A 3 Step Guide to Giving Your Desk a Makeover

How you set up and organise your desk can have a significant impact on how well you work. In fact, it’s well known that a messy, poorly designed workspace can slow down your performance and hinder productivity. So, if your workstation is scattered with stationary, littered with paperwork or you struggle to reach the things you need, now might be the time for a revamp. To make things simple, here is a three step guide to giving your desk a makeover.  
  1. Get the layout spot on
  One of the most common mistakes office workers make is not having the right desk layout. Not only can an incorrectly set up workspace impede efficiency, but it can also cause a range of health problems, such as neck pain, backache and headaches. To prevent these problems, make sure that your computer monitor is directly in front of you at eye level and about an arm’s length away. Your keyboard should be in front of you and positioned a few inches from the edge of the table so your wrists can rest while you type. Frequently used items, like your phone or stationary supplies, should be within close proximity so that you can reach them without having to bend or stretch.  
  1. Clear the clutter
  The average worker can lose a significant amount of time every day as a result of having a disorganised desk. If you’re wasting valuable time and not working to the best of your ability, the chances are you need to clear the clutter. Your desk should be used for essential, everyday items only, such as your computer, phone and stationary. Scan your workspace and look out for anything you haven’t used in a while. Any items gathering dust that are not used on a daily basis can be stored elsewhere. Try to keep personal knick-knacks to a minimum as well, as too many pictures, trinkets and novelty items in your line of vision can be a real distraction. It’s also worth grouping similar objects together so they can be easily located.  
  1. Have a filing system in place
  In addition, it’s important to prioritise your workload with an efficient filing system. As a general rule of thumb, you should only keep important and urgent work on your desk.. Anything else can be filed elsewhere, shredded or thrown away. To prevent your work surfaces from becoming piled high in paperwork, invest in desk trays and organisers so that any paperwork you receive can be dealt with in the right order. It is also a good idea to check and revise your filing system on a regular basis so you can clearly see what work you need to prioritise.   Keeping your desk in order takes effort and constant upkeep, so it’s essential that you assess your surroundings frequently to make sure everything is in place. By following simple makeover tips like these, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can transform a messy, unproductive desk into an organised and efficient workspace.