Spring cleaning tips for your workplace | entrepreneur

Even though it's officially spring a few weeks ago, it really does feel like it. The sun is brighter. The temperature is rising. And everything from the earth to the trees began to thrive.

But as much as I like to spend outside , now is also the best time to break windows and do some general cleaning, especially my work space.

The benefits of spring cleaning go beyond improving looks. It can also be good for your mental health.

Spring cleaning can be beneficial for many different reasons. In general, cleaning can restore a sense of control. So when things seem to get out of control, people often like to take control in any way they can. They can take control of your take over surroundings, Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Dawn Potter told CBS News .

Additionally, the Hybrid Workplace Habits & Hangups survey shows that employees spend an average of two hours a day locating the documents, information, or people they need to do their jobs each week. In other words, it's 25% of your work week.

Additionally, according to a study by Libby Sander , Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Bond University Business School and Director of the Future of Work Project, our physical environment has a significant impact on our behavior, perception, attitudes, and emotions, among others. Even our relationships with others and our decision-making can be affected.

Additionally, crowded spaces can contribute to stress and anxiety. It affects not only our ability to focus, but also the choices we make about our eating and sleeping habits.

In short, spring is the perfect time to clean your workplace. And here are some tips to help you do that.

1. Be motivated.

Here's the truth. Most people don't like to clean. Because? Well, it differs from person to person. However, this is usually an activity that requires a lot of time and effort.

That being said, it's an essential daily activity that you should prioritize. In the long run, a clean workspace not only makes you happier, it also makes you healthier and more productive .

If you're struggling to stay motivated during spring cleaning, the following tips will help you.

• Define your goals clearly. Chances are, you won't have to spend hours cleaning your office this spring. Therefore, deep cleaning some areas of your workspace is much better than cleaning your entire office in a messy way.
• As you achieve your goals, imagine your workplace as it will be. As opposed to something more specific like a hundred push-ups, cleanse goals are much more tailored to your situation. If you want a clean desktop, you need an image after you organize and clean it.
• Separate spring cleaning and daily cleaning . You should set spring cleaning goals that are broader than the repetitive tasks you complete throughout the year.
• Decide on a realistic time frame. A deadline gives you extra motivation to get started and helps you be accountable for your actions.
• Take before and after photos. When you look at your before photo, you can see how far you've come and how much you've achieved.

2. Establish a process.

Again, it takes time and effort to clean and organize . First you need to clean the area you are working on.

First, select the focus area that best suits your needs. For example, you can clear out one desk drawer at a time by cleaning in 10-minute sessions when your time is limited. It's better if you have a free afternoon to tackle a larger area, like your desk, at once.

Regardless of the size or scope of your goal, you must pay special attention to each element. Removing them from the work area allows you to clean them more efficiently. For example, remove the drawers from your desk. Then decide which items should stay and which should go. Whether you keep things or give them away, tidy them up.

Finally, clear away the items you will keep.

I'm personally a fan of mise en place. In French cuisine, this term refers to the work of setting up a kitchen before cooking. Translated, it means "everything is in its place". It requires collecting ingredients and tools, arranging them conveniently and preparing everything you need to cook. In other words, prepare meat or vegetables to cook right away.

However, it can be so easy to keep frequently used items near the front door. However, to stay organized, group items into categories. It can also help to create a small space to store papers and other items. So you stay organized even in busy office hours and in a hurry.

3. Set up different areas.

Organization expert Peter Walsh recommends creating zones based on roles or goals at Forbes .

Let's say you're reading and researching something. Maybe you need computer room, storage room, meeting room and library. Your office can be more efficient if you think of it as zones, which will help you keep your system organized.

Likewise, you can use folders to organize projects, jobs, clients, or other information if you still have physical documents. To make it easier to find later, label the folder. Folders like these are easy to stack and store away. If you need to take your work with you on the go, you can keep it in your bag or briefcase.

An important part of organizing your work and space is categorizing everything. Just leave a little leeway for the unexpected. For example, you can leave half a shelf empty and buy a few more folders if you want to expand your collection.

4. Take baby steps.

Especially before you start, you can feel overwhelmed with everything you need to clean and organize. To avoid this, remember that it's perfectly fine to do it little by little.

In some cases, people might choose to do their entire spring cleaning in one day. However, if that's not an option for you, don't worry. If you have free time, you can accomplish a lot by spending a few minutes here and there.

Whatever type of schedule you prefer, decide ahead of time how to proceed. So make sure you are aware of the plan. To commit to cleaning your workspace, schedule a time on your calendar . As a result, it becomes the top priority. And you will reach your goal sooner.

Remember to set an agenda to follow. If you overestimate the time commitment, progress may be delayed. Adjust the bar low enough to reach it.

5. Really clean and organize your workspace.

In most cases, you spend a lot of time at your workplace. The thing is, a crowded room can be distracting and can make you feel overwhelmed trying to complete your tasks in the room.

So tidy up your office or cubicle regularly . With a clean workspace, you can realign your priorities, clear your head, and regain your motivation for your workday with a new perspective through a new perspective.

Get rid of the clutter in your office by organizing your files and papers.

• If you have a stack of paper on your desk that you no longer need, throw it away.
• Important documents are best arranged in expandable folders, filing cabinets or folders. When you use wall cabinets, magazine cabinets, or desktop file sorters to organize your files, you'll have a lot more free space on your desk to work with.
• Invest in a desk organizer to keep pens, markers, paperclips, sticky notes and other small items on your desk organized and tidy. The one thing to remember about container organization is that you don't want to overdo it. If this is the case, it could lead you to hoarding unneeded items.
• If you still have sticky notes on your monitor, throw them away when you no longer need them.

Keep your desk drawers neat and tidy by organizing them.

• The bottom of your desk drawer is probably full of old pens, spices and whatever you have accumulated over time.
• If you receive many gifts, some of which you thought were great at the time, you may want to give them back to someone or give them to someone who could use them better.
• It's fairly common for small items like staples and staples to end up at the bottom of your desk drawer. Use a drawer organizer to keep them handy at all times.
• If you don't need personal items at work, bring them home.

Provide a dust-free environment for your keyboard and monitor.

• A microfiber cloth can be used to clean the monitor after use.
• After spraying your keyboard with compressed air, clean it with disinfectant wipes to remove dust and crumbs.
• Use disinfectant wipes to keep your phone and printer as clean as possible.

It is important to regularly clean under your desk.

• To remove dust from loose cables, wipe them with a damp cloth; The most effective way is to tie them with cable ties and keep them on the ground if possible. Consider using a cable organizer if you have one available.

If you have clutter on your walls, re-evaluate what you have there and remove as much of it as possible.

• Now might be a good time to review everything you've posted on your boards, e.g. B. Notes and photos. You can also replace them with the latest version if you have any.

6. Deal with digital clutter.

Your virtual workplace should also undergo a spring cleaning. Don't forget to spend a few hours cleaning the digital components of your desktop or laptop computer.

• Organize your desk so you can find things easily. A computer desk can quickly become cluttered with old files or documents. So remove these items when not in use. While you're at it, update your desktop wallpaper if you haven't already. Look for unnecessary or obsolete files and delete them.
• Organize your email. The simplest way to increase the productivity of your inbox is to optimize it! Going through them and deleting old or no longer relevant emails takes a few minutes.
• Cloud backup or external hard drive. Luckily, there are many cloud storage options these days, making it easier than ever to back up your files... But the hardest part is remembering to back them up regularly. There are several different providers to choose from, so it's important to speak to your company's IT department and find out which one they prefer. External hard drives should also be updated regularly if you cannot access the Internet.
• Update your passwords. In most companies it is generally necessary to change a company password at least twice a year. However, according to cyber security experts , it is recommended to change the password every three months . Because? It allows you to protect your files from being accessed by a potential hacker.

7. Update your calendar.

During this time of growth and rejuvenation, do more than declutter and declutter your physical workspace and digital assets. Also update your calendar this spring :

Take stock of your time and follow it.

If you want your calendar to look really tidy, you should first take a look at the content. For some historical data, you can view past appointments and calendars. The other thing you should also do is keep track of your time and see how it's actually being used. From here you can delete entries that you no longer need.

Follow the rule of three.

To make a list of everything you do in a month, you probably need to write down at least 20, 30, or even 40 different tasks and responsibilities at the end of the month. The more carefully you examine your list, item by item; You'll quickly realize that just three things are responsible for 90% of the value you bring to your small business.

Question all recurring events.

Check your calendar to see which recurring events and commitments you no longer have to keep, then remove them from your calendar. This way you can free up a lot of space in your calendar even if you use these features on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Deal with conflicts.

Once you realize there are potential problems, make sure they are fixed as soon as possible.

Say "yes" unless.

It's time to embrace Derek Sivers' idea: Say no more than yes. Say either Hell Yeah or No. Simplify your life and schedule by saying yes to less and no to more.

Don't just use your calendar for checklists and notes.

Some lists shouldn't be on your calendar, they clog it up with unnecessary details.

It's time to move on.

If you no longer want to be associated with someone else's calendar, sign out. For example, you should not follow a former employee or colleague as it would be useless.

consolidate schedules.

The time it takes to switch between different calendars is too long. To fix this problem, consolidate all your calendars into one main calendar.

8. Let your senses run free.

Organizing your files and removing dirt and dust are just a few of the things you need to do when cleaning your office. While you're at it, it might also add some positive energy to your space. If your desktop is dull and boring, maybe you should add some color to it.

Make your workspace more colorful by adding posters, artwork, personal knick-knacks or plants. It's important to remember that some people suffer from allergies to pollen and/or strong odors, so try not to complicate your work life.

You can also illuminate the room with dim lights. In addition, aromatherapy can reduce stress, promote relaxation, improve your mood, fight depression and give you energy for the day.

9. Get mentally clear.

Once you have cleared your physical and digital spaces, your mental focus follows immediately after. When you're overworked, you're likely to accumulate mental clutter, and a disorganized space will only add to the stress you're already feeling. If you work in a dysfunctional environment, you may find yourself overwhelmed by information or unable to focus on your priorities due to information overload.

It's only natural that the time and effort you put into organizing your workspace will lead to a renewed sense of well-being. Here are some of our other helpful tips:

• To focus your mind, you can keep a journal or take physical notes.
• Make sure you take short breaks throughout the day to reflect and clear your head.
• Take a step back and see the big picture from a different perspective
• Instead of solving all your problems at once, focus on one thing at a time.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help

10. Plan for future cleanups.

If spring cleaning has been bothering you this year, it probably means things got out of hand and it was time to take care of it. By keeping your workspace clean regularly, you can prevent this from happening in the future.

As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to clean your workspace at least once a week, such as on Friday afternoons. That way, you can catch up on all those little details that might have been missed in the process, if they're there. It is very important that you dust the lamps, the shelves and the desk; wipe hard surfaces if necessary; empty the trash; aquatic plants; and vacuum floors regularly.

frequently asked questions

What is the reason for the name spring cleaning?

There is ample evidence that spring cleaning began with the Persian New Year, which coincidentally falls on the first day of spring every year. All rooms in the house will be cleaned during this time. There are also some suggestions that spring cleaning may be related to the ancient Jewish practice of cleaning before Passover, another spring festival, as well as spring cleaning.

It seems that most people, especially in humid continental climates, prefer to clean and dust in March, regardless of their religious beliefs. This is because in March or April the weather is warm enough to open doors and windows and therefore the wind can blow the dust out of the house. Other than that, no bug issues as it's too cold for them.

Why is it important to keep your workspace clean and organized?

We are spending more and more time in our workplaces, so it is important that they are always clean and fresh. You should also ensure that your workplace is disinfected every day, especially if you work from home. This protects you from any viruses that may have been brought in, your living space is kept clean and you ensure that you do not transmit any germs to other people.

Plus, a clean and organized workspace means fewer distractions and errors.

How can you keep your desk clutter free?

By following these steps, you can keep your desktop clean and free from clutter and clutter:

• The first question to ask yourself is: Does this item belong in my office? If not, you should throw it away or put it where it belongs.
• Put pens, stationery, folders or books back in their place after use.
• Keep important items like pens and pencils in your desk drawers for easy access.
• To reduce paper consumption, consider going digital.

Selected photo credits: Photo by Nathan Cowley Photo ; Pixel; Thank you very much!

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