Messy desk? Increase your productivity by cleaning up your work space

If you have a job that includes working at a desk for several hours daily, it’s well worth to take a closer look at the state your desktop is in. A cluttered and messy atmosphere is contributing to a more chaotic and stressed inner self, even if you’re not consciously aware of it. So why not give it a try and declutter your office.

Tip number 1:
Less is more

I would highly recommend to keep the amount of items you need to keep on your desk as low as possible and store the rest away in drawers or cupboards. The fewer items you have on your desk, the more spacious and clean it looks and it’s much easier to keep your desk tidy.
Put those paperclips and the stapler into the drawer, if you only use them once a week. In case you need them, you can take them out, it only takes 5 seconds.
If you don’t have a desk with integrated drawers, you might want to invest in a nice looking desk organizing system to store your necessities.

Tip number 2:
Organize your drawers by category and throw everything away you don’t need.

Let’s be honest, you don’t need 30 pens, of which half of them already ran out of ink. Stick to a handful of pens and only those you enjoy writing with. Keep highlighters and coloured pens to a minimum, unless you are really frequently using them.
A lot of us refrain from throwing certain stationary items away, because we think “what, if I need it some time in the future?” But the reality is, that this occasion never comes. And even if the situation occurs, that you could use that one special glue, that you’ve been saving for so long, would you even remember that you have it? And where you have stored it? It’s not worth clogging up your drawer space with items you never use.
After you have thrown out everything you don’t need, organize the remaining items by category, because it’s the easiest way to stay organized and you immediately know, where your stuff is.

Tip number 3:
Don’t overstock

Budgeting and saving money is great, but sometimes it cost us more, if we try to save money. Yes, you might save money by buying 100 envelopes, but if you’re only sending out a letter every few months, will you ever use up all 100? Still, all these unused envelopes take up a lot of space in your office shelf. In this case, it’s better to buy a smaller pack and use the new created space in your shelf for something else.
Do you really need to order so much copy paper, that you could print pages for the next three months? It will feel so much better, if your office shelf doesn’t look like a storage unit. If you downsize the amount of items you store in your shelf or cupboard, you will find that your office looks less chaotic and more put together.
There will always be a sale or promotion somewhere, there is really no need to stock up on post its, because they’re 25% off, that’s all just marketing.

Tip number 4:
Finish work 5 minutes earlier

Before you clock out and leave work, take 5 minutes every day at the end of your shift and clean up your desk. It will be so much nicer, to return back to work the next morning, when your desk is tidy and organized. Put all the utensils you used during your work hours back to where they belong (I hope you have organized your stationary by category in your drawers :)), check you note pad and throw away any notes you don’t need any more and finally wipe down your keyboard and desk surface, to get rid of any dust and dirt. It only takes a few minutes, but I promise you, if you do it every day, it will make such a difference, when you start your day!

Tip number 5:
Add a personal touch

I really hope you love your job and whatever you do is fun. But the reality is, sometimes it’s not. Add a personal touch to your desk to increase productivity and creativity and get you through times, when you wish your workday was already over.
Buy yourself fresh flowers at the start of your workweek and keep them on your desk. They will instantly lift your mood, because they look and smell nice. Alternatively, you could buy a nice flower pot, succulent or cactus, which adds an organic element to your office. Don’t underestimate the power of plants! My husband put two potted plants on his desk recently, and he says, he can’t believe how he managed to work without plants all these years!
You can also add framed photos of your spouse or friends and other cute things you like to look at and that bring you joy. Souvenirs from your last vacation or holiday themed decoration will add some fun to your work environment. Keep these extras to a minimum though; one to three of these items should be enough to create a nice desktop, more than that and your desk might look too chaotic again.

Tip number 6:
Throw out files as soon as possible

I’m not talking about papers, which you are legally required to keep for a certain amount of time. If you need them in physical form, then store them away, I don’t want to get you in trouble.
But what about all those papers you don’t need to keep, yet they’re still clogging up precious space in your office shelf? Throw them away! No one needs credit card statements or phone bill print outs in times of online banking and online accounts. Would it be possible to digitalize them? If yes, then do it. It might take up some time at the beginning, but once you’ve started it, it takes almost no time to keep that habit up and digitalized everything immediately as soon as you get it.
Be honest and admit, that no one will ever look at that one brochure from 2013 again and that you forgot you had those hand written notes from the last conference. They are ghost in your shelf, of no use to anybody, so they might as well go into the trash. The same goes for books and manuals. Would you actually take out the book and look up something or would you rather google it? When was the last time you read one of these books? A lot of information is easier accessible online, so get rid of those books you don’t need.

I hope this was helpful and you'll become much more productive. If you want to learn how to declutter and organize the rest of your life, then visit my website www.tidywithjoy.com to book a free consultation with me or send an email to [email protected]

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend!
Love, Isabelle