If you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer or just someone who works from home, you know how important it is to have an efficient and clutter-free workspace to stay focused and productive. You don’t want to waste time looking for things that are easily accessible and poorly organized. Here are some desk organization ideas for getting your work area in order.
Only keep the things you use on your desk.
It’s really easy to fall into the trap of having a cluttered workspace. You might start off with the best intentions, but then over time it becomes harder and harder to keep things organized. The secret is to only keep only the things you use on your desk. Don’t keep things that you don’t use, or might use, or could have used in the past. If it doesn’t fit on your desk and isn’t something that helps you work efficiently, get rid of it!
Use drawers to keep the clutter out of sight.
Using drawers is one of the desk organization ideas to keep your desk clean and well-organized. Drawers are great for storing things that are not used often or things that you use all the time, but not all the time. You can also use a drawer for things you use often, but not all the time.
You might ask yourself: where should I put my drawers? The answer is simple: anywhere! It’s up to you!
Add a shelf above your desk.
If you’re short on space, but still need to store items that you use frequently, try placing a shelf above your desk. This will keep things accessible and organized. Plus, if you’re trying to declutter, it’ll help keep your desk from becoming too cluttered.
When deciding where to put the shelf above your desk, think about how often and/or what kind of items will be stored there. If they’re used daily and can be kept within easy reach or eye contact, go with above the lip of the surface (the edge closest to where you sit). If they aren’t as important and don’t need frequent access (such as an item for display), place them lower—just below eye level on either side of the monitor screen should suffice!
Tie up loose wires and cords.
To keep wires and cables out of the way, you can use cable ties. These are small pieces of plastic that you twist around your wire to keep it neat.
Place a cable tie along the length of the cord or wire and then move it down until you’ve reached the end of your item. Twist two ends together to secure them in place, then cut off any excess using scissors or a sharp knife. If your cords are too thick for this trick, try using Velcro straps instead—they’re available at most hardware stores and come in several different sizes!
Create a dedicated charging station.
You can create a dedicated charging station on your desk. This way, all the cords are in one place and you won’t have to find them when you need them. Use a power strip to keep things organized and use a surge protector to protect against surges and spikes. You should also make sure that there is enough room for everyone to plug in their devices at once; if there isn’t enough space, consider adding more outlets or moving the desk. If you have small children who might unplug things accidentally or forget which cord goes where, consider getting a power strip with a nightlight so they can see what they are doing better at night when it is dark!
Clear off your desk every night before you go to bed.
If you want to keep your space tidy and free of clutter, clear off your desk every night before you go to bed. Put everything away—the coffee cup, the notebook with half a page written in it that you need for tomorrow’s meeting, the notes from an important phone call earlier today. Don’t leave anything out that you need for tomorrow or have no interest in looking at again.
Hopefully, you find these desk organization ideas useful! I know it can be hard to keep things clear and organized when there are so many other things to do, but these simple strategies will help you stay focused on work and get more done. Remember that it’s important not just for productivity but also for your mental health! If you struggle with anxiety or depression, clutter might be one of the reasons why—so take some time each day to clear off your desk and make sure everything has its place.