Desk Clutter

I thought the perfect way to start the work week was by talking about our work space. In particular, our desks. I donno about you, but I go thru spurts of keeping things orderly, and then things get crazy and I have piles of stuff, and then I go back and reorganize and it’s this constant trying to keep things in their place and in a place that I know I’ll have access to them. My office is upstairs away from everrrrryyyyone which is VERY nice, but sometimes, I just love to chill and do things at the kitchen table. Nonetheless, having a clutter free space I think makes for a more On Purpose work time. Clutter around us in my opinion is distractive to our minds and lacks a system of getting things done, and hurts our efforts in keeping focused on a specific task. It’s the opposite of simplicity and peace.

If all of this “disruption” is around us, it doesnt allow us to think clearly, to have focus, and to be ON PURPOSE to GSD (get s**t done!). I know recent studies have shown a messy desk fosters creativity, but some sort of “system” amidst the clutter I think is still needed.

This is one of many things that The Riley Group, a personal assistant service, can help you get in order with your life. Here are some pointers from Valerie Riley, owner of The Riley Group, for a clutter free desk:

Don’t procrastinate. When the mail comes in, sort it immediately. When paper comes across your desk, make a decision what to do with it:
File it.
Put it in your pending file for later.
Shred/Trash it.
Keep a file system on your desk (a small file sorter is perfect) with a few folders: Pending, To Do Today, To Pay and Receipts. This way everything that comes across your desk has a home.
Before you start trying to work, create a serene environment. Clearing the clutter helps a lot. I put all of my paperwork that I need to work through in one stack and just go through it piece by piece so it’s not overwhelming to look at or sort through. Grab a glass of water or coffee to keep on your desk to prevent you from getting up once you’ve gotten settled.
Have a system for how you attack your to do lists. I go through all of my emails first and respond. Then I go through my text messages and voicemails. Finally I go through my To Do Today folder.

If you need a third person to get your system in place for you, especially if you feel like you will never get to the bottom of that pile of papers, call The Riley Group. Tell her I sent you! {wink!}

I think keeping the function part of your desk orderly and organized clutter free with a system to get things done is my thought, and having the little bit of “clutter” above you, like this dream board or collage like this, to foster that creative side of you takes care of both issues.