Desk Organization Tips To Boost Your Productivity

Are you working from home for the first time? Is your desk driving you crazy? Whether you are bored at work or working on time management skills, cleaning your desk is a great way to pass the time, while also feeling productive. It might inspire you to get back into your emails and projects that you have been procrastinating.

There is little doubt, you are busy, And most likely, feeling overworked. Desk organization is probably the last item on your to-do-list. Either way, cleaning off your desk and adding a few personal touches like plants or pictures, will inspire you anew.

Before you can be productive at your desk, get productive on your desk. Follow these 8 simple desk organization ideas to create a clean and productive workspace.

Wipe it Down

The best time to wipe down your desk is the end of the day, a couple of times a week. Doing this at the end of the day means you will come to a clean and fresh surface the following morning. If you have a habit of eating lunch at your desk, you might want to do this every day. Don’t forget your keyboard.

Throw Things Away

Do you have a trash can? That is an underrated part of any office. If you have pens or pencils cluttering up your space, discard the ones that are not your favorite, and everyone has a favorite pen. How long do you need to keep that receipt from Lowe’s?

Unnecessary paper is the biggest source of clutter in any office. Set your timer for 8-minutes and throw away as much as you can, you will be amazed at the progress you can make.

Use Drawer Dividers

Avoid having multiple junk drawers in one desk – keep things in their own compartment. You can even use an old muffin tin, or order fun colored silicone ones off Amazon.

When your office supplies all have a designated place, you will know where to put them each time and avoid the build-up clutter that comes from tossing things mindlessly into a drawer.

Evaluate the Ergonomics

How can you be productive if you aren’t comfortable? How old is your office chair? Is your keyboard at the right height? Sitting on your bum is hard enough, make sure your setup is conducive to proper posture and comfort to boost your productivity in the office.

Organize Your Computer Desktop

The virtual desktop is just as important as the physical one! Getting started is the hardest part. Create a virtual filing system by category or by date. Be sure to keep this up as you create and save more files. Make it’s time for a new and clean desktop background too.

Open Space

The side for your dominant hand where you keep your mouse should be obstacle-free. What you don’t have on your desk is even more important than what you do have. Take each item you have and ask yourself, “does this spark joy?” (Thanks, Marie Kondo!). The open space on your desk will subconsciously help declutter your mind.

Mix it Up!

While keeping in mind the above open space rule – change the configuration of your desk, for a fresh perspective on work.

Shock your brain going into an environment with a new layout. It’ll bring a slight amount of excitement to your day, just enough to push you through the 3 o’clock slump!

Personal Items

To avoid distractions, try to limit yourself to just three family photos or other personal items on your desk. Don’t go overboard with knick-knacks either. Our brains process everything in front of them, so keeping it minimalistic is key for focus and productivity.

You might have items that are a must – something like an air diffuser with peppermint oil which has been proven to boost productivity.

Use these tips for a productive office environment to set yourself up for success. For any excess clutter you have around the house, head to your nearest Metro Self Storage location for a self storage unit today!