Clean Off Your Desk Day January 14, 2013

     
Today is Clean Off Your Desk Day! I'm updating the following post from days gone by.

With a new year beginning, it's a great time to rethink how your desk is functioning. When stacks start accumulating on my desk, it's a clear indication that I need to rethink things. Some good questions to ask:

- Have my responsibilities changed in the last year?

- Are there items that have no home?

- Have some areas increased in importance and others decreased?

- Is my desk area functional and efficient? If not, why?

As I may have shared before, I HATE to file. Consequently, for my few most active areas, I have used attractive open boxes on shelves. I can just drop papers into the boxes and be done! However, I find that I'm not doing this now because I have to stand up and open the cupboard door each time I must file something.

As stupid as this sounds, if you can't do it while sitting at your desk chair, you're more likely to put it off or put it in a stack. Sad, but true.

So, as I have evaluated my desk, I'm going to break down and use some hanging files instead of boxes. I also need the storage space. A box takes up a lot more room than a hanging file.

I've looked at what accumulates on my desk and figured out what I can do to keep that from happening.

And I'm going through my file drawers under my desk to remove files that are no longer active. They will go into a file cabinet in another room.

I'm also creating new files for new areas, as necessary.

My goal is to take a few minutes at the end of the day and take care of anything that needs attention - filing, items that require action, shredding, etc.

Since everything will have a home, my desk shouldn't be the repository of stray items.  

How do you like to keep your desk functional, efficient and neat?


More on similar subjects:
ADD and a Clutter-Free Desk - It's Not Impossible
A very simple filing system for email and paper,
Can Clutter Cause You to Lose Your Job?  

If you need more help organizing your office, treat yourself to Three Steps to Organizing Your Office - it's half off during January!