotions, like calmness and a sense of well-being.”

So, how can you improve your organization to stay positive and maximize your productivity? Here are three key steps.

1. Throw Out Everything You Don’t Need — And Let It Go

The less stuff you have to organize, the easier it will be. So, the first step of any office organization project could be to throw away (preferably recycle, donate, or repurpose) everything you don’t need to keep.

This includes printouts of documents you can access electronically, old mail, useless knick-knacks, dried-out pens, outdated technologies, and equipment. You can go through file cabinets and shred tax documents you no longer need copies of.

Also, try to look at documents you store on devices and delete anything unnecessary. Your email inbox could probably use a cleaning while you’re at it.

Don’t be too picky! Many people hold onto things they don’t need out of fear of regret or concern that they’ll eventually need them. But that leads to paralysis. To truly downsize and benefit from minimalism, you have to let go.

2. Get the Tools and Supplies That’ll Allow You to Work Faster and More Efficiently

Having the right desk organization tools and supplies can be essential to help stay productive throughout the year. Consider getting a fresh set of expanding or hanging file folders to keep paper documents stored away. Tidy your desk by keeping basic supplies like pens, scissors, paper clips, and sticky notes in a desktop organizer.

Keep a paper shredder, and recycling and trash bins nearby to routinely toss things you don’t need. Mental organization is important, too: a calendar or planner allows you to write down your daily or weekly to-do list so you can stay focused and on task.

3. Create an Organizational Strategy and System

True organization isn’t a one-time or occasional activity. It means creating a system you can continue to use and easily replicate throughout the year.

For example, have labeled storage containers of the right size and design that can give you an easy place to put your mail and various documents, so you’re not piling them on your desk or floor. Consider putting reminders on your calendar to go through those storage containers once a week and toss everything that doesn’t need to be kept.

Keep a ready stock of cleaning supplies and designate 15 or 20 minutes each week for decluttering, dusting, and tidying your workspace. For example, if you do that on Friday afternoon, your workspace will be ready on Monday morning.

Devote time to organizing your work area each week, and get the organizational tools and supplies you need to stay organized. It will be time well spent — and can help you be more productive in the months ahead.