Some
people would say I’m the last person in the world to be writing about
clearing out clutter; I seem to accumulate so much of it. But I also get rid
of it, when it reaches the point of bothering me.
That’s the first thing about clearing out clutter. Everyone has a threshold
at which the clutter starts to bother them. My husband’s threshold is much
lower than mine, and when he starts clearing out, I jump in and help him.
But in my office, things go to my threshold and no further—usually.
Recognizing your threshold and working within it is the first key to letting
go of clutter. If it’s really not bothering you, and you can find everything
you need, it’s not essential to tackle it right away.
The second key to letting go of clutter is to bring the recycle bin (for
paper without staples) and the large kitchen trash can (for everything else)
into your office and put them beside the desk, which is clutter central in
most offices. Get a box of manila file folders, a box of hanging file
folders, and a plastic file box, the kind with a handle that you can get for
about ten bucks at a big office supply store. And a pen.
Pick up every piece of paper off your desk, one sheet or sheaf at a time.
Start with paper because there’s usually more of it than anything else.
Don’t touch anything twice. When you pick it up either put it in the recycle
bin (remove staples first), put it in the trash if it can’t go in the
recycle, or put it in a folder, label the folder, and put the folder, inside
a hanging folder, in the plastic file box. Don’t worry about organizing the
files. Just get everything out of site and off your desk. Get two or three
boxes if you need them. They stack nicely out of the way against the wall.
Once the paper is off your desk, you should be able to see the surface,
which will probably be littered with books, pens, soda cans, memo pads, and
CDs, if it looks anything like my desk. Take one category at a time, like
CDs, and put all of them away. Then books, and so on.
The rest of your office may be cluttered in the same way as your desk, with
stacks of papers and books scattered around. Use the same method. Start with
the paper, don’t touch anything twice, and declutter by category—CDs, books,
etc. after the paper.
De-cluttering doesn’t have to mean deep-cleaning, though you may get
motivated and do that. Really it just means getting the clutter out of the
way so you can work. Letting go of it is as simple as realizing you don’t
need it where it is right this minute, and putting it somewhere else—even if
that somewhere else is the recycle bin.
A good rule of thumb is, if you can get that piece of paper again,
especially by printing it off your computer, you don’t need to keep it. Now,
you might, if it’s important. But just use this as a rule of thumb.
Happy clearing!
About the Author: Angie Dixon helps small
business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach
specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they
feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at
http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how
coaching can change your life, contact Angie at
mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.
How-To-File.com