You found our list of fun tips to stay organized at work.
Tips to stay organized at work refer to strategies and practices that help individuals maintain order and efficiency in their professional environment. These strategies include setting clear goals, maintaining a clean workspace, and using digital tools for task management. The purpose of these strategies is to enhance productivity, reduce stress, and create a more focused work atmosphere. These strategies are also known as tools to stay organized at work and examples of being organized at work.
These tips to get organized at work are similar to work productivity tips, ways to boost employee productivity, executive assistant tools, home office ideas, and cubicle decorating ideas.
This article touches on:
- how to be more organized at work as a manager
- how to get organized at work when overwhelmed
- tools to stay organized at work
- examples of being organized at work
Let’s get to it!
List of tips on how to stay organized at work
From daily desk decluttering to automation for admin tasks, here is our list of the best tips to get more organized at work.
1. Daily Desk Declutter
Daily Desk Decluttering is one of the best examples of being organized at work.
Decluttering your desk creates a neat workspace and helps you stay on track with tasks and goals. Every day, remove items you do not need, organize papers, and get rid of clutter. This habit helps boost productivity by establishing an orderly and effective workspace. A desk free of clutter improves concentration and task completion and minimizes interruptions. It is wise to dedicate a few minutes each day to this practice. You will be surprised how much more productive you become due to consistently having a tidy workspace.
2. Digital Cleanup
Ensuring your virtual workspace is clutter-free can vastly increase your productivity at work. Deleting unnecessary files, organizing folders, and unsubscribing from irrelevant emails are crucial to simplifying your digital environment. By decluttering your digital space, you can minimize distractions and locate important documents more easily, ultimately improving your focus and efficiency during work hours. Adopting regular digital cleanup routines can result in a more structured and efficient workflow.
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3. Cloud-Based Task Lists
Most how-to guides for getting organized at work suggest task lists. However, using cloud-based task lists is even more effective. You are more likely to accomplish even more when accessing your to-do list from multiple devices.
You can access and update your list from anywhere with an internet connection. You can stay focused and continue working towards your goals, whether at your desk, in another office area, or traveling. Having your task list at your fingertips at all times means that you will make more progress towards completing it, as you can easily knock out more straightforward tasks while running other errands.
Collaboration features also enable seamless teamwork on shared projects. Integrating these lists into your workflow allows you to streamline daily tasks, prioritize effectively, and increase productivity. The ability to track real-time progress and access lists from multiple devices makes managing work responsibilities more efficient and structured.
4. Email Filters and Labels
Utilizing email filters and labels is essential for effective inbox organization. Filters automatically categorize incoming emails according to your preferences, while labels assist in prioritizing messages. This process streamlines workflow and guarantees urgent emails receive prompt attention. Establishing filters for newsletters and particular senders declutters your inbox, allowing you to concentrate on significant tasks without distractions.
Organizing with filters and labels saves time and improves communication efficiency. Rather than having to clean your inbox manually, your messages sort themselves, and you can focus on the most important tasks without getting distracted or losing important messages in the noise of non-urgent emails.
This hack is also one of the best tips for how to be more organized at work as a manager.
5. Batching Similar Tasks Together
Task batching is one of the best tips for how to get organized at work when overwhelmed.
Grouping similar tasks can boost productivity by organizing work and reducing distractions. This method helps you stay focused and efficient, making your day more manageable. By categorizing tasks, you can reduce mental strain and remain in a consistent mindset, which can improve job satisfaction.
Beyond grouping similar tasks, you can also pair tasks in similar geographic locations. For example, if you have to meet with a colleague on the other side of the office and will pass the mailroom, grab your outgoing mail and complete both tasks at once. Or, when possible, meet with clients in the same neighborhood on the same day.
It would help if you also considered your attention span and group tasks that require more concentration during your peak hours when scheduling.
This method helps you prioritize better and manage your time effectively, making transitions between tasks smoother and clearer.
6. The 2-Minute Rule
The Two-Minute Rule is a potent productivity strategy for work. You should complete tasks that require two minutes or less right away to avoid accumulation and feeling overwhelmed. By dealing with short tasks promptly, minor chores do not escalate into major problems. Applying this rule can improve your time management abilities, allowing you to focus more on important projects. Adopting this principle builds a habit of taking immediate action and promotes a feeling of achievement throughout the day, resulting in a better-organized workday in general.
7. Routines with Reminders
Creating routines with reminders is essential for organizing the workplace. Setting up alerts for tasks and deadlines helps individuals to stay responsible. Using tools like calendar alerts and task management applications ensures efficient tracking of daily tasks. These notes are gentle nudges that can keep you on track. Using reminders regularly helps build good work habits and prioritize tasks. Adding reminders to your daily routine boosts productivity and keeps your workflow smooth. Combining tech tools with simple methods like sticky notes can improve organization and job performance.
8. Paperless Systems
Switching to paperless systems at work improves efficiency and organization. Digital documents are easy to access and store securely, reducing clutter and the risk of losing important papers. Switching to all digital files also means less time organizing and filing documents.
Going paperless is eco-friendly and makes daily tasks smoother. This modern approach helps manage documents better, saves space, and cuts costs over time. Using digital solutions is a simple and green way to handle work information.
9. Time Blocks
Time blocks help manage tasks by allowing you to prioritize and set focused time for each task. Breaking the workday into segments reduces distractions and boosts productivity. Giving tasks a set time limit helps you stay disciplined and avoid procrastination. Organizing work into time blocks ensures you handle essential tasks efficiently. Using time blocks regularly improves organization, increases productivity, and lowers stress.
Check out more time management strategies.
10. Task Priorities
Staying productive at work relies on prioritizing tasks well. By focusing on urgent and important tasks first, you can better manage time and avoid feeling stressed.
I am a big proponent of working in four-week cycles. Once a month, I meet with employees, and we categorize tasks into” must do,” “should do,” and “nice to do.” At each meeting, we discuss last month’s tasks and set goals for the coming month. This framework helps my employees organize their workflows.
Making a list of priorities based on deadlines and importance helps get more done and reach goals. Knowing what matters most boosts productivity and job satisfaction. Starting with high-priority tasks ensures projects get finished on time. Prioritizing also reduces mistakes, avoids last-minute pressure, and helps meet deadlines, improving work performance and work-life balance.
Learn more about task management software
11. Note Taking Apps
Note-taking apps are one of the top tools to stay organized at work. These apps are handy for staying organized at work and let you record information, make lists, and manage tasks easily.
With cloud storage, you can access your notes on multiple devices. You can also get note-taking tools to automatically record and transcribe meetings so you do not have to take notes from memory or split attention during the call.
Examples:
- Evernote
- Microsoft OneNote
- Google Keep
- Notion
- Simplenote
- Zoho Notebook
- GoodNotes
Using these apps helps keep your work area organized and your information well-arranged. These tools simplify task handling in a busy work environment and allow you to capture ideas quickly. Features like color coding and tags make it easy to sort your notes.
12. Do Not Disturb Mode
Using Do Not Disturb Mode is a valuable tool for maximizing productivity at work. When you activate this feature, you can reduce interruptions from notifications and calls, enabling better focus on tasks. This mode creates an environment conducive to deep work, enhancing efficiency and project outcomes. Setting boundaries and dedicated work periods enables undisturbed concentration for tackling tasks effectively. Implementing this feature as part of an overall strategy boosts productivity and maintains control over your schedule.
13. Weekly Review
A weekly review is key to staying organized at work. By setting aside time to view what’s been done, spot areas to improve, and plan ahead, you can maintain priorities and ensure tasks match your goals. This practice encourages a proactive mindset and helps manage daily tasks more effectively. Making this review a habit increases productivity, self-awareness, and accountability while helping you make better decisions and improve workflow for long-term success.
Check out performance review phrases.
14. Designated Workplace Zones
Designated Workplace Zones are one of the best examples of being organized at work.
You can organize your physical space by splitting your workplace into zones. Simply designate clear areas for different tasks. For example, a zone for meetings, a quiet space for focused work, and a spot for breaks or informal collaboration. Then, supply each zone with the appropriate tools and supplies and decorate it accordingly. This distinction reduces the time spent searching for items and mentally prepares you for the task as you move between zones. Regularly revisiting and tweaking these zones based on your evolving work needs will maintain an optimal work environment.
15. Automations for Admin Tasks
Using tools like schedulers, email filters, and document management systems to automate admin tasks makes work easier and saves time and effort. Rather than scheduling time to do admin tasks, you can build systems that handle these jobs automatically.
For example:
- Auto-clear screenshots from your desktop at the end of the day (e.g., Hazel for Mac).
- Auto-scheduling tools that handle meeting bookings (e.g., Calendly).
- Document management that auto-sorts files into designated folders (e.g., Zapier).
- Auto-backup important documents to cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive).
- Automatic data entry into spreadsheets from forms (e.g., Google Forms + Sheets).
- Recurring report generation for monthly performance summaries (e.g., Power BI or Excel macros).
- Auto-clear downloads from your computer regularly (e.g., a script or app like Hazel).
- Use a password manager to automatically fill in passwords and logins (e.g., LastPass).
This practice improves productivity, reduces errors, and keeps work more organized. Automating admin tasks also frees up time for bigger projects, leading to better performance and job satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the art of organization within the workplace can dramatically improve your productivity and job satisfaction. Implementing even a few tips can help streamline your processes, reduce clutter, and ensure you spend more time on what matters most. Professionals in any field need to refine their organizational skills continuously. Embracing these practices will keep your workspace tidy and empower you with greater control over your daily tasks.
Next, check out our posts on positive work environment tips, productivity software, and work-life balance tips.
