Imagine: you’re standing in the office, feeling the pressure of your workload and then you glance over at your desk. Stacks of papers, envelopes, scrunched up fast food napkins, pen caps and stray paperclips cover the surface. Does this picture help calm anxiety? Or, is it even more overwhelming?
I’m guessing the ladder. An organized desk does more than provide a pleasing aesthetic. A tidy desk keeps stress levels low, promotes creativity, and helps you remember important information and appointments.
If you’re looking to ditch the clutter, here are a few tips.
- File, Scan, or Toss
First, tackle that pile of paper- it’s going to suck but is imperative to the process. As you sort through decide what needs to be physically filed or left on your desk, what should be scanned, and what can go right into the shredder.
2. Trays, shelves, etc.
For the items that need to remain insight, look into purchasing a tray or small shelving unit that can sit out on your desk. It will keep your papers further organized and discourage the creation of a randomized pile. You can buy trays on Amazon for less than $10.
3. Get a proper garbage can
That tiny wire basket in the corner of your office is not a proper trash can. It takes about 2 days for the bunched up papers and take-out containers to overflow. The need to constantly empty your garbage encourages clutter.
4. Knick Knacks
A picture of your family, a clay pot your daughter made in art class, your son’s latest Superman drawing? Perfectly fine. But, limit the personal items and tchotchkes to no more than five. Reminders of your happy home life are sometimes what gets you through the day, but too many can be a distraction.
5. Clean out your other desktop
Just as a messy desk gets in the way of order, a cluttered computer desktop can do the same. Create separate files for separate projects rather than an array of Microsoft Word documents.
An organized desk means an organized mind. Keeping a tidy desk will make a big difference in your workday. Now, fire up the paper shredder.