When I only have a small amount to do, I actually find tidying to be relaxing and motivating. Little and often keeps you on track and stops tidying up from becoming an overwhelming task that you are pushing off to a later date. Limit items to the basics that you need and perhaps a couple of personal items – a family photo and maybe a motivational quote or thank you card from a client. In order to laser focus in on one task at a time, the less stuff there is on your desk to distract you, the better. Not everything needs to be within a split second reach at all times. (Plus, you stop buying new pairs of scissors only to find you’ve got 5 pairs already!) Restrict what goes on your desktop to stay focused. If everything has a place where it always returns to, you can avoid things ending up scattered or in piles that build up and take time to sort through. Where do you keep your notebooks, pens, parperclips, and folders? I’m not saying you need to go through everything and see if it sparks joy, but do consider if you actually need an item on your desk or in your office.Ĭan items go into storage or is there a better place for them somewhere else in the office or at home?Īre you clinging onto something “just in case?” Let’s be honest, we almost never need those things! Give everything it’s own place.Īn easy way to keep your workspace tidy is to make sure that every item has it’s own place to sit in. We often cling onto things “just in case” or because we’ve gotten used to having them there. Get ruthless.Īfter reading Marie Kondo’s book, I felt the urge to throw out so much stuff. Where possible, scan files or take photo of papers and upload them to Dropbox, Google Drive or another online storage solution. Technology means we can keep hold of information without it taking up physical space. Its a great way to procrastinate from doing actual work it results in immediate gratification and, occasionally.

One of my worst habits is letting papers pile up, but I rarely need hard copies. There are few things quite as satisfying as removing the clutter from your desk.

Also, listen to this upbeat playlist that Mary created to help motivate you along. Setting an actual timer helps keep you moving and on track. Yes, you want to do more than a superficial clearing of your desk, but don’t let this become a procrastination trap that means you avoid doing the more important tasks. If you’ve just got a desk rather than a home office to declutter, it should take less time.

Unclutter your desk