Clean everything off your desk
Start from scratch. Completely remove all items from your desktop, and think carefully before replacing each one. Does it really need to be on display in your home or workplace? Or would it be just as accessible—and less in the way—somewhere else, like a drawer, file folder, or trash? If you’re unsure what to toss, here are some excellent things to which you can say sayonara.
Think “PLACE”
Purge unnecessary items; put Like with Like; organize groupings depending on how badly you need to Access them; Contain loose items (literally, put them in a designated container); Evaluate the system and adapt it accordingly for your home office.
Get rid of pens
And by “pens” I mean “extra/superfluous office materials.” How many pens do you use on a day-to-day basis? Three? Great: get rid of the rest.
Go paperless
Still getting paper bills when it’s just as easy to pay them online? Take a few minutes to update all your accounts, and get statements directly to your email inbox. Now, go through all your old papers that are floating around your apartment or workplace , and recycle anything that’s unnecessary. (File the rest, now!)
Deal with it now
OHIO—Only Handle It Once. When you open anything new, read and deal with it immediately. If it’s something, like a report, that needs to be dealt with over time, keep an In Box. Don’t overuse the box, though! If it can be filed now, it should be filed now. Tidy up at the end of each day and start each day fresh to keep your room clean.
Bulletin board
Bulletin boards aren’t just for 8-year-old photos, although they’re good for that, too. If you don’t have one hanging over your desk, you can use it to pin up appointment reminders, invitations, or anything you’ll need in the near future. Here’s the catch: the board only display one-time, soon-to-come events, and you’ve gotta clear them off when they’ve expired. Otherwise, you’re just creating another area to clutter. Make a good-looking framed one.
Hanging envelope organizer
Hanging envelopes allow you to group small items in an easily accessed spot. For example, membership cards you don’t want clogging up your wallet, coupons, extra keys or stamps. Using an envelope organizer for your desk is a lot easier then you think.
Organized wires
Wires! The bane of a clean-looking workspace! There are about a million different gadgets you can use to get wires wrapped up, in line, out of sight, and under control. Here are at least 30 ways to go about organizing your home office.
Matching containers
If you’re set on buying some desktop organizers, why not make sure they match? Alternatively, you could recover your existing containers by buying wood grain contact paper, or sprucing up with some nice fabric. Maybe the visual continuity will encourage you to keep your desk and apartment clean!
Mini drawers
Drawer dividers
If you really must have so many little gizmos around, consider investing in a drawer divider—at least they’ll not get so mixed up. If your drawers are full, clean them out! If they’re still full, you can always buy a set of mini drawers for all your paper-clippy, rubber-bandy, tack-y needs.
If you have any other ideas to tidy up your desk then make sure to let others know on Facebook!
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