8 ways to reduce clutter at work

PR pros are known for getting things done, but they aren’t often known for their tidy workspaces. Those two things are more related than you might think.

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If so, you need help. It’s time to get your space and your thoughts organized.

Simply having a kempt workspace can increase your productivity and reduce stress. According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, we spend one year of our lives looking for lost items. A full year. Take your first step toward organization by starting with the basics.

The physical

1. Designate a space for every item.

This may sound easy, and it can be at the beginning. What’s difficult is remembering to put things back in their place. Start with managing miscellaneous clutter permeating your desk. For example: Writing utensils belong in a cup/holder of some sort. I recommend a cup and not a drawer, as the former provides easy access to the writing implements; otherwise they might roll around in a drawer and accumulate in the back.

Now that your pens have a place, keep them by a pad of Post-its, close to the phone on your desk. This way, if you’re surprised with an important call, you have somewhere to write notes—or if you happen to take a message for someone who is unavailable, a Post-it does the trick.

2. Determine a space for your Post-its, too.

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