Implementing an Office “De-Clutter” Plan

Office clutter may not seem like a business priority, but taking action to reduce the pile up of paperwork and junk can save time, increase productivity and significantly improve the aesthetic appeal of the workplace.

We spend the lion’s share of our working week sat by a desk in an office, yet we seldom think about improving our immediate environment to improve our working conditions. Clutter is almost synonymous with the modern office and any one desk can become drowned in paperwork from client meetings, newspapers from the morning’s commute and general rubbish that has built up over time that we have never got around to clearing out.

But why go to all the time and effort of organising a deep clean? First of all, there’s psychological benefits to working in a decluttered space. There is evidence to suggest that organised workspaces make you feel more in control, at ease in your job and motivated to do the tasks of the day. People who work at an organised desk have been found to be far more productive than their carefree counterparts, and so there is a company-wide motive behind conducting a full sweep of the office.

There are also gains to be made in terms of time management. Although it often goes unnoticed, a large chunk of the working day can be spent hunting around for documents, searching for files and trying to wrestle through queues for the printer or copy machine. By decluttering the immediate space and improving general layout of the office, these mundane tasks become streamlined and efficient.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to decluttering the office and creating a more productive, aesthetically pleasing and business friendly workplace.

Layout
Offices can often be assembled in a piecemeal fashion, with desks and equipment being added as and when is needed. But have you ever taken a minute to think whether everything has been laid out logically? Each department should be organised in such a way that communication amongst teams is easy. What’s more, all equipment should be accessible and within easy reaching distance, so start rearranging the furniture to clear pathways and remove any inanimate objects.

Furniture
Furniture should be fit for purpose, rather than just something that is housed in the office for the sake of it. First of all, consider whether you actually need the equipment before figuring out ways of minimising the amount of space that is being used up. If your printer and fax machine are on separate stands, can they be put on the same stand, or can you get a combination printer/fax?

Desk
Once the general layout has been sorted, it is time to turn your attention to your desk. Don’t be afraid to bring a bin bag over and simply throw away materials that are not being used. If they’re not utilised now, the chances are that they never will be, so get rid of the excess straight away. All other clutter, such as documents and files, should be organised. Use filing trays for the top of the desk and caddies, trays and hanging files to maximise the space in the drawers.

Clean
Finally, a good clean of the office will leave the place looking sprightly and fresh. An Industrial cleaning company will be able to ensure your office is cleaned professionally. Crucially, it is important that the office is being cleaned on a regular basis, so that all the good work gone into decluttering the place is capitalised on.