Ten Ways to Get Rid of Office Clutter
Author: Ruth Klein

Organization is a powerful weapon against stress on the
job, and it begins with your desk. A survey of managers by
the office label-making company, DYMO, found that more than
half of employers equate an employee's organizational
skills with job performance. A messy desk is a bottom-line
factor for employers. According to the same study, it is
estimated that every misplaced piece of paperwork costs a
company $120, as reported by USA Today.

Applying smart organizational skills to de-cluttering your
office can take only a few minutes a day, and reap
long-term rewards. Here are ten ways to get rid of office
clutter.

1. Assess your space. Do you have a closet or bookcase that
can be used to store non-priority files, extra office
supplies and background reports? Do you have space outside
your office to store materials you do not need today or
this week?

2. Take immediate action. Each day, resolve to remove one
unnecessary item.

3. End your week with a ten-minute purge. For ten minutes
before the end of your workweek, spend five minutes purging
excess paperwork or old files. This will prevent clutter
clusters impossible to clear out on a daily basis without
high stress or too much time.

4. Organize and systemize. Organize paperwork, reports and
other documents into files that are filed by a system of
priorities. Place your top priority files at the front, and
move them to the back when they are completed. Immediately
file incoming materials into your organized files, or place
at the center of your desk if they are identified as
immediate priorities.

5. Remove personal clutter. Minimize or entirely remove
your stock of personal photos and mementos.

6. De-clutter your computer. Organize your desktop files
into computer file folders easily marked to help you move
desktop files into those folders at the end of each workday.

7. Clear floor space. This will create a perception of more
space, while also removing obstacles you, your employers or
staff, or important guests from tripping over.

8. Don't become a dumping ground. If you are participating
in a joint project, appoint a team member to become the
central filing and paperwork resource. If a co-worker wants
to leave a stack of papers for you to review, offer instead
to visit your co-worker's office to review them there. This
also presents an opportunity to take a break away from your
office.

9. Learn from others. Visit other de-cluttered offices to
pick up tips on how to best de-clutter your workspace.
Notice how they use desk and floor space efficiently.

10.  Keep it clean! Wipe down or dust shelves and desktops.
Keep your computer clean using cleaning products especially
designed for computer stations, keyboards and other
technology products. Empty trash bins daily. Do not keep
food items in your office that will create unpleasant
smells.   By using these organizational tips, you will see
a boost in your job productivity.


About the Author:

Ruth Klein, America's De-Stress Diva™, is owner of
the award-winning firm The Marketing/Time Source. With a
master's degree in clinical psychology, Klein, is the
author of the best-selling Time Management Secrets for
Working Women and five other books on business and
lifestyle topics. Sign up to receive Ruth's 7 Part
Mini-Course on Branding and Productivity.
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