Organizing and productivity

Aug 26

How to Stay Productive on a Friday Workday

By Sherry Borsheim Business Organizing, Home Office Organization No Comments

Stay Productive

You’ve put in the time, gotten over the hump and have finally reached the end of the week. But as the clock is slowing ticking the seconds away on a Friday, it can be extremely difficult to motivate yourself. However, don’t let the last remaining hours of the Friday go to waste. Instead, you may to do as much as you can in the home stretch, as it can put you in a better position for the dreaded Monday morning. The following are tips on how to stay productive as the clock is winding down on the week:

1. Plan for Small Tasks

While you may want to do as much as you can, you should be realistic about your own expectations. Working beyond your capacity can leave you burnt out, and in a worse state of mind to face the weekend. Instead, make a to-do list of tasks that are small and can be easily achieved by the end of the day. By taking a major project and breaking it up into bite-size chunks, it can have a positive effect on the progress and your overall productivity.

2. Remove Distractions

It can be difficult to stop yourself from gazing out the window, watching your colleagues leave for the weekend. However, this can quickly lead to procrastination, reducing your chances of productivity on a Friday. In general, you want to remove as many distractions from your space as possible, in order to get work done. Whether this involves moving away from the windows or cleaning up your workspace, take the steps you need in order to create an environment more conducive towards work.

3. Stay Away from Social Media

Social media can be a major hindrance to your productivity, as your friends and colleagues tweet and send out updates of fun plans and schedules. However, don’t get distracted by their upcoming plans for the weekend! Instead, try to limit your usage of social media, as it can quickly suck up your time and energy. Make sure you close out of any social media tools or profiles, as it can seriously hinder your workflow. Soon enough, you’ll be able to join in and enjoy your weekend as well.

4. Take Breaks

If you’re feeling unproductive, you may need to take some time away from your desk. One tip is to take breaks throughout the day in order to break up the monotony of a Friday. Great ways to relieve your restlessness include taking a brisk walk or to strike up a quick conversation with a colleague. In addition, many companies realize the need to take breaks, and often host mixers and happy hours on the Friday workweek. If your workplace offers this type of activity, it’s highly advised that you take part, in order to network with coworkers as well as gain a much needed respite.

5.Plan Ahead

If you simply cannot get any work done, then the least you can do is to plan for the days ahead. For example, organize your tasks for a project and determine a schedule that will help you achieve them effectively and efficiently. Not only will this cut down on precious time spent scheduling and planning, it will also relieve a great deal of stress on your upcoming work week.

How do you stay productive on Fridays?

Abby Evans is an avid blogger who writes on everything from finding jobs in Toronto and navigating the job search Canada. She has written on a variety of blogs and websites, and loves to learn all she can on the job hunt.

Aug 19

Love0

Do You Nap at Work? 9 Reasons You Should.

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Business Organizing, Expert Articles, Free Articles, Inspiration No Comments

Did She Say Nap at Work?

I did! Napping at work is not commonly viewed in a positive light. But what if it was shown that catching quick catnaps could actually benefit your employer?

Sound to good to be true? This article was recently shared with me- and I’m passing on the good news to you! Check out the great benefits a few Zzzz during the day can lead to. Who is up for a great argument on the benefits of catching a short nap at work?

Do you agree that a nap at work can have positive effects? Or do you think this is a fad that won’t catch on! Let us know in the comments below.

And then check out this interesting read: 9 Indisputable Reasons to Nap at Work.

Aug 09

Love0

Does a Messy Desk Make You More Productive?

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Business Organizing, Closet Organizing, Free Articles, Home Office Organization, Home Organizing, IABO Weekly News, Inspiration, Organizing Paper Files No Comments

Well, the verdict is still out on this one and I’m not sure that having piles of paper and stacks of stuff around makes you more productive. I know for me, that a clean desk is a calm mind and I’m less distracted and more focused on the task at hand. But on the other hand, if a messy desk can lead to make employees more productive, than maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. So I stuck my neck out on this one, held my breath and waited for your response.

What’s your threshold for clutter?

For the past 25 years, I’ve worked with 1000’s of business owners, executives and employees who range from being very creative, spontaneous, most things last-minute to clean desk, highly organized and looking for ways to improve their systems even more (they don’t like to waste time). What I know to be true is everyone has a different threshold and tolerance for the amount of clutter and chaos they allow to pile up on their desk, in their homes, and in their life. When they hit the breaking point, they call me for help.

Cookie-cutter solutions don’t stick

Another lesson I’ve learned as a Productivity and Organizing Consultant is there’s no one-size fits-all solution to organization and time management. That’s the reason all my products, programs and hands-on services are personalized to the way you think, function, and use your environment. I will share several ways to organize something and you decide what works best for you and then personalize it. No cookie-cutter solutions here!

It’s about the journey

The truth is, organizing is also a journey (which we really don’t like to hear) and in the process we all learn about ourselves, our habits, our choices, and we grow as a person expanding our skill base and knowledge. It’s our choices that determine our reality. Let’s be realistic here, the piles didn’t magically happen overnight, and they won’t magically disappear by the wave of a magic wand. As much as I’d like to wave a magic wand and make all the piles and chaos go away, keeping your desk clean of stacks and piles takes daily maintenance. Just like your clothes won’t magically pick themselves up off the floor and hang themselves on hangers in your closet, or the dishes in the sink won’t wash themselves. The same is true with getting and staying organized, and achieving your dreams and goals – it’s about choices and taking action.

Also, there are foundational best practices and systems that need to be in place to effectively run a business or household, otherwise you’ll be:

Wasting precious and valuable time looking for things
Losing money on missed opportunities and duplicate purchases, and
More than likely, unfocused and not as productive as you could be

Time-tested Productivity and Organizing Solutions

Before I recommend any products, systems and processes, apps, software or referrals, I personally test and use everything myself. For software, apps and all things technical, it must pass the strict scrutiny of my technical team. After it’s passed all our tests on ease of use, functionality, durability, esthetics and so on, then we share the productivity tools and organizing systems with you. We take our job seriously because we know that you put your trust in us and our recommendations.

So when I read this interesting article written by Rob Waugh “Messy desks in the office can actually lead employees to think more clearly, say researchers” my thought was to put this research to the test myself and get your feedback. Even though there was some hesitation on my part at first to share this article, I thought who better to provide feedback than my clients, customers, and followers.

The comments came back on my Facebook Page that a clean desk is preferred to be more productive and confirms what I’ve been training and implementing over the past decade. The reason I started my business back in 2001, was I realized not everyone has the natural organizing skills that I was born with and I’ve learned how to pass those skills onto others. So, my purpose in life is to serve others with my gift of organization, to be fully alive and present, to love and appreciate others and to learn and share my gifts, so that I inspire others to live more fully and make a greater difference today. I’ve seen the results of helping a mother who’s very creative, frantic, anxious and always last-minute learn organizing skills to calm the chaos in her personal life, household and family. Then pass on the organizing skills to her kids. It’s life-changing on so many levels. And, as a result of getting her life and home organized, it gave her the freedom to live her purpose and make a huge impact in the world today!

What’s your preference? Messy Desk or Clean?

If a messy desk and piles of stuff works for you, then that’s ok, we’ll set up systems that work for you and purge a little in the process. If a clean desk and a clear and focused mind is what you want, then we’ll close the gaps and create systems that work for you too. Either way, it’s all about you and how you want to use your time, space and life to make a greater difference in the world.

On a personal note, thank you allowing me to share my passions and gifts with you. I truly want the best for you and your families. Now it’s your turn to post your comments below.

Do you prefer a messy or clean desk? How does clutter impact you personally, professionally, physically and/or psychologically? Would love to hear your comments on this. Post your comments below this article.