It can be hard to see the things you need to get done when your desk is a mess.The whole desktop becomes littered with unused items that just get in the way as electronic devices stack up.With a few new tools and a little organizational savvy, you can change the layout of your office desk to promote efficiency and eliminate disorder.Creating new space where you need it most is the key to success.
Step 1: Trash and unneeded items should be thrown away.
Get rid of extraneous items that are crowding your desk.Out-of-date documents, junk mail, empty boxes and old or unused office supplies are included.Get rid of as many things as possible while cleaning out your desk.The more space you have left over, the more work you can do.You should put a wastebasket next to your desk.
Step 2: What should stay on your desktop and what should not?
You can sort remaining items by their importance to your work and how often you use them.Supplies that you use every day can be arranged in sensible desktop organizers or thrown into drawers within reach, while in essential items should be relocated to an out-of-the-way place or discarded entirely.Ranking your work materials from 1 to 4 in terms of their immediacy will help you figure out how to proceed.Those with a ranking of 2, 3 and 4 can be put in drawers, while those with 1, 2 and 3 can remain on the desktop.To increase your space, you need to create a more focused approach to the things you keep around you.
Step 3: It's better to downsize to more streamlined furnishings.
You might have items on your desk that you consider essential that are taking up more space than they should.Do you think it would be worthwhile to replace bulky, unwieldy or oddly-shaped objects with smaller, more space-effective versions?If you can locate a more compact light source, you might be able to take the place of an outdated, oversized desk lamp.The types of office products sold today tend to be smaller and sleeker compared to their older counterparts, so this will give you an excuse to do a little shopping for yourself.There are items that can be used multiple times, such as a printer cart that is a filing cabinet and a nameplate that holds pens.
Step 4: Personal effects need to be cut down.
It's a good idea to keep a few pictures of your kids or pop culture knick-knacks around your workspace, but too many of these objects start to consume valuable desk space.They can become a distraction if you stop and admire them all day.Limit your personal belongings to a few small items, such as a framed portrait of the family dog.If you want to know how much is okay to keep, brush up on your employer's decorating guidelines.
Step 5: There is plenty of room to work.
The center portion of your desk should be used for important documents.To complete paperwork, section off a small area to one side of the desk.You don't want to feel smothered while you take care of daily tasks if you have plenty of elbow room.The space you have set aside for your primary job functions should not be used for other items.
Step 6: Use your drawers.
Place your basic supplies and most commonly used items in the top drawers.Writing utensils, envelopes, important forms and file folders are included.If you only need to look at occasionally, save the bottom drawers for backup supplies, reference materials and documents.If you take a little extra time to organize the contents of your desk drawers, you will know where everything is when you need it.You tend to go through a lot of items in a short period of time, so it's a good idea to stock up on items like copy paper.The drawers are at risk of being cluttered.Go through your drawers every couple of weeks and get rid of anything you don't need that's interfering with the layout of your desk.
Step 7: It's a good idea to invest in a drawer organizer.
All the drawer space in the world won't do you any good if the drawers are messy.If you want to stop throwing things into your desk, you should use a drawer organization that does the work of sorting and storing.Dedicated organizers allow you to separate your supplies but still keep them together in one place.The contents of your drawer organizer should be labeled so that they are identifiable.If you want to keep track of your supplies, try running with multiple organizers of different sizes and configurations.
Step 8: There is a dedicated spot for electronic devices.
If your laptop, tablet or smartphone is an important part of your work, you can leave them out, but put them in a corner or a drawer.It would be better if they were spread out over the desktop.Don't rely on too many devices at once, as they can become an annoyance rather than an aid.Your devices can remain plugged in and ready for use if you set up a charging station near an electrical strip.It is best to only use your digital devices when absolutely necessary.A lot of mental confusion is caused by electronics.
Step 9: Keep bags and briefcases out of the way.
It doesn't make sense to cover your desk with backpacks, purses, laptop bags, lunchboxes and other carriers because they are bulky and take up a lot of space.You can place these accessories underneath your desk or beside it.Pack your essentials in as few bags as possible on the way to work.If your company offers lockers or break rooms, take advantage of them.Don't obstruct existing walking space when storing larger accessories at floor level.
Step 10: There is a paper tray.
If you don't use a paper tray, you're missing out on important desk space and an organizing tool.Paper trays feature multiple tiers that you can use to divide your incoming, outgoing and in-progress documents.You will never have to dig through a stack of papers again.One tray for current work and another for files you don't need but have yet to archive.A paper tray can be used to sort and respond to unanswered mail.
Step 11: Put documents in boxes.
If you don't need the papers on a daily basis, they can be tucked away in labelled storage boxes.These boxes can be found in your company's document storage facility or at your desk.Storage boxes can be used to protect important documents.All boxes need to be properly labelled and filed.
Step 12: You should keep your writing utensils in one place.
To prevent loose pens, pencils and highlighters from going missing on the bottom of the junk drawer, group them together in a tray or cup organizers.If you have a writing utensil handy, make a home for the organizers on your desktop.Throw away utensils that are broken, dried out, or don't have a cap.In case you run out, keep a few backup packs of pens and markers in the bottom drawer.
Step 13: There is a small bulletin board nearby.
You can put up notices on a cork bulletin board and keep them in plain sight.The bulletin board can be mounted on the wall if you have an office to yourself.If you work in a shared space, you can put a cubicle divider on the side of the desk.Bulletin boards allow you to remove objects from your desk completely.You can free up space on your desktop by posting personal photos or decorations on the bulletin board.