Clear the Clutter - How to boost your productivity at your desk
Most of us have a cluttered desk or workspace. It's easy to get distracted and constantly find something else to do. You might be able to find a bit of time, but it never lasts long enough for you to finish that project; you start working on something new, but moments later realize the pile is even larger than before.
One of the best and easiest ways to improve your productivity is by clearing out clutter at your desk. Not surprisingly, this is a task that many people avoid, particularly people who lack self-discipline.
The truth is, if you have a cluttered desk, you will spend time looking for things each day - and that can easily turn into wasted time. In fact, research from the University of Notre Dame showed that people with cluttered desks are 55% more likely to make mistakes than those with uncluttered desks.
Let's take a look at what clutter really is and how it affects your productivity at work.
1. Clutter is Bad
One of the main reasons people don't want to tackle clutter on their desk is because they think they need to be organized in order to be productive. In fact, more than 70% of business leaders surveyed in the Clutter study said that they don't have time to be organized.
The truth is, there is no such thing as being "too organized" when it comes to your desk. Most people wouldn't say "I'm too organized with my clothes", or "I don't have enough order in my pantry". You might not even be able to define what you consider "organized", but you certainly know it when you see it.
When you are organized on your desk, it doesn't mean that everything has to be neatly folded, or even in its exact place. You just need to have the most important things within easy reach, so that you can process and get work done.
2. Clutter is Expensive
Many people think that if they are organized with their desk, their job will be more convenient, but it's actually the opposite. According to research from the University of Notre Dame , office clutter costs a company as much as $14 billion per year in lost productivity, damaged property and increased health care costs.
3. Clutter is More Dangerous
It's easy to think that clutter doesn't make you more vulnerable. However, it turns out that the risks associated with clutter are much higher than many people assume. Keeping your desk clear of papers, files, tools and other things that can cause a potential fire or injury makes you much safer.
4. Clutter is Bad for Your Health
Having a cluttered desk or workspace will slow down your work. Research from the University of Notre Dame found that as people try to maintain order in their workspace, it negatively affects their cognition - including their reaction time and ability to stay focused .
5. Clutter is Bad for the Environment
If you continue to keep your desk cluttered, you are literally taking space away from those who need it. Save paper by keeping it off of your desk and in the Office recycling bin (or shred it). The average U.S. office produces over 15 pounds of trash per worker per day, which adds up to 500 tons of waste every year - that's more than 80 million tons a year!
6. Clutter is Annoying
There are also many other reasons why clutter is bad. Here are a few:
• Clutter often means there is more dust on your desk, which can cause an allergy attack.
• Clutter makes you feel like you can't relax at work since it's distracting and uncomfortable to work in.
• You feel disorganized, and that feeling can rub off on all of your other projects, turning them into a mess too.
What does it take to get organized?
First, understand the benefits of having less clutter on your desk or workspace - productivity and peace of mind are just two of the most important reasons. To accomplish this, you will need two basic components: self-discipline and a system for dealing with your work.
• A system for dealing with your work must be developed - you can't organize your desk in a day or two. It should take at least a week to complete one cycle of clearing out the items on your desk so that it's clutter free. This is a process, not an event; it's as much about planning as it is about following through on removing what you've already removed.
• You need to set a clear goal for yourself. That goal is to be clutter-free at your desk - at work and in your personal life. Write this down as a reminder.
• You need to develop the self-discipline to stay organized, every day - it's similar to keeping a budget for your money, or exercising regularly. It's about developing good habits and showing them so that you can function better in other areas of your life too.
How to Start
You know why clutter is bad and you've decided that you want to get rid of it on your desk. But where do you begin?
1. Take a look at your work area and ask yourself the following questions: Do I spend more time looking for things than doing my job? Is there anything on my desk that I don't use regularly? Does anyone else have access to my desk or workspace? If you answered yes to any of these questions, what can you do about it?
2. Start small - take a box, bag or crate and start filling it with garbage from your desk. Don't worry about sorting things out yet; just put anything inside so long as it's useless. Now decide on a spot outside your office where you can put your garbage box.
3. Once you have a container full of useless items, you need to make it easier to put things in the container instead of on your desk. For example:
• Keep a basket next to your desk with an elastic band keeping it shut. When you take papers, pens or other items, toss them into the basket instead of putting them on your desk.
4. Now that there's one less item on your desk, move on to the next useless item and repeat steps 1-4.
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Conclusion
Being organized with your work is a key part of being productive at work and staying healthy, organized and connected at home. It's also important to be in tune with the needs of your environment. It takes time, effort and practice to get the clutter off your desk and into its place. Don't forget that you need to stay organized on a cellular level as well - make sure that you're mentally and physically healthy so that you can function at a high level for years to come.