Spring Cleaning: Not Just for Home

Community Manager — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:37:00 GMT

Think spring cleaning is just for the home? Look around your work space. Is it shipshape or in sorry shape? After a long winter, many of us need to refresh our offices with a good spring cleaning.

Ready, Set, Spring

Toss: Spring time is a period of renewal, so get ready for "out with the old, in with the new." It's time to toss: good-bye old newspapers, magazines, coffee cups, unused office accessories and clutter. Take out the shredder and give your desktop pile and cabinet files a thorough onceover. Shred what's not needed.

Clean Slate: Give your desk a spring make-over. Take everything off, creating a clean, blank slate. Move personal items such as framed photos or children's arts and crafts to your shelves. Consider adding new pencil holders or attractive desk accessories. Little changes can transform your office ambiance.

Purge Drawers: Organize your desk drawers, tossing unnecessary items and grouping like supplies (i.e. post-it-notes, pens, staples) together. Go drawer, by drawer, until your desk is in tip top shape.

One and Only: Keep office supplies in one drawer only. Buy a dozen of your favorite, inexpensive pens and keep them in a tray in the drawer. Store back-up supplies in a clear storage box. And say no to junk; free cups and pens and other free giveaways are distracting clutter.

Purge Post-Its: Use post-its sparingly, so they catch your eye, not obscure your monitor. For a running to-do list, keep a notebook by the phone. Jot down phone messages or notes here.

Weed Piles & Files: If you're a piler, try to move them off the desktop and onto a side table. Desks should have no more than a three tier in-box: one slot holds items not yet reviewed, one for items "on hold" that you have reviewed and need to act upon soon and a third for items needed on a daily basis over the short term. Documents not falling into one of these categories should be filed permanently or tossed.

Keep At It: Once your desk and office are squeaky clean, keep things shipshape with a nightly ten minute spruce up. Make a clean sweep each night, tossing trash, sorting paperwork and readying must-have-documents for the next day.

Do you give your office space a spring cleaning? Do you have any tips or strategies for keeping your workspace in top shape? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

by Carly Fadako

Beyond Folders : cleaning, Organization tools

Spring Cleaning: Not Just for Home