Increase Productivity at Work: Declutter Your Desk

A well-organized desk surface is the first line of defense to increase productivity at work. It has a powerful effect on minimizing visually induced stress and optimizing workflow; two things that, if not managed, can quickly zap efficiency and productivity. For these reasons, it’s important to keep a well-organized desk surface that works and makes sense for your specific needs – physically and mentally.

While you can organize the surface of your desk in any way that feels right to you, I recommend trying this process.

Emergency Declutter

While I don’t recommend it as a long-term solution, if you have limited time, and you have a desperate need to declutter immediately, you can do a quick tidy up. Simply gather things into piles and place them off to the side on your desk or somewhere nearby.

While there is still a need to properly organize what’s in the piles, gathering things together creates an organized mess, which to immediately increase productivity at work, is better than just a mess. Remember, this is just a temporary solution though until you can dedicate more time to following the guidance below.

Clear the Way

If you have more time to dedicate to decluttering and organizing the surface of your desk, my favorite way to begin is by removing every single item off the desk. Typically, for just a desk surface declutter and organization, I leave all the items that are plugged into an electrical outlet or another device on the desk.

Side Note: Removing plugged in items lends itself to what usually turns into a larger project – space redesign. If this is something you’re interested in doing at the same time as decluttering and organizing, go for it! Just be aware it will take more time than the process described in this post.

By removing everything that is easily removeable off your desk, it should create an empty or almost empty surface that’s easy to wipe clean and get a good sense of how much desk top space you really have. Take a moment to sit at your desk and visually soak in the open space.

Get a feel for how much actual workspace you need on your desk and where that space needs to be. Typically, workspace is right in front of the computer and off to the right or left side for when you’re not using the computer. The space that remains is the space you have to place items back on your desk, which is important to be acquainted with for the next step in the process.

Take Inventory

Turn to the pile of things you cleared off your desk and pluck from it your “must have” items. These are things that you need to have at your fingertips to effectively do your job. Depending on what you do for work this might be a mousepad, a mouse, keyboard, calculator, notebook, appointment book and/or a specialized tool or instrument. Only you know, so the decision is yours. Choose wisely!

After that, assess what remains in the pile of removed items.

Is there anything you don’t have to have on your desk to perform your job but would like to have on your desk for convenience?

Such items could include: a pen and pencil holder, stapler, hole punch, Post-It Notes or a picture of a loved one. If you have adequate space for them, place them on your desk. In addition to the things you must have to do your job, it’s important to have nearby things that make life a little easier or put a smile on your face at work.

Remove or Rehome the Unnecessary

Once you’ve placed back on the desk the “must haves” and the “want to haves,” assess what you’re left with.

Do those things have a purpose in your workspace? If yes, find a new home for them.

For items you deem not to have a place in your workspace:

• • Discard in the trash or recycle them

• • Ask a co-worker if they would like any of the items

• • Return them to the common supply closet in the building for another employee to use

• • Donate to a local thrift store (if it is a personal item and not company property)

• • Take it home if it is personal property that has a use in your home

Enjoy

With a clean, clutter free and organized desk surface sit down, take a moment to enjoy the newly uncovered workspace you’ve created for yourself then…get your productivity on!

Maintain

It’s daunting and hard work to deal with large amounts of clutter and big messes. To help ensure you’re working smarter, not harder in your organization efforts, at the end of every work day use the last 5 minutes to tidy up your desk, think about your top two priorities for the next day and put the items neatly on your desk for the next day. This accomplishes a few key things important to increase productivity at work:

• • Allows you to avoid walking into a messy and stressful environment at the start of your day

• • Provides an immediate reminder of the work you need to do first thing

• • Gives you quick access to your priority work

• • Makes it easy to wipe down your desk when necessary

• • Keeps you from having to spend valuable time going through the above decluttering and organizing process repeatedly

There are multiple ways to tackle decluttering and organizing your desk surface. If you don’t know where to start or don’t know what organization method will work best for you, this is a great one to try.

If the process doesn’t go well for you or you’re struggling to maintain a clutter-free and organized desk, that’s ok. Try another way or contact an Eye to Simplify for personalized guidance. We’re here to help you simplify and increase productivity at work.

Simply Yours,