Cleaning and office desk organization are practices, not projects. – Meagan Francis
Have you ever wondered how much time we actually spend working?
According to Huffpost Australia’s research, over the course of a lifetime, an average person spends 4,821 days at the workplace, which equals 13 years and 2 months or 24% of your life.
Big time, isn’t it? And I think you would definitely prefer to spend a considerable amount of that time in maximum comfort, peace of mind, and productivity.
Imagine a workspace where the resources you need are always at hand, the environment is conducive to getting things done, your mind is always in creative mode and there’s no lazy bone in your body. This can be achieved with just a few adjustments. Desk organization is about more than just tidying up your surroundings – it is about creating an atmosphere that improves your productivity and well-being.
When the desk works in your favor, you will find that not only the quality of your work improves, but also your overall mood and clarity of mind.
Why desk organization is important?
It is vital to keep your office desk organization on point, as it really enhances your level of motivation, makes you feel a lot more inspired, helps you get more things done, and makes your desk visually appealing as well.
Below are 10 simple tips on desk organization ideas:
1. Clear off your space like you mean it
As Brian Tracy said, “The hardest part of any important task is getting started”, and in our case, desk organization begins with a complete decluttering and purging process.
Remove everything from your desk, clean it forty ways to Sunday, and the most important part—put back only those things you need on a daily basis.
I know, I know, it could be difficult, but keeping things “just in case” is not an option if you want to keep your desk organization to point.
Be brave and let go of the things that won’t come in handy anymore. Trust me, this has to be on top of your desk organization ideas.
2. Desk organization
You have a lot of small objects and just one drawer or none at all, right? Get some office drawer organizers that divide your drawers into multiple slots for keeping post-it notes, business cards, paperclips, batteries, flash drives, and so on.
Just so you know, minimizing your office supplies will help you reduce visual clutter at your desk. To keep all that’s left after the purge in one place within easy reach, use transparent acrylic boxes for writing utensils, a monitor stand to widen the space, vertical desk trays, and simple desk organizer with as many compartments as you can find.
If you are lucky enough to have an office drawer unit, don’t waste this opportunity and fill the space with personal things, your bags or purses, or anything to your taste. This will help keep your desk organization to a good start!
3. Arrange your computer desktop
You may have an absolutely flawless, minimalist desk organization ideas and views to be proud of.
However, if your home screen is a total mess with an unsorted array of folders, files, and images, it urgently has to be dealt with.
Such a bunch of files left unattended can lead to accidental distractions while working. Try to find at least 8 minutes a day and sort the accumulated files wisely into folders. Delete the unnecessary ones from your desktop, clean up your bookmarks and empty your trash.
Pump up with that desk organization!
4. Untwist your cords
If there are lots of plugs, cords, and wires you use almost all the time, then this tip is for you. The problem with tangling wires and hastily finding the right cord, which causes distraction, can be solved by bundling your strands with cable ties, grouping your cords together with binder clips, or buying a cable holder and attaching it to your desk.
This has to be the go-to-hack for many people looking for desk organization ideas.
You can even take it to the next level and label your plugs, wires and chargers with colored tape to avoid confusion with your co-workers.
5. Reconsider your system of grouping things
As to the manner of sorting, you can categorize your stuff either alphabetically, by importance, or in any other way that resonates with you.
Thus, each item will have its proper place and you will know exactly where everything is, just in case you need it.
You are LITERALLY going for the perfect desk organization this way!
6. Personalize your workplace
Striking a work-life balance is a challenge, especially at your desk.
Family photos, vacation mementos, your favorite figurine, a plant, or even an amusing coffee cup can brighten up your space, make you feel more at home and bring you some inspiration.
But don’t get too personal. In order to avoid distractions, a couple of personal items should be enough to keep on the desk.
You can also arrange some visual borders so that no one disturbs you, using personalized door hangers that gently claim your special zone but also does it keeping in mind the perfection of desk organization.
7. Comfort is above all
Everybody’s got their own understanding of the word “comfort” at the workplace. However, in general, you should:
- Have a comfortable chair at the computer height in order n
- ot to curve your spine.
- Wear indoor shoes or slippers to keep your feet from excessively sweating.
- Use natural lighting whenever possible, as it gives your body vitamin D and dopamine, which improve your eyesight and really increase your productive efficiency.
- Use a humidifier to keep the air moist and a diffuser filled with essential oils to create scents that you enjoy and that will increase your productivity.
- If you enjoy listening to music, create a playlist of your favorite songs, which will surely bring you energy, inspire you, and motivate you while working, as we do at Chanty.
8. Keep your to-do list, calendar or planner nearby
Without further ado, not everything can go digital, so keep your to-do list close at hand for outstanding work tasks.
Also have with yourself an hourly planner or calendar to plan like a boss and a notebook to make some notes like reminders, necessary emails, or useful phrases.
9. Use the space around you
Do you always feel like you’re running out of desk room? If yes, then a good solution at your fingertips would be a so-called “under-desk basket,” which will provide you with valuable space and a place for all your digital accessories.
Have a vacant windowsill beside you? Feel free to put a pen holder there, or a picture you are fond of. See that nobody claims an open space on the wall? Don’t hesitate to hang a neat shelf or a memo corkboard for your trip photos or weekly productivity planning.
10. Wipe it down before you go
Nope, you don’t need to deep clean your desk with a wet cloth every single day—I’m not crazy. My advice is to neaten up your workspace and keep your office desk organized in the last five minutes of your working day.
Throw yourself a 21-day challenge and declutter your desk daily, either from used-up coffee cups or from the disorganized pile of papers. The result will surprise you, and besides, it would be a pleasure to start your morning at a clean desk.
Home office organization tips
It seems that more and more people are working from home these days. Most of us are adapting to this new way of working in one way or another. While working from home has lots of advantages, it can also present some challenges when it comes to setting up a proper workspace. One of the main issues remote employees face is the risk of mixing their personal and work lives. Workspaces often end up with all kinds of personal items, like family pictures, kid’s homework, books, snack wrappers, or other household objects, which can make it hard to concentrate and get things done.
The first step is to establish clear boundaries between work-related and personal items. A little structure goes a long way. Use baskets, trays, or drawer organizers to keep work and personal items separate. Not only will this make it easier to find an item, it will also help you concentrate on your work during working hours. For example, all work documents and notebooks should be kept in the same drawer, while items such as food or reading material should be kept elsewhere. Keeping items in their designated places is a good way to minimize interruptions.
When space is limited, dual-purpose furniture can be a real savior. For example, a desk with shelves can hold office files or supplies without taking up extra space. Mobile pedestals are particularly attractive as they provide additional storage without the drawback of heavy furniture. They are mobile pieces of equipment that can be wheeled in and out of a room at will and can hold anything from technical equipment to lunch. And when the day’s work is done, simply roll it away and the space is free again.
It goes beyond furniture and other furnishings. Think about how you can designate a specific area within the confines of your home as a ‘work zone’. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes, even if it’s just a small part of your living room or bedroom, to have a place to work that’s cordoned off from everything else. This is why it is so easy to concentrate for short periods because the work is mentally separated and the end of the working day is clearly marked. You will also want to ensure that there is as little clutter as possible in your work area. As the saying goes, a clean desk is a clear mind, so make sure you get into the habit of tidying up after every day’s work.
Finally, remember that comfort is a relative factor. The presence of a good swivel chair, proper lighting, and the accessibility of tools will contribute to the desire to work from the sitting area. It is possible to have a home office filled with practical, stylish furnishings that are still comfortable enough to get the job done.
Desk organization summing up
Use one tip or all desk organization ideas—it’s up to you. Whatever you do, remember that an organized desk not only contributes to productivity levels but also makes the whole process of working less stressful. There is a reason why workers like to keep things tidy and within easy reach; it saves time, reduces interruptions, and clears the mind.
Wherever you run your business, from a brick-and-mortar office to a warm and cozy home office, applying a few organizing principles will help improve the quality of the space – such as work-life balance, the use of convertible furniture, and other principles. All it takes is a little imagination and perseverance, and any desk can serve as a high-octane engine for concentration and focus.
So get on with it and make sure that each and every piece of furniture continues to deserve its place in the law firm’s office after some time, i.e. every week. Also, remember to adapt your arrangement as your circumstances change – because a tidy and clean area is one that is always changing.
Let us know of your favorite desk organization ideas too!
Add comment