Spring into Action – Clean, Declutter and Organize!
By Matt Kosciolek, Client Relationship Manager
I’m forever grateful to have been born and raised in “The Great Lakes State.” No, it’s not because of the vast selection of potholes to hit or the ever-skyrocketing auto insurance premiums… It’s the four distinctly different seasons that we Michiganders are fortunate enough to experience. Fall brings trips to the cider mill and vibrant color changes of the leaves. A summer favorite is trips “up north” to a cabin by the lake, and in the winter we can join an impromptu pick-up game of pond hockey. Winter can be brutal here, and lately our local meteorologists have been using buzzwords like “Polar Vortex” and “Bomb Cyclone” to explain weather occurrences. We know that we cannot rule out the possibility of a snowstorm until Memorial Day weekend arrives; however, stepping out-doors today, it seems safe to say that spring has officially arrived.
I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that warmer days have a direct influence on our mood and behavior. Daylight Savings Time lengthens our days and allows us more time to complete tasks and enjoy some downtime. The extra hours of daylight can also be a huge mood booster, according to some research. This may be the reason we are more likely to tackle a spring-cleaning checklist. Here is a snippet of a Spring-Cleaning Checklist from Martha Stewart in case you are motivated to give your home a little TLC this spring.
Spring-Cleaning Checklist
- Wipe walls and ceilings; use a vacuum to remove dust
- Reseal grout lines
- Vacuum and shampoo rugs
- Dust your home thoroughly, including books and shelves
- Clean upholstered furnishings
- Polish metal door and window hardware
- Wax wooden furniture
If spring cleaning isn’t your thing, then you may want to consider using some of this spring energy towards organizing your work life. There are many benefits to keeping yourself organized:
- You can increase your productivity. By keeping organized, you will save time not having to look for things, leaving 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.
- You can be on time – consistently. 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.
- You can ensure you meet deadlines. When task after task begins to pile up, it isn’t too hard to for-get small yet important tasks. Don’t miss an important deadline on a project because you got sidetracked with another urgent item. Set calendar alerts so you will never miss a deadline again – or better yet, surprise your manager and complete your task ahead of schedule.
These benefits sounds great, but how do you get started? Here are some items you should consider organizing and tips on how you can get started.
Your Desk
Start by getting rid of any papers that can be recycled and/or shredded. This is usually the biggest part of clutter on a person’s desk. If a document contains con-fidential information, be sure to go the route of shred-ding rather than just straight recycling. For all other papers that you feel are important to keep, create a filing system and label items. Sort things out by client/customer, by project, alphabetically, by date, or what-ever makes the most sense for you.
Your computer files
If you work on a computer, you will 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.
The company shared drive or file management system
For those who work in an office with other colleagues, you may have some sort of shared drive/filing system that is accessible by the entire company. As mentioned, file organization is key, but it be-comes even more necessary when colleagues rely on one another to remain organized. For files that you share, define a file folder and file naming convention that all can easily understand and maintain.
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! Even for those who work outside of a traditional office, such as contractors or service technicians, you may have several projects to work on in a given day, or potential clients to meet with. Avoid being late or double-booked by attaching an electronic calendar to your email.
Your cell 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. Browse organizational choices or ask your colleagues for recommendations.
Hopefully these tips will get you started on your way to better organization. Happy spring!