There are few things in an office that can slow you down worse than a cluttered desk. Sifting through piles of papers to find what you’re looking for is simply a waste of time. Even looking at the piles can slow you down – because you’re thinking about the mess, even if you don’t realize it. Take a few simple steps to clear your desk of all papers, and you’ll be amazed at how much your productivity increase.
- Your goal is a desk free of all papers – except what you’re working on right this minute.
- Gather all papers currently on your desk, and put them in a big pile. This might seem indimidating, but it’s the best way to clear everything off.
- Take a light match to said pile. ( Just kidding )
- Starting with the paper at the top of the pile, do what needs to be done. If the paper needs a signature, sign it. Fill out some parts of it? Fill them out. When you’re done with the paper, turn it in, file it, or pass it along to the next person who needs to act on it. If the paper is unimportant, shred or recycle it. At no time should you skip a paper, or return it to your desk.
- Repeat for every page in the pile, from top to bottom. If you start skipping papers because you think they will take too long, you’ll simple have a never-ending pile.
Nothing earth-shattering here. Just remember to act on each paper, and get rid of it. Once you’re at the end of your pile, you can get back to business as usual. Or rather, you can get to business better than usual. No more cluttered piles of paper distracting you from getting things done. And isn’t that the whole reason we go to work every day?
