How To Tame Office Clutter
Neat freaks are in. Clutter bugs are out.
That’s the finding of a recent Workplace Index Survey released by Steelcase, a leading office furniture manufacturer.
In today’s offices, neatness abounds. Nearly 60 percent of respondents surveyed considered themselves to be “neat freaks.” Women and young workers (aged 18 to 24) lead the charge against clutter.
The survey also examined the methods in which office workers store information. The survey found that:
15 percent of respondents considered themselves to be “pilers”
26 percent of workers describe themselves as “filers”
Only 2 percent of workers chose “slob” as the descriptor that best fit them
The majority of workers (82 percent) store information in both electronic and paper formats
“We work in an age of information overload, and staying organized is an even greater challenge than it was in the past,” explains Christina Congdon, Market Development Manager for Steelcase. “Paper usage is increasing even though much of our information is being stored electronically. Plus, workers are storing disks and other media besides paper, making proper storage options essential.”
Whether you run your small business from a home office or a small office, you don’t have to suffer through a disorganized workspace. Here are tips you can use to get neat.
What You Can Do
To turn your cluttered office into a place of neatness and productivity, understand your work style and cater to it.
If you file reams of paper, load up on cabinets or file carts. There’s a file storage option to suit every office, including:
Mobile file carts on casters
Small cabinets that can slip underneath your desk
Wall hanging file storage
Plastic tubs that can be stacked
Boxes of all sizes
Desktop bins and baskets for sorting file folders and paper
If you surround yourself with books, plan for shelving to support the mass and weight. Shelving can be freestanding or attached to a wall. Look for adjustable shelves to accommodate books and binders of different dimensions.
If you work best with piles of materials, fill your office with flat surfaces: countertops around the perimeter of your office, book shelves, tables.
Keep office supplies handy. Everyone uses pens, paper, paperclips, staples, CD-ROMs and other required tools of the trade. Rather than strewing them across your desktop, keep them stored in a drawer or in containers on your work surface. You’ll cut down the clutter, and the items will be easier to find when you need them
To learn more about designing a neat and efficient workspace, check out the free online Success Skills Seminar “Furnish Your Home Office With Flair” at www.entrepreneurialconnection.com.
