Between working from home and returning to the office for a hybrid structure, it can become challenging to keep your desk and workspace organized. When your space feels cramped and chaotic, you feel overwhelmed and unable to focus on the tasks at hand. When your office space is clean and orderly, you’re less likely to feel stressed when you’re at work. Here at Sponge & Sparkle, we emphasize the importance of organization. It is much easier to function on a daily basis and clean up an organized office than it is to clean a cluttered one. Today, we’ll share 8 of our favorite tips and tricks for keeping your workspace organized so that you can concentrate on making money!

If you are looking for further assistance, check out our website to book a home or office cleaning. We do our job so you can do yours!

1) When it comes to office supplies, prioritize quality over quantity.

A $1 pen from your local grocery store will run out of ink long before a high-quality $15 pen that you buy at an office supply store. Big packs of lower-quality pens don't hold up well over time, quickly drying up or running out of ink. It may seem silly, but something as small as investing in a few quality pens can go a long way in keeping you organized. My favorite brand is Pilot G2, though there are several great alternatives like Parker Quink or Paper Mate InkJoy gel pens that are also very comfortable to write with and last for months before running out of ink. Instead of having a bunch of pens lying around, not sure which ones even work, you can just have a cup full of some reliable, ready-to-use pens. This applies to several other office supplies, such as highlighters, white-out, glue, tape, staples, etc.

2) Invest in supplies to keep your notes organized.

If you’re someone who likes to take notes, investing in Post-It sticky notes, paper clips, binder clips, and thumb tacks for a bulletin board is a must. These will help you keep track of your to-do’s in an orderly fashion. For example, Binder clips are cheap, portable, and versatile. I use them to hold up messy stacks of paper, pin things together on my bulletin board, organize receipts in a drawer, stick papers together in my planner or on my desk - the list goes on. Furthermore, these supplies are customizable to your preferences, as they come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and even patterns. You can get pink polka-dots or prints of your favorite animal. This can help bring color to your workspace.

3) Don’t underestimate the power of labels!

Label everything. Chances are you won’t get around to memorizing all your files. Labeling folders of all sorts and using accordion organizers are great for any important paperwork, receipts, and so on. Labeling helps you quickly find things later on and serves as a great way to save time. By keeping your workspace organized with clean files and folder labels, you can spend less time looking for things that have gone missing and more time actually doing your job! Even better - as many companies move away from paper and into a virtual world, these tips are transposable to an online setting. For example, you can use lots of online folders on your computer, Google Drive, or any other platform. You can make folders within folders and title them effectively so that it will be easier to search for a keyword and find exactly what you were looking for later on.

4) Have plenty of storage containers and baskets on hand.

Disorganized workspaces, storage rooms, and employee lockers are breeding grounds for unnecessary clutter. Containers, lidded baskets, cups, tubs or totes all keep items off desks, out of drawers, and easily accessible. Some employees might like a small filing cabinet or basket at their desk or cubicle. Others like having cups for pens, paperclips, and so on. It’s up to you how you store things; just make sure everything has a designated place that it gets returned to when it’s not in use. That way, everyone stays productive as they get work done, even on days when they haven’t been able to keep clutter at bay. Another bonus with this tip is that if you are working from home one day and have all your daily-use items in a basket, you can just take the whole basket to work the next day. This makes it easy to keep track of everything you need in one place and also transport it between offices. Furthermore, you will no longer be forgetting that important printed document, a highlighter, or even your laptop!

Now, let’s get into the DIYs to spice up your workspace some more.

5) Use shelves!

While you can always go out and buy shelves to set up on your desk, you can also make your own using some wood pieces from Home Depot! This would be more affordable and customizable, allowing you to use proper measurements, your favorite colors and patterns, and so on. Shelves are a great way to utilize space on the walls around your desk, as well as organize the top of your desk’s surface. Another amazing thing about shelves is that they are rearrangeable. This allows you to use them as long as you’d like, but also switch it up when necessary. Hence, they are easily repurposable to other parts of your home, such as your closet, bathroom, and kitchen as well.

6) Invest in a charging station & cord organizer.

In a world that is rapidly digitizing, you have more and more wires piling up at your desk. Your phone charger, iPad charger, smart watch charger, e-reader charger, laptop charger, monitor charger - the list goes on. In order to minimize time spent detangling wires or waiting for your device to charge when you need it most, invest in a charging station and cord organizer. These organizers allow you to run your wires through them and leave them there. This prevents them from falling to the ground, getting tangled, or even getting lost. After this wise purchase, you will have so much more desk space and improved peace of mind. Your wires won’t be tangled again. Your devices won’t be dead again! Does it get any better?

7) Time to decorate!

With all the space you have created by organizing, you deserve to treat yourself with some decorations to keep you going while working. Add a couple of small plants or cacti. Add some photos of your loved ones. You can even add seasonal decor for your favorite holidays! Even if it is your workplace or workspace, you can make it feel a little bit more comfortable and cozy to meet your needs and keep you motivated!

8) Contact us!

Sponge & Sparkle values consistent, quality service and trustworthy business practices. You can have peace of mind that your home and office will be well taken care of with us. Contact us today at (404) 633-9652 to sparkle up your personal living space and desk area or even your corporate office. Our cleaners will leave it dazzling! You and your team will also feel dazzled after knowing you are set up for success this summer.