If you find yourself in need of some organization and cleaning for the sake of bettering your sanity and productivity then we have got just the guide for you! We will explore what goes into decluttering an office space with tips on how to get started.
This post is going to cover everything from where to start when decluttering all the way down to organizing things once they are cleared out.
Tips on Decluttering A Desk
Organize your desk items
Organize your desk into one of three categories: things that you want to keep, things that are trash or recycling, and things that need to be used elsewhere in the office.
Now it is time to sort through your items! First, take everything out of all desk drawers and discard any trash or recycling material. Then group together like items. For example, if you have a lot of pens, stack them up together. If one drawer has office supplies, group all of those items together.
Move on to the next drawer and repeat this process until your drawers are clear out.
Now that you have completed that task, it is time to put everything back in its designated locations! The things you want to keep should be stored in their appropriate spots.
The things that need to be used elsewhere can now go back where they belong as well! For example, if you have a calculator and a stapler on your desk but neither of these items belong there, they can be returned to their original locations.
If you have a large office with multiple desks, you should repeat this process for each desk in your workplace or if your office is smaller, you could focus on decluttering one area at a time.
Keep only the essentials on your desk
During this process, you should honestly ask yourself whether or not something belongs on your desk. If the answer is no, put it in its proper location. This goes for everything from food to trash! Once you have completed this step, your desk should be clear of everything that isn’t necessary.
Go through the items on your desk and group like things together. If you find yourself with stacks of paper, multiple pens, or other objects in one area, keep them together. Set up like groups all over your desk until it is clear of individual items.
As you are doing this, take a moment to clean your desk or clear it off! If something is sitting on top of your keyboard, put it in the correct location. The same goes for pens that have fallen out of their area and other loose objects. Once you are done with this process, wipe down your desk or clean the area to complete the process.
Use a tray to organize pens and highlighters by color or type
Using trays to organize items is a great way to make sure all of your desk essentials are in one place. This has the added benefit of making them easier to access. If you are using this method, place each round or rectangular tray on your desk and label it for whatever material it will contain.
For example, if you have trays to hold your pens and highlighters, you could label them with their respective color. This makes it much easier to pick up the items that you need because their designated tray will be sitting in plain sight.
Create designated spaces for everything from phones to staplers and paperclips
After you have made sure that your desk essentials are organized in one place, it is time to move on to the miscellaneous items. The best way to do this would be to give each item a designated spot. For example, if you have a stapler and a phone on your desk, find a space for them where they won’t be in the way.
To keep everything organized, find a space for each item and set it up so it can stay there without being moved by accident. Label the back of your desk drawers with what should go inside them if you have those as well to make sure no one is tempted to move your items.
If any of these items are left unattended on your desk, they can be moved to their correct location. If there is no more room for your stapler on the corner of your desk, store it somewhere else or return it to its original destination.
Conclusion
Organizing your desk may seem like a complicated task at first, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are looking for some tips on how to declutter your office space or clean up that cluttered mess of an office, consider the methods we’ve outlined here. Remember: this process is all about keeping what needs to stay and putting away everything else.