1. Define the purpose of each space and surface in your office based on the activities you perform in that space. Be sure that everyone who shares the space understands how it is to be used. For example, the purpose of your desk-top is to process work, the top of a filing cabinet is to hold in-coming mail, and so-on.



2. Protect your desk-top for actual work by keeping only high-use items on your desktop - computer, telephone, project files, good lighting, notepaper, stapler, To Do list, calendar/planner, and only what you are working on right now.

3. Use vertical space around your desk effectively - put photos and calendars on your wall, not on your desktop. It has been proven that personal items on your desk create a distraction.

4. Organize supplies in a desk drawer organizer or supply drawer within "fingertip reach" of your desk chair. Office supplies can be considered clutter if you don't use them ~ purge what you're not using.

5. Place a wastebasket, recycling bin, and/or shredder where you process your mail.

6. Trim the F.A.T. - FAT stands for File, Act, Toss. Professional Organizer, Barbara Hemphill tells us that the only choices we have for dealing with paper is to File it, Act on it, or Toss it.

7. Create zones in your workspace for incoming and outgoing paper, filing and a work surface. Resist co-mingling each zone.

8. Create an Action File System and place all "action required" items in the system. The Action File System works in-conjunction with your calendar. Simplified Spaces can help you implement this system in your office or home.

9. File non-action papers in an accessible "long-term reference file system", commonly thought of as a home filing system. I have found a couple of ready-made home filing systems that I recommend.

10. Schedule office clean-up/organizing on your calendar, or you will always lean toward a competing priority. Face it ... most of us would prefer to do about anything else than to spend a day organizing their office or home.

Being clear about what activities you want to perform in your workspace and where, having clear surfaces in which to work, and the tools you need to perform those activities in easy access, will significantly improve what you're able to accomplish in a day. In the process, you'll reduce your stress level and free up time and energy for what matters most.

Copyright (c) 2009 Simplified Spaces