Decluttering Your Workspace

How many times do you find yourself shuffling through heaps of papers and files on your desk at work? If the answer is even once a day, it's time to declutter. Having a clean workspace can significantly improve your productivity and overall mood. However, your old cleaning up routine won't do anymore. Here are some new ways to declutter your workspace.

Start With Your Desktop
In today's technological age, some of the messiest parts of our lives are on the computer. Odds are, most of your job requires a lot of time typing away. Now is the time to do a little cleaning. Do you have files and stationery all over your desktop taking up space? Create organized folders to add some order, and delete anything you no longer have use for. That way, you'll be able to find anything you need more easily.

Your computer might need some actual cleaning, too. When's the last time you wiped off al  the smudges and fingerprints on your screen or keys? Computers can collect an absurd amount of dust and bacteria, so it's necessary to give them a deep clean every other week or so. Not only will it help your piece of mind, but the germs that have been lurking on these areas will be long gone, too

Empty Your Email
Speaking of decluttering your computer, it's time to take a look at your inbox. Many of us have stacks of stacks of emails that we've read but haven't deleted. On the other hand, some of us have unread backlog emails that can be quite daunting. If you're looking to declutter your work life, go through your email. Delete anything that isn't essential, and reply to messages that have been forgotten over the past few months. 

Move Things to Drawers
Keeping items on your desk may sound like a good thing in theory, but it can actually make you feel overwhelmed and stressed. It's Time to Get Organized recommends keeping only your current project on your desk, and putting everything else like stationery and notebooks in drawers or organizational units. 

Moving things off of your desk not only clears your space but also can clear your mind. You know the phrase, "Out of sight, out of mind?" Well it works here. If you're working on a project and something else catches your eye, you could lose focus. By only keeping what you're working on on your workspace, it will have all of your attention.

Watch Your Wires
Between computers, keyboards, phones, cellphone chargers, headphones, etc., you probably have plenty of wires surrounding your desk. The last thing you're going to want is to waste time finding out which wire goes to what device – so it's time to give them a label. This can easily be done with brightly colored masking tape. Just be sure to use a different shade for each item so you don't get anything mixed up. 

Fix Your Distractions
Sometimes it's really nice to adorn your desk with personal photos and items. It can make the office feel more like home, rather than a stale workplace. However, sometimes these can be your exact trouble spots. Do you find yourself zoning out and staring at your pictures? Well, then it's probably time to get those decorative items out of the way. Toss old knick knacks that have just been sitting on the counter, especially if you can't remember where they initially came from. 

Move Things Around
Sometimes you don't have to throw anything out to declutter. Just do a little rotation of your items. It's true that some things can fit better stacked on top of one another or side-by-side. Figuring the best place to put the pieces together for your puzzle of a desk can greatly improve your workspace.