Cluttered desks are the norm, with some people even taking pride in how disorganized their workspaces are. Sadly, that clutter undermines your productivity and keeps you from being the best you can be. You’ve come to the right place if you want to learn how to solve that problem!
Declutter your desk by first assessing the mess and identifying what items are or aren’t essential. Then, clear the desk to start from scratch. Designate spaces for your essential items, and consider keeping your non-essentials elsewhere. Lastly, take on habits to keep your desk clutter-free every day.
Check out this quick guide to learn more about how clutter affects productivity. You’ll also discover a step-by-step process for cleaning your desk and keeping it that way!
How Does Clutter Affect Productivity?
Unfortunately, many people still make the mistake of underestimating how a cluttered desk affects their productivity.
For starters, a cluttered desk is a distraction to the mind. Being surrounded by items that don’t belong on your desk will draw your attention away from where it belongs. Slowly but surely, the mess steals your mental energy.
Clutter also steals your time. That’s especially true when you spend lots of time searching for things you need without finding them quickly.
Combining the above will lead to more stress and anxiety you don’t need, especially because they keep you from maximizing your productivity.
How Do You Declutter Your Desk For Maximum Productivity?
Decluttering your desk might seem like an overwhelming task at first. However, you can clear your workspace and maximize your productivity in no time by taking an organized approach.
Here’s a simple step-by-step process you can follow to declutter your desk for maximum productivity:
Step 1: Assess
The first and most crucial step in this process is to take a step back and look at the whole picture. In other words, move your desk chair aside and look at the clutter as it currently exists.
Take a few moments to assess the clutter by asking yourself a few questions like:
- Where did the clutter come from?
- What items belong on the desk, and which ones don’t?
- What are the essentials I must keep near at all times?
- What are items I don’t frequently need and can store elsewhere?
These questions will clarify what you need to do next.
Step 2: Clear
The second step is for you to clear the entire desk.
That’s right! Move every single item away from the desk temporarily. Doing so enables you to clean your desk and start from scratch.
Step 3: Essentials First
Next, give your most essential items a designated space on your desk.
Remember: your essentials are the items you must always have within arm’s reach.
For example, your keyboard will likely go front and center. Meanwhile, your writing materials might also need their own space on the side.
Step 4: Consider Non-Essentials
Only when you complete Step 3 should you move on to your non-essentials. These items are nice to have nearby, but only if you have the space for them. Otherwise, they’ll quickly become cluttered, which affects your productivity.
Suppose you don’t have enough space for them. In that case, you can store your non-essentials elsewhere, like on a shelf or in your cupboard.
Step 5: Set Rules And Habits
The first four steps above will help you declutter your desk, but they alone won’t keep it that way for long. That’s why you must set rules and habits to keep your desk organized.
For example, you can spend 5 minutes clearing your desk of non-essentials daily. That way, you’ll always start the next day ready for maximum productivity with a decluttered desk!
Just Get Started
It’s undeniable how a cluttered desk will reduce your overall productivity. That’s why you must take the time to declutter your desk using the steps above. More importantly, you must also set rules and habits to ensure your desk stays that way.
Just remember to take everything one step at a time. Cluttered desks don’t get that way instantly, so take your time. Your productivity will see an improvement in no time!