How to Declutter Your Office Space
Follow these tips on how to get your office organised, clean and clutter-free for good
Want to be more productive, confident and happy at work? Start by simplifying your approach to getting organised.
Clear the desk
Take all the paperwork off your desk and put it in a big pile. Leave only the essentials on the desk – your computer, phone or any other important equipment you have. Do the same with any shelves or drawers you might have.
Take all the paperwork off your desk and put it in a big pile. Leave only the essentials on the desk – your computer, phone or any other important equipment you have. Do the same with any shelves or drawers you might have.
Back to basics
Before you start placing items back on your nice clean desk, ask yourself these questions.
Before you start placing items back on your nice clean desk, ask yourself these questions.
- What’s essential?
- What do I really need to do my job effectively?
- What do I use often and what is crowding my desk?
Have a place for everything
Have a place for each item and type of paper. Make conscious decisions about where things should live. It’ll make life a lot easier, and make you more productive.
Have a place for each item and type of paper. Make conscious decisions about where things should live. It’ll make life a lot easier, and make you more productive.
Go vertical to save space
Place a memo board above your desk to hang a calendar and important notices on, such as invitations, conference announcements and reminders.
Place a memo board above your desk to hang a calendar and important notices on, such as invitations, conference announcements and reminders.
Utilise the space
Space under a table is often wasted, but not if it plays host to another item with storage capabilities. Boxes and baskets are easy options. Another idea is to fit the under-table area with one or two permanent shelves.
Take a tour of this house
Space under a table is often wasted, but not if it plays host to another item with storage capabilities. Boxes and baskets are easy options. Another idea is to fit the under-table area with one or two permanent shelves.
Take a tour of this house
Make it work for you
Customise storage to your specific office needs. For instance, magazine files will keep magazines, catalogues and brochures neat and orderly while bookends will hold reference books in place.
Customise storage to your specific office needs. For instance, magazine files will keep magazines, catalogues and brochures neat and orderly while bookends will hold reference books in place.
Go paperless
Instead of keeping a hard-copy of all your important documents, try storing them on your computer or on a backup system.
Instead of keeping a hard-copy of all your important documents, try storing them on your computer or on a backup system.
Plan ahead
At the end of the day, dedicate some time to setting up the next day’s work so that you can maximise your efficiency when you arrive the following morning. You can achieve so much more when you use that early morning high-energy time for ‘doing’ rather than ‘planning’.
MORE
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The Clutter Conundrum: Why Is It So Hard to Let Go?
Dream Spaces: Home Offices You’ll Be Delighted to Work In
At the end of the day, dedicate some time to setting up the next day’s work so that you can maximise your efficiency when you arrive the following morning. You can achieve so much more when you use that early morning high-energy time for ‘doing’ rather than ‘planning’.
MORE
Clean Living: Declutter Your Way to a Minimalist Home in 7 Easy Steps
The Clutter Conundrum: Why Is It So Hard to Let Go?
Dream Spaces: Home Offices You’ll Be Delighted to Work In
Commit to a space-clearing session by scheduling it into your work calendar. Spend at least half an hour organising your space. Depending on the state of your office, you may need to schedule in a few sessions before you can get the job done.