Increased productivity is something we all strive for at work. While most of us simply power through our daily deliverables with the help of extra shots of espresso and customized Pomodoro sessions, there are other ways for us to build our focus and morale. Organizing our workspace, in particular, does wonders for our productivity, as environment plays a big role in how we feel and think from hour to hour.
That said, here are some organizing habits to help you increase your productivity at work.
Practice mise en place
Mise en place is a French phrase meaning “everything in place.” Most often practiced in culinary contexts, it means having all your tools and ingredients accounted for and ready to use. You can practice mis en place at the start of every work day by laying out the things you know you’ll need before getting started on work. It might mean having a snack or a cup of coffee ready by your side, or claiming all the paperwork you need from pertinent persons before launching into work mode. Whatever the case, practicing mis en place will allow you to move from task to task seamlessly without any interruptions.
Clear out your space at the end of the day
Try making a habit of clearing your area of its mess at the end of every workday. Not only can this serve as a great unwinding ritual, it allows you to start the next day feeling energized instead of overwhelmed by the clutter around you. Clear out your space by mindfully returning things to where they ought to belong—indiscriminately shoving them into a cabinet drawer will do you more harm than good. No one likes digging through piles of mixed paper.
Archive your paperwork diligently
Important files need to be treated as such. To avoid any mishaps related to paperwork, it’s best to have some sort of archival system for your paper work. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to work. Your main goals should be to (1) keep all paperwork together and (2) make things easy to find. Color coding isn’t necessary by any means, but if you’re good about filing things away, knock yourself out!
Organizing our workspace does wonders for our productivity, as environment plays a big role in how we feel and think from hour to hour.
Organize your computer files
Digital clutter is clutter, too. While desktop search functions have grown more powerful over the years, there’s nothing like keeping organized folders of your work files. Organize your files by project and date, so the next time a client or a coworker asks for something you’ve worked on, you can send the file (and its entire folder!) to them in a jiffy. At the very least, name your files properly. Looking for “alkjdhadkjfhdf final FINAL copy (3).docx” is a guaranteed nightmare.
Keep things out of sight (and mind)
It’s tempting to keep things from previous projects lying around the office. But keeping those items in plain sight can trick your mind into thinking that you’re not actually done with those projects. In such an environment, a psychological phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik effect (where your mind is bothered by what you perceive to be uncompleted tasks) can take over and effectively diminish your focus. The solution? Keep things you don’t want to think about out of sight, and bring them back out once you’re ready to give them your attention.
Have any other habits or rituals that have contributed to your productivity in the workplace? Feel free to share them in the comments below!
