Working Hard or Hardly Working: How Clutter can affect your efficiency at work.

We’re now coming out of the cold winter months and starting to feel the whisper of spring. It’s about that time… time to start organizing, decluttering and getting rid of things like stacked up Tupperware containers and used-to-be warm and cozy coffee cups. Organize your papers and you organize your work life! Being stuck inside all winter long can lead to the winter blues…unmotivated to declutter, to re-fresh. This can lead to an unfriendly and unsanitary workspace. The weather is shaping up so it’s time that you shape up your office as well!

Introduce a few of these helpful organizational habits into your daily routine and you will soon find yourself in a clean new space with a fresh spring to your step!

Give Everything A Home

Start by organizing your office and supplies into specifically assigned areas: a place for documents, papers & folders, a place for books, desk supplies, electronics and miscellaneous items as well. Once you define these spaces, start sifting through the items in each area, review them and throw out any unnecessary items that are old or no longer needed.

Within Arm’s Reach

Another fun tip to help organization and create a clean & clear Feng Shui-friendly space - is to keep only the important items within arm’s reach. A pen, a notebook, your computer and a phone are the important items that you need at all times. Take the rest of your office supplies and files and store them away in cabinets, desk drawers and shelves. You’ll find a sense of clarity having a clean workspace and having all of your items in clear defined areas.

Files, Files, Files

It is very easy to get lost among the unending flow of paperwork and documents that is constantly plaguing your office, which is why it is essential to create a filing system using folders or baskets. Use labels and categorize by project as well as order of importance. Set aside a bin for items that need to be addressed immediately and a separate bin for items that need to be addressed within the next week.

Make sure to manage the capacity of your filing cabinets and/or baskets. To avoid an overflow of documents in your cabinets or bins block off a short amount of time on your calendar bi-weekly to clean up lose papers and overflowing buckets. 20 minutes of de-cluttering is easy!

The Everything Drawer

Productivity flows at its smoothest when the clutter is nonexistent. Almost every businessperson has an “everything drawer, a mysterious place containing miscellaneous items that don’t have home. Do yourself a favor - get rid of the drawer! Make this spring a clutter free season. Go through the miscellaneous items and toss or put away. Now re-purpose the drawer! Put some dividers in and start using it to store office supplies.

Are you finding that you need more storage space or a better ambiance? Believe me, it matters – check out this great article by Premier Office Solutions on how great workspaces can positively affect productivity.

Still need some direction after reading these tips?

If you live in the greater Philadelphia area and are looking for assistance with creating a functional and stylish workspace in your home, contact us and schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone call to discuss how we can work together.

Stella Ludwig Interiors is an award-winning boutique design firm specializing in high-end residential design. Located in the historic Rittenhouse Square area, we service discerning professional clients, empty nesters, and busy executives, as well as international families living in the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond. We are known for creating distinctive interiors that exude elegance with style and panache, and feel privileged to work in an ever-changing creative industry that allows us to use our experience and talents to bring joy to those we serve. Stella Ludwig Interiors projects and ideas have been featured in Architectural Digest, Philly Home Magazine, Philadelphia Style, Philadelphia Magazine, Suburban Life magazine, Kravet Design Share and real estate and design industry blogs.