Has
your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried for so long
that you can't remember what your desk is made out of? If so, use these tips
to clear yourself some space to work in, and stay on top of your most urgent
action items.
Get it VERTICAL!
If you take a piece of paper and put it somewhere flat, it takes up almost a
square foot of space. The instant that you put anything on top of it, you're
halfway to compost.
When you sort your paper into a vertical sorter, you can fit more than two
reams of paper into that same square foot of physical space that just one
piece of paper occupies!
Try an escalating wire-sorter, which makes a visual to-do list out of
multiple files. It "climbs" so the top of each file sticks up above the one
in front of it and makes them all easily visible. Use several sorters to
improve fingertip access to your information: People, Projects and Meetings.
Does it really belong on your desk?
The only things that are on top of my desk: computer monitor, desk caddy,
phone and message book, and the stapler. Strive for nothing else on your
desktop unless you're working on it that day.
Making Room on Your Desk
Ditch those coffee cups of pens/pencils and use one desk caddy, which spins
around for easy access. If you took all the basic tools that fit in the desk
caddy and spread them on your desk it takes up two square feet. The desk
caddy footprint only uses eight inches squared.
If you like spreading out big projects, you can pick up the desk caddy, take
it into another room, spread out your materials, and you've got an instant
"office".
Desk Drawers Equal Action Drawers
Get an in-drawer tray organizer for your desk tools instead of a desk caddy.
When you sit down at your desk, just leave the top 'bureau' drawer open so
your tray is available while you're working.
In the second "bureau" drawer, keep a calculator, a tray for expenses,
business cards, or stamps; all the things you use frequently.
My Action Drawer Categories: Business, Finances, Clients, Networks, Product,
and Personal. Your categories are for the files that you're into on a daily
basis.
Keeping Your Desk Clear
1. Don't let it land on your desk unless it's an action item. Keep an inbox
for mail and a 'to be filed' sorter away from your desktop.
2. Keep your Action files vertical and labeled, so you can see what you need
to do today.
3. When you finish with any piece of paper, move it out of your Action Zone.
Put it into your file sorter, or recycle it.
4. Check out the cost-effective Home and Small Business File Kits that I use
in my own business, which makes it easy for me to guarantee your
satisfaction at www.Organizer-Extraordinaire.com
Enjoy getting control over your desk again!
About the Author: If you like, sign up for
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10 Easy Tips for Digging Out Your Desk Today
by Eve Abbott, the Organizer Extraordinaire
Excerpts from her new book, "How to Do Space Age Work with a Stone Age
Brain"TM
Copyright 2006 Eve Abbott All Rights Reserved.
Eve Abbott's newest book is available online at
http://www.organizer-extraordinaire.com. Remember to sign up for more of
the Organizer Extraordinaire's time-saving tips. Enjoy free brain quizzes to
help you work at your personal best!
