Cleaning Up the Clutter

Your boss has just called you to her office, asking that you bring some critical business documents. You gaze at your desk and know you’re in trouble. Not only are you unsure where you’ve placed those files, but there’s such a mess to wade through that it’s going to take a while before you find what you’re looking for.

You may have a good excuse for not tackling the clutter earlier. But a messy desk can decrease your efficiency and elevate stress levels.

Decluttering your workspace can sound like an arduous and time-intensive endeavor, but it’s an investment that pays big dividends. Following are some simple tips to help you do it:

• Wipe the slate clean. Carefully clear off your desk, file cabinets, bookshelves and other pieces of office furniture. Use a duster and disinfectant wipes to clean areas that haven’t seen the light of day in weeks, months or even longer.
• Toss it out. Look at old papers, files, receipts and other documents to see if they’re worth keeping. If you haven’t used or referred back to something in more than six months — or if you forgot about it entirely — trash it.
• Stock up on supplies. Once you’ve decided what to keep, choose folders, labels, tabs, trays, colored markers, a pencil holder and other items that will aid your organization efforts.
• Sort those papers. Figure out what systems will work best for you in organizing documents. For example, some individuals separate papers based on date, while others delineate between active and inactive files.
• Avoid catchall folders. Be specific when labeling your files. Folders labeled “miscellaneous” or “other” can easily lead to the miscategorization — and misplacement — of important documents. 
• Organize your computer, too. As you straighten out your workspace, also take time to clean up your computer desktop. Delete all unnecessary files and create folders as you did for your printed materials. Then, do the same for your e-mail inbox.

Remember that once you’ve organized everything, the job isn’t done. Now, you must keep your desk and computer in good shape. Plan to spend five minutes at the end of each workday tidying up. When keeping the clutter under control becomes habit, you’re less likely to find yourself dealing with a significant mess again.