The year 2014 is just around the corner, and along with pipe dream resolutions about losing weight, being nicer to your in-laws, and spending less time gaming on your smartphone, there are some very achievable goals currently being set by determined Americans. across the country. Some of these most common goals have to do with getting more organized, and chances are, there are few places in your life that could use a bit of January trash more than your office environment.
The area around employees’ desks tends to become a dump for trash, knick-knacks, trash, and other things that seem too important to throw away, but not important enough to actually use. Well, roll up those sleeves and get ready for an office tidying crash course. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Get rid of the paper
Paper is a great thing to have on hand. This allows you to quickly jot down important notes, and to keep track of information without having to rely on finicky computer programs. The problem is that paper, especially sticky notes, tend to hang around the office long after they’ve expired.
How long do you plan to keep the reminder from November of meetings moved to Wednesday? Instead, clear out your desk and set the stage for a cleaner desk in the future by getting rid of all your old notes, messages, and scraps of paper. If you must have some paper close at hand, get yourself one notebook. This will keep the paper clutter contained and help with organization too.
2. Take a few minutes each day to do a quick clean
Most of us have a routine that helps us get through the day. Maybe we eat lunch or use the restroom at a certain time each afternoon. Maybe we like to check our e-mail every hour, every hour. Whatever the case may be, routines are easy to follow because they become second nature. It’s just human nature. Well, you can take advantage of human nature by getting in the habit of spending a few minutes each day (preferably right before you head out for the night) organizing your work area. Remove any trash or loose paper, straighten your gear, maybe even a quick dusting. It won’t take you long, and it will help keep your desk neat and tidy all year round.
3. Get a litter box
Sometimes there are things that have no immediate importance but may become important in the unspecified future. Just be honest; you will most likely be fine if you throw all this useless stuff straight into the trash. However, if that feels wrong to you, the next best thing is to buy a special litter box or desk drawer.
This is where you can stash all the knick-knacks and potentially useful items you don’t need on your desk right now. Close the box, and if it starts overflowing, look inside and force yourself to part with a few items that are less likely to be useful. Or if the desk drawers take up your entire desk, you might want to consider getting a new desk that’s less cluttered.
4. Reduce the amount of personal knick-knacks you keep
It’s natural to want to personalize your workspace. Photos of family members, important mementos, kinetic figurines that do neat things to keep you distracted from business—all of these help define the personality of your office. Unfortunately, they also take up space and add a “cluttered” look around your table. Maybe it’s time to thin out the herd?
Not that you need to throw away any of the important representations of the unique personal traits that define you as an individual; it’s just possible that some of that stuff can have a place away from the office. It may be difficult, but if you can find a way to retire, then your workspace will look much better.
