How to keep your office desk clean and tidy

We’ve all heard "untidy desk, untidy mind". While there is some evidence to suggest that a messy desk may be the sign of a creative genius at work, for most people it simply takes time and energy away from your work by making it harder to find the things you need. Not to mention that it leaves a bad impression on clients and likely drives your colleagues up the wall! Here are some simple tips on how and why to keep your desk tidy.

Messy vs. tidy

Consider for a moment what a cluttered office is conveying to customers and colleagues. First impressions are important and lasting. A messy workspace suggests one of two things: either that you have too much to do and can't handle your workload or that you are simply a careless person. A clean and uncluttered desk leaves your clients and your boss confident that you are professional and organised.

A cluttered desk can also make you less efficient by costing you valuable time spent looking for items hidden under other paperwork. In contrast, a tidy office setup contributes to better time management and greater productivity throughout the day.

Give your desk a lift

An easy way to organise your desk is by fitting a rail to your desk screen. You can then choose many smart desk accessories to help you get a clean and tidy workplace. For example, by fitting your computer screen onto a monitor arm, you raise the screen off the desktop and create more workspace. As an added bonus, you will naturally sit in a more ergonomic posture as the screen will be at the right height not to place any strain on your eyes, back and neck. The addition of a desk screen also provides privacy and helps reduce surrounding noise.

Organise your paperwork

One of the things you can add to your rail is a sorting tray for printouts, magazines and other documents that you need to have close to hand. This frees up space on your desk and helps you stay organised. If you don’t need a letter tray, you could use a shelf on the rail to place a family photo, pot plant or pen pot for a neat but homely look.

You can also set up a simple filing system directly on your desk. Divide paperwork into three categories: to-do tasks, active files, and documents waiting to be filed. Sensitive paperwork should be locked away in a cabinet at the end of each day to maintain GDPR compliance and reduce clutter.

Make use of space under the desk

A mobile drawer unit with inserts for pens, paper clips and other small items is an easy way to keep your stationery organised so you can find what you need quickly. If you have space, you may even be able to fit your bag in the bottom drawer. Recycling can often be a cause of clutter while it waits to go into a central recycling bin; placing an archive box with a lid under your desk for collecting paper looks neat and tidy and is easy to carry when it needs to be emptied.

If you often refer to books, catalogues or ring binders, consider requesting a small cabinet nearby to keep your most-used materials within arm’s reach but off your desktop.

Get your cables under control

Wires hanging loose under the desk are not a pleasant sight. They collect dust easily, get tangled and are hard to unplug if necessary. By hiding the wires in a cable tray or spiral, not only do you hide the mess, but it is much easier to keep cables untangled. You can also hide cables and socket extension leads in a cable box.

Make use of desks with cable ports where possible, which allow you to feed wires straight through the desktop. This helps avoid trip hazards and contributes to a more organised workspace.

Add labels

You can easily make stylish labels to help you keep everything in its rightful place. Try labelling all your cables so that you can find the one you need quickly and easily if you want to take your laptop charger with you, for example. Labelling each shelf on your letter tray is another good way to stay on top of things. Label each shelf according to order of priority so you can see what you need to do at a glance. A handheld label printer makes easy work of this task!

Don’t forget desk hygiene

A daily reset makes all the difference

Lastly, take 5 minutes at the end of each workday to tidy up anything that has built up on your desk that day. Throw away any unnecessary papers and take coffee cups to the kitchen. These small habits, combined with the other suggestions above, will help you maintain a consistently neat and tidy desk.