In every job interview I've been on, I've been asked, "What's your weakness?" The answer is always the same: "I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my work. I go above and beyond to try to make it work, but at the same time beat myself up over it because I'm my own worst critic."

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm human and definitely not perfect, but we can always strive for perfection.

With perfection comes organization, which is both a blessing and a curse. I'm a planner, and I'm good at it. It has benefited both my career and my personal life. Planning to make sure everything is taken care of can't be a bad thing, right?

Unfortunately, I've been told numerous times that I'm a "crazy person" with my organization, or that when I'm trying to plan something out I start "harassing" people to figure out answers.

These comments have brought me down — not because I'm upset over my organization skills, but because of the perception it puts off to others. Anyone who knows me knows I put others ahead of myself, so when I heard my perfectionism and organization were possibly annoying, it was bothersome.

From there, I started researching why being organized was such a problem. To my dismay, I didn't find much. The results showed all the benefits from organization — I had read everything from blogs to scholarly articles. Of course, when I realized all the benefits, I knew I had to share them with my fellow organizers.

You can be organized in some or all aspects of your life, but for this article we'll focus on the workplace.

Why it's good to be an organized employee

1. Efficiency: Being well organized can save you time during the week and significantly increase your productivity and lower your stress level. No more searching for lost documents or information. You have everything at your fingertips.

2. Better quality: Your work is better — maybe even perfect. Costly mistakes won't occur when you're organized. No more missing appointments or overlooking information.

3. Positive effect: Since you've become more efficient in your work, you're able to take on more tasks without getting overwhelmed. Thus, you leave a positive lasting impression on your co-workers and managers.

4. Greater opportunities: Those lasting impressions will come in handy when it's time for your manager to find someone to take on a new task and/or role. You'll be the attentive, efficient and well-prepared employee.

How to become an organized employee

Now that you know the benefits, it's time to learn how to become organized in the workplace.

1. Multitasking is a no-no. Studies have shown that multitasking can negatively affect your brain in terms of memory and focus. Gloria Mark, information scientist from the University of California, stated it takes an average of 26 minutes to recover from irrelevant interruptions. Block out your time for specific tasks instead of trying to accomplish everything at once.

2. Purge and clear your clutter. I hate a cluttered desk and email. I'm the person who can't have the little blue number on my inbox for unread emails — maybe I am a bit crazy! In reality, though, having a clear space to work will help ease your mind from stress.

Take all of those notes and letters, and place them into a folder or binder. Having everything in one place instead of many will help in your efficiency. Like I said before, you'll have everything at your fingertips. According to Erin Doland, "When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain's ability to process information … as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized and serene environment."

3. Checklists can be your friend. Once you have your desk cleared, it's time to prioritize. Keep track of your daily, monthly and yearly tasks with checklists and/or to-do lists. It's good to focus on completing one thing at a time. Put the worrisome tasks ahead of the others, so you can get those out of the way first. When you check off a completed task, a feeling of ease will occur.

4. Don't procrastinate. All of the tips go along with this one. You will only increase your stress if you wait until the last minute to complete a task. Those worrisome tasks will be gone quickly since they're first on your list, so then you can move on to the more enjoyable things.

With these tips, it's critical to remember you're your own person. Absolutely do not compare yourself to another co-worker and his/her habits. You have to find what works best for you. Each of us is different, and the way you stay on top of your responsibilities at work will not always be the same as someone else's.

Proving to myself that being organized is a good thing wasn't difficult. Having someone understand how it works may be a little different. With that said, I know I'm not going to be perfect — and neither will you.

If I get more negative comments about being too organized, I'll remember what I consider to be the blessing of organization, which author Eva Selhub, M.D. states in "Your Health Destiny: How to Unlock Your Natural Ability to Overcome Illness, Feel Better, and Live Longer."

"At the end of the day, being organized is about having more time for yourself, and enabling you to live a more balanced life."