10 Critical Tips for Clearing Office Clutter

Having trouble finding your desk amidst the clutter? Follow these easy steps, consistently, and you’ll experience greater focus and productivity as a result.

1. Define the purpose of each space in your office and be sure that everyone who shares the space understands how it is to be used.

2. Keep only high-use items on your desktop – computer, telephone, project files, good lighting, notepaper, stapler, To Do list, calendar/planner, and only what you are working on right now.

3. Use vertical space around your desk effectively – put photos and calendars on your wall, not on your desktop.

4. Organize supplies in a desk drawer organizer or supply drawer within “fingertip reach” of your desk chair.

5. Place a wastebasket, recycling bin, and/or shredder where you process your mail.

6. Trim the F.A.T. – File, Act, Toss. Professional Organizer, Barbara Hemphill tells us that the only choices we have for dealing with paper is to File it, Act on it, or Toss it.

7. Create zones in your workspace for incoming and outgoing paper, filing and a work surface. Resist co-mingling each zone.

8. Create an Action File System and place all “action required” items in the system. The Action File System works in-conjunction with your calendar. Simplified Spaces can help you implement this system in your office or home. CLICK HERE to learn more about our system.

9. File non-action required papers in an accessible “reference file system” CLICK HERE to learn more about the HomeFile System, a great reference file system we recommend.

10. Schedule office clean-up/organizing on your calendar, or you will always lean toward a competing priority. Face it … most of us would prefer to do about anything else than to spend a day organizing their office or home.

Being clear about what activities you want to perform in your workspace and where, having clear surfaces in which to work, and the tools you need to perform those activities in easy access, will significantly improve what you’re able to accomplish in a day. In the process, you’ll reduce your stress level and free up time and energy for what matters most. This is a preview from our upcoming booklet “The Simplified Office – A Complete Guide to Clear Office Clutter for Good!

Originally posted 2008-11-25 19:22:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Clean Your Computer in 5 Minutes or Less

Since most of us today depend on our computer to get things done, it’s

increasingly important to be sure that your computer is working at it’s optimal level. I

often see in cluttered areas, computer screens and keyboards full of dust and grime. Dirty keyboards can also harbor germs! Yuck!

If you’re investing time to declutter and organize your office, don’t forget the workhorse of your business – your computer.

Here is a quick 5 step cleaning process for your computer and keyboard that should take you 5 minutes or less.

Step 1 - Unplug all electrical cords (if you have a laptop, remove the batter). Dip a foam swab in rubbing alcohol and very carefully and gently run it over any vents and openings on the monitor’s frame and base (speaker holes, cord inputs, etc.). Follow up with a dry swab. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water and give the rest of the exterior a once-over.

Step 2 - Wipe the screen top to bottom with a barely damp cloth. Turn the keyboard upside down over a trash can and shake it to dislodge crumbs. Holding a can of compressed air upright, shoot small bursts in the gaps between keys to wisk away addition dirt and particles.

Step 3 - With an alcohol-dipped swab, trace the edges of the keyboard and the outside of each key.

Step 4 - Swipe the top of each key gently with a fresh cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol – no need to press down.

Step 5 - Rub the mouse, including the bottom, with rubbing-alcohol cloth. Be sure that the sensors on the bottom are free from lint and particles.

You’re done!

I also recommend purchasing or constructing a stand for the CPU to lift it off the floor a few inches. You’d be surprised how easy it is for dust bunnies to make their way into the inner workings of your CPU that can clog vital components. You can find this at any office supply store.

Need help in with your own organizing projects? Simplified Spaces is available to assist you! Visit Simplified Spaces Professional Organizing Solutions to learn more.

Originally posted 2010-08-12 10:50:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter