It’s easy to get caught up in all the things you have to do during the day and come home overwhelmed and stressed at night. But what if I told you there are a few ways around it? In this post, I’ve rounded up 13 surprisingly easy things you can do every day to be more organized at work.
These tips not only apply to organizing your day-to-day at work but are also basic tips for organizing your personal activities. An organized day can help you get better and faster results in your life, no matter what you do.
So, letβs dive into it!
13 surprisingly easy things you can do to be more organized at work
No. 1 Keep a to-do list
Your mind is powerful, but if you give it too much to process, it can have trouble working well. When you have hundreds of things to do every day and you try to keep them all in your mind, it will be very easy for you to start forgetting important tasks.
The best way to avoid this is to write a to-do list first thing in the morning or the night before. You’ll also want to make sure you check things off your list once you finish them. That way you have that good feeling of finishing something while keeping up with your activities.
No. 2 Schedule breaks throughout the day
Working for long hours without stopping can cause more harm than good. The reason for this is that your body and mind have a limit and cannot take much in one day. Rest is important as it will increase your productivity.
If you’re worried that resting for 20 or 30 minutes will hurt your work, it’s because you haven’t understood that breaks are necessary for your body to function well. Research has also shown that taking a short nap can help you recover and wake up with more energy than before.
No. 3 Follow the plan as much as possible
Making a to-do list or planning your day is important, but you want to make sure you follow this plan and don’t get distracted by other things that may not be as important as you think.
Take the necessary steps every day to accomplish all the tasks you’ve planned, and if you’re working on a big project, break it down into smaller parts so you can make progress every day without putting too much stress on your body. These is one of the 13 surprisingly easy things you can do to be more organized at work.
No. 4 Reduce multitasking
You may think that you should be able to work on different things at the same time to be productive, but the truth is that focusing on just one thing each day will help you be more organized and productive in your work.
Consistency beats intensity. This means that it is more important to work on your activities each day little by little than trying to do everything in one day, exhausting yourself and not doing much the next day.
No. 5 Minimize distractions
Schedule your work time and set up a work space for yourself. If you work from home, setting up a room in your house where you can work without distractions is essential to being more productive.
Depending on your lifestyle and responsibilities, this step can be a bit more complicated, but it’s important to set boundaries between your work and personal life. This might mean making a lot of changes and being okay with being uncomfortable for a while.
No. 6 Finish the most important task first
When planning your day and writing your to-do list, be sure to list your tasks in order of importance and do your best to finish the first task on your list first thing in the morning.
It is important to finish the most important task first because at that time of the day your brain is more active and works faster and better. If you leave your important tasks for the end of the day, your performance will not be the same.
13 surprisingly easy things you can do to be more organized at work
No. 7 Block your calendar for each activity
One of the things you have to consider doing is scheduling every activity you do during the day. Establish how much time you are going to dedicate to work and how much time to personal activities. But you also have to make sure you stick to your schedule.
Being disciplined and respecting the times you have set for yourself can be uncomfortable at first. But later you will notice that it is worth it because you will see that you complete many things on time. These is one of the 13 surprisingly easy things you can do to be more organized at work.
No. 8 Open your email after 10 am
Today our email is essential to communicate with the team, business partners, customers or prospects, so it is understandable that it is a tool that you must use every day. But one thing that is sabotaging your productivity and organization is opening your email within your first hour of work.
The reason it’s best to open your email later in the day is because it’s easy to get caught up reading and responding to email all day and before you know it, it’s time to go home. Plan to open your email after you’ve finished your most important task for the day so you don’t get distracted by new things to do.
No. 9 Delegate tasks when possible
Doing too many things at once works for few people and also trying to control everything in your business or at work can be exhausting. When you let others take responsibility, you can focus on the things you enjoy the most and where you can be most creative and productive.
Delegating tasks to other people is essential if you want to be more organized and avoid burnout. It will also help you level up in what you are doing because you will have time to focus on what you are really good at.
No. 10 Have a place for everything
Even if you have a designated workplace in your home or office, it’s also important to give a place to all the things you have and need to do your job well. Identify the best place to put your laptop, books, papers, your cup or water bottle.
You may not give them the best spot at first, but over time you will find the position that makes the most sense for everything you have. Make sure to clean and organize your desk at the end of the day, that way you can start each morning with a tidy desk.
No. 11 Keep your workplace simple
How you organize and decorate your desktop is up to you, but the simpler the better. And the reason is so you don’t have to worry about cleaning and organizing a lot of different things. If you have a busy schedule you will want to spend that time on the most important and urgent tasks.
Also, having a simple workplace will help you focus better on what you are doing and allow you to use every minute you work in a better way. These is one of the 13 surprisingly easy things you can do to be more organized at work.
No. 12 Set goals and track your progress
The only way to know if you’re making any progress is to set goals and check to see if you’re achieving them. A goal could be to finish a project in a certain time or to start and finish work at a time when you feel most comfortable.
These small but smart goals will help you stay on track and work on the things that matter most. You’ll also be less likely to be distracted by other ideas or ways of thinking because you’ll be paying more attention to the things you need to do to achieve your goals.
No. 13 Prepare the night before
One of the secrets of the most effective and productive minds is that they plan and structure their days in advance. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually simple and only takes 10-20 minutes to do.
Preparing your day, the night before is the best strategy to use your time in the most efficient way. You’ll know ahead of time what you need to do, and you won’t waste time trying to decide what tasks to do next.
Conclusion
Working long hours every day is no longer considered the best strategy for being productive. Actually, what you need to do is be more organized and consistent.
To do so, you can use these 13 Surprisingly Easy Things You Can Do to Be More Organized at Work. Organization is important because when you prepare and plan for success, you are more likely to achieve it.
Establish routines and keep your agenda up to date so that you know what to do at all times and also when to rest.
Remember that taking a few minutes every hour to rest is essential to be more productive, and if you are organized at work, taking breaks will not be a problem and will not negatively impact your performance.
Share the best advice you’ve ever heard for staying organized at work below.
Skye Sauchelli says
I love your tip about blocking off the calendar for a certain activity. I love time blocking so much because it’s a clear way to ensure you’re spending a good chunk of time working on something. It also helps you not drag tasks out longer, and helps you get into deep work easier! Great post π
Nury - Her New Habits says
That’s my favorite thing to do to organize my days. I’m glad to hear that is useful for you too π