I’ve said this before, but I thrive on being as organized as possible. Especially during the holiday season, which is my busiest time of year both with work and socially speaking! I love being as organized as I possibly can. Case in point: my perfectly put-together closet in my first Charleston apartment. The folding, the shoes organization: it speaks to my soul! But I am not perfect: I also had a “shame room” in that apartment. Decidedly less curated.
I really see my house as my sanctuary. If everything isn’t in its place, I feel off and have a harder time focusing. And staying organized with work is just as important It’s a non-negotiable for me. There are so many elements of my business: my blog, Substack, and the many layers of Instagram (the feed, stories, and my broadcast channel). It’s a lot to maintain, and if I am not careful, something will slip. Especially with a growing to-do list, bouncing between calls, emails, and deadlines. It’s easy for my brain to spiral into chaos if I am not organized.
Although I work from home, I still strive to establish clear boundaries and maintain a structured workday. That means carving out time to organize not just my space, but my actual workflow.
So today, I’m sharing my go-to tips for staying organized at work. This is how I keep my head clear and my days productive. Plus, I’ll share a few favorite products that make all the difference.
How to Stay Organized at Work When Life Gets Busy
I get really frustrated when my boyfriend says to me, “You’re so organized, I wish I could be more like you in that way!” as if it is something innate or easy for me. It’s not: I have to work at it. I always say, “well, you could be, you just have to work at it! Staying organized doesn’t come naturally to me; I have to work really hard at it. .
Putting the right systems in place can actually help you stay focused, boost your productivity, and make a big impact on your career growth. So, that’s what I’m diving into today! Being a bit more intentional will set you up for space, mentally and physically.
What Are the Benefits of Being Organized at Work?
Get More Done with Less Stress
If you are someone who spends a lot of time searching for things or preparing to start important tasks, this might mean you are not organized! Staying organized at work will reduce stress, but also that “stuck and overwhelmed feeling! When you know exactly what needs to get done and where everything is, your day will feel much more manageable.
You’ll be able to move through tasks with clarity and calm (as opposed to chaos). That kind of mental space is a game-changer for getting things done (and maybe even enjoying your work)!
Better Decision Making
Clutter (both the physical kind and the mental kind) creates a lot of unnecessary noise. And that noise can make even simple decisions feel harder than they need to be. When you have clear systems in place (whether that’s a digital task manager or just your go-to notebook), things shift. You’re able to think more clearly, act more intentionally, and make decisions faster (with waaaay more confidence!).
And if you’re the one calling the shots (running a business, leading a team, or managing a household), that clarity is everything. You can spot your true priorities at a glance. Less wishy-washiness, more purpose and focus.
Improved Creativity
It may seem a little counterintuitive, but structure and organization can actually fuel your creativity. I tell my boyfriend (a true creative!) this all the time. When your brain isn’t overwhelmed by a never-ending mental checklist (or a messy space), you give yourself the space to think freely.
With fewer distractions, your mind is free to explore new ideas, solve problems clearly, and (this is the biggest one for me!) look at the big picture. Instead of getting bogged down by due dates and lingering to-dos (and stressing that you’ve forgotten something!), you can tap into that creative spark.
Feel More in Control
One of the most frustrating feelings at work? Feeling like everything’s slipping out of your control. Organization makes all the difference here. It helps you take ownership of your schedule. So, instead of letting your time manage you, you’re the one calling the shots. You start to see exactly where your hours are going, where you can delegate tasks, and what really deserves your energy.
This gives you the confidence to work smarter, set better boundaries, and ultimately show up as your best self.
Show Up More Professionally
Whether you’re freelancing, creating, or working on a team, staying organized shows others that you take your work seriously. It’s not just about meeting deadlines or keeping tidy notes (though those things help!). It’s about showing up consistently and building trust with your colleagues and clients. Trust is what opens the door to bigger and better opportunities.
How to Keep Organized at Work
Start your day with a quick “reset.”
Before diving into your inbox or jumping into meetings, give yourself a moment to reset. When I worked at a traditional day job, I never would schedule meetings first thing. Now, I channel that working from home. Meeting-free Mondays and nothing on my calendar before 10 a.m. (if I can help it).
I strat each morning by closing out yesterday’s browser tabs, reviewing my schedule + to-do list for the day, and jotting down any additional tasks that need to be completed. I’ll tidy my workspace (my dining room, sometimes my couch) and make a coffee. Having a bit of time to be intentional brings a sense of calm before a busy day. It helps me feel more focused (which means I’ll be way more productive).
Use a digital task manager.
I love writing everything down and swear by pretty notebooks and paper to-do lists. But since most of my work happens online, I also love a digital task manager to stay organized. Project management tools like Asana and Notion make it easy to keep everything in one place. I’m talking work projects, deadlines, calendars, and even the occasional personal to-do.
You don’t need to be part of a big team to use this kind of management software. If you’re a freelancer or solopreneur, these platforms are perfect. You can use them to stay on track of tasks, plan ahead, and see the full picture of what needs to be done.
(Don’t think that I don’t still use my Smythson planner, though! I take this thing with me everywhere I go.)
Batch your tasks.
One of my favorite ways to stay focused and have a productive working day? Batch your tasks. I cannot recommend it enough. In my world, I will batch editing photos, getting out assignments to Carly and my graphic designer, but also have long stretches of time devoted entirely to writing. I find that constantly bouncing between smaller tasks creates mental chaos. When I group similar tasks together and work on them all at once, I stay in the same mindset: it is much easier to get into a good groove.
I like to block off a chunk of time to answer all my emails in one go. Same with meetings—I’ll try to schedule them back-to-back, so I’m not constantly switching gears. That mental momentum makes a big difference. By batching tasks, you stay in the zone and manage your time!
Declutter your space.
Did you know that clutter can actually trigger anxiety? It’s true. If you let that clutter follow you into your workday, it will ultimately chip away at your focus and productivity. Your space doesn’t need to be Pinterest-perfect. Just give everything a home and try to do a reset at the end of the day. For me, my workspace is the downstairs floor of my house (I bounce between the couch and the dining table). Every night before bed, I give it a nice little reset. Having a clean space sets the tone for the day!
If you’re looking for organization essentials and inspo, I shared a few of my favorite products and tips in my “Get Organized!” post. Decluttering isn’t just about your physical space. Your digital world needs some love, too. That sky-high unread email count? Time to tackle it. Clear out old files, delete duplicates, and clean up your calendar while you’re at it.
When I really need to focus, I’ll also put my phone on Do Not Disturb and turn off notifications for a while. All of those notifications and alerts add more mental noise than we realize. Less clutter (physical, digital, mental) means a calmer workday.
Use time blocking.
Just like I mentioned with task batching, time blocking is essential for staying organized at work! If you are not familiar, time blocking is when you look at your calendar and assign specific blocks of time to certain tasks. I like to use my Google calendar for this. I’ll break things down hour by hour (even by half-hour if things are ultra hectic!). Then, I fill in each slot with my top priorities.
This does a few things. It gives me a look at exactly how my day will shape up, but it also gives me a realistic picture of what I’ll be able to get done. Sometimes I can be a little overzealous and overly optimistic about how much I can do in one day. This brings me back down to earth. I highly recommend giving this a try, especially during those super busy weeks!
Set clear priorities.
Prioritizing your tasks is a complete game-changer, especially when your to-do list starts to feel a little out of control. (We’ve all been there.) It helps you focus your energy where it’s needed most, instead of spinning your wheels on things that can wait.
Have you heard of the Eisenhower Matrix? I love this! It’s a simple tool that sorts your tasks into four categories based on urgency and importance. Once you start using it, you can clearly see what deserves your attention on any given day. Plus, it also shows you what can be rescheduled, delegated, or even dropped altogether. Pair it with a solid time-blocking system and you’ll feel so much more in control of your day.
Plan tomorrow before you log off.
I swear by this. Always, always, make your to-do list for the next day. This takes ten minutes but makes such a giant difference. Look over what you’ve accomplished and what still needs your attention tomorrow. Anything that didn’t get finished? Move it right to the top of your to-do list.
I’ve done this for years now. It’s such a small habit, but it makes mornings feel lighter and more intentional. You’ll know exactly where to start. Plus, it helps you mentally close the door on work. Since I work from home, I love anything that helps me mark the end of the workday. This way, you can head home (or to your living room if you are me), unwind, and maybe curl up with a fresh cocktail and a good book.
Staying organized at work is the key to professional success and reduced stress.
Organizing your work life with the same atention you’d organize your kitchen or closet makes such a difference. You’ll be more productive, and less overwhelmed! I hope this post was helpful!!!! If you’d like more lifestyle tips (with a side of books, beauty, and style), come hang with me on Substack or say hi over on Instagram!
