Your desk, can you see it, or is it taken over by a common enemy that some of us share - clutter? I am not talking about a few papers here and there; I am talking about unorganized (even though some of you will swear you know where everything is) chaos. Is the only part of your desk that is viewable to the human eye the legs that support it. Sound like your office or desk space?
How does clutter affect your work? For starters it drains your energy. You spend time that could be used either working or enjoying life to take care of this clutter. This in turn steals and wastes your time. Sally Wolf, owner of Professional Organizing in Kansas City, says that having a cluttered workspace can even lead to potential depression and/or unhappiness. Some people won’t/can’t have clients come to their offices due to the office nature (catastrophe would be a fitting word). This in turn presents newfound pressures - where to meet or is there enough time to make my office decent.
So how can this clutter be eliminated without adding to your current pressures in life? Take baby steps, maybe five to fifteen minutes a day, to de-clutter your workspace. During these de-cluttering moments, the first thing is to decide if a piece of paper should be kept or thrown out. Put a sticky note that describes what it is on the ones you keep. Then take the appropriate action that is required.
One other tip - avoid over decorating. Remember, you are at work. Keep your desk free of distraction.
Your time at work is very important. Hopefully these ideas help you win back some of your time. I know it has for me!
