How To Minimize Desk Clutter
Whether you are at home or in an office building, clutter on your desk can be distracting. It serves as a constant reminder of all the things on your to-do list, which can leave you feeling swamped and unable to focus on completing any one task. In this day and age, you can always opt to go digital. However, if you’re like many of my clients, you may find that it is still easier to use paper. Keeping your desk clutter-free is a greater challenge if you go this route, but it is not impossible. Try out the tips below to learn how to minimize desk clutter and improve your focus!
1. Limit Decorative Items
If you have ever worked in an office, chances are you’ve had a co-worker whose desk could be identified by an impressive collection of picture frames and knick-knacks strewn across the surface. While it can be nice to add some personality to your workspace in the office or at home, you can avoid drowning in clutter by being selective about what you display and how you display it. Your photos aren't actually "clutter" to you, and may be where they belong. But they act as visual clutter and detract from a streamlined, organized desk. Instead of having a picture frame for each family member’s photo, consider displaying one photo with all of your family members in it. You can hang pictures for a cleaner look as well.
2. Use Folders and Filing
You might be surprised how much of a difference it makes once you’ve cleared a few photos and knick knacks off your desk.. But why stop there? Most likely, paper is the biggest culprit littering up your desk. So let’s tackle that next!
Instead of keeping important papers loose on your desk, make a folder for each of your projects and sort the papers into the appropriate folders. Current projects should be kept closer to your workspace, and completed or pending projects should be filed in another area. This keeps your papers neat and out of the way, and they will be much easier to find when you need them. You are also less likely to misplace papers for a project when they are all in one place.
Completed and pending projects can be neatly tucked away in a file cabinet away from your desk. The information will still be accessible if you need to reference it, but it will be easier to put that information out of mind when you are trying to concentrate on another task. To store the folders for current projects, consider investing in a paper organizer. While this will take up some space on your desk, it will also help you avoid unruly stacks of folders that are spilling into the area where you are trying to work.
3. Keep Personal and Work Files Separate
Home office organization is more important than ever in the post-Covid era of hybrid and work-from-home jobs. To avoid confusion, I recommend keeping personal and work documents separate. You should sort them into separate files, and consider keeping them in different areas of your home office. This will help you maintain your concentration to complete tasks more quickly and with fewer errors.
Once you’ve separated work from personal, sort your them into categories and create a folder for each one. Some common categories for personal files are “Medical,” “Finances,” and “Vehicles.” Work files might include categories such as “Expenses,” “Mileage Reimbursement,” or “Tax Documents.” Be sure to label your files clearly so that they’re easy to find and organize. Another option would be to use a different colored folder for personal and work, so that you can identify them quickly.
4. Prioritize and Make Daily Progress
Even if you use folders and a filing system, it is unrealistic to believe that you are never going to have any papers on your desk. But you can keep them from getting out of control with some simple prioritization. Keep to-do items in a pile on one end of your desk. Every day when you sit down at your desk, set the timer for 15 to 30 minutes and tackle two to three items in your pile. This will help you avoid an overflowing pile of folders on your desk and an overwhelming to-do list. As the pile on your desk gets shorter, your to-do list will, too. This is a straightforward and effective way to make daily progress towards your goals.
5. Sort Your Mail Consistently
Junk mail can be another burden when it comes to minimizing desk clutter. Many of us tend to let it pile up on a corner of the desk before we eventually get frustrated that it’s spilling into our workspace and throw it away. You can avoid this situation by never letting it land on your desk at all. When you get your mail each day or week, get into the habit of sorting through it immediately and tossing any junk mail straight into the trash. Actionable mail should be kept in a paper organizer. When you tackle the pile of to-dos on your desk each day, check the organizer as well. This will help you ensure that action items are not missed. There may be some mail that you want to keep, but don’t need right away. This might include invitations, birthday cards, holiday greetings, or thank you notes. Consider hanging a bulletin board near your desk and pinning this type of mail to it. Just remember to clean it once a week, so that it doesn't get out of control!
Try out these tips for increased productivity, better concentration, and less stress when you’re working. Need additional support to minimize desk clutter in your home or office? Schedule a consultation today! We can provide professional guidance and implement organization strategies for a more productive lifestyle.