BE ORGANIZED. BE PRODUCTIVE.

AILEEN P. MACAPAYAG

Being organized is a to- do list mostly for those who are busy at work. Excuses are made to prolong the cleaning and clearing of unwanted stuff accumulated from years of beating deadlines and doing reports.

Whether or not keeping organized is one of your strengths, it’s a habit everyone should get into. If you’ve ever kept your boss waiting because you couldn’t locate an important document, or if you’re guilty of arriving late to meetings frequently or missing an important deadline, getting organized should be at the top of your to-do li st.

It is a must to start organizing so as to avoid the cycle of having unwanted mess in your workplace.

Where to start?

1. Your desk / work table.

This is usually the biggest part of clutter on a person’s desk. If a document contains confidential information, be sure to go the route of shredding, rather than recycling. For all other papers that you feel are important to keep, create a filing system and label items.

2. Your computer files

If you work on a computer all day, you may want to ensure your files are organized in a manner that will make it easy for you to locate an item quickly. Be specific in terms of file names so you can conduct an easy search for a specific item when in a rush. This might not seem like a big deal, but it can be a huge time-saver.

3.Your calendar

Have a meeting or appointment to go to in the middle of the day? Have a project with a strict deadline? Add these to your calendar! Avoid being late or double-booked by attaching an electronic calendar to your email.

4. Your cellphone/ mobile phone

A great way to stay on top of things is to sync your phone with your work email, and also sync your phone with your calendar. There are also a number of apps that can help keep you organized at work. Make use of your cellphone as your mobile pocket notebook for reminders and important things to do.

By keeping organized, you will save time looking for things and will have more time to work on important tasks. As organization can improve the flow of communication between you and your team, you can also make your team more productive. After all, better communication leads to better results.

Organization and punctuality go hand-in-hand. Consider setting calendar alerts, for example, to ensure you do not get too caught up in a task and lose track of time. Impress your manager – be prompt and show up on time.

Get organized and see productive results within yourself and your working goals as well!