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Everyone loves a quiz, right?
Let’s learn something about ourselves, how we work and how to organize better. Try to answer these questions honestly, as you’ll get more out of it (along with a game plan to get organized, for good!).
How do you prefer to receive files?
a. Digitally
b. Physical copies
c. Both
Where do you typically store loose files?
a. In a filing cabinet
b. Around my desk
c. Wherever is convenient
Does a cluttered desk make you anxious?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Sometimes
If your answers were “mostly a” to the questions above, you’re likely an active organizer. “Mostly b,” and you may lean toward being an archival organizer. For those who live right in the middle, that’s OK too—we often meet customers who prefer a combination of both.
Organization isn’t necessarily a science, but it’s absolutely a skill. Your workspace can become busy in the blink of an eye, which isn’t ideal for your focus or productivity.
The key to being organized is knowing what type of organizer you are. If that makes no sense whatsoever, you’ll be in good shape by the end of this article—and that’s a promise.
It’s Monday. You’re organized, ready to tackle the week and the coffee has never smelled better.
Hello, Wednesday. You’ve had a couple long days, papers are piling up everywhere, maybe you can’t find your phone under the clutter.
Ah, Friday. Wait, is it Friday? Maybe. Probably.
Over the years, several studies have shed light on what disorganization costs you in terms of time and, ultimately, productivity. A Wall Street Journal report said the average office worker wastes one hour each day simply because they aren’t organized—which is about six weeks per year.
In a word: yikes.
Your coworkers notice, too. A survey commissioned by Adecco in 2012 found that nearly 60% of adults have judged a colleague by the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of their desk.
You won’t find any judgment here, although it’s true that people who lean more toward archival storage may be more prone to disorganization. But why?
In fields like law and accounting, which require physical files, there’s a volume of paperwork and documentation that needs to be on hand. When you’re juggling multiple projects and clients, the clutter can pile up quickly.
We’re not saying you need to channel your inner professional organizer to get back on track. We can, however, begin to understand the importance of being organized—even if paperwork is part of your job and/ or preferred organizational style.
If the thought of a mess of papers and random items on your desk sends a chill up your spine, you’re probably not an archival organizer.
An active organizer is more of a minimalist, but also prefers efficiency within their workspace. If you’ve read one of the thousands of articles online about work-from-home desks, or been served an Instagram ad for a new workstation, you’ve seen the hyperbolic form of active storage.
Think of active storage and organization as simplifying the workspace, and keeping what you don’t immediately need (workout clothes for after work, today’s lunch or mail) elsewhere while you’re focused on the tasks at hand.
We also like to recommend digital storage options, which allow you to focus your workspace organization on the things that will help you get work done—think of recent work files (relevant to a current project), medical files for upcoming appointments or anything you need *now*.
The difference between active and archival shouldn’t be confused with clutter and clean; instead, it can be a direct result of your line of work or what your clients need you to have.
Regardless of your personal storage style, we can help you enhance it.
Admittedly, we love to wax poetic when it comes to storage. It’s an underrated element of the workspace, and as we mentioned earlier, being organized is a skill.
Our team has been working on new organization solutions for all types of work that balance both the simplicity of active storage with the detail required to manage archival storage. What if you could turn your workstation into a multipurpose productivity hub that keeps you organized?
It’s possible...and it’s coming soon. Stay tuned to hon.com as we unveil the next generation of storage solutions. No matter your organizing style, we think you’ll love what we’ve been working on.
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