A clear desk is like a blank piece of paper: a space for new potential, possibilities and ideas.
But standing between us and that ideal working environment is paperwork. Clutter creating and time consuming, it stifles creativity and productivity.
There’s an almost mysterious process as it gradually morphs on your desk, and you’re suddenly faced with a threatening mass invading your workspace. So daunting, that often the temptation is to try and ignore it, in the hope it will simply disappear (by trying to hide it with yet more paper on top).
Then one day, the inevitable happens. You need an essential document and are forced to spend ages rummaging through the chaos in order to locate it.
How can we prevent that overwhelming paper clutter and the stress it brings with it?
What is the secret to having a clear minimalist desk where we can work more efficiently and with a sense of calm?
The solution – you’ll be happy to know – is in fact quite simple and just takes a few easy steps:
- Tackle your pile of paper one piece at a time, starting at the top.
- Handle each piece of paper just once and sort them into four separate piles: Action, File, Forward (anything that needs to be sent to someone else to deal with) or Bin.
- Once completed, immediately dispose of the Bin pile; dispatch everything in your Forward pile and place anything to file in your filing system.
- Sort your Action pile in order of priority then place in a file off your desk, but close to hand, in a drawer or on a shelf.
- Only keep on your desk the paperwork you are working on at that particular time.
- When you need to jot down memos and ideas, don’t leave your notes scattered around your desk to begin accumulating again. Instead, use a memo or notice board kept on a corner of your desk or hung above it.
And to make sure your clear desk stays that way, all you need to do is ask the same question each time a new piece of paper crosses your desk – Action, File, Forward or Bin?
Photo credit Laure Wayaffe
