Nothing hurts productivity and peace of mind more than a cluttered workspace, especially when you work from home. How do you keep your office under control? Start with these quick and easy steps:
Deal with Paper Clutter Before It Happens
By having an inbox on your desk where mail and other paper items go, you cut a lot of the mess that tends to spread out over every work surface. You should use this box only for new work waiting for your attention. If you have a lot of projects, try keeping the accompanying paper clutter in folders out of the way, for example in a desk drawer until needed. The key here is to keep things under control right from the start.
Clear Your Desk
There should be very little on your desk other than what you need right now to get your job done. That means keeping it bare of everything except the phone, your computer, and what you’re working on right now. Everything else should be put away until you need it.
Remove the Odds and Ends
Is your desk space full of knick-knacks or other items which serve no purpose? These kinds of things can be distracting. Get rid of them or place them somewhere more appropriate such as a shelf where you can arrange them into a beautiful display if needed.
Reconsider Paper Use
A lot of the paper items in an office are unnecessary. Be kinder to both yourself and the environment by paying attention to unnecessary printouts. Get in the habit of reading things on a screen instead. Even things like a travel boarding pass don’t require a printout so long as you have them on your phone. The less paper you use, the better!
Tidy the Drawers
Desks become the repository for so much clutter! Take some time to go through each drawer. You’ll find most of what you’ve tucked away are things you don’t need at all.
Clean the Floor
Out of sight doesn’t necessarily mean out of mind. Those items you tucked under your desk out of sight of visitors are still there to bedevil your peace of mind. The floor is for your feet. Period. The rest is clutter. Toss it or put it away appropriately.
You’ll be amazed at how good it feels when you clean up your act. Remember, a clear desk is a sign of a clearer mind.
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