1. Size it up. First, step back and assess the desk. What do you have on your desk that really needs to be there and what can you move? How much space do you have? What needs to get done there? Knowing what you’re working with and where you need to be is the first step to getting there.
2. Clear it off. Remove any large items and those you just don’t need to have on your desk. Stick them under the desk if you don’t use them much, or get a small table to set them on to the side. This can clear up a lot of work space.
3. Need more space? If you need more space to put things away you may want to look into getting a simple plastic drawer set, a nice cabinet, or a wooden chest of drawers for your office area.
4. Contain and label cords.
Cords can be especially troublesome and messy. Use plastic zip ties or Velcro strips to bind extra cord length and keep it untangled and out of the way. If you want to keep your cords off the floor, try mounting a wire tray or other container to the back of the desk or underneath the desktop to hold them.* You may also want to tag your cords for quick identification at the power strip. ID each cord with a wire ring and tag. You can also purchase tags at your local office supply store or online which are fancier and made specifically for cord identification. I’ve included some links at the end of this blog to help you out. Otherwise simply wrap a length of masking tape around each cord, sticking the two sides of the tape together to make a strip for the name of the item.
5. Accessorize. Use organizational accessories to help you out. You can find a variety of pencil holders, stackable desk trays, etc. to neatly hold those things you need to have at hand. Instead of having a messy stack of papers covering you desk, keep them tidy in a desktop file. Your inbox should contain all those items you need to get done. Your outbox should contain all those items you have completed that need to be delivered or filed away. Make sure you empty your outbox frequently.
6. File it away.
If you have a lot of paperwork you’ll need a file. You can purchase a file cabinet at your local office supply store or find a slightly used one cheaper at your local second-hand store. Most office supply stores also sell plastic file boxes, if a large metal filing cabinet just doesn’t work for you. You may also purchase storage boxes that you can put old files in, label, and neatly stack away.
7. Organize what’s inside. Don’t forget to look inside those desk drawers! Get everything out, weed through what you need to keep and what you need to throw out or keep elsewhere. You may want to get some small containers or a desk drawer organizer to help you keep the little things sorted and neatly at hand, such as paper clips, rubber bands, ink stamps, push pins, etc.
8. Too many notes? Keep a notebook for important notes and reminders, and mark off items as they are taken care of. This keeps everything neatly together and keeps information from getting lost. It also keeps your desk from overflowing with sticky notes. If you have printed documents, fliers, or other paperwork you need to keep out and visible consider getting a bulletin board to post it on.
9. Contain clutter. Make a place for the little things that you often carry back and forth between the office and home. This might include a wallet, keys, cell phone, or hand held organizer. Get a small wire basket or a pretty bowl to hold these items. You could also purchase a charging/organizational station for some of these. If you feel you need to keep them more secure make a small space for them in a locking desk drawer or file cabinet.
10. See the light. Make sure you have enough light at your desk. If your office is dim and you don’t have enough space for a desk lamp, consider getting a tall floor lamp to place beside the desk.
11. Keep it dusted. Dust builds up quickly. Keep a cloth or duster close at hand for quick and easy dusting. Microfiber cloths work great for picking up dust.
12. Set time aside.
We all know that what’s organized now can quickly become disorganized again. Set aside a small portion of time each week to spruce things up. You may want to do this each Friday before you leave or perhaps you prefer to take five minutes at the end of each day. Either way, this is essential for keeping things neat, clean, and organized.
You can find cord tags at:
http://www.all4cellular.com (Type “Kangaroom Colored Cabel Tags” in the search box):
Kangaroom Colored Cable Tags are fold-over, color coded tags that come with preprinted labels and blank labels for customization.
http://www.amazon.com (Type “Kableflags” in the search box):
Kableflags are to-the-point, write-on, sturdy zip-tie-like tags.
http://www.amazon.com (type “Dotz Cord Identifiers” in the search box):
Dotz Cord Identifiers are small, round, colorful plastic dots hold pre-made labels with pictures of you different devices on them. They come in brights and pastels.
Stickngo Colorful Cable Labels are tear-resistant and flexible, color-coded labels. They come in different sizes and preprinted or blank for customization.
http://www.thestoragestore.com:
The Storage Store has both Kableflags and Dotz Cord Identifiers as well, plus other great cord control products.
You can find wire trays at:
The Cable Corral is a wire tray with even spaced hooks on the sides to hold extra items, such as power strips, small speakers, or excess cables. It’s designed to mount under your table or desk.
The Viable Under Desk Wire Tray is a wire cable holder with modular hooks for suspending cables and power strips. It can be mounted under your table or desk or on a wall behind your workspace.
*Visit Instructables.com at http://www.instructables.com, How-to-mount-a-power-strip-under-your-desk for detailed information on one way to mount a power strip and basket under your desk.
K. Carter
QualityOne Commercial Cleaning
Ames, Iowa
All photos taken from Microsoft Free Clipart: