You've probably heard this dismal statistic before: only a meager 8 percent of people achieve their New Year's resolutions, according to a study by the University of Scranton. Where does that leave the other 98 percent of us? Usually fizzling out before the end of January and dreaming up creative excuses for our failures.
Well, friends, if you're tired of singing that tune, let's try something a little different in 2015. Here's a crash course in how you can actually keep your Columbus office and mind free of clutter this year.
1. Get Motivated to Clean Your Columbus Office
If you want to achieve something, you have to really want it. Plus, according to David Eagleman, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine, immediate rewards are so much more compelling than rewards offered in the future. (You can read more about Eagleman's research on how "brain time" works in The New Yorker.)
What does this mean for you? In your mind, you must be able to see the immediate value of having a clean office if you're going to stick with it. Here's some incentive:
- A clean office is a more productive office. Read about that in, "How a Clean Workspace Boosts Productivity."
- A clean office demonstrates your business's values to visitors and clients. Get the full scoop here: “3 Reasons Why Your Columbus Office Needs Cleaning TLC This Winter.”
- A clean office cuts down on allergens and other air pollutants. More on that here: "Best Cleaning Tips from a Professional Cleaning Company to Tackle Ohio Allergies."
2. Make a Cleaning Schedule – And Stick to It
According to a study by a research team at University College London, it takes about 66 days for a new behavior to become second nature. So if keeping the office clean and organized is a chore for you, you've got about two months before it feels a little more instinctual.
To help jump-start the process of making cleaning habitual, create daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning checklists. For example, your daily cleaning list might involve…
- Filing away papers on your desk.
- Wiping down the break room sink handles with disinfectants (those things carry a lot of germs!).
- Emptying trash bins.
Your weekly list might include cleaning out the office refrigerator, and your monthly schedule might include cleaning gutters or washing windows. For more ideas, read, "How Often Does Your Columbus Office Need to Be Cleaned?"
3. Use DIY Hacks to Make Cleaning Easier
No, we're not advocating that you take shortcuts. Rather, it's important that cleaning be easy to do if you're going to keep at it for the long haul. So make it a little easier on yourself:
- Use a cleaning supply caddy so you won't have to search around for the cleaning gear.
- Keep those supplies and cleaning solutions well stocked.
- Learn some DIY tricks for getting out tough carpet stains.
- Follow these tips to bust the clutter.
4. Divide and Conquer Office Cleaning Tasks
When you've got a business to run, your time is already spread pretty thin. So do what you do best: delegate.
Divide up cleaning tasks among your staff so that everyone has a chore that they are responsible for. This might require a little training if you want uniform results. Don't forget to give your staff a little incentive to do good cleaning and organizational work – and remember that immediate incentives are the most potent motivators!
5. Send in the Office Cleaning Professionals
So, step four didn't go as planned? Maybe that's not such a bad thing. After all, time is money, and when you and your staff don't have the extra time to spare, investing in a little help may be the most lucrative option.
When you're ready to let the professionals step in, know that our Dirt Specialists can tackle all sorts of workplace grime and clutter. Schedule a free consultation with us to learn more about the Columbus office cleaning programs we offer.