Should You Purchase a Standing Desk for Your Office?

Posted on 11/12/201911/12/2019 by GetReorganized.com

Standing desks have been popular for years now. People love them as much for their ability to cut into sitting time at work as they do for their purported health benefits.

They’re not just good for your resting heart rate, though. Using a sit-stand desk can also drastically improve your level of productivity.

A 2015 study from Texas A&M University found that employees who used stand-capable desks were 46% more productive than those at traditional desks. That’s the kind of result you just can’t ignore. I mean, who wouldn’t want to increase their productivity by almost 50%?

Keep reading for some helpful tips on how sit-stand desks can up your productivity game, as well as how to choose the best one. Here’s what you need to know:

How do standing desks increase productivity?

It sounds a little unbelievable, right? Who would think that just standing up could so drastically increase productivity? But the numbers don’t lie–it really works. Using a standing desk:

Improves focus: Think about sitting at your desk at work all day. You might take a lunch break, but otherwise, you’re in the same exact spot for roughly eight hours straight. It gets boring. Standing up improves circulation and leads to better focus. In fact, 71% of employees who reduced their sitting time by just one hour a day reported increased mental clarity.
Increases energy: Standing and moving throughout the day can help you break through that brain fog that comes with being sedentary for long periods of time. Why? Because being on your feet helps increases alertness, which leads to more momentum and greater productivity. 87% of employees who use standing desks report feeling more energetic during the workday.
Reduces pain and discomfort: For many individuals, sitting at a desk all day can cause back or neck pain, headaches, and more. Coping with this discomfort naturally decreases concentration and focus, leading to lowered productivity. Standing, even if only for a short time, can help alleviate much of the problem.

How to choose a standing desk

With so many options on the market, how do you know which brand or style is best for you?

Check for height: Most standing desks on the market today allow for a wide range of heights. Those who are very short or very tall, however, might have issues. Check the manufacturer’s specifications and make sure the desk can accommodate your frame.
Choose an easy-to-assemble option: Unless you’re going to hire someone to put together your new desk for you, look for an option that is easy to assemble. Some options, such as standing desk converters, are relatively small, light, and don’t require a lot of labor to put together.
Special features: Some standing desks come with a variety of add-on options such as trays that hold wires or a tabletop you can write on. Think about what features might be helpful for you or might help increase productivity before making a purchase.

Start standing!

Once you’ve purchased your new desk, make the adjustment slowly. Many experts suggest starting with 30- to 60- minute intervals, switching between sitting and standing. Try to do too much at once and you may end up exhausted at the end of the day!

This is just some of the value you can get when partnering with GetReorganized.com™. If you’d like more tips, advice or suggestions on how to be more productive and organized, book a 15-minute productivity assessment.

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Three Office Organization Resolutions You Should Make

Posted on 01/23/201905/07/2019 by GetReorganized.com

As the New Year gets going, you’re probably thinking about the resolutions you made. New Year’s resolutions can help you achieve goals and fuel success – but they’re not all created equal. For example, many people set resolutions that are too hard to achieve or too vague and quickly give up.

I’ve come up with three resolutions you CAN keep to help make this your best year ever. If you’re ready to further your career and be successful at whatever you do, just follow these easy office organization resolutions:

Keep Your Desktop CLEAR All Year

If one of your goals is to be more organized, you can start by cleaning off your workspace.
There are several reasons a clear desk might help you succeed in business, including:

• Knowing where all of your supplies and files are makes you more efficient.
• All of the free space makes it easy to spread out documents, books, reports, or whatever else you need to get the job done.
• A clear desktop, free of clutter, makes it easier to focus on the task at hand.
• It keeps sensitive information confidential.

Photo by Carl Heyerdahl on Unsplash

Develop a Paper and Electronics Document Retention Policy

Business owners are often unclear on how long a document (either paper or electronic) should be retained. As a result, they end up never throwing anything out, creating a build-up of records and unnecessary clutter.

A record retention policy categorizes information and lets you know how and where to store it based on federal, state, or other regulatory requirements.

Other benefits include:

• Knowing what you can throw out and when helps reduce costs for physical and electronic storage.
• An efficient filing or document storage system helps you to work more efficiently.
• File deletion or elimination helps free up valuable space, both electronic and physical.

Photo by Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash

Develop ONE New Productivity Habit

Want to spend less time on your everyday office activities? With the right practices, it’s possible to not only get your work done but get it done early. Being productive is just a matter of habit – and it’s easy to get started:

• Begin with something small; if your goal is too big or you attempt to change too much at once, you run the risk of becoming overwhelmed.
• Be consistent: whatever step you choose to take, make sure you do it every day.
• Don’t be complacent: as you achieve milestones, keep pushing yourself to do more.

Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

This is just some of the value you can get when partnering with GetReorganized.com™. If you’d like more tips, advice or suggestions on how to be more productive and organized, sign up for our FREE newsletter.

6 Things Everyone Hates About Getting Organized

Posted on 09/07/201805/07/2019 by GetReorganized.com

Most people really struggle to get organized. If you feel this way, rest assured that you’re not alone! The good news is that there are ways to overcome the things everyone hates about getting organized. Here are the most common problems that the “organizationally challenged” must overcome:

Organization feels like a chore.
It takes too long to get organized.
You have no idea where to start.
It’s easy to quit.
It’s easy to fall back into old patterns.
It’s hard to let go.

Overcoming these obstacles to organization can change your life and the way you look at the things around you.

Organization Feels Like A Chore

Photo by Victoria Palacios on Unsplash

Solution: If it feels like a chore, make it fun! Put on your favorite music playlist, invite a friend over, or make a game out of it. Sometimes we have to change our perspectives to make something work. Remember to reward yourself at the end: you’ve worked hard, and you deserve it!

It Takes Too Long to Get Organized

Photo by Huib Scholten on Unsplash

Solution: Start small. Stay focused. Take breaks. If you can avoid distractions and be disciplined, you’ll be done before you know it. The thought that it takes too long is all it is: just a thought; it’s not the truth! And the truth of the matter is, you’re saving yourself time in the FUTURE when you can actually find what you need or accomplish your goals faster.

You Have No Idea Where to Start

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Solution: Make a priority list of what area needs to be organized first; if you’re still feeling overwhelmed, pick a spot – ANY spot – and start there. It can feel frustrating, but remember that there are things everyone hates about getting organized. You’re not alone. Take a deep breath and start. There is no perfect spot to begin.

It’s Easy to Quit

Photo by Sydney Rae on Unsplash

Solution: Have the end in mind and determine a realistic goal. Set a timer for a predetermined amount of time (three hours, for example) and commit to focusing on what you can get done in that time. If that doesn’t work, consider recruiting an accountability partner. Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the mess, so to speak, so make sure you take before-photos, progress shots, and after-photos to document your journey.

It’s Easy to Fall Back Into Old Patterns

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

Solution: Be self-aware. Know your triggers. If you’re not sure what they are, start paying attention to your habits. Do you stack papers in one area because you don’t know what to do with them? Look at your habits and then choose a new habit to counter that. They can be tiny habits, little changes. It’s easier if you choose to focus on one habit at a time. Most of all don’t be so hard on yourself: change can be overwhelming and intimidating, but it can also be one of the most rewarding things you do for yourself.

It’s Hard to Let Go

Photo by Ankush Minda on Unsplash

Solution: Ask yourself these questions:

Can I easily replace this? What’s the worst that could happen if I discard this? If I didn’t see this, would I remember that I had it? When was the last time I used or needed this? Would someone enjoy this more? Your answers may surprise you. Don’t hold onto things for a possible future when you can’t enjoy the space around you now.

So what did you think about these common things everyone hates about getting organized? Which of these areas frustrate you the most? Here’s our challenge to you: start with one area – it can be a table, a desk, or even a corner. Set a timer for 25 minutes and get to work. If it feels sluggish and difficult to get started, don’t worry: it gets easier with practice.

6 Books About Getting Organized You Should Read

Posted on 08/08/201805/07/2019 by GetReorganized.com

Getting organized is one of the biggest struggles we face. If you ignore it, the mess can overwhelm your life, but at the same time, how do you know where to begin? Sometimes, you have to hit the books, in this case, the organizing books; that’s why we compiled a list of our top six books about getting organized that you shouldn’t live without.

Stop Organizing, Start Producing

Stop Organizing, Start Producing: Leverage the 12 Factors that Make or Break the Busy Professional by Casey Moore is an all-time favorite in the organizing books genre, and here’s why. It shows you that productivity is a chain with strong and weak links. Instead of focusing on fixing what isn’t broken, you’re able to break down your process and figure out where you’re wasting time. It’s for the busy professional who needs to leverage their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. By using her Productivity Chain® model, you can control your work, time, and perspective to increase productivity and gain a richer quality of life.

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui

Sometimes you have trouble identifying clutter whether it’s in your home, workspace, or in the mind, body, or spirit. You’ve heard the phrase that a workspace or home is a reflection of the mind, right? Karen Kingston wrote a book that changed the way we viewed clutter in our lives. Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui: Free Yourself from Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Clutter Forever is the guide for overcoming the emotional restrictions that keep us from decluttering. With over 457 Amazon reviews and critical acclaim by entrepreneurs, CEOs, and busy Moms alike, this guide from the Space Clearing branch of Feng Shui has proven itself for almost twenty years.

Organizing Plain & Simple

If you need practical tips and a fantastic resource for checklists for building schedules, routines, and habits, then Organizing Plain and Simple: A Ready Reference Guide With Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges may be precisely what you’re looking for. Donna Smallin has written a straightforward guide to set you on the path to reorganizing your life. She takes organization down to the basics and gives you room-by-room solutions, as well as tips on organizing your finances, time, home life, and those tricky life transitions like moving and season changes that throw us off.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

By now, you’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo. She’s the founder of the widely regarded KonMari Method of de-cluttering. Her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is more about the lifestyle change needed to overcome clutter in our lives and minds. Instead of organizing room-by-room, the KonMari Method lets you organize category-by-category; this is destined to be one of those classic organizing books.

The Myth of Multi-Tasking

For years we’ve believed that multitasking was the key to success, but research has proven that the opposite is true. Dave Crenshaw tackles this in his book The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing it All” Gets Nothing Done. In a short amount of time, Dave breaks down the myth and provides actionable solutions to wrangle control of your time. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re always busy but not as productive as you thought, this may be the book for you.

The Power of Habit

Dealing with our habits is a constant struggle. Good or bad, our habits define our lives. Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business explains why habits exist and how they can be changed. He breaks down how to find those cues and triggers that start the bad habit and then helps us find out why (the reward) we do it. It’s an excellent book for those who want to break bad habits and build solid ones that lead to a happier, healthier lifestyle.

You’re not born organized, and everyone’s process of organization is different. Which books about getting organized have you interested? Let us know in the comments below. If you’ve got another recommended read, we’d love to hear that one, too.

___________________________________________________________________________
Be Well. Be Organized.
Make sure you are following GetReorganized.com™ so you don’t miss out on fresh organizing tips, ideas, and inspiration!
Be #InstaOrganized! Follow us on Instagram
A pin a day keeps the organizer away! Check out our boards on Pinterest
Tweet us and follow our Twitter
Like (or love) our Facebook Page
Prefer the professional approach? We’re also on LinkedIn
Learn more about Professional Organizing at www.GetReorganized.com
Stop the procrastination and BOOK A FREE PHONE CONSULTATION

How Office Space is Changing: You’ll Be Seeing More of These 3 Alternative Offices

Posted on 06/13/201805/07/2019 by GetReorganized.com

The world is changing, and the way we do business is changing as well. Whether you work for someone, own your business, or have a money-making side hustle, how you work can depend on where you work. The traditional “office” has evolved, so let’s explore three alternative “offices” you’ll be seeing more of.

Home Offices

Working from home can actually increase worker productivity and decrease employee turnover. For business owners, having workers deployed remotely decreases business costs and overhead, as well.

What about those who work for themselves? It turns out that more people than ever are venturing into the solopreneur territory. Why rent office space for your small company when you can make use of an extra room at home? With cloud-based software options and applications that streamline your costs, running a business from home has never been easier. Working from home comes with unique challenges, of course; you need to be sure that your work space is where work actually gets done and that friends, family, and even pets don’t interfere. Discipline, organization, and focus must become strict habits for this arrangement to work

Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash

Virtual Offices

When a company decides to have all of its employees work from home, it’s called a virtual office. Virtual offices use cloud solutions for storage and work, collaboration tools for management and meetings, and rely on the internet for employees to connect with one another. There are virtual assistants, and virtual meetings are conducted with apps like Zoom and Skype. With the touch of a button on any mobile device or computer (and a reliable internet connection), you can access your work wherever you are. A virtual office saves money and can boost productivity, but like the home office, it requires discipline and a dedicated workspace to be effective.

Photo by Kevin Bhagat on Unsplash

Co-Working Spaces

Co-working spaces are one of the more innovative examples of how office space is changing. It’s a shared office design where people can rent space as needed to perform their work. Commercial real estate owners are increasingly creating attractive shared workspaces for companies to rent for those employees whose commute is too distant.

Over 80% of co-working spaces offer private offices, and the core users are small business owners. Some coworking spaces allow you to rent storage solutions or full-time single occupant offices, but most people tend to use the office areas as needed. It’s more cost-effective that way. Landlords generally provide some perks and office amenities like small kitchens and appliances, reliable high-speed internet service, and a professional, creative atmosphere. Imagine working in a place that stimulates productivity and collaboration. It can be a solid and worthwhile investment. Like the virtual office mentioned above, you’ll want to have mobile organization solutions for your business.

Photo by Venveo on Unsplash

Which of these solutions interest you? Have you tried any or all of them? Let us know in comments what you think will continue to change in office space.