10 Tips to Keep Your Desk Clean - lifehack.org

10 Tips to Keep Your Desk Clean - lifehack.ऑर्ग

While there is a challenge in the initial cleaning of the messy desk, the regular maintenance often poses the bigger challenge. Here are some tips to help keep the desk clean:

1. Sort your mail and toss junk as it arrives। Even with an in-basket, you need to process your mail daily to avoid accumulating a stack of paper।
2. Get rid of sticky notes and scraps of paper. Get a single notebook and use it to record notes, phone numbers, web addresses, ideas, to-dos, etc.
3. Create a list or binder of regularly referenced material, such as phone numbers, and keep it accessible in a desk drawer।
4. Schedule filing time at least once per week.
5. Add dated or calendar items to a tickler file system or a diary as soon as they arrive।
6. When you stop working on something, put it away until the next time you need it। Don’t leave half-completed projects sitting on your desktop.
7. Keep nothing on your desk unless you absolutely need them। If you aren’t joining sheets of paper with tape, move the dispenser off the desk।
8. If you want personal photos in the office, have only one on the desk or better yet, hang them on the wall।
9. Keep a reading folder for material you need to read। Schedule a regular reading time to clear that material।
10. Create a “waiting for” or pending file to hold items dependent on outside action।
11. Create a weekly appointment to clean your desk and this includes dusting or polishing। You might be less inclined to mess up a shiny desk.

It doesn’t take much “neglect” for your workspace to fill up with things that eat at your productivity. A few simple and regular good habits can free up a bunch of extra time for getting things done.