Office Hacks That Make Work Easier

In the office, you often experience many small, time-consuming frustrations that consume a lot of energy and reduce productivity. The fact that this reduces efficiency is something people often forget. We prefer to focus on big efficiency strategies, but a few simple tricks can already help you work more efficiently and productively. In this article, you will find some tricks that ensure a smooth routine in the office, without having to put much effort into it.

The power of a drawer

Searching for a pen, charger or documents sometimes takes a lot of time. More than you’d like. Organise a drawer neatly and put essentials like pens, post its, cables, etc. in it. Bet you won’t have to search for a long time next time?

Corresponding quickly and efficiently

Do you still correspond regularly with letters, but are those stamps always disappearing? Make it yourself easy and buy prepaid envelopes. This is an ordinary envelope, but it already has an official stamp printed on it. All you have to do is write or print the recipient’s name and address on it. This small adjustment prevents last-minute panic. 

Net desk, focused mind

Clutter on your desk is not only messy, it also creates mental noise. It increases your stress and reduces your concentration. Clear your desk every day, throw away unnecessary stuff and file documents. This way, there will be fewer distractions, it will be easier to find what you are looking for and thus you can work more concentrated.

The little things matter too

Small office essentials such as printer paper, highlighters and even tea bags should always be in stock.  You only miss them when they are not there, right? The same goes for postage stamps. It saves you another trip to the post office if you always have these in stock. 

Hack your email habits

Emails can be one of the biggest productivity killers, but they are unavoidable. One trick to deal with it efficiently? Set specific times daily when you may check and answer your emails. Or use email templates for mails you send regularly, which saves in time and typing.

Minimise e-mail notifications

Email notifications can be a huge distraction.With each notification, your attention is interrupted, leading to context switching. This means your brain has to constantly switch between tasks, which is tiring and time-consuming. By turning off notifications, you can better concentrate on 1 task. You also avoid the constant urge to respond immediately to a new e-mail. You consciously choose to view and answer your e-mails only at certain times and consequently you save time and work more productively. In addition, it helps to keep your mailbox organised. Work with folders or mark to-do’s with a pin or flag. 

Work in a planned and structured way

Working systematically means deciding in advance which tasks you need to perform and to what extent they are important. Prio tasks always have priority, of course. By bringing structure to your planning, you know what is urgent and important and what is not. This way, you don’t waste unnecessary time on unimportant tasks, allowing you to work purposefully and faster. Tools such as Microsoft To-Do, Trello or Asana can help you with this. It is always best to start the day with the layout of your schedule to avoid as much stress as possible.

Work-life balance

Finally, let’s not forget the work-life balance. If you work too much and cannot relax enough, you will be not productive at all. Set your limits in advance time. Especially if you work from home, it is important to monitor your limits and stick to your working hours. Taking breaks now and then is important to recharge your batteries and give your mind a break. After that, you will only be able to work better and more efficiently!