Organize + Energize: Disorganized Offices. What’s in Yours?

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert

People in business will say to me all the time that they don’t have time to get organized. They can’t take 3 hours out of their day to get organized. I wonder if they realize how much time they’re wasting by not being organized! I wonder if they realize how much money, stress and how many clients they’ve lost due to their disorganization.

All people in business that are disorganized function the same way. They aren’t functioning. There’s chaos and it shows in their offices and how they present themselves. If you’re embarrassed to have me come in, I wonder how you feel when potential clients, co-workers, or managers see your office.

When I see a disorganized desk, I don’t think to myself, “Wow, this is a disaster! “ I think about how I can make this person more efficient and productive and set up working organized systems that will keep them organized.

The following is a list of what I find in disorganized offices. As you go through, highlight the ones that apply to you. If you’re disorganized, I bet you can relate.

•   No processes or procedures in place.
•   No organized systems in place.
•   Attempts at organization that have failed.

¥   Piles of papers that usually get thrown out after we go through them.
¥   Organizing supplies i.e., filing trays, vertical trays not being utilized in an efficient manner.
¥   Files in drawers that aren’t hanging, they are just thrown in the drawer.
¥   Expired medication.
¥   Expired food.
¥   Money in the form of checks, cash, and gift cards
¥   Abundance of writing utensils. Most of them don’t work.
¥   Empty file drawers.
¥   Cluttered file drawers.
¥   No drawer organizers being utilized.
¥   Office supplies stored in all different areas.
¥   Duplicate files stored in all different areas in the office.
¥   Files and binders that have not been gone through in years. Most get thrown out.
¥   Too much work material on the desk.
¥   Too many chatzkies on the desk.
¥   Bulletin boards full of cluttered memos.
¥   Papers taped to the wall.
¥   Bookshelves full of books or binders that are no longer being utilized.
¥   Credit card receipts and bank receipts in all different places in the office.
¥   Take out menus in all different drawers.
¥   Binders not labeled.
¥   Space not being maximized.
¥   Time management skills need some tweaking.
¥   Dirty, dusty desks.
¥   No system for business cards.

When going through offices, I constantly hear “I was looking for that” or “I forgot I had that.”

Can you relate? If so, you’re in need of organization. You’ll be more efficient, more productive, less stressed, have more energy and your clients will have more confidence in you. Once you get organized your time management skills will improve because you are able to see clearer once the clutter has been removed. When you’re finished organizing your office, you’ll be motivated, energized, and ready to tackle another project. It will feel like you’ve been cleansed and have a brand new office. You will be excited to go into work the next day.

Yes, really!

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. She has also given over 70 presentations throughout the state. Watch Kristin LIVE every Thursday at 3pm here on GoLocal LIVE with Molly O’Brien.

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