How to Stay Organised at Work: Practical Strategies That Actually Help

​Whether you’re leading a team, managing multiple digital campaigns or wearing several hats in a fast-paced organisation, staying organised is no longer a luxury.  It’s essential.

As someone who’s juggled CRM integrations, cross-functional projects and time-sensitive marketing strategies, I know that a streamlined approach can make the difference between calm and chaos.

​This guide distils that experience into easy, actionable ideas.

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1. Make Friends With Your Calendar
​One of the simplest ways to stay on top of things is to use your calendar religiously. Whether you’re in Google Calendar, Outlook or a synced app, blocking time for tasks helps avoid overbooking and provides clarity.

Top tip: Add buffer zones between meetings. A 15-minute window can protect your focus and prevent decision fatigue.

2. Set a Weekly Planning Routine
It’s easy to start the week with great intentions, only for Friday to arrive in a flurry of unread emails and delayed tasks. Set aside 20 minutes on Monday morning (or Friday afternoon) to plan the week ahead. Review deadlines, allocate blocks for deep work and list priorities.
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Extra tip: If something has sat on your to-do list for more than a week, reassess its urgency or value.

3. Use a System – and Stick to It
Whether you prefer digital tools like Trello, Asana or Notion or rely on a paper planner, the key is consistency. Switching systems repeatedly can cause more clutter. Choose one that suits your brain and work style, then build habits around it.

Helpful reminder: Systems only work if you trust them. Regularly review and refine to keep them efficient.

​4. Declutter Your Desktop (and Inbox)
A messy workspace can slow you down. Start each day by closing irrelevant tabs, clearing digital noise and deleting or archiving old files. The same goes for your inbox. Use folders or labels to sort emails by type or urgency.

Quick win: Unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read. Automate filtering for incoming emails with rules or labels.

5. Use the Two-Minute Rule
If a task will take less than two minutes, do it immediately. This simple habit stops small things from snowballing and helps maintain momentum throughout the day.

Bonus: Group similar tasks (like quick admin or follow-ups) into short bursts. It’s more efficient than task-switching.

6. Review at the End of Each Day
Take five minutes at the end of your workday to note what’s been completed and what’s outstanding. This helps you switch off more effectively and primes your mind for tomorrow.
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Why it works: A clear end-of-day review reduces anxiety and improves focus when you log back in.

7. Learn to Say No
This one’s deceptively hard. But setting boundaries around your time is crucial to staying organised. If a request doesn’t align with your current priorities or capacity, it’s perfectly acceptable to decline or defer.

Tip for teams: If you're in a leadership role, model healthy boundaries. It gives permission for others to do the same.

​#organisation #timemanagement