I could give you a long list of reasons why you should get organised but for some, it would be too ‘pie-in-the-sky’ and intangible. So instead, I’m going to let the money talk!
Being disorganised takes up precious time, which equals a loss of money. For example, if you spend time looking for documents or paperwork, you could lose (conservatively) 30 minutes each day. If your annual salary amounts to R300 000, the time wasted will cost your company about R18 980 in lost productivity (based on 365 days per year). That translates into about R52 per 30-minute period.
Disorganisation also undermines your company’s credibility. In business, first impressions are important. A poorly organised and cluttered work environment projects a negative image. You could lose business over this because you can’t make a lasting impression.
Since we spend so much time padding our wallets, it’s probably best that we ensure they don’t empty out faster than we can fill them. That means changing your habits in your workspace and making a lasting change.
Here’s What to Do…
- Organise your desktop and papers using containers and trays that are functional and if you can, get things off your desk. Use the wall next to your desk. Get a good desk – one that is right for your personal work habits, business activities and other daily needs. Do you need two workspaces for computer work and paperwork? Do you need a bookshelf attached to the desk?
- Mange your time better. Be more realistic about how long it takes to complete a task. Envision yourself completing a task from start to finish and what actions you must take. Until you get an accurate estimation, add 25 percent to the time you think you’ll need to complete the job.
- Throw away old papers. Many people accumulate paper clutter because they’re worried they’ll need it, but in reality, 80 percent of the paper you save ‘just in case’ is never needed again. Get a shredder to minimise paper waste.
- Make faster decisions. Clutter happens when you put off making decisions. Try getting into the habit of quickly deciding whether you should keep paper; keep the mail or any other items.
Other Simple Tips for Organising Your Work Environment…
- Straighten your desk at the end of the day and more especially at the end of the week so that you can start each morning with a clear desk. Centralise your daily planning and have a master to do list for your day.
- Pre-sort your mail and paperwork into categories that make sense to you. The generic way of doing this involves having separate piles or trays of to-file, to-read, to-contact.
- Organise your desktop and papers using containers and trays that are functional and if you can, get things off your desk. Use the wall next to your desk.
- Your filing must make sense to you but generally using lots of files takes up a lot of space so a drawer system is more space-efficient and manageable.
- At the end of each project or event, organise paperwork and file or store it.
- Straighten your desk at the end of the day and more especially at the end of the week so that you can start each morning with a clear desk.
It can be difficult to change your habits and it’s relatively easy to slip back into disorganised chaos, but if you consider that the average person can lose an hour each day trying to sort out the mess, you’ll realise that your habit is costing you money.
Imagine all the shoes and handbags you could buy with the money saved.
SOURCE: www.property24.com
