12 tips to organize your workspace
5 June 2013
Read by 1904 persons
ERGONOMICS / BUSINESS – It's where you spend most of your day, and yet it could be optimized! A good (re)organization of your workstation would improve your well-being, reduce your stress, and improve your productivity. Here are some essential ergonomic and organizational tips to keep in mind.
Workstation setup
1. Ergonomics and posture
The physical position of your keyboard and screen is essential.
> the top of the screen should be at eye level,
> the screen should be at arm's length,
> the keyboard 10cm from the edge of the desk so you can (re)rest your wrists,
> the chair should be at the right height.
If you work on a laptop, remember to open it to 110° and stay straight because the tendency is to slouch as you use it.
Do several tests to determine your ideal posture... and keep your back straight even if it's more comfortable to slouch! Poor posture will not only impact your productivity but your health, emphasizes the Institute for Health Surveillance (InVS), indicating that 76% of occupational diseases are MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders) resulting from poor positions or practices at work.
2. Manage the light
Ambient lighting is also a major factor in organizing your workstation. If you are near a window, position your workstation perpendicular to it, but avoid having it in your field of vision. If you have artificial light, make sure it is slightly in front of you or to the side, and not directly below.
In work mode. Remember to set the brightness of your screen. It is imperative that you have an explanation of your screen settings. Adjust it according to the ambient light, and gradually decrease it towards the end of the day to rest your eyes. From time to time, take a break, for example by going to the coffee machine, or look into the distance.
(Re)organizing your workspace
1. Review your workspace
Take a step back and carefully consider the ideal organization, based on your current needs. You may have organized your space based on previous needs. Ask yourself how to optimize your space and be the best physically. If necessary, take photos of your workstation.
2. Remove the superfluous
Your desk is teeming with objects, some of which are not essential. Store them in appropriate spaces (boxes, drawers). This will free up your space and avoid the temptation of a colleague seizing your stapler.
3. Organize your files
A cluttered desk gives the illusion of hyperactivity. It may be true, but it's difficult to find your way around in the long run. Remember that stacking files does not constitute a wall against the solicitations of your colleagues or your hierarchy! Opt for colored files, and use a marker to name them.
4. Clean your desk
Clean your computer and peripherals until they shine. You will then enjoy returning to your workstation. No one will see it as a sign of idleness (“Where does he/she find the time to clean his/her desk?”) but rather a sign of organization and respect for your surroundings.
5. Organize your space
Provide a space to the right of your keyboard (to the left for left-handers) for your mouse, as well as for writing with a pen and consulting your files. This space will store all your regularly used accessories: telephone, peripherals, pens, files.
6. Have a secondary storage space
Ideally, install storage (shelves, filing drawers, storage including hanging files) for your useful books, and to store your less urgent or long-term files. If this is not the case, use the left side of your desk to store them.
7. Consider your future needs
The organization should allow you to add peripherals used occasionally (external disks, mobile phone, camera...) without affecting your ability to be optimal. Also provide easily accessible additional electrical outlets.
8. Separate personal from professional
The temptation is strong to have a picture of a loved one, a gadget or a plant on your desk. Unless you work in a startup or an agency, provide a dedicated space to store them and keep the minimum on your desk.
9. Tidy up every weekend
When you leave in the evening, you prepare the work for the next day. Take 5 minutes to reorganize your desk so that it welcomes you amicably the next day, and spend a little more time on Friday at the end of the day. You will thus start your Monday morning under the best auspices!
10. Look for the “good organization”, not the “small bug”
Tell yourself that not everything is optimizable. Remember why you are at this desk in the first place, and that the quest for an ideal organization should not become a priority either.
PS: it is not necessary that your files are aligned exactly parallel to the edge of your desk for you to be able to use them!
You are facing your computer, your files are organized, your phone in its place...?
Is your back straight? Keep going, it's perfect!
Viadeo.com
Posted online on June 5, 2013.
Workstation setup
1. Ergonomics and posture
The physical position of your keyboard and screen is essential.
> the top of the screen should be at eye level,
> the screen should be at arm's length,
> the keyboard 10cm from the edge of the desk so you can (re)rest your wrists,
> the chair should be at the right height.
If you work on a laptop, remember to open it to 110° and stay straight because the tendency is to slouch as you use it.
Do several tests to determine your ideal posture... and keep your back straight even if it's more comfortable to slouch! Poor posture will not only impact your productivity but your health, emphasizes the Institute for Health Surveillance (InVS), indicating that 76% of occupational diseases are MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders) resulting from poor positions or practices at work.
2. Manage the light
Ambient lighting is also a major factor in organizing your workstation. If you are near a window, position your workstation perpendicular to it, but avoid having it in your field of vision. If you have artificial light, make sure it is slightly in front of you or to the side, and not directly below.
In work mode. Remember to set the brightness of your screen. It is imperative that you have an explanation of your screen settings. Adjust it according to the ambient light, and gradually decrease it towards the end of the day to rest your eyes. From time to time, take a break, for example by going to the coffee machine, or look into the distance.
(Re)organizing your workspace
1. Review your workspace
Take a step back and carefully consider the ideal organization, based on your current needs. You may have organized your space based on previous needs. Ask yourself how to optimize your space and be the best physically. If necessary, take photos of your workstation.
2. Remove the superfluous
Your desk is teeming with objects, some of which are not essential. Store them in appropriate spaces (boxes, drawers). This will free up your space and avoid the temptation of a colleague seizing your stapler.
3. Organize your files
A cluttered desk gives the illusion of hyperactivity. It may be true, but it's difficult to find your way around in the long run. Remember that stacking files does not constitute a wall against the solicitations of your colleagues or your hierarchy! Opt for colored files, and use a marker to name them.
4. Clean your desk
Clean your computer and peripherals until they shine. You will then enjoy returning to your workstation. No one will see it as a sign of idleness (“Where does he/she find the time to clean his/her desk?”) but rather a sign of organization and respect for your surroundings.
5. Organize your space
Provide a space to the right of your keyboard (to the left for left-handers) for your mouse, as well as for writing with a pen and consulting your files. This space will store all your regularly used accessories: telephone, peripherals, pens, files.
6. Have a secondary storage space
Ideally, install storage (shelves, filing drawers, storage including hanging files) for your useful books, and to store your less urgent or long-term files. If this is not the case, use the left side of your desk to store them.
7. Consider your future needs
The organization should allow you to add peripherals used occasionally (external disks, mobile phone, camera...) without affecting your ability to be optimal. Also provide easily accessible additional electrical outlets.
8. Separate personal from professional
The temptation is strong to have a picture of a loved one, a gadget or a plant on your desk. Unless you work in a startup or an agency, provide a dedicated space to store them and keep the minimum on your desk.
9. Tidy up every weekend
When you leave in the evening, you prepare the work for the next day. Take 5 minutes to reorganize your desk so that it welcomes you amicably the next day, and spend a little more time on Friday at the end of the day. You will thus start your Monday morning under the best auspices!
10. Look for the “good organization”, not the “small bug”
Tell yourself that not everything is optimizable. Remember why you are at this desk in the first place, and that the quest for an ideal organization should not become a priority either.
PS: it is not necessary that your files are aligned exactly parallel to the edge of your desk for you to be able to use them!
You are facing your computer, your files are organized, your phone in its place...?
Is your back straight? Keep going, it's perfect!
Viadeo.com
Posted online on June 5, 2013.
