How to Declutter Your Desk

They say a cluttered desk leads to a cluttered mind, so if you want to help yourself then get started on your desk. If you're like me you spend a lot of time hunting for what you need. Time that can be better spent getting work done. Taking the needed time to organize your space will need only seconds to keep it maintained.

Step one- Start with the easy stuff. Remove all the obvious trash such as expired items, broken items that have already been replaced, old notes, food wrappers, empty pens, etc.

Step two- It's easier to start with an empty space, so using a few empty boxes, empty your desk out. This is a good time to clean your desk with your preferred household cleaner.

As things go into the "holding boxes" decide if the items should be kept or not. If your have supplies that you know you won't use, but hate to toss, think about donating them to a charity. Remember when tossing old papers that with identity theft on the rise you might think of shredding them. Investing in a shredder is a smart idea and relatively inexpensive.

Step three- Do you have important items that you need only for tax or legal purposes? If so, you might save the desk space by boxing up important papers in an accordion folder box and storing in a closet. Be sure to label the outside of the box with any relevant dates or contents listing before packing away.

Step four- Limit what you put back on top of your desk, since the outward appearance of your desk can affect the way people perceive you. Try to limit yourself to only one personal photo, one knick-nack and possibly one small plant. Make sure you choose a plant that is easy to maintain, won't shed many leaves, and has a healthy look to it. A sickly plant won't help your image much. Plants help to create a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

Your desktop should include an "in-box" for putting those items you receive so they don't become the next clutter on your desk. Include a cup for pens and pencils making sure they actually work. If this is a public workspace be sure to include your business cards in a holder so you won't catch yourself having to look for them.

Step five- The desk drawers should be designated be order of importance. The most important and frequently used items should be in the closest drawer. Extra supplies should all be stored together in the lowest drawer as they will see the least use.

Step six- Under or beside the desk I have two small trashcans. They are labeled with trash (bagged) and shredder (no bag). Items to be shredded should be emptied often, especially in a public area.

Step seven- When your "holding" boxes contain only things your are unsure of, then box them up and put them in your storage area or closet. If you find you aren't digging them back out in six months then they can probably go.

Step eight- Just remember that once it's cleaned out, maintaining your desk will be a much easier job.