There are two kinds of people in the office, those who keep a neat desk, and those who don’t. While there’s nothing wrong with a messy desk, it can be distracting to you and those you work with. Some say a messy desk is the sign of a creative person, and what we call “mess” might be totally organized to someone else. But a neat desk actually can have a huge impact on your work.

Your desk represents who you are, and people form impressions of you based on your workspace. A tidy desk projects a level of efficiency and professionalism, and most people feel they can be more productive and focused in a neat and tidy office environment.

Working at a desk cluttered with papers and notes can make workers feel overwhelmed (whether they know it or not), and that outward chaos can lead to inner stress. These things can distract from the important tasks at hand and make you scattered. Keeping only the bare necessities on your desk will not only calm the chaos, but will allow you to be more efficient and productive every day.

 

The 4 Things I Always Keep on My Desk:

 

1. A Task Light

Lighting is a commonly overlooked ergonomic tool. How is lighting ergonomic, you say? Well, proper lighting where and when you need it allows you to see what you need to see without moving your body to find the right light or straining your eyes to read in dim light.

Those overhead fluorescents might seem nice, but they’re often not enough. The perfect task light is dimmable to fit the brightness you need, adjustable to point in the right direction, and has a light spectrum that represents true colors, like this one.

Companies can save on energy costs by reducing overhead light levels and providing workers with desktop task lights. To offset investment costs, research from the American Optometric Association says that “increasing task contrast is an important means of increasing overall performance.” So a task light will not only improve your ergonomics while you work, reducing fatigue and injury, but can increase your productivity, too.

 

2. A Plant

Having a plant on your desk helps bring some life to your space (literally). We all know the emotional and psychological benefits of a walk in the woods, so why not bring some greenery into your office? Spending time in nature (or bringing nature to you) can lift your mood and boost creative energy.

The best desk plants grow in low light with minimal maintenance, and some can even help filter the air. Try an air plant, succulent, spider plant, or snake plant in a pot near a window or under a desk light (natural light is best, but a desk light will work, too).

 

3. A Notepad

While many of us work 100% online, the trusted pen and paper are still great for keeping track of to-do’s, taking quick notes, and carrying with you to meetings.

The best way to cement important notes in your memory is to rewrite (or type) them. If you keep a to-do list in your notepad, rewrite it every morning with the top 3 tasks for the day so you can focus on what’s most important. When you get back to your desk after a meeting, rewrite or type up your notes so you’re more likely to remember them.

Another notepad perk, they’re great for doodling! Mind-mapping, bringing visual structure to notes, is a great brainstorming tool to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.

 

4. A Water Bottle

Depending on your body, most of us are supposed to drink about eight, 8 oz glasses of water a day (that’s half a gallon). Staying hydrated can increase energy, brain function, and memory. Water is great at relieving fatigue, even headaches and back pain! By drinking plenty of water, you’ll be productive and comfortable all day.

Keep a reusable water bottle on your desk and refill it a few times a day; you’ll be hydrated and have a chance to get up and take a stroll to the water cooler.

 

All the Things I Keep in My Drawer:

 

Mobile pedestals and file cabinets are a great way to store your supplies, and some can even double as a visitor chair by adding a pad on top.

Having storage space near your desk not only keeps you organized, it keeps you focused. With distractions out of sight, you can home in on the things that are important. While a clean and clear desk is great, there are still some tools you need throughout the day that should be nearby. 

 

Office Supplies

This is a broad term, but depending on the kind of work you do, your drawers should be stocked with pens, markers, staplers, scissors, paper clips, tape, and sticky notes. Keep these items organized with drawer dividers.

 

Cleaning Supplies

A neat desk should also be a clean desk! Spring cleaning your workspace can keep dust at bay and monitors free of fingerprints. 

Keep cleaning spray or wipes in your drawer so you can scrub down your worksurface once a week. Use microfiber cleaning cloths to wipe off your monitor, laptop, and phone (so you can actually see your screens!).

Hand sanitizer is also a good desk drawer staple. Colds and flus can spread fast through an office, so arm yourself with disinfectant to ward off sickness.

 

Electronic Accessories

Keep charging cords, back-up batteries, and USB drives in your drawer in case you need them. A couple AAA’s can save the day when your wireless mouse suddenly dies and you’ve got a deadline fast approaching. 

 

Important Documents

Record-keeping is a lost art, as most invoices, receipts, and important documents live in our email trash (oops). A better way is to print out and organize important reference material and records in your file cabinet. Use hanging file folders with labels to keep your documents neat and tidy.

 

Snacks

Trying to work when you’re running low on energy can be exhausting, and doesn’t produce quality results. Keeping healthy snacks at your desk for the mid-afternoon slump can help you drill down on your to-do list. Choose foods that are shelf-stable and nutrient rich, like mixed nuts, beef jerky, granola bars, or dried fruit. Store your snacks in air-tight containers so you don’t attract any unwelcome guests.

 

Tennis Shoes

Fitting in some exercise into your busy work-week can be difficult, but try squeezing in a brisk lunch-break walk or run. By keeping comfortable exercise shoes at your desk, you can quickly change your shoes and take an exercise break during the day.

Even a short stroll can help you feel good and stay focused for the rest of the day. Research shows that just 30 minutes of walking during the day can make employees happier and more productive.

 

A Book

Taking breaks throughout the day can do wonders for your work. While a walk is great for your body, giving your mind a break can make it easier to tackle work tasks. 

Keep a book in your drawer, something that’s entertaining and will take your mind off your work. Taking a mental break can help stimulate information retention and reduce stress.

 

Headphones

Unless you are lucky enough to have your own office, you may have to deal with the noise that comes along with an open office space. Phones ringing and constant chatter can be really distracting.

Use a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to drown out the noise and focus on your work. Try listening to calming music without lyrics, like instrumental version of your favorite songs.

 

A neat desk is a helpful tool that productive employees use to stay focused. If you’re a messy desk kind of person, examine what items you use or enjoy, and slowly remove the ones you don’t. Adopt an organization system that works for you. You may find that a tidy desk changes the way you work. Need help getting organized? Check out these storage and organization accessories.

Everything we do, from big projects to day-to-day tasks, is part of a workflow. Defined generally, workflow is “the sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.” It can also be how you manage a variety of projects and how you structure your personal processes. Streamlining your workflow means making everything you do more efficient. You can do this by creating and sticking specific processes, utilizing automation, implementing time management techniques, and delegating to others when it makes more sense to do so. Ultimately, the goal is to optimize efficiency so you can get it all done with less stress and in less time. 

 

Create a streamlined process & stick to it

Everything you work on, individually or with a team, should have a process. That process will be different for each application, but creating one and sticking to it will make everything go smoother. If you have existing processes for most projects, make sure that new projects can either work within those processes or create a new process before you get started. Evaluate existing processes to make sure they’re geared toward the ultimate goals of working efficiently and achieving valuable results. If there are parts of a  process that become sticking points, how can you smooth them out? Cut excess steps from your workflow that are dragging down the process or taking too much time. Integrate digital tools to make your processes better or faster. 

 

Automate (some of) your work

If much (or even just a small part) of your time is spent on busy work, automation can become your best friend. Automation tools like canned email responses, automatic reminders, scheduling things ahead of time, or setting up rules to keep your email organized will cut out unnecessary steps. You can also use automation to completely remove tasks from your workflow, like automatic updates or database syncing. For example, if you’re collaborating with colleagues on a document, rather than wasting time sending updated files back and forth via email, rely on cloud-based file storage so everyone can access the living document anytime. There are tons of options for automation that will be different depending on the tasks you do day to day, but evaluate what you’re spending time on that automation could do for you, and use the power of technology to streamline it.

 

Time your tasks

Parkinson’s law states that tasks expand to the time allotted, so if you let them, individual tasks will end up taking much longer than they should. Time yourself and set a limit for each task. Create a daily schedule with the tasks you want to complete that day and the time you want to allocate to them. Ignore your email and adjust your notification settings so that you can focus on one thing at a time. 

While we all may think we’re good at multitasking, it actually takes us much longer to get back into a project when we stop to do something else in between. Force yourself to do just one thing at a time, for a specific amount of time, and set a timer so you know when to switch gears. In between tasks, check your email and notifications, but make sure you keep track of the time you spend doing those things, too, as often times ‘just checking’ your notifications can take up more time than it should. 

Once you gather some initial data about how long it takes you to do each task, you can start to limit the time you spend on each thing. You may think this could cause you to rush, but really, it will help you focus and get more done!

 

Do the important stuff first & work to your advantage

Even if it’s not important in terms of your priorities, if something only takes a few minutes to do, just go ahead and do it now. Got a quick question over email that you know the answer to? Rather than let that email sit in your mailbox, go ahead and send your response. If you leave it for later, you now must read the email and think about it twice rather than just getting it off your to-do list right away. 

Each day, create a list of the things you want to work on and can realistically complete that day. If you are working toward a big, long-term project, break it up into smaller steps and try to check off one or two each day. Make sure to prioritize your to-do list in order of importance. This can be determined by a deadline or the value of the work. If something is time sensitive and valuable, it should be at the top of your list. If something is not time sensitive and not really that valuable, it should be at the bottom of your list. 

Work to your advantage by noticing what time of day (or in what location) you do each type of task best. If you’re more creative in the morning, block out that time for creative work. Notice when and how you work best and create your schedule around that. You’ll be able to work more efficiently by adjusting your schedule to fit how you work, streamlining your entire workflow to boost productivity.

 

Ask a lot of questions

Nothing kills efficiency like miscommunication, misunderstanding, or time wasted on the wrong thing. Asking a lot of questions in the beginning of a project and throughout the process will ensure you know what’s expected of you and can meet (or exceed) expectations. Make sure to ask for feedback along the way, even if what you’re working on isn’t completely polished. It could reduce the chance of re-doing work. Asking a lot of questions will help you get it right the first time or be able to pivot early in the project. 

 

Delegate when you need to

Sometimes the best way to streamline your workflow would be to ask for help from others. If you have a lot on your plate and can’t give your full attention to a certain project, handing it off to someone else who does have the time will ensure the project gets done without disrupting the rest of your work. Delegating to others can be difficult, but if you ask for help, projects can be streamlined to produce quality results in record time.

If you want to amp up your productivity this year, start by setting yourself up for success! Outline your goals, make better to-do lists, and work efficiently. End each workday feeling accomplished and on track. Adopt these productivity hacks to make this year your most productive yet!

 

Set your goals for the year

To set yourself up for success this year, outline your big goals. Think high level at first with broad goals that align with your team. Once you have some initial, high level goals, drill down to smaller benchmarks and tasks that will help you meet them. Meet with your team to get on the same page and set priorities. Enter your goals into a project management system to share with colleagues and track your progress throughout the year.

 

Make better to-do lists

To-do lists serve two main purposes: they outline the things you need to get done (of course), but they also make it so you don’t have to actively remember all your projects and tasks. Save yourself some bandwidth by keeping an up-to-date to-do list with both long term projects and short term tasks. Take notes often, in meetings, during phone calls, and as you sort through your emails so you don’t have to keep a mental list.

Break down larger projects into bite-sized chunks so you can tackle one small part of the overall project at a time. Track your progress and give yourself a pat on the back with every to-do you check off. Digitize your list so you can easily reorganize as priorities shift. This can be an online project management tool, an app on your phone, or a simple spreadsheet. Set deadlines for everything, even if it’s just a self-imposed one. The urgency of an approaching deadline will motivate you to get it done.

Everyday, create a short list of the specific tasks that you can realistically complete that day. Whether these are one-off projects or a small task that gets you closer to completing a larger project, breaking it all down and checking things off throughout the day will keep you on track. Make sure to constantly evaluate priorities, keeping in mind the urgency and importance of each task.

 

Trim the fat

To really amp up your productivity, cut out the excess. Parkinson’s Law states that “work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.” Cut the default for meetings from 1 hr to 45 minutes (or from 30 minutes to 20); you’ll be surprised to discover you can cover all the same information in less time. Identify the things you do every day that seem to take much more time than they should and streamline those processes or cut those tasks entirely. Schedule time to wrangle your inbox, like checking email every few hours rather than constantly. Unsubscribe from emails lists that you no longer need and set up rules on your email to move unimportant emails to a folder automatically, keeping your inbox at a manageable level.

 

Nix the notifications

Stay focused on the task at hand by turning off desktop and smartphone notifications. When you’re in the middle of a project and you get a pop up on your screen, it takes much longer than you’d think to refocus and get back into the groove. Silence your phone or put it on Do Not Disturb while you’re working. Minimize distractions in every way possible to help you maintain focus and work more efficiently. 

 

Do one thing at a time

You may think you’re good at multitasking (we all do!), but you’re actually doing two things poorly rather than one thing productively. Focus on the most important task at hand and force yourself to do just one thing at a time. When you’re ready to switch gears, go for it! But don’t try to do it all at once.

 

Don’t worry about being perfect

Perfectionism kills productivity! Let go of being perfect and be comfortable with good enough or good enough for right now. You can always revisit something later to make it more polished, but if you wait until it’s perfect to call it complete, you’ll never finish! Don’t be afraid to send draft versions, works in progress, or incomplete deliverables. Let your team know where the project stands and ask for input along the way. This will help you get it done without the pressure to make it perfect.

Every once in a while, your office needs a reboot. Make your old office feel like new again by giving it a deep clean, getting organized, and adding your own personal touches. Get ready for the new year with a workspace that feels brand new, even if it’s not. Here are our tips to help you update your office space.

 

1. Do a Deep Clean

Nothing says ‘new’ like a nice clean workspace. Remember when you first moved into your office space and everything was sparkling clean? Since then, dust and dirt have surely accumulated, especially in those hard to reach and rarely seen nooks and crannies, like behind your desk, under your file cabinet, or on that bookshelf that’s more decorative than actually used. Start the new year off right with a bit of spring (or… winter?) cleaning. 

Start by clearing everything off your desk and giving it a good wipe down with cleaning wipes or cleaning spray and a towel. Bonus points if you use disinfecting wipes/spray which might also save  you from getting the flu (which is almost surely already spreading throughout your office). Do the same thing for other surfaces in your workspace like bookshelves, the top of cabinets, printers, etc. If you have access to a vacuum, tackle the dust and dirt behind and underneath your office furniture. Maybe do it with your eyes closed so you don’t have to face the hair balls and dust bunnies that you’ve been rooming with lately.

 

2. Get Organized

Before you start putting everything back on your desk, think about what you really need within reach 24/7. If it’s not something you use every day, find a place for it in your file cabinet or on a shelf to keep your desk as clear as possible. If you don’t have a good place to store your office supplies, get yourself a mobile ped to keep everything you need within reach but off your desktop. 

Empty out your storage spaces and purge what you no longer need. Stacks of papers from a project long completed… mystery charging cords that don’t work with any of your current devices… a second stapler (you do NOT need two staplers)… Be real with yourself about what you actually need and force yourself to clear the clutter, even if it’s typically out of sight.

 

3. Manage Those Cables

If the underside of your desk is a jumble of cords and cables, twisted together and hanging every which way, it’s time to do some cable management. Install a cable trough to the underside of the worksurface to run cables from your desktop equipment to one end of the desk. A trough gives you tons of space to keep cables tucked up under the worksurface without worrying about keeping them tightly together. Add a cable chain or sleeve to get the cables from the trough to the nearest outlet or a power strip on the floor. This keeps the cables in one neat string rather than dangling all over the place. 

 

4. Rearrange Your Furniture

Give your office a whole new look and feel by rearranging your furniture. Move your desk to a different spot in the room or change the angle so you have a new view. If moving your desk is not an option, change the position of your monitor so you can face a slightly different direction. Small changes like this might just change the way you work! 

Add or rearrange nearby seating to give your visitors a nice place to sit. If you don’t have seating near your workspace, add a mobile ped pad to the top of your mobile ped so it doubles as an extra seat.

Remove furniture you don’t use, like empty bookcases or cabinets. Add pieces that you will use, like a task table or small meeting table, or hanging shelves that give you extra storage without taking up floor space.

 

5. Add More (or Better) Lighting

Office overhead lights are often too bright, harsh, or poorly positioned. While you probably can’t change the overhead lights themselves (wouldn’t a chandelier be fun?), you can add under-cabinet and desktop task lights to put the right kind of light right where you need it. Place one or two task lights on your desktop within arms’ distance so you can quickly adjust the position, angle, or brightness without reaching or bending. Adjust the light for proper contract of text and ensure there are no cast shadows or glare. Task lights properly positioned throughout your office space give it a warmer, cozier feel. Try also putting some in the corners and facing them upward to cast diffused light off the walls. Add occupancy sensors to your office lighting that automatically turn the lights off when your office is empty, saving energy. Make sure there are no barriers blocking the occupancy sensor so it can function properly. Point the sensors at your office chair so they turn on when you’re at your desk and off when you’ve left.

 

6. Bring in Some Plants

Ah, plants… Greenery has so many benefits, especially in an office! The sight of plants can be calming and reduces stress. Plants release oxygen to help you breathe easy while you work. They brighten and liven up the space, easily. Bring in some small succulents for your desktop or add a large ficus in a sunny corner of the office. Make sure the plants have enough light, whether it’s natural light from nearby windows or simply desktop lights positioned over them. Choose plants that do well in low-light and don’t require constant attention so they can thrive in your office space.

 

7. Decorate the Walls

Give your workspace some personal touches by hanging up photos of family or friends. Display posters or prints that bring you joy and include calming colors or images of nature. Hang Tranquility Panels on the walls for a pop of color, plus better acoustics. Tranquility Panels are fully tackable, so you can add photos, magazine clippings, or postcards to the panels with push pins.

Nothing ruins a beautiful office like ugly cords dangling beneath desks. Whether it’s for aesthetics or safety, cable management is crucial to maintaining a neat and tidy workstation. Once you wrangle those cables, you’ll find you have more workspace, freedom of movement, and peace of mind (Don’t believe us? Try it!). Optimize your workstation with simple and easy to install cable management solutions that keep your cords and cables out of sight and out of mind.

 

Horizontal cable management

If you have a TON of cables to manage, a Cable Management Trough might just be your knight in shining… steel? Cable Troughs are mounted underneath your worksurface, running horizontally along the backside of your desk. And they can hold more than just cables. Do you have hefty cable boxes or surge protectors? Cable Troughs can hold all those, too. Workrite has a few different Cable Troughs to choose from: Mesh Cable Trough, Metal Cable Trough, and High Capacity Metal Cable Trough.

Other horizontal cable management solutions include simple clips and straps that you can attach to the underside of the worksurface, wire ways (which are like the cable trough’s little brother), and modesty panels with integrated cable management.

 

Vertical cable management

Once you have all your cables neatly tucked beneath your desk horizontally, it’s time to tackle the necessary evil of getting all those cords to their power source on the floor or wall. Vertical cable management solutions help you run cables from your desk to a nearby outlet without having them just dangling and getting in your way. Our vertical cable management solutions include a Magnetic Cable Manager, Cable Manager Chain, Vertical Wire Management, and Vertical Cable Sleeve. No matter which option you choose, optimizing your desk with the right combination of cable management solutions will give you the elegant and organized workstation of your dreams!

 

Above-desk cable management

Ready to take your cable management to the next level? Under-desk cable management is a must, but above-desk cable management is where you can really optimize your workspace. If your monitor arm doesn’t have cable management built in, you can add clips to the arm so that cables between your under-desk cable managers and your monitor run smoothly along the monitor arm, rather than snaking along the back of your worksurface. If you have smaller devices that you need to keep charged, like cell phones, tablets, and laptops, add an above-desk power supply so you have an outlet right on your desktop.

 

Share your cable management success stories on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (tag us @workriteergo).

Is your workspace cluttered? Is your desk covered with documents, office supplies, and personal items? All these things may help you get your work done, but if they’re in your way and leading to unnecessary distractions, it’s time to clear the clutter. Optimize your productivity and make your workspace work for you with storage solutions that are sleek and functional. Even if the majority of your work is done on a computer, clutter can still creep into your workspace. Here are some smart storage solutions to help you #WorkOptimized.

 

Slim Mobile Peds

Also known as good-ol-fashioned file cabinets, mobile pedestals can roll around your workspace so they’re there when you need them, but can roll away when you don’t. A slim mobile ped, like our new Metal or Laminated Mobile Pedestals, can roll under your desk while still leaving plenty of space for your legs and chair. Combine storage with style by matching your mobile ped’s metal and laminate colors to your desk for a clean, cohesive look. Use the top drawer for pens, staplers, notepads and other office supplies, and the bottom drawer for hanging file folders, your lunchbox, or tennis shoes.

 

Hanging Pedestals

They’re like mobile peds but attached to the underside of your worksurface. Hanging Pedestals not only keep your workspace clean with convenient storage, but they keep the floor clear as well. With a single drawer and organization tray, you can store files and office supplies all in one place. Add the integrated power supply to charge your devices from inside the drawer. Like the slim Mobile Ped, you can choose metal or laminate colors to perfectly match your desk. And when you adjust your desk from sitting to standing, your hanging ped comes right up with you.

 

Tool Bar with Organizational Tools

Maybe you want more of your supplies right at your fingertips as well as a clear worksurface. Mount a Tool Bar to the backside of your worksurface and attach a variety of organizational tools for storing everything you need throughout the day, like a Pen Holder, Folder Tray, and Accessory Tray. You can keep your documents and office supplies within reach without cluttering your worksurface.

 

Once you have the right storage solutions, the hard part is using them. Make it part of your daily or weekly routine to clear your desk of unnecessary items, like filing documents and organizing your office supplies in their respective homes. Think about what materials you actually use every day and make a space for those on your desk or in your mobile ped. The few items you do choose to keep on your desk should be chosen with care, and if you don’t use it every day, store it away! 

A neat and tidy desk will optimize your workspace for productivity, minimize distractions, and help you be more efficient. Set yourself up for success with storage that works.

 

Check out all our Storage & Organization Accessories:

Work environments are so vital to business success. I don’t mean the decor, equipment, and location (although, those things are important), but how people work together. Companies with a great culture can find better success because they’re more likely to retain valuable employees, attract top talent, and work more efficiently. When people are happy and can work well together, we can all get more done (and feel good doing it!).

The company culture at Workrite is the core of who we are, and how we drive business. The employees here are like family and we’re all dedicated to the work we do, which is why we’re able to do great work! Here are some ways company culture drives business and how you can help build a strong company culture that’s good for business and great for employees.

 

More innovation

When the culture of a company supports and empowers its employees, those people have the chance to explore new ideas and reimagine the possibilities of what they create. Something as simple as an open door policy for management allows people to bring their innovative ideas forward. When people are happy and supported by a strong self of belonging and camaraderie, they will naturally converse with colleagues and brainstorm new ideas together. The more we work together and support one another, the more innovative results we can bring to life.

 

Common values, goals, & mission

Getting the whole company on the same page, backing a single mission, helps align people not only to the tasks at hand, but the reason behind them. A company culture that is centered around a core set of values and specific goals, all geared toward a meaningful mission, gives the team a clear sense of direction. When people are working toward the same thing and understand their vital role in bringing it to fruition, everyone can work better together, driving business success.

 

Retention & recruiting

No one wants to work for a company with a bad (or non-existent) culture. Employees are more likely to stay with the company when they understand and support the mission and can work well within the team. A strong company culture provides a sense of belonging that keeps valuable employees around and can attract new talent. In recruiting, the company culture is increasingly the deciding factor for new hires. People want to know that they will enjoy coming into work everyday. Retaining long-term employees maintains an important wealth of knowledge and attracting top talent helps businesses grow and innovate.

 

Efficiency & productivity

A good company culture isn’t all about team-building activities, pot-lucks, or ping pong tournaments (although, we like all those things at Workrite); it’s about empowering people to work together to solve problems and produce quality work that backs up the company’s mission. Bringing people together (for work & play) helps us work more efficiently and be more productive. When we understand the company’s goals and feel like we’re part of something bigger, we are empowered to put in the work to drive that mission forward. A good company culture drives teamwork and focuses on the bigger picture, allowing people to work together toward a central purpose.

 

Culture should be the core of any company. It’s central to what you do and why you do it. It brings people together in support of a common mission and can improve teamwork, efficiency, and innovation. A good culture centers around empowering people, since after all, a company is the sum of its people. Building a strong company culture is the foundation for a future of employee satisfaction and business success.