The snow has finally melted, the sun is shining and although we thought we’d never get here, we have survived another cold winter in Boston. There’s just something about the start of a new warmer season that makes people want to clean out their homes and get organized. But why limit this motivation to just your home? We’ve got some great ways to brighten up and spring clean your work life.
Update Professional Social Media Sites
If you have a page devoted to your professional life, you should be making sure to keep this page updated on a regular basis. This is crucial to keep updated not only if you’re looking for a new job, but also to help you connect with peers and other professionals in your industry, as well as keeping your personal brand up to date. Today, more than 95 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn as their primary source for finding new candidates and 94 percent of businesses use the site to distribute marketing content. If you use any other form of social media for professional reasons, you may want to take this time to update any information and make sure you are remaining active on these sites.
Purge Old Files
It’s easy for your computer to get over-filled with documents and photos over time. By setting aside some time to go through your files that may have landed itself on your desktop, you can easily declutter your life. Having an excess of documents on your home screen will slow your computer down.
Security Check
This might also be a good time to re-set your passwords to ensure proper protection from hackers. A weak password will allow hackers to easily get into your accounts and steal valuable information you thought might have been secure. 81 percent of hacking related breaches today involve either weak or stolen passwords. A password of only 5 letters can be cracked by an experienced hacker in about ten seconds, while a password containing 10 characters and changed on a monthly basis could take years, if cracked at all.
Clean Out Your Desk
Your home sweet home away from home might need a thorough clean and this is a great opportunity for it. Does your filing system need to be revamped? Have you gathered one too many pens? Because we’ve all been there! By cleaning up the space in which you spend about 40 hours a week at, you can increase the efficiency of your work and make yourself look more professional in the process. Time to get rid of that old half-dead office plant you forget to water and replace it with a fabulous desk calendar or a low maintenance succulent.
Spruce it Up
Get excited to have a super organized desk with some new accessories. Once the clutter is cleared you’ll be able to easily see what you have left and what you could add to make your work space a little more enjoyable. Replacing your old pen holder, putting up some motivating cubicle art, or grabbing some new personalized stationary is a great way to add some personal touches to your office life.
Whether you’re in a windowless cubicle, work in a home office, or work in a shared office space, spring cleaning is an important step to not only increase your productivity but brighten your mood as well. By following a few simple steps, you can be on your way to a cleaner, happier space in no time!