Module Six:
Organizing Your Workspace
In order to effectively manage your time and to be productive each day, you must create an appropriate environment. Becoming organized is the initial step to staying organized. By eliminating clutter, setting up an effective filing system, gathering essential tools, and managing workflow, you will be well on your way to creating an effective workspace.
De-Clutter:- Removing clutter is itself a time-consuming task, but a cluttered workspace significantly impairs your ability to find things, and you will get the time back that you invest! Decluttering will allow you to reclaim your space, as well as prioritize your items. Begin by determining which objects in your workspace hold value, and are worth keeping. Remember to never throw out important documents, such as tax receipts.
Decluttering involves placing documents into appropriate files, both physically and online. An effective way to tidy up your workspace and help you retrieve materials quickly is to implement a filing system that includes three basic kinds of files:
· Working files: Materials used frequently and needed close at hand.
. Reference files: Information needed only occasionally.
· Archival files: Materials seldom retrieved but that must be kept. For ease of retrieval, organize files in the simplest way possible.
For example, you could label files with a one or two word tag and arrange the files alphabetically.
Once clutter has been eliminated and other materials have been filed, your workspace should include only what is essential, such as a computer, telephone and standard office supplies. Everything else, except for what you are working on at the moment, can and should be filed where it can be retrieved as needed.