Is your desk piled high with stacks of paper, mail, sticky notes, and folders? This sounds like an organizational problem. Don’t worry, this is an easy fix! You just need a few tips on how to better organize your work environment. Lucky for you, we have a few ideas to share. Organization isn’t a one and done thing. Nope. Learning to organize takes time, patients, and the application. Time to adjust. Patients to keep up with it. Application of the organization tips to improve. Once you understand how to become an organization pro, you’ll be able to apply these tips with no problem. Let’s get started!

1. Declutter your world

Step one, declutter. Go through each desk drawer, every book shelf and small space within your work environment and rid yourself of any unnecessary item. Clutter can easily accumulate over time. The less you have, the better. Do you really need 7 random paperclips in your pen drawer or do you have a paper clip cup they can go in? Do those client files really need to sit on top of your book shelf or can they be alphabetized in a desk drawer? Start small and aim high!

2. Label everything

Labels do wonders! I promise you. Consider purchasing a label maker. You can label everything and anything within a work environment. Labeling your desk drawers, were specific items go on your desk, your stapler, your book shelfs, will make the transition from disorganized to organized much easier. So go ahead, label away!

3. Color coating

Color coating is essential. Especially if you’re a visual person. Color coat your labels, tabs, and highlight the important things. Purchase colorful desk organizers and maybe pick a desk color theme.

4. Paper over digital

While physical objects can pile up, they have their benefits when you’re trying to stay organized. Rather than typing your daily to-do’s on a word doc. try writing them down. Seeing tasks and projects will help you to determine what needs to get done and when. Plus, writing things down helps you remember them.

5. Digital files

Files can pile up quick! Have you considered bringing your files into the digital world? If you’re afraid of losing an important document or a hacker accessing a client file. Don’t worry. There are solutions for these issues. To prevent losing an important document, back up your files on a hard drive. Even a second back up isn’t a bad idea either. To prevent a hacker from accessing private information, purchase a safety program. You won’t be sorry. Moving from physical files to digital is a big change but the results will help to create a more organized environment.

6. Utilize a calendar

If your time management skills are all over the place, purchase a calendar or planner. These booklets were created to organize our lives! A calendar/planner will allow you to view what tasks need to be completed and when.