How To Organize Your Workday
The following is a guest post by Jane Stoller. Her bio follows.
Getting and staying organized in your daily life will help reduce stress in all areas including your work life. Here are a few simple steps to help keep you more organized at work.
Start at home –
In my book, Organizing for Your Lifestyle, I stress the importance of planning. I relate this to every aspect of my life from closet organization to business projects to travel. To start my workday in an organized way I ensure that the night before I lay out my outfit including accessories and ensure my handbag is packed and any meals prepped. Arriving to work in a calm organized way will help set the tone of the day.
Structure your own efficiency –
My constant theme is, organizing is a lifestyle, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all. This can directly relate to your workday as everyone has different styles of working. Schedule your day in a way that makes you the most efficient, regardless of your co-workers working habits. Close your door or book a meeting room if you need silence to complete a project. Turn off your smartphone and hold calls if you get easily distracted. Discuss with your boss your working style and find a solution that bests suits you. For myself I try to avoid scheduling meetings over 45 minutes and always try to complete with actions and next steps. I find holding shorter meetings makes everyone get down to business.
Get Digitally Organized –
If you have your blouses perfectly organized by colour, designer and or type why not the same for your computer files. The faster you find your files the less time wasted. Period.
Fall in love with your calendar –
Maybe my Swiss roots are coming through, but my calendar is very organized and it includes, travel, preparation, meetings, project planning, gym, personal appointments, lunch dates etc. Bottom line is if you see it in your calendar it will likely happen at least in my case.
Prepare for change –
Since we are the boss of our own home (usually unless you have roommates, partners, dogs etc.) so we can make our rules. However at the office often tasks are given to us and sometimes spontaneously and that should have been completed yesterday. Being organized should help minimize the stress of last minute changes!
Again, “organizing is a lifestyle, but it isn’t one-size-fits-all,” and you can relate that your work day too. My book goes deeper into incorporating organization into your life to help maximize your potential to accomplish more on a daily basis. It’s arranged (very meticulously, of course!) into common themes to help you organize your home. From closets to the kitchen to the bathroom and a special chapter for travel which is essential for many globe-trotting women.
About the Author
Jane Stoller was born and raised in a small town in Ontario, Canada. Her parents immigrated to Switzerland in order to follow their dream of owning a dairy farm.
Jane’s love for organizing began as a child as she was often found happily lining up her pet cats, stuffed animals and books. Growing up, her passion for organizing shifted to all types of storage space with a special desire for revolutionizing closets! Coupled with her entrepreneurial spirit, Jane has shared her organizing skills with countless friends and colleagues.
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