10 Easy Tips for Digging Out Your Desk Today

Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried for so long that you can't remember what your desk is made out of? If so, use these tips to clear yourself some space to work in, and stay on top of your most urgent action items.

Get it VERTICAL!

If you take a piece of paper and put it somewhere flat, it takes up almost a square foot of space. The instant that you put anything on top of it, you're halfway to compost.

When you sort your paper into a vertical sorter, you can fit more than two reams of paper into that same square foot of physical space that just one piece of paper occupies!

Try an escalating wire-sorter, which makes a visual to-do list out of multiple files. It "climbs" so the top of each file sticks up above the one in front of it and makes them all easily visible. Use several sorters to improve fingertip access to your information: People, Projects and Meetings. Does it really belong on your desk? The only things that are on top of my desk: computer monitor, desk caddy, phone and message book, and the stapler. Strive for nothing else on your desktop unless you're working on it that day.

Making Room on Your Desk

Ditch those coffee cups of pens/pencils and use one desk caddy, which spins around for easy access. If you took all the basic tools that fit in the desk caddy and spread them on your desk it takes up two square feet. The desk caddy footprint only uses eight inches squared.

If you like spreading out big projects, you can pick up the desk caddy, take it into another room, spread out your materials, and you've got an instant "office".

Desk Drawers Equal Action Drawers

Get an in-drawer tray organizer for your desk tools instead of a desk caddy. When you sit down at your desk, just leave the top 'bureau' drawer open so your tray is available while you're working.

In the second "bureau" drawer, keep a calculator, a tray for expenses, business cards, or stamps; all the things you use frequently.

My Action Drawer Categories: Business, Finances, Clients, Networks, Product, and Personal. Your categories are for the files that you're into on a daily basis.

Keeping Your Desk Clear

1. Don't let it land on your desk unless it's an action item. Keep an inbox for mail and a 'to be filed' sorter away from your desktop.

2. Keep your Action files vertical and labeled, so you can see what you need to do today.

3. When you finish with any piece of paper, move it out of your Action Zone. Put it into your file sorter, or recycle it.

4. Check out the cost-effective Home and Small Business File Kits that I use in my own business, which makes it easy for me to guarantee your satisfaction. www.organize.com

Enjoy getting control over your desk again!

If you like, sign up for more time-saving tips at http:///www.organize.com

10 Easy Tips for Digging Out Your Desk Today
by Eve Abbott, the Organizer Extraordinaire
Excerpts from her new book, "How to Do Space Age Work with a Stone Age Brain"TM

Copyright, Eve Abbott All Rights Reserved.

Eve Abbott's newest book is available online at http://www.organize.com. Remember to sign up for more of the Organizer Extraordinaire's time-saving tips. Enjoy free brain quizzes to help you work at your personal best!

---

Without a Plan, You?re Doomed to Failure

"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More

The Problem With To-Do Lists

Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying... Read More

Improve Your Workplace to Make Your Life Better

What does "quality of life" mean to you? If you... Read More

The Top 10 Habits of Organized People

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have... Read More

Organization Tips - How to Organise Your Computer Files

Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More

Do You Have A To-Do list?

I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More

Clutter Is Natural

Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the stuff that... Read More

Daily Systems Keep You Organized

Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More

Files vs Piles

I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More

3 Simple Filing Guidelines

One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More

Technology...The Culprit and the Tool

Technology has given us the tools to reduce routine tasking,... Read More

Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle

Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More

Get Organized - Stay Organized

My mother is one of the most productive people I... Read More

Be More Productive at Work: Avoid These Eight Traps

Obviously, productivity involves producing. Producing widgets, events, reports, sales. The... Read More

1-2-3 Sort

Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More

Tossing and Turning

"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More

How To Organize Your Paperwork

Many people have a huge challenge coping with the incoming... Read More

Your Organizing DNA

Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More

How to Prevent Piles of Paper!

If you have piles of paper all over your desk,... Read More

To Make a Change -- Take a Chance

Life is really all about CHANGE. In order to make... Read More

Time for a Clean Out

Time has flown. It's been six months since you came... Read More

Declutter Your Home in 11 Easy Steps

Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start... Read More

Overcoming E-mail Overload Using Microsoft Outlook

Do you feel like you just get too much e-mail?... Read More

How Clutter Affects Your Love Life

Clutter in any area of your home is a sign... Read More

Ending The Morning Madness

Back-to-school time ? what does that mean to you? For... Read More

The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Organizing Your Kids Rooms

1. In terms of organization, what is the first thing... Read More

Stress Management: 10 Universal Laws to Get and Stay Organized

1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More

Family Management Tip #3: Getting Ready for the New School Year

Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More

Ten Signs That Your Life Is Cluttered

How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More

Are You Stuck In The Clutter Trap?

You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More

10 Common Roadblocks to Getting Organized

1. All or nothing thinking/taking on too much." I'm going... Read More

Everything Fits Together Perfectly!

Here's a little lesson I experienced while packing boxes for... Read More

Breathing Life Into Dead Spaces

"I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More