If you’re finding you’re not as focused or efficient as you’d like to be at work, you’re certainly not alone. But there are a number of things you can do, including task prioritisation, having frequent breaks and planning your schedule. The order in which you tackle jobs can also make a difference.
Understand the times of day when you’re at your most productive, and work at your hardest then. And rather than switching too frequently between tasks (although breaking up work is important), try grouping similar jobs together and doing them all at once. Equally, you can set time windows for particular task types. For example, try focusing on emails between 9am and 10am.
Another idea is to take a long, hard look at your desk – ideally as though you’re seeing it for the first time – and think about how you can organise it to maximise focus and efficiency.
Here are some pointers to get you started:
- Declutter
You may find it surprising how much a declutter of your workspace boosts productivity and makes you less stressed and more focused.
There are no magic tricks here – just a good old-fashioned clearing out of anything that you don’t use every day or which you don’t love. (Such as a favourite family photo.) You’ll want a clear surface for good access to all your papers and anything you need on a daily basis. Start by taking out everything and wiping down the desk. Have piles of ‘keep’, ‘recycle’, ‘rubbish’ ‘belongs somewhere else’ and ‘file or scan’. Don’t forget to go through your drawers, too. Keep items of a kind – e.g. all Post-it notes – together.
- Minimise distractions
We all get distracted at times. But control notifications on devices and do what you can to create an environment that’s conducive to focused effort. Try things like the Pomodoro Technique, in which you work in 25-minute bursts interspersed with five-minute breaks.
- Organise your essential items
Keep the things you use all the time accessible and tidy. Trays, pencil holders and drawer dividers all help. Again, have all your similar items – pens, envelopes etc. – grouped together so that you can find what you need more quickly.
It may also help to label everything – containers, folders and drawers – to identify what you have stored and where.
- Managing cables and paperwork
Have a filing system for documents, either in a cabinet or manage folders digitally. Obviously, if you scan and store documents electronically, you reduce the volume of paperwork you have to organise.
And cable ties, clips or other organisers are great for keeping wires orderly, again keeping clutter at bay.
- Desk organisation – do it little and often
Desk organisation isn’t a one-off task if you’re to stay ahead of your game. But if you spend just a few minutes every day or week keeping your workspace organised, it can make a big difference.
Get organised with Octopus Office
At Octopus Office, we have everything you need to get and stay organised, from desk tidies to cable tidy products, letter trays and more. We’re based in Stockport and carry out same-day deliveries across the north-west with our own fleet of vans. We also ship across the UK, typically with next-day arrival thanks to our trusted courier network. Alternatively, pick up your stuff from us in Stockport in person.
Got a question? Call us on 0161 429 8118 or email sales@octopus-office.co.uk.