It will likely take much longer to go through your desk one object at a time looking for things to throw away.
Be sure everything has been removed from the desk before you start cleaning. Otherwise, you’ll have to clean around the existing clutter.
People often develop attachments to things they don’t use that have no benefit to them. Letting go of unused belongings can bring you some much-needed peace of mind once it’s done. Don’t forget to dispose of any trash you find while clearing out your desk. This can account for a large portion of the clutter. [4] X Research source
It’s okay to hold onto things that have sentimental value. If you have an old picture, gift or memento you want to keep, stash it away somewhere safe and keep your desk free for its intended use.
Rearranging the items on your desk is a small tweak that will nonetheless help break up the monotony of always seeing the same things in the same places when you sit down to work. In China, there is an entire art devoted to changing the positioning of everyday objects. It is known as feng shui, and it has been shown to be very psychologically therapeutic. [6] X Research source
Even if your workplace provides office supplies, keeping a few of your own things on hand (such as a favorite type of pen) can make you feel more comfortable.
Your intuition will usually be your best guide for telling you where an item should go. If you instinctively look for a certain thing in a certain location, that’s probably the best place for it to go.
If you work in a cubicle or office, bring a few items from home to combat the drab atmosphere of the workplace. Tack up inspirational images and messages to keep you motivated to work hard.
Writing utensils, typing paper, notebooks, communication devices and digital accessories might all be kept out in the open, or somewhere else that you can get to easily. Separate pens and pencils into a cup to keep them together and ready to use without taking up too much space. Leave paper clips and staplers near the printer or wherever you complete paperwork. You can save as much as an hour a day by minimizing the time it takes you to hunt for things in a messy desk.
For instance, you might find that you use your laptop, tablet and other electronic devices more often than pen and paper for completing your work. In this case, these secondary materials can be stored away close at hand while leaving your desk clear for your electronics. If you have a lot of smaller items, buy some desk drawer organizer trays. These fit neatly into the drawers of your desk and are made up of compartmentalized sections that let you keep everything organized and visible in its proper place. Make a mental priority list of where things should go in your workspace. If you use an item frequently or it’s important to keep up with, leave it on your desktop. If you have a need for it every now and then, secure it in a nearby drawer. If you rarely use it or it doesn’t really belong on your desk, find someplace else to keep it.
Try to get in the habit of putting away things after you’ve used them. Otherwise, they have a tendency to accumulate on your desktop or get stuffed into a drawer that can quickly fill up with junk.
Using a paper tray, or multiple trays for different purposes, is a simple trick that can help eliminate the majority of paper clutter on your desk. Have one tray ready for finished/unfinished paperwork, another for incoming/outgoing mail, etc. [13] X Research source
First, make sure there are clear boundaries in place to distinguish what belongs where. Then, you can begin organizing your own section to maximize order and efficiency. Label your personal materials and keep them close to where you sit. Identify which paperwork is yours and sort it into individual file folders, and from there into drawers or paper trays. Have a designated place for shared supplies so that extraneous clutter doesn’t spill into your area. [14] X Research source [15] X Research source Carry a backpack or briefcase to help you keep tabs on your stuff. If you’re working in a setting with shared space and storage, you might not be able to keep as many supplies and belongings on your desk or in nearby drawers. [16] X Research source Stay on top of regular sorting and cleaning to keep a shared desk or workspace from turning into a mess. More people concentrated into the same confined area means more trash, stray papers and general disarray.
