We’ve all thought of organizing our workplace, but actually doing it is another thing. An office organization project sounds daunting, but it’s not an impossible task if you do it properly.
However, it is not something you can do overnight. Many people think that a cleaning and organization project can be done quickly just because it’s not thought of as serious work. But any professional organizer knows how stressful and meticulous the job can be.
You have to do research and procure the right tools, such as a label printer. You will derive better results if you approach this project with a professional and disciplined mindset. Workplace organization is something that we do for our benefit.
1. Do some prep work
Before anything else, you should write down the areas in your workplace, as well as how you want it to be after the project. For each area, you should list down every cabinet, storage rack, and drawer that you need to organize. You can also use an existing system online, or you can make one of your own.
Let’s say you run a restaurant. You can divide your kitchen storage into four significant areas: pantry, utensils, pots and pans, and glassware, and tableware. The pantry can be arranged by type, preference, and seasonality. Accessibility should be a focus when organizing utensils and pots and pans.
For supply closets and storage rooms, you might want to reorganize the cabinets, supply racks, and storage cabinets. Storage cabinets are not that easy to organize, especially if it’s full of unlabelled boxes and documents. You might have to check each one and label accordingly. If you want to start for something simple, go for the supply rack. Usually, everything has been organized for easier access. All you have to do is label each item.
You are bound to forget something if you don’t have a guide to help you along. You cannot be expected to remember every space that you need to organize. By writing things down, you create a plan that will help you with all the clutter.
2. Set aside a necessities drawer
Every office should have a necessities drawer. Instead of keeping small random items in drawers all over your workplace, you can consolidate everything into one accessible drawer.
What people call the junk drawer, I call the necessities drawer. Junk implies that the contents are useless trash that fills up space, but that is rarely the case. Keep small useful items that everyone can share, such as paper clips, tape, batteries, scissors, and charging cables in one handy location. It also helps keep clutter to a minimum.
3. Digitize old documents
Paper waste just can’t be avoided, especially in an office setting. Not only does it take up so much space, but it’s also harmful to the environment. Take this opportunity to start an office-wide paper filing system that everyone should follow.
For starters, start digitizing all the paper documents you have in storage. While paper copies might have to be retained for specific documents, such as government-related paperwork, the goal is to keep nonessential paper clutter to a minimum. Store all the files in a centralized server for easier access. You can even devise an organization system for your new digital office archive.
These pointers will help you better organize your office for you and your colleagues. There’s nothing like working in a clean and organized workplace. If you know where everything is and where items should go, you get to focus on work instead of stressing over misplaced items. Most importantly, do not forget to have fun.
