If the time has come that you cannot see the bottom of your in-box, you can’t find your car registration, or you just feel overwhelmed by the paper, the time has come to bring some order to your desk.
The first thing to do is to take everything out or off of your desk. Go through all of your files, tossing what is no longer relevant (like, perhaps, a gas bill from 2007). After you’ve sorted through everything, look at what’s left. How do you use what you have? Arrange files in a way that most makes sense to you, and devote a portion of your drawers to your filing. Pretty file folders can be fun, but it’s probably best to stick with a basic manila so when you need to add more it won’t look too hodgepodge-y. Labeling your files makes things a bit easier to find, so it’s worth a few minutes of extra work.
Once your filing is finished, things will start to go much more quickly. Group like items, such as envelopes, or tape and staplers, together. Arrange your drawers with more frequently used items closer to the front of your drawer, less frequently used items in the back. If everything can’t fit, don’t force anything! Invest in some desk top boxes to put important, often referenced things into. Even better, decide that maybe everything doesn’t have to be at your fingertips, and find another place to store some items.
Your desk top is the fun part of all of this. This is what you will be looking at every time you come in the room, so it should have as little on it as possible. If you were not able to find some space in your drawers for pens and pencils, a lovely container for them will be essential. An old jar of your favorite apricot jam, a tea tin, a julep cup, a mug from your favorite trip- anything that will do the job and make you smile will work. If there is something decorative, like a vase or a picture frame, that will please you to see- add it, by all means! Arrange any electrical equipment, such as a printer or monitor, in the way that is most pleasing to you. I think a tray of some sort is very helpful to corral various papers until you can file them (which you will do, won’t you? Of course you will!). If there is something decorative, like a vase or a picture frame, or, I don’t know, a yo-yo, that will please you to see- add it, by all means- this is your space!
The last thing to consider is the wall you will be looking at while sitting at the desk. What should go on it? If you don’t like distractions while you are working, photographs or minimal art that is in keeping with the rest of the surrounding walls is best. If you want to feel inspired while you work, keep an inspiration board (bought or made) full of evolving images or words to motivate you.
The best thing about an organized work space is the comfort of knowing where everything is, finally eliminating the anxiety we have when important papers and documents are in desk-limbo. And, well, a little pretty never hurt anyone, either.
{images sfgirlbybay, madebygirl, skarpagent, froufroufashinista, domino archive via automatism}
