Don’t let your messy workplace become the laughing stock of the office. If your clutter is getting in the way of productivity, perhaps it is time to clean up your act in order to get work done. If your work area is cluttered, you don’t have space to work. Messy desks have no room for creativity. Luckily, we found ways to help you organize your desk that will make it the envy of your co-workers. Check out these tips.
Inbox and Outbox
We have email inboxes, but somehow never use real life inboxes to organize our daily clutter. Inboxes are a great way to keep your desk neat and organized. You can make your own inbox or buy one at the office supply store. All incoming paperwork should be placed in the inbox and work done filed in the outbox for easier sorting. Now that you have somewhere to put stacks of paper, you should have a clear space on your desk to get other work done.
Trashcan
One of the great ways to minimize desk clutter is by having a trashcan nearby. If you have to get out of your desk to throw things in the trash, you don’t do it because you feel lazy. However, if you have a trashcan within reach, you can easily throw away garbage and other stuff you don’t need and keep your desk neat and organized.
Designate Cleaning Time
Depending on how much clutter you churn out, you can schedule cleaning time to once a day to once a week to keep mess to a minimum. During your designated cleaning time, organize your desk, throw away clutter, sort your inbox and outboxes, and wipe down any dust or dirt that may have accumulated on your desk. Don’t limit cleaning time to your desktop. Check your drawers for unwanted and unsorted items too. Even if you’re a neat freak, a good rule of thumb is to clean it before you leave.
Personal Knickknacks
Your desk should have a good balance of work and personal quirks. It’s perfectly fine to give your desk character because you have to work in it. Photos of the family, a memento from a great vacation or trinkets can provide inspiration throughout the day. But, don’t overdo it. If you have to put up personal stuff on your desk, limit it to 3 items to keep your desk organized to help you keep your focus.
Prioritize
Papers on a desk does not only make it look messy and unorganized, it also makes it hard to prioritize projects. Messy desks can also back up work, which can be bad for personal and company productivity. To organize your projects and desks, sort work into: important/urgent, urgent but not really important, important but not urgent, and not urgent not important. You can use vertical file folders for organization and help keep paper off your desk.
Keeping your desk neat and organized is easy and does not take a lot of time. Aside from better productivity, an organized desk can keep stress at bay.
