Your desk means a lot to you. It may be
the place of your greatest creativity, or your most decisive business
decisions. It may be the place that is the hub of your home management systems.
It may be a sanctuary, an engine room or a creativity generator.
But if it is covered in piles of paper
and other bits and pieces; if it is overflowing and ugly, then all of that
creativity, efficiency and productivity is jeopardised, stifled and just plain
difficult.
You know that, I know that, and we also
know that the solution is to tidy it so that we can find things; make it
attractive so that we are motivated; and to implement systems so that it stays
that way. But somehow action to create this solution is a bit slow in coming.
We are so busy doing the things we do at the desk to find the time to tidy it
and set those systems in place.
The answer lies in one simple motivation
– focus on the advantages. Visualise the desk as it could be, should be. Focus
on how smoothly you will complete your tasks there and what a pleasant
experience it will be.
First of all, blitz the paper, and all
of the miscellaneous bits and pieces that have accumulated. File them, recycle
them, sort them. Make places for them. Visit my articles on these topics if
you need help in these areas. But give it a little thought now so that the
processes you use this time and the storage systems you create, will work for
you next time and into the future.
Keep things that you use often, close to
you, and things rarely consulted, furthest away. The top drawer of your desk
can be used for basic tools like pens, staplers, paper clips, sticky notes –
close to hand but not making visual clutter and taking space on your desk.
Remember that drawers are not for junk.
Throw away the broken sunglasses, old gum, tiny eraser pieces and faded combs.
Nor are drawers hiding places.
The next drawer or the filing drawer can
be used for your current action files. The only time they need to be on the
desk is when you are using them. Otherwise file them as close as possible to
you and label them “Current Action” or use a title that is relevant to you.
Files you use for research may live on a
shelf near your desk. And further away are the archives.
You can decide on categories for your
drawers or sections of drawers (and shelves) that suit you – categories like
Tools, To do, Stationery
And remember that many of the things
that leave you with a tiny working space can be wall mounted or sit on an open
shelf. Clocks are included in this category. So are calendars. And fans,
lights, photos, trophies, speakers and books can all be removed to a wall or
shelf so that you have space and tidiness.
I am trying very hard to do without
trays on my desk. They just encourage me not to deal with things immediately
and papers tend to lie and lurk there too long without being attended to. I
have to have systems in place that keep me dealing with paper as soon as
possible after it arrives.
I am also very proud of having set up
systems that keep me returning to files so that they don’t become too hefty and
out of control as well. I have diary entries that remind me to return to my
motivational and resource files and I am developing a habit of weeding every
file that I add to when I add to it.
The rewards are worth it – the sense of
well being, the time saved, an office system that works and a desk that works
with you whether you create, or manage, or both.
© 2006
Bronwyn Ritchie
All Rights Reserved. You may
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only if it is accompanied by this
resource box.
Bronwyn Ritchie is a speaker,
writer, a librarian, and she manages
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